Variety (Mar 1907)

VARIETY BALK AT WESTERN'S NEW PLAN. The meeting of Western Burlesque Wheel managers called for Wednesday of this week for the further consideration of the pooling arrangement under which ;'ll the Western Wheel hIiows are to be thrown into a general co-operative cor- poration and managed by a central board to be chosen from among the members of the pool, was postponed. There were iiumorons details to be arranged before the plan could be brought to a definite conclusion. It is understood that several managers were inclined to remain outside the circle, contending that they were making more money than others, and that should they come in the arrangement they would be in the position of dividing their excep- tional profits with other managers, who were less fortunate financially. Missionary work will be done among these malcontents and it is believed that when the postponed meeting is held a week from next Wednesday everybody will be of one mind as to the advisability of making the new move. It is said that the Eastern Wheel man- agers considered this same sort of an association several months ago,* but the plan split upon just this point of a dif- ference in profits in the different shows and the disinclination of the fortunate managers to come in on a sharing basis with their less successful fellows. STEADY WORK FOR BURLESQUERS Walter .T. Plimmer, booking agent for the W T estern Burlesque Wheel, and who supplies the attractions for the chain of summer parks controlled by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad between here and Boston, will send four or possibly half a dozen companies around his summer resort circuit, gaving the first part of the best of the Wheel burlesques, lie figures that ten people will suffice for the purpose, the chonis being reduced to six girls. Two comedians and as many women principals, each with a specialty, will extend the performance to an hour or so. The scheme is a good deal in the na- ture of an experiment, but Plimmer he lieves that it will prove a novelty. He has booked only a few acts for the parks, ;uu\ will take most of his bills from the burlesque, olios. SAM DEVERE'S END NEAR. Philadelphia, March 1. Word was received by the company here (his week that Sanj Deverc's condition was critical and that death was not far Andy Lewis was admitted to the Jewish Hospital here on Monday last suffering from a severe attack of catarrh of the lungs. The doctors state that it will be at least two weeks before Lewis may leave the institution and two weeks more before he will he able to appear on the stage. Lawis was stricken in Washing- ton two weeks ago, but appeared with Sam Devere's company until Wednesday <»f Inst week in Baltimore, when he was forced to take to his bed. He came here with the company Sunday and was sent to the hospital the next dfiy from \fik« i Teller's Hotel. "PARIS BY NIGHT" CLOSES. The Eastern Burlesque Wheel show "Paris by Night" closed last Saturday. The show was hurriedly put on when the Garden Theatre in Buffalo was acquired by the Columbia Amusement Company and added to the wheel. With its discontinuance, the open week between Philadelphia and Baltimore, made vacant by the withdrawal of Norfolk from the Eastern route, will be filled, leaving only "lay offs" of three days each on the Reading weeks for all time after Cleveland. THIESE GETS CIRCLE. Mortimer M. Thiese, the burlesque man- ager and owner of "Wine, Woman and Song," has entered into an agreement with Sullivan & Kraus and others, pro- prietors of the Circle Theatre, 60th street and Broadway, whereby he will hold the occupancy of that playhouse for a period of three years dating from Jan. 1, 1907. This agreement in contract form specifies that Thiese make original productions at stated intervals paying for the right on a basis of a division of the gross box office receipts. Thiese will put on a new semi-light- opera-burlesque show next September taking something of its character from the present Circle show, "Wine, Woman and Song." but has not yet chosen the cast or star. It was announced recently that Barney Barnard was to have the leading role with the "Wine, Woman and Song" com- pany, but since then Thiese has secured from Lee Arthur the exclusive right for the production of 'The Auctioneer." in which David Warfield starred. Now Bernard is stated to take the leading role of that play and Alex. Carr's place in the Thiese company is again open. "ELECTRA" WESTERN'S NEW HOUSE. Albany, N. Y., March 1. A VARIETY representative was given the following statement this week rela- tive to the new burlesque theatre at Sche- nectady, N. Y., to be operated as a West- ern Burlesque Wheel house, by Mrs. Agnes Harry, manageress of the Gaiety Theatre here. Mrs. Barry said: "Everything is read? to proceed. The old houses now standing on the site will be auctioned off within the next ten days, after which the work of excavation for the foundation will commence. All con- tracts have been let. "The theatre will be named 'Klcctra,'^ after the 'Electrical City' (Schenectady), and will open August 15 next. The seat- ing capacity will he between 1,360 and 1.400. It will be entirelv modem in everv respect. "Although everything possible was done to keep us out of Schenectady, and had i.s discouraged at times, we are now going in to win. Others interested financially besides myself are Messrs. Butler, Fen- nessy, Lowry and Whalen, all Western Wheel managers of note, so you can read- ily understand that we are financially strong in the enterprise." KLAW & ERLANGER'S THEATRICAL RESOURCES The Vast Quantity of Material the New Vaudeville Magnates Have to Fall Back Upon Raymond and Caverly have been offered a full route for next season by RiVlf, Albee. L Herbert Mack's "World Beater*" broke the record last week at the Star Theatre, Brooklyn by $f»00. Berzac's ani mals and 'The Dance of the Seven Veils" were the extra attractions with the show. The common ^opposition, and one which becomes an argument with the manager outside the Klaw & Erlanger forces, is where the "talent" for a large circuit could be secured. That does not neces sarily include the smaller or medium priced acts required for a vaudeville bill, but refers rather to the features and head- liners on the proposition that the United Booking Offices and its allies would corral all the high priced acts available. This is probably one point over which Klaw & Erlanger are giving themselves no concern. To anyone familiar with the methods of the "syndicate," it may be recalled that never in K. & E.'s career have they issued an official announce- ment of contemplated plans that they were not ready to put through to comple- tion. Several years ago they stated two theatres would be built by them on West Forty-second street, one in Birmingham and two in New Oleans, at practically the same time. The rumor gained cre- dence before contracts were signed that Klaw & Erlanger proposed to purchase the New York Theatre. All these things became facts, yet were regarded as press yarns at the time, calculated to give the firm free advertising. Klaw & Erlanger were practically the first legitimate managers to take vaude- ville headliners and make stars of them, as, for instance, the Rogers Brothers, Joseph Cawthorn, Fay Templeton, Mcln- tyre and Heath and numerous others. The next vaudeville artist to be starred is Vic- tor Moore. Possibly the only manager allied with the Klaw & Erlanger syndicate who might object to any of his stars making even a temporary plunge into the varieties is Charles Frohman—at least this has been his attitude in the past. Mr. Frohman's views on this subject might be altered, however, if his associates requested assist- ance. A partial list of the stars under the Charles Frohman banner are Maude Adams. John Drew, Ethel Barrymore. Edna May, Francis Wilson, Fay Davis. Joseph Wheelock. Jr., Lionel Barry- more, W. H. Oillette, Seymour Hicks. Ellaline Terriss, W. H. Crane, William Collier, Ellen Terry and Sam Bernard. Even though Mr. Frohman remained firm in his determination to keep his stars clear of the vaudeville stage, the Klaw & Erlanger, Stair & Havlin-Julius Cahn cir- cuits operate in conjunction with the fol- lowing producers, from whom they would have every reason to expect support: William A. Brady. Llebler ft Co. Will J. Block. Thompson ft Dandy. Nixon & Zimmerman Henry W. Savage. Henry B. Harris. Krnnic McKee. Mnnlel Frobman Hen Greet. , " Daniel V. Arthni John Oort. A. W. Plngwall. Joseph Brooks. Charles B. Dillingham, prnadhnrat ft Cmr1f T A. H. Woods. William T. Keogii. P. H. Sullivan. Gaa Hill. Jules Marry. Spencer ft A born. Mlttenthal Brothers. • Lincoln J. Carter. E. R. Salter. Arthur C. Alston. B. B. Forrester. Vance ft Sullivan J. J. Coleman. B. C. White. Wagenhals ft Kemper. Charles H. Tale. In the vaudeville field Klaw & Erlanger will he well equipped for "features" in an emergency or otherwise. Of the fol- low ing. «tars controlled hy this formidable list of producing managers there are few, if any, who could not be prevailed upon to make a vaudeville appearance for a short off long period, if the request emanated from the Klaw & Erlanger offices. The firm's legitimate and variety interests would be so interwoven that each branch would bolster up the other, directly or in- directlv. The greatest star playing over the Klaw & Erlanger time could be impressed with the importance of obliging the legiti- mate managers, if occasion arose, and no other nrgument could more forcibly im press the proposed vaudeville "feature" than the attitude of the firm the following season in the event of a refusal. The names in the list below all have commercial value; some greater than others, and especially in vaudeville, where many would then play for the first time: Andrew Mack Lew Dockatader Annie Russell Bertha Gnlland Blanche Walsh Channcey Olcott Mneklyn Arbaekle Carrie DeMar Pnstln Farnnm Dlgbv Bell Marie Cahill F.leanor Rohson Eva Tangnay Fzra Kendall Eugenie Blair B. S. Wlltard Elsie Janls Forbes Robertson Gertrude Elliott Vat Goodwin Mnxlno Elliott Florence Roberts Or nee George George Sidney Florence Bindley Henrietta Crosmsm "nap" Ward narry Vokes Tames K. naekett Joe Welch Joseph Murphy James J. Cornet! Kellar Kyrle Hellew Lawrence lvorsnv Corlnne Fay Templeton Frank Daniels Frltxl Sehefr Joseph Cawthorn Lulu Glaser Mrlntvre and TToafli Richard Carle Ernest ilogan William* and Walker Frank Motilan Anna neld Cole and Johnson Four Mortons Maude Kealy Four Huntings. O#or?e H. Primrose Harry Be res ford Lillian Russell May Irwin Mildred Holland Wilton Lackaye Mary Mannertng Madge Carr Cooke Mrs. Leslie Carter Montgomery and Stone Nat M. Wills Nance O'Nell Rogers Brother* George M. Cohnn Robert Fdeson Robert Downing Ralph Stuart Robert B. Mantell Robert I<nrra!nc Roselle Knott Charles T. Aldrleh Penman Thompson William Faversham Oeorgln Calne Raymond Hltchrork Tim Murphy Emmett Corrlgan Pnvld K. Hlggln* Mabel TaNaf/em Tyrone Power Thomas E. Rhea The Rnvs Viola Allen Wright Lortmer Yorke and Adam* Barney Gllmore Paul Gllmore Charles B. Banford T/ouls James Rose Melville ojga Nethersole James O'Nell Mm r\ Shaw Rose Stahl Adelaide Thurston At Wilson Black Pattl Grace Cameron Murray and M»> * Cherldah Simpson Hurry Bulger nickel. WaN.Mi hi Wroth.- \ perusal <*f tin- ahoy* names will '"' u .i goodly percentage of srtiflt* wh" '•;•«! (('uHjinucd on jwftr 1.°,, second column •