Variety (Mar 1907)

VARIETY TALKING PEACE FOR WHEELS. Thar* axe said to be certain diplo- matic represent a Uod 8 going forward be I ween members of the two burlesque Wheels, looking to an arrangement where- by opposition will be eliminated in such cities as may be decided upon. The hcheine is a new one. it includes the clos- ing of one house in cities where both Wheels are represented and where the profits are not entirely satisfactory. The matter is not being taken up of- ficially by either side, but according to a manager of the Eastern Wheel is being considered with a view to placing it be- fore the respective boards of directors. It is proposed, for example, to close either of the burlesque houses in Albany, leasing it out for stock or vaudeville pur- poses, and to have both Wheels play three days in the remaining house. The same scheme is suggested for Indianapolis and other cities. WHITE RATS ACTIVE. Circular letters have been forwarded to vaudeville managers by the White Rats of America drawing attention to the mutilation of artists' music by musicians. No specific complaint was made in the letter, but the manager was asked to warn his orchestra against wantonness of this nature. The first answer received by the order in reply came from a manager who re- quested to know if any such occurrence had happened in his theatre. This man- ager instructed his orchestra leader to com- municate with the Rats for detailed in- formation. Another matter about to be actively delved into by the society is the sanitary condition of the houses played in. Last Thursday night, at the regular meeting, a form of letter was submitted, which, when approved, will be mailed to any house against which a complaint has been lodged by a "Rat" owing to its unwhole- some condition. The White Rats will be insistent that the proper rules of health be observed in theatres where its members appear. This is considered one of the most important movements undertaken by the order for the benefit of the artists. KEITH DISCONTINUES "SUNDAYS." Boston, March 1. To-morrow night will be the last Sun- day concert given at Keith's for the bene- fit of the management at present. This has been decided upon. Another innovation for the Keith con- tinuous performance here is the sale of reserved seats. A box office has been placed on the Washington street side of the theatre, where seats may be reserved in advance. EVA TANGUAY ALONE. Eva Tanguay has been booked with the Keith people for a considerable tour. She opens March 11 at the Temple, Detroit. She will not have a supporting company, as was announced some time ago. but will do a single act in "one." MISS CARUS BACK AGAIN. Emma Cams closes her short-lived star ring tour in Chicago to-night and returns at once to vaudeville under the direction of M. 8. Bentham. ALICE LLOYD FEATURED At the conclusion of her Jirst perieiu* a nee at the Colonial theatre last Monday afternoon Alice Lloyd, the English singer, who then appeared for the first time in this country, was selected by Percy U. Williams as his headline]- for the same house next week. Billing was immediately ordered and Miss Lloyd will occupy that coveted posi- tion, and continue in that position over the Williams circuit. The McNaughtons, appearing on the same bill, will also be retained for another week. The two acts play together, one of the McNaughtons being the husband of Miss Lloyd. The success of Miss Lloyd at the Colonial spread over the city very quickly last Monday, and led to an agent being barred out of the theatre. The agent's action in calling upon the McNaughtons in an effort to wean away the acts from Clifford C. Fischer, who booked them, caused the stage manager, Evan Thomas, to issue orders that no outsider be allowed upon the stage. Miss Lloyd and the McNaughtons have nine weeks to play over here before re- turning to the other side to fulfill foreign contracts. The American time may be extended a few weeks. Both acts are booked on the Moss-Stoll circuit in Eng- land up to 1912, at a gradually increasing scale of salary. Miss Lloyd's songs were much in de- mand by music publishers the past week, who sought the publication rights. Fran cis, Day & Hunter have the handling of some, while "Shapiro" has the publication rights of others. SHARPSHOOTERS MEET. There may yet be a sharpshooting con- test around New York. Two of the marksmen may meet to-day to arrange the conditions. At least that was the agreement arrived at last Wednesday when Colonel Gaston Bordeverry and John De Loris, rivals with the rifles, met in the hallway on the eighth floor of the St. James Building. Col. Bordeverry, Mr. De Loris and Frank McCrea, of McCrea and Poole, have been having a wordy battle through advertise- ments as to their respective merits. In the newspapers, as the Colonel occupied the most space he seemed to have the better of it, but McCrea tendered a wager of $1,000 to Bordeverry without terms being arranged. , j* Mr. De Loris then stepped into the breach and deposited a like amount, issu- ing a challenge at the same time. This amount will be covered, according to Col. Bordeverry, and the challenge accepted, but the terms must be first arranged. If the two shooters meet to-day that will be done, perhaps. There sems a fair chance of a dual exhibition, with pistols guns, targets (human and otherwise), and the other implements of a well-regulated "shooting act." GUYER AND CRISPI SEPARATE. Charles Guyer and Ida Crispi, who have been running mates in the sketch "Watch the Finish," have agreed to separate, and "the finish" will come to-night at the con- clusion of their engagement in New Haven. Neither has announced any future plane. ARTISTS' FORUM Confine your latter* to 150 word* and writs on one side of paper only. Anonymous communication* will not be printed. Name of writer must ba aliened and will be held In strict confidence. If desired. San Francisco, February 20. Editor Variety: Note protest in "Artists' Forum" in issue of Feb. 9 by Harvey and DeVora over the alleged pirating of the title The Dancing Kids" by Morris and Kramer. In justice to the latter team, it may be explained that that term was applied by me in a descriptive manner in my San Francisco correspondence, and was not used by Morris and Kramer in their billing. They style themselves as I recollect it "The Dancing Demons." W. Alfred Wilson. Variety's representative at San Francisco. meet the champion female buck daneer of America. Please let us talk with money in these days of high finance. Fred Wilton, Editor of the "Police Gazette." Februarv 25, 1907. Editor Variety: Your article in Februarv 10 issue of Variety regarding the dancing contest at the Pastor Ball doesn't seem to call for any additional argument, and so, instead of rushing into a controversy as to the merits of men who judge buck-dancing contests, I will merely make one state- ment: Wilson and Bell, the defeated contestants for the "Police Gazette" medal, have deposited with me the sum of $100 as forfeit money for an immedi- ate match with their successful rivals. Here is a case in which the judges might well afford to pass the hat, if they were so sure of their own opinions, cover the forfeit, and make a little money on the side, as the challenging team will dance for any amount, from $500 to $1,000 a I still have in my possession $250 belonging to Miss Lulu Beeson, defeated uccording to the judges, five years ago, by Bertha Gleason, in a similar contest, and I haven't been able to find anyone during that period of time who thought enough of their skill to cover the money and Albany, N. Y., Feb. 25. Editor Variety: What's the matter? 1 have had the -<>le management of the Gaiety Theatre. Albany, for over eleven years. Look it up and give credit. Variety is always auxiously looked forward to each week, hut I wasn't particularly pleased when 1 read a week ago that Ora Dresselhaua, of the Standard, Cincinnati, was the only "woman manager of a burlesque house in this country." I think I am the only established man ageress now, Mrs. Smith and Mis. Keavitt having retired. Agnes Barry. February 18, 1907. Editor Variety: We had an experience lately which should be a warning to the profession. A railroad representative sold us tickets from Dubuque, la., to Saginaw, Mich. We were to arrive at the Jeffers Theatre in Saginaw in time for the Sunday mati- nee. Arriving at Grand Rapids 6:40 A. M. Sunday, we were informed that there was no train out that day, conse- quently we did not open. I finally had to pay for a "special" to get us in for the evening performance. Artists should not accept the state ments of ticket agents, but make them show time-tables, connections, and be sure about Sunday trains particularly. This man either misrepresented deliberately to us or was ignorant of his business. Dunn-Franoit Co. HOWARD ON WESTERN WHEEL. On Monday, March 4, the Howard The- atre in Boston becomes a part of the West- ern Burlesque Wheel. The "Cherry Blos- soms" will be the attraction, with a vaude- ville olio of some length added. The addition of the Howard to the Wheel closes the gap between Pittsburg and Washington. Heretofore the Western shows have either "laid off" for a week after Pittsburg or played one-night stands. The regular vaudeville bill will be given from 1 to 3 in the afternoon; the bur- lesque show in its entirety including the olio will follow, and the "supper show" will take the place of an intermission. The evening performances will be con- ducted on the same plan. The terms under which the Western show plays the house are understood to be a guarantee which relieves the show'* management of "counting up." CHANGE HADE UPTOWN. After last Sunday night's performances at the Keith-Proctor Harlem Opera House and 125th Street theatre, the entire staff, "props" and scenery of each house were removed to the other. On Monday after- noon, a vaudeville bill was given on the East Side, where formerly stock had reigned^ while at the Harlem Opera House, which had given vaudeville since under the K.-P. management, a stock company held the boards. Eugene O'Rourke, who has been play- ing vaudeville time with his comedy sketch, will leave the varieties at the conclusion of this season. Last wesk he signed a three years' contract with Wil- liam A. Brady to assume the part of Fagin in 'The Man of the Hour." STOCK MINSTREL COMPANY. If capital can be interested, Jules Kub.v. the agent, will secure the Third Avenue Theatre for a home of stock minstrelsy, patterned after Dumont's in Philadelphia. The lease of the Third Avenue is at present held by J. Austin Fynes, who sublet the house after a short wrestle with vaudeville, to Harry Dixon. Mr. Dixon is playing "drammers" in it. One of the Sire Brothers is considering the minstrel scheme. fid Rogers and Alice Warren have signed with Whalen Bros. & Martell for next season