Variety (Apr 1907)

VARIETY WESTERN MANAGERS DISAP- POINTED. Tony Lubelski, William Weston and one or two other San Francisco vaudeville managers, of the cheaper priced houses in the West, arrived in the city Monday, ac- companied by Arthur Fabish, of William Morris' Chicago Office. The managers' mission was to effect a booking arrangement through Mr. Morris, but in this they failed. Lubelski offered to deposit a cash for- feit to be devoted to the payment of any sums in dispute by acts booked through the Morris office, if Mr. Morris would send Eastern acts to their Western houses, but Morris declined all overtures. The principal reason for Morris' de- clination of this circuit of 24 weeks is un- doubtedly the likelihood of the Suilivan- Considine circuit which covers practically the same Western territory, coming into his office. The Lubelski-Weston people, who com- pose the Empire-Weston and Burns-Lube 1- ski circuit in the West, are in opposition to the Sullivan-Oonsidine circuit, the book- ing arrangement between the circuits for- merly existing ending with the present month. "The Three L's" in San Francisco (Tony Lubelski, Sam Loverich and Archie Levy) have separated, Mr. Levy joining the S.-C. forces. The Empire Circuit, as the opposi- tion to Sullivan-Considine is known, can not book with the Western Vaudeville As- sociation in Chicago very well, through the influence of the Orpheum Circuit which operates theatres in some of their towns. The bills to be supplied would be limited to such an extent to avoid competition with the Orpheum that they could not compete with Sullivan-Oonsidine, who in several cities have theatres capable of playing a fair grade of show. This budding into a better grade circuit by the Sullivan-Considine people is not looked upon with favor by the Orpheum. Steps have been taken in several towns by the latter to squelch possible opposi- tion from the S.-C. houses, and this will eventually divert the circuit into the Will- iam Morris office, it not being in a posi- tion to secure desirable acts in the face of the coming vaudeville fight, without as- sistance from an Eastern booking agency. John W. Considine of Seattle, the head of the company, is in New York, and has consulted with A. L. Erlanger, with whom he is in sympathy through the friendship of his partner, Senator Timothy D. Sulli- van, with the theatrical "syndicate." LANDLORD CASEY. P. J. Casey, of the Morris office, has secured a four years' lease of the second floor of the building at the northeast cor- ner of Forty-second street and Broadway, beginning May 1, with the proviso that all the billboards above it must come down at that time. The building is owned by the Astor estate, which built the Knickerbocker Hotel opposite, and the boards are re- garded as a nuisance to the guests of the hotel. Mr. Casey's lease provides that he shall not permit any boards on the building, but there is no embargo on the use of the twenty windows for an original adver- tising scheme. The floor is now rented to a billiard parlor. ANOTHER MUSIC COMBINATION FORMED. As indicated in Variety last week, the combination of F. A. Mills, Charles K. Harris, Leo Feist, M. Witmark & Sons and F. B. Haviland for the establishment of a series of retail stores for the sale of music throughout the country haa brought forward another amalgamation of interests under the corporate title "United Music Stores Company." The officers are Maurice Shapiro, president; Fred Hager, vice-president; Louis Dreyfus, secretary, and Fred Day, treasurer. Barring the opening of one store in At- lantic City for the summer, it is under- stood that the new concern, which is cap- italized for $20,000, does not intend to delve very deeply into the retail business, unless it should be deemed expedient. If they find that between the J. H. Remick stores and the places to be controlled by the other combination of publishers, their goods are not being given a fair display, then, and only then, will they take steps to protect themselves. About eight con- cerns, all told, are said to be in the United Company. Mr. Friedman, at present in the employ of A* H. Goetting, as announced in Va- riety, has been selected for the post of general manager for the Mills-Harris-Wit- mark-Feist-Haviland corporation, and as- sumes his duties on June 1. That con- cern is known as the American Music Stores Company. Discussing the situation this week, Fred Belcher, manager for J. H. Remick & Co., said: "All these combinations can only do good to the business. It will result in a thorough understanding not to cut rates, and for this reason we shall welcome as many of these amalgamations as possible. Of course, whether we welcome them or not, they will conduct their business ac- cording to their own ideas, but the prin- cipal thing that will appeal to all of us is the prevention of cut prices and the sale of music to the ten-cent stores. "As to Remick & Co. controlling the re- tail business, we have only thirty-two stores in the United States out of a prob- able five thousand. We alone sell direct to over two thousand smaller dealers, and there is necessarily no disposition to an- tagonize them." THEATRICAL LEGISLATION DYING. There was a rumor abroad in Albany this week that Asesmblyman Robinson had agreed to withdraw his bill "to amend the penal code relating to Sabbath break- ing" which is still in committee. There is a live probability that the other meas- ure relating to theatrical licenses may not be passed upon this session. The latter bill was up on second read- ing before the Assembly Monday. When it was reported out an amendment was offered making it possible for a tax-payer to bring suit for the revocation of any theatre's license upon the failure of the corporation counsel to bring suit ten days after the filing of a complaint. After the ten days the tax-payer himself may in- stitute the suit upon giving bond. Assemblyman Cuvillier, known as Mayor McClellan's representative in the Assembly, moved an amendment making the time before the tax-payer may move 20 days. The bill was thereupon sent back to the committee. When it comes up for third reading it is probable that further amendments will be offered. One will be that the tax-pay- er's bond be not less than $500, and the other that when a theatre's license is re- voked the court's decision shall be subject to appeal. A motion to adjourn was before the Assembly Monday. It was to take effect May 6. This date may be put back 10 days. In that event the Rules Commit- tee will take charge of all pending mat- ters, and the bill, should it not be passed before that time, may be shelved. GETTING THE HABIT. Philadelphia, April 26. Since the marriage last week on the road of Clara Morton, it has been strongly rumored that her brother Paul, a member of the Four Mortons, playing at the Chest- nut Street Opera House, is preparing io book up on the matrimonial circuit. The identity of the bride-elect is a profound secret to all but the young couple's most intimate friends. HARRIS ON A TRIP. Charles K. Harris, the music publisher, will leave New York on May 10 for a two weeks' trip West, including in his visit Chicago, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Minne- apolis and Denver. Mr. Harris' stop at the latter place will be to consult a promoter who has inquired of him lately the price for which he will dispose of a gold mine in Mexico, owned for some time by Mr. Harris. An offer of $250,000 led the music publisher to be- lieve he had a better gold mine in reality than the title deeds evidenced, and his trip West is made one of pleasure and business combined. /"^-JoeM. Harris, his brother, reaches town early next week to engage people for the season of "The Time, the Place and the Girl" at the Tremont Theatre, Boston; also other pieces to be put out by the Harry Askin Amusement Company, of Chicago. Mr. Harris holds the publication rights for the music to be sung in the new piece which will be produced at the Chi- cago Opera House on May 11. Raymond Hubbell is the composer. ALHAMBRA IN MILWAUKEE. Milwaukee, April 26. Klaw & Erlanger intend to conduct the Alhatnbra Theatre here beginning early in the summer as an all-star vaudeville house. All preparations are made and the bill is now being prepared for the initial program. The Alhambra seats some 2,400 people, and has been booked by Stair & Havlin as a part of their popular price circuit. "MONEY TALK" BARRED. Following the arrival of English papers with columns of comment on the prices offered foreign acts by agents on behalf of Klaw & Erlanger, instructions were forwarded to Clifford C. Fischer, the agent, now in London as one of K. & E.'s representatives, to be more discreet in his interviews with newspaper men, and above all to stop giving out any salaries con- tracted for or offered. EMMA CARUS CANCELED. Philadelphia, April 26. The Grand Opera House in Pittsburg will not be graced by Emma Cams next week. At present Miss Cams is one of the numbers on the Klaw & Erlanger Chestnut Street Opera House first "ad- vanced vaudeville" bill. If a secret must be publicly told, that is the reason she will not play Pittsburg under the United Booking Offices' direc- tion; neither will she play Hammerstein's, New York City, nor Detroit, nor Roch- ester. These four weeks have been lost to the singer through her allegiance to K. & E. for seven days. She may yet be held over here for another week, then Rochester (K. & E.), so the net loss to her may not be over one week, if any. Miss Carus received a registered letter early this week notifying her that Roch- ester and Detroit were canceled. On Thursday she received another advising her regarding the other two to the same effect. Miss Carus claims that three weeks of the four were not canceled in accordance with her contract with the United, which provides for two weeks' no- tice, and also prohibits her from playing for the opposition any city where there is a theatre owned or operated by the United. The decision as to the required notifica- tion of cancellation will probably be set- tled by Miss Carus' agent, as it is likely the United will set up as a defense in the event of litigation following that he re- ceived due and timely notice. It is stated about town that the Four Mortons have been canceled for three weeks' contracts issued by the United on the same grounds. A short while ago, when it was rumored that Miss Carus would be canceled if she played any K. & E. time in violation of her United contract, A. L Erlanger ad- dressed a letter to the opposition stating that if any interference or intimidation were attempted with any acts engaged by his firm, prosecution would follow. It is understood here among artists that any act playing opposition to the United will be canceled by it when holding con- tracts. FRISCO'S "HOUSE OF MYSTERY." San Francisco, April 26. The Princess Theatre, in course of erec- tion on the lot adjoining the Orpheum, is a house of mystery, and the subject of much conjecture. The house is credited to the Varney & Green combination, but no set policy has been announced as yet, hence Dame Rumor has her say. From some quarters the news emanates that Kolb & Dill are making a strong play to secure the place for their travesty pro- ductions, while others insist that its ulti- mate finish is in the Klaw & Erlanger column. SENDS FOR HOLBROOKE. Al. Holbrooke, who has had charge of most of the Joe Weber productions, has received an offer from Klaw & Erlanger to handle the staging of the vaudeville spectacles, dancing and singing acts that that firm has in mind for use on Ui vaudeville circuit. Mr. Holbrooke has re- turned no definite answer as yet.