Variety (June 1907)

VARIETY UNITED STILL WORKING ON LE GITIMAT E SCHEME Papers Have Been Drawn For the Incorporation of] a Company to Promote Legitimate Theatricals. Though no information could be ob- tained at the United Booking Offices this week relative to the scheme now in process of development for the acquiring of theatres throughout the country where legitimate attractions may play in oppo- sition to the Klaw & Erlanger in that field, it was admitted that the story In Variety last week to that ertect was not far from the truth. It is known that articles of incorpora- tion have been prepared by attorneys for a monster corporation, and while the name has not been definitely decided upon, it will likely be entitled "The United Amusement Syndicate." The charter for the company affords a i wide scope, and will have as an auxiliary branch a producing department. This will provide the large and spectacular pro- ductions desired by the United managers for use against their competitors. The wealthier managers booking through the United Offices are interested in the corporation, and there is also cap- ital invested from outside theatrical ranks. John W. Gates has been mentioned as one of the backers of the legitimate ven ture. Mr. Gates is said to have no money in the move, but others equally as high in the financial world are interested. A manager in the council of the United said that a statement of the details would be ready for publication next week. A. L. Erlanger left the city Tuesday, returning late in the week. While away no important announcement was given, out from the Klaw & Erlanger head- quarters. It was reported that before leaving Mr. Erlanger had arranged with Stair & Hav- lin to take over a large number of the latter's houses. These are to be played by Klaw & Er- langer under a percentage arrangement, and included in the list selected are the Stair & Ilnvlin theatres which have not earned over $10,000 yearly. Under the terms of the agreement en- tered into, Klaw & Erlanger guarantee that the profits in the future, while vaudeville is played, shall not be less than the average net returns of the the- atres for several years back. Street stories all week have been full of a future amalgamation between the opposing vaudeville forces. On both sides of the fence the leading members in the fight disclaim any such possibility. It is further said by both that no inclination on the part of either to stop the warfare has been indicated in the slightest degree. There is a general belief that the pro- posed plan of Klaw & Erlanger to form traveling vaudeville companies to play their houses next season will be changed in so far as the larger cities, where oppo- sition exists, are concerned. It is argued for this that a solid show traveling over a route laid out would be giving information in advance to the other side of too important a nature, which would allow of preparation to off- set the strength of the K. & E. bill wherever played. GLOOM AT "THE ISLAND." There was a mist of despair at Coney Island yesterday. May 30 (Decoration Day) is the date set for the first install- ment of rent from the shop keepers and amusement proprietors. The final pay- ment for the summer season comes on July 4. The preliminary business is expected to carry over tenants, with the added re- ceipts of Decoration Day, but the season so far has been so cold that visitors re- ligiously avoided "the Island." Land- lords and tenants have been holding gloomy sessions over the prospects. MOVING PICTURES IN 58TH STREET. A program announcement at the Keith- Proctor 58th Street theatre this week said that, commencing next Monday, moving pictures would be given in the theatre as a continuous performance, with admis- sion placed at five and ten cents, "stay as long as you like." M. E. Robinson, the manager, said that owing to the weather it had been decided to prolong the vaudeville bills, and the pictures would not be given as an enter- tainment until the heat compelled the abandonment of the regular shows. The Manhattan theatre is now giving a similar sort of a show at the same rates "of admission. Archie L. Sheppard is con- ducting it. TWO-A-DAY AT 5 CENTS. The new departure in "five cent" vaude- ville of playing two shows daily was com- menced this week at the Third Avenue Theatre, now under the management of J. B. Morris, who also has houses in North Adams, Mass., and Gloversville, N. Y. The Third Avenue is booked in conjunction with the others of Mr. Morris' circuit. The first week's business at the "five cent" place is said to be satisfactory. Six acts are played, the weekly cost of bills running from $200 to $250. At the first matinee 300 people were in the house. Ten cents is the charge for reserved seats. VESTA VICTORIAN LAST WEEK. This is the last week of the season for Vesta Victoria on the United's circuit. Miss Victoria opens at the Savoy The- atre, Atlantic City, Monday, for two weeks. She sails for home June 22, going by way of Glasgow, Scotland. In the fall, if successful in postponing foreign engagements, Miss Victoria will return to head a traveling company to be organized by Klaw <fc Erlanger for a tour of their theatres. Miss Victoria may conclude her en- gagement at the seaside on next Satur- day, playing another week in the city on the New York Roof, commencing June 10. K. & E. IN CIRCUS RUMOR. Klaw & Erlanger are now looking to- wards the tented field of amusement aa a future investment according to the latest report. One large traveling show is said to have been offered to the firm, but was refused. DIXEY IN A MONOLOGUE. Following the reversal of the lower court's decision in granting an injunc- tion against Henry E. Dixey in favor of Walter N. Lawrence by the Appellate Di- vision of the Supreme Court, Mr. Dixey will soon appear in vaudeville in a mono- logue that he has now in hand. Vion & Lowe, the agents, have the booking of Mr. Dixey's tour, it is understood. The injunction granted Lawrence caused Mr. Dixey to lose an engagement he bad booked over the Williams circuit at the time. The papers were served on the actor shortly before he was to have appeared at the Orpheum, Brooklyn, Law- rence alleging that under a contract Dixey could not appear in vaudeville without his consent. It was upon this clause of the agree- ment that the Appellate Term dissolved the permanent injunction granted. The contract gave Lawrence the right to sub- let Dixey at his pleasure, but provided that Dixey could not play vaudeville dur- ing any "lay off." The higher court held that this clause was inequitable. CITY FORBIDS BUILDING. Spokane, Wash., May 31. The proposed new Pantages' vaudeville theatre has fallen through. The city of- ficials held that the Holly-Mason building, which was to have been converted, is un- safe, and the plans submitted by the architects do not conform to the local re- quirements. The matter was before the Fire Com- missioner and building department for a hearing. WANTS $2,500 FROM EVA TANGUAY. William Grossman, of House, Grossman & Vorhaus, received this week the claim of William L. Lykens, the agent, against Eva Tanguay, for commissions alleged to be due the agent for Miss Tanguay's vaudeville bookings, 42 weeks at from $500 to $550 weekly. Lykens will set up an agreement to act as the singer's manager at a salary of 10 per cent, of the gross earnings. Mr. Lykens says if the recovery of the amount asked for is received by him, he will turn the money over to a charitable cause. ALICE NEILSEN WOULDN'T. Remarkable as it may sound, no agent succeeded in interesting Alice Neilsen, the operatic singer, in the variety side of the footlights. Some of the commission men were au- thorized to "go after" Miss Neilsen, and there was no limit placed upon the salary by the United Booking Office, which wanted the feature. Miss Neilsen had plans for an Italian trip, and would not budge; neither did the impressive amount of money offered cause her to waver. She may now be on the seas, bound for Italy, as far a* the agents know. CLEVELAND FIGHT STARTS MON- DAY. Cleveland, May 31. The vaudeville opposition will com- mence in Cleveland Monday when the Euclid Avenue Opera House opens for a four weeks' run of variety bills under the management of Klaw &, Erlanger. Louis F. Werba and William Morris are expected to arrive to-morrow. When Mr. Werba was in town last week it was said that Cleveland would have a new vaudeville theatre to be erected by K. & E. and opened during the early part of next season. The bills for the opposition houses next week are: Keith's Eva Tanguay, Gennaro's Band, Walter Kelly, Etuel Arden, Geo. Abel and Company, Avon Comedy Four, Four Rianos, Master Gabriel and Com- pany, Genaro and Bailey. Opera House: Alice Lloyd, "Song birds," The MacNanghtons, Julian Rose, Vinelli's Horses, Mason and Bart, Greene and Werner, Jewell's Mannikins. MAX ANDERSON GOING ABROAD. The long expected trip of Max O. Ander- son, one of the Hippodrome managers, to foreign shores, will happen shortly, prob- ably about the middle of June. With the closing of the Hippodrome, and the vaudeville theatres in the Southwest Mr. Anderson is interested in, he haa found time to make his long delayed visit. KLAW LIKES ELEN. London, May 22. Marc Klaw, of Klaw & Erlanger, saw Gus Elen, the character singer, at the "Old Vic" Saturday night. Mr. Klaw said he considered Elen a great character actor, remarking "He will do." This remark was taken to refer to the Klaw & Erlanger "Advanced Vaudeville" in America. WEEK FOR McINTYRE AND HEATH. One week engagement in vaudeville has been agreed to by Mclntyre and Heath, who will appear at the Chestnut Street Opera House for Klaw & Erlanger for taai, length of time commencing Monday. KEITH GOES INTO LOWELL. Lowell, Mass., May 31. It is announced that B. F. Keith will invest $20,000 in a new amusement place here. The house will be ready by Sept. 1. The present plan is to use it for a moving picture exhibition, but it may later be turned into a vaudeville theatre. BERNARD'S bxv. OFFER. There are a number of contradictory re- ports afloat as to whether Sam Bernard has signed contracts with the United Booking Offices. It is known, however, that the agency offered Mr. Bernard $3,500 weekly for an immediate engagement of four weeks, the first seven days to be played in Pittsburg. RENTON RUMORED LEAVING POLL About August 1 Ed Renton will sever his business relations with S. Z. Poll, accord- ing to rumor. Mr. Renton may go in the agency busi- ness, the same report says.