Variety (June 1907)

I VARIETY PLENTY OF STARS. The statement made this week that the United Booking Offices is handicapped in its search for large "name" acts for use against the opposition is denied at head- quarters. An official of the agency said that at least twenty well known legitimate play- ers were under contract to appear in its houses next season, and they had experi- enced no difficulty in securing material of this nature. EXPECT W. & V. IN ALTOONA. Altoona, Pa., May 31. If vaudeville is again presented in Al- toona, it is expected to be received through Wilmer & Vincent. It is said that the firm acting with Nathan Appell, of the Grand Opera House, Reading, are negotiating with I. C. Mishler for one of the latter's local theatres. No progress has been made with the re- building of the Lyric, the John K. Burk vaudeville theatre destroyed by fire early in the season. The adjustment of the loss with the insurance companies is still held in abeyance for some unknown reason. HARTFORD DELAYS PLAYING. Hartford, Conn., May 31. Negotiations are still pending between the managers of the opera house and the William Morris Office looking toward the installation of variety performances there for the coming weeks. 52 WEEKS FOR WILLS. One thousand dollars weekly for fifty- two weeks offered to Nat Wills by the United uooking Offices has been accepted by the comedian. At the request of E. F. Albee, Mr. Wills has returned to his for- mer tramp attire and discarded the even- ing dress. Mr. Albee told Wills that he had be- come identified with that style of dress through fifteen years' usage, and it was looked for by the public. FOUR MORTONS MAY REMAIN. The inducements offered the Four Mor- tons may hold them in the variety branch for another season. Sam Morton con- templates securing a new sketch, possibly written by Geo. V. Hobart, and may en- large the vaudeville company. A new part has been created for Mrs. Paul Morton, who will become part of the act in the fall. WITMARKS FAIL IN LEGAL SUIT. The injunction asked for, by M. Wit- mark & Sons against "Shapiro, 1 " to enjoin the latter from further publishing Sey- mour Furth's song "No Wedding Bells for Me" was denied on Tuesdav morning be- fore Judge Davis in the Supreme Court. The Witmark firm contended that an agreement with Furth binding his services to them virtually gave the song into their hands. The court did not agree with this contention. n LUESCHER IN NEW YORK. Mark A. Luescher, who has given most f his attention to the Philadelphia vaude- ville theatre of Klaw & Erlanger's, is now located permanently at Boom 7 in the New York Theatre building. From this office Mr. Luescher will han- dle the press department of the K. & E. circuit, including the billing of the shows. "POP" WIGGINS DIES SUDDENLY. Last Tuesday night at the Hotel Breslin, E. W. Wiggins, of Detroit, died suddenly. Heart failure is believed to have caused his death. Mr. Wiggins had been in the variety business for many years. \ ; ong time ago he conducted a dime museum in Detroit. Prospering, other ineatrical properties came into his possession. At his death, he held the Temple Theatre, Detroit, and Cook's Opera House, Rochester, both play- ing vaudeville. Mr. Wiggins' vaudeviVe business has been very successful, and he left a large fortune. James H. Moore and one son were interested in the theatrical ventures. Mr. Wiggins' houses were known as "Moore's," the change in name having been brought about in Detroit at one time, and since continued. The deceased was familiarly known as "Pop" to vaude- villians all over the country. CHANGES ON ORPHEUM STAFF. Charles E. Bray, the former booking representative of the Orpheum Circuit at Chicago, arrived in New York this week, coming direct from the Northwest. W r hile out in that country Mr. Bray settled the details for the new Orpheum theatres to be added to the circuit for next season. In Seattle and Spokane new houses will be built. Martin Beck, general manager, said this week that Mr. Bray had allotted the contiacts while away. In other West- ern cities, previously announced, theatres now standing will be converted. Mr. Bray will remain in New York for the present, acting as assistant to Mr. Beck in the operation of the Orpheum's business. The office of "assistant to the general man- ager" may be established, and Mr. Bray permanently located in it. Clarence Drowns, brought on here from the post of resident manager of the Los Angeles Orpheum, has been assigned as Pacific Coast representative of the Orpheum Circuit, with headquarters in San Fran- cisco. Mr. Drowns has left for his new station. EXPENSIVE SCENIC PRODUCTIONS. For their four large scenic acts to be presented in vaudeville next season Dial & Armstrong, the producers, have laid out an expense sheet calling for a total ex- penditure of $38,000 to equip the num- bers. The appropriation will be divided be- tween "The Navajoes," "Vassar Girls,'' "Four Seasons" and "The Aeolians." The latter will be a new act. SINGERS IN UNION. The American Professional Singers' As- sociation, an organization of singers en- gaged in musical shows and musical comedies, was formed this week and for- mally installed as an adjunct of the Act- ors' Union under* the designation "Local 15, Actor' National Protective Union." Jack Rose was elected president and sec- retary. Headquarters have been estab- lished at 315 West 42d street. James L. Barry, business manager of Local No. 1, A. N. P. U., officiated at the installation. CHANCE FOR CHRISTIE MACDONALD. Christie MacDonald has an opportunity to try vaudeville whenever the desire over- comes her. Agents have communicated this to Miss MacDonald. LONDON NOTES London, May 22. June 1 is the date now officially set for delivery of the arbitrator's award. Should the award restrict "barring" somewhat there is little doubt but that an effort will be made to depreciate salaries to a point that will compensate for the restrictions. In fact this move has already set in, but in some directions is meeting stiff opposition. No successor to the late Geo. Adney Payne has yet been appointed, and despite rumors of an immediate choosing oue al- most thinks the succession may hang fire until after the arbitrator's award. Mean- time Mr. Masters continues in charge, and thoroughly knows the ropes. Perhaps Wal- ter Gibbons will now acquire supreme con- trol. The names of Henry Tozer, chairman of the syndicate halls, and Henri Gros, president of the Managers' Association, have also been mentioned, while Mr. Mas- ters has been named as a possibility. Just now, however, there seems to be a drift toward Gibbons. He is a good, smart, en- terprising showman, his success proving that beyond dispute: With just a few modifi- cations in the mans personality he might get along famously with the artists. Ele- vation to the seat of Mr. Payne would make Walter Gibbons indeed a prominent figure. The Alhambra has spent about $50,000 on structural alterations, remodeling bal- cony and gallery, putting in marble stair- cases, introducing wide and comfortable arm chairs, laying new carpets, painting, decorating, etc. The Britannia, Macnaghten toui, has been suddenly closed as a variety theatre by the Lord Chamberlain, and engaged ar- tists have been transferred to other Mac- naghten halls. Formerly the bill had both dramatic and variety items, but now the ruling Is that only a dramatic show will be permitted. The Britannia is a very large hall of many years' standing, and a blended show had been tolerated so long that the management felt secure. Jordan and Harvey have been notified by Mr. Stoll to remit the sum of two weeks' salary as liquidated damages for having played the Islington Empire on April 8 when booked for Holborn on Jan. 3; also for having played the London, Shoreditch, on April 15, when booked for Hackney on May 27. All of these contracts were arranged by the same firm of agents. Jordan said: "You have got to be a sur- veyor nowadays as well as a performer." A large number of American and conti- nental managers and agents are at present here, overlooking available talent for their respective halls and theatres. Oscar ITam- merstein is looking for something in the operatic line, and of course is greatly In- terested in the Covent Garden recitals. He says it fills him with sadness to see such a grand place as the Coliseum closed. Savoy. Ed Rush is expected shortly. Ted Marks, sporting a fragrant boutonniere in the lapel of his coat, is at the Cecil. Al- fred Aarons is here armed with the only authority possessed by any one in Europe to sign contracts on behalf of Klaw & Er- langer. Ben Tieber, manager of the Apollo, Vi- enna, is expected from that city in a day or two. Carl Edouard Pollack, an agent with interests in Vienna, is making his headquarters at the Hotel de Europe. We had the pleasure of a few moments' chat on Monday with Mr. Marc Klaw, who is busy reading plays at his Savoy Court apartments. Mr. Klaw tells us that Klaw & Erlanger are not restricting their book- ings to any one agent or firm of agents, but will negotiate with any people who have the material they require. An interesting experiment was inaugu- rated by (Jus Elen, with his own company, at the Victoria Hall, Waterloo Road, on la.st Saturday night. Mr. Elen fniling to secure his Iiondon re-bookings on satisfac- tory terms, decided to have a try at acting manager, and if the appreciation of an audience is any criterion, the experiment may be considered a huge success. Mr. Elen has options on several other halls in London, and is looking about for still more, as the encouragement accorded his initial venture has led him to believe that the pub- lic want him, and will give him their sup- port whether the managers play him or uot. Ernest Lcpnrd is now sole booking man- ager of the Brighton Alhambra, formerly booked through the Graydon offices here. In the last number of the "Rapid Re- view" Oswald Stoll decries the weak copies of music hall originalities. The annual report of the Artists' Rail- way Association shows a total active mem- bership of 4,004, with 1,140 accessions last year, and over $5,000 cash in hand. Frank Macnaghten is about to open a Iiondon booking office in the central dis- trict, where engagements for city and pro- vincial tours will be closed. Hitherto pro- vincial headquarters have been at Sheffield. It is curious to note that the Lord Cham- berlain's strange but advertising edict against "The Mikado" does not apply to chronophone selections, and these singing and talking pictures are now shown twice daily at the London nippodromo. Teny Williams came on the same day as Mr. Hammerstein, and is also at the Living statues are "getting it" now, and the list of towns barring them is now Man- chester, Hull. Birmingham, Wigan and Glasgow. At Bradford the licensing, com- mittee went to see La Milo and voted her harmless and artistic. On the other hand, Venus and Cupid were stopped at Wigan without the privilege of giving even one show. London so far refuses to take ac- tion, thinking it is dangerous to intermeddle too much in such matters, and abiding by the reports of official inspectors and the sense of the g<>n<>ral public.