Variety (June 1907)

VARIETY EASTERN CIRCUIT COMPLETE. On Monday, June 10 next, when the "drawing" of next season's routes by the Eastern Burlesque Wheel managers oc- curs, a full list of the houses to be played during that time will be included in the routes to be drawn. The "drawing" is a simple matter. The circuit is written out in the order it will be played, and each city numbered com- mencing at "1." These numbers are placed in a hat. In another article of headgear ace slips containing the names of, all shows playing the Eastern time. From each hat at the same moment is then drawn a slip, the show mentioned opening its season in the city called for by the number on the other piece of paper. The opening date of the next Eastern season is officially set down for Septem- ber 2. A few companies may travel forth before that day, but independent time will be played prior to the author- ized opening. The following cities will be on the East- ern's route sheet, giving the companies 36 full weeks: Albany Baltimore Birmingham Buffalo Boston (a) Brooklyn (3) Chicago (a) Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Detroit Holyoke (3 days) Indianapolis Kansas City Memphis Montreal New Orleans Newark. New York (a) Philadelphia (a) Pittsburg Providence Reading (3 days) Rochester St. Louis Scranton (3 days) Springfield (3 days) Toledo Toronto Wilkes-Barre (3 days) Washington WILL IMPROVE GARDEN. Buffalo, June 7. Before the reopening of the Garden oc- curs in the Fall about $15,000 will have been spent on the house by the Columbia Amusement Company (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) in decorations, etc. Chas. E. White will continue as man- ager. Mr. White has made himself very popular in the city during his manage- ment of the Garden. FOREIGN OFFER REFUSED. An offer from an English hall said to have been for six weeks at $2,000 weekly was declined by Williams and Walker, the colored learn. Thev are under ensranrement to the Shuberts for next season. MANCHESTER SOLVES PROBLEM. The burlesque managers are looking for- ward to next season with some degree of anxiety at the prospect of getting them- selves squeezed in the general vaudeville clash all over the country. The opposition in Rochester cost them considerable in bur- lesque patronage and they regard the spreading of the fight with a good deal of fear. Bob Manchester thinks he has found the solution. He has booked up all his people for next year. For his three shows nearly 80 women have been engaged, and there will be as little va ude ville as possible. He will make his bid rather with pretty gfrle, costumes and more elaborate spec- tacular effects. "Each of my shows," said Mr. Man- chester, "will carry twenty-two women. I have not yet signed any vaudeville acts. If we are to have opposing vaudeville the- atres in practically every city on our cir- cuit, it seems to me to be a waste of money to pay large salaries for olio fea- tures that under the conditions can make but a poor showing against the expensive bills of the United Oflices and Klaw & Er- Ianger. "I will aim to give the public something they cannot see in straight vaudeville houses, for it will be impossible to com- pete in any other way." THIESE ON ANOTHER ROOF. Beside their venture on the Madison Square Garden Roof, Henry Pincus and Mortimer M. Thiese are partners in a vaudeville venture atop Colonial Hall at 101st street and Columbus Avenue. The understanding is that Thiese is furnishing the capital for the enterprise. This neighborhood has been without local sum- mer amusement ever since the closing of the Lion Palace Roof two summers ago. The district is closely populated. The Al- hambra Roof will be its only uptown op- position. The roof is to be called "Sky- land." SHOW AT CASINO. Philadelphia, June 7. A rearrangement of plans at the Casino, one of the Eastern Wheel burlesque houses, brings Cole and Johnson in "The Shoo-Fly Regiment" here next week. Fur- ther plans have not been divulged. PERMIT GIVEN HYDE & BEHMAN. Chicago, June 7. The building permit for the new bur- lesque theatre at Madison and Halsted streets, to be erected by Hyde & Belunan, of Brooklyn, has been issued. The building will be four stories high, and completed by October. The excava- tion for the foundation is now finished. A soda water fountain has been placed in the lobby of the Harlem Opera House. It became so popular the first week that two girls were added to the force. ONLY ONE AGENCY FINED. In the License Commissioner's report for the year just completed mention is made that only one agency was convicted and fined for violation of the amended Em- ployment Agency Law. This was {he agency of Eldredge & Mcakiti in the Knickerbocker Theatre Building annex. They were fined in the General Sessions Court. WILBUR "DECLARES IN." An.-nt the much-discussed future of "Wine, Woman and Song" and Alex. Can, its star, there comes a story that A. R. Wilbur, lessee of the Globe and Majestic in Boston, and a stockholder in the Ma- jestic Theatres in New York and Brook- lyn, will seek next year to take over a one-third interest in the Mortimer M. Thiese production. The story has it that last year when the "Wine, Woman and Song" company was playing the Columbia in Boston, Mr. Thiese went to Mr. Wilbur and offered him an interest in his property if he (Wilbur) would use his influence to se- cure a routing for the season on the Stair & Havlin Circuit. Wilbur declares he ac- cepted the proposition, came to New York and was successful in securing Stair & Havlin bookings for the attraction. The route was laid out, but never played. This happened in November and shortly after "Wine, Woman and Song" was given the opportunity to go into the Circle, where its success has kept it ever since. Now Wilbur declares that if "Wine, Woman and Song" plays any Stair & Havlin time, he will exact from its proprietor the terms of their alleged verbal agreement. ASK FOR THEATRICAL CENSOR. Montreal, June 7. The City Council which regulates the administration of this town has called upon the* local attorneys for a report upon the law with a view to establishing a theatrical censorship to pass upon all ■bowl which play here. The legal opinion sets forth that whereas the city charter conferred upon the council to license and regulate all amusements, it is undoubtedly within its power to permit or prohibit any theatrical performance. It is well known that there are many members of the council who are adverse to the establishment of such a censor com- mittee and it appears probable that the lawyers' report will be shelved. On the other hand the clergy of the city are unani- mous in their demand for a reform of this sort. WESTERN ACTS COMING. Twenty-two Western acts are on their way East, and will gradually arrive in New York, according to Jack Levy, the agent, who is responsible for the invasion. Mr. Levy says he has a man in the far West looking for good material all the time. Mr. Levy's offices in New York City seem to be the headquarters pf any num- ber of new acts to the city. They have been (juite successful in the past. Mr. Levy haying booked several for desirable time over the larger circuits. FOX HAS FAMILY HOUSE. Kingston, X. Y., .tunc 7. The Roumlnut Opera House has been leased by Mort Fox, late of Gilday and Fox, the vaudeville team. Mr. Fox's brother is associated with him. The the- atre will be converted into a vaudeville house of the "family" variety. COL. FENNESSY IN ACCIDENT. Cincinnati, June 7. Colonel James 1*1. Fennessy, of the Western Burlesque Wheel, is Still confined to his home as the result of an accident last week. Mr. Fennessy was driving down Vine street in his new motor car when an elderly woman stepped directly in front of it. To avoid injuring her the Colonel gave the automobile a quick turn, bringing it to a stop, but twisting his right wrist so badly that he will lose the use of it for some weeks. NEWSPAPER "GRAFTING" ANNOY- ING. At the coming meeting of the Colum- bia Amusement Company Monday it is possible that there wil come up for dis- cussion the matter of petty "grafting" as it is practiced by the newspapers of a number of towns in which Eastern Wheel houses are located. This abuse has been a matter of a good deal of dis- satisfaction on the part of the burlesque managers for a long time back, but so completely are they at the mercy of the newspapers in the smaller cities, that they have made no move to correct it. One up-state city is mentioned in which the newspapers demanded and received six press passes a day, in addition to the seats which were occupied by the differ- ent members of the staff whenever the spirit moves them to divert themselves with burlesque. Most of these passes arc given to the advertisers of the newspaper, it is claimed. DEATH OF JAMES RICHMOND GLENROY. Funeral services were held for James Richmond Glenroy, the Irish comedian and monologist, from his late home in Brook- lyn. Monday. The services were attended by a large number of White Rats and Elks, of which organization he was a member. The comedian died last Satur- day of pneumonia. He was 50 years old. Patrick Feeney (James Richmond Glen- roy) was born in Ireland. He began his business life as a salesman in New York and was for a time con- nected with the firm of Lord & Taylor, lie made his first stage appearance at Miner's Bowery, then a variety theatre, in 1S78. Some years later he married Lethe Glenroy, and the pair became a sketch team under the name of Richmond and (ilenroy, Feeney taking the stage name of James Richmond. Upon the death of his wife some years aaro he Med the name of Glenroy to preserve the old title as nearly as possible, ami used the monologue that has become so familiar under the billing, "The Man With the Green Gloves." (ilenroy was immensely popular with his fellow professionals among whom he was known as a "human encyclopedia'' of stage folk and vaudeville history. Jack Levy has secured twenty weeks' time for Hibbard and Walton. They open June 17 at Proctor's, Newark, Rllbe Welch, Kittie Francis and com- pany have l>cen booked for forty weeks next season by Jack Levy, the agent, over the Unitcd's time. WARREN PATRICK'S NEW PAPER. Chicago, June 7. June 2(» is the day announced for the initial number of \\ 'hitch A. Patrick's new theatrical paper called "The Show World." Mr. Patrick is a well known theatrical newspaper man, and for some time repre- sent ed a Western publication in this city. "The Show World" will cover all branches of the amusement field.