Variety (July 1907)

VARIETY MORRIS WILL RUN THEATRES AND O RGANIZE C OMPANIES. The William Morris Amusement Co. Negotiating for Houses, And Will Organize Road Shows. The William Morris Amusement Com- pany from all indications will be an active factor in vaudeville circles next season. From eight to ten theatres are now being negotiated for by William Morris, who is the president of the corporation. Some of the theatres in prospect are among those in cities originally laid out by Klaw & Erlanger on their "Advanced Vaudeville" circuit for next season. Others are houses in towns which K. & E. have no intention of invading. Another venture by the company will be the organization of traveling vaudeville shows to play over the circuit of Julius ('aim's legitimate theatres in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New England. This amounts to the Morris Company taking over Calm's plans regarding vaude- ville which included the formation of vaudeville shows to play his houses. The road companies will be called "The William Morris Vaudeville Show," and will play the Cahn time in different cities for three nights or a week. The naming of the shows is designed to replace the former "rep" entertainments by a standard form of variety amusement, which, in time, will become known to the patrons through the title alone. It is planned by Morris to send out about ten companies at the season's open- ing, to be followed by five more shortly after, and if it is found that the total of fifteen is not sufficient to supply the route laid out, more will be made up. The shows will travel intact, with the exception that when a larger city is played for a week, aay Worcester, for instance, a big attraction will be added to top the bill. The Morris Office will also supply book- ing this coming season for twelve theatres on the Chamberlain Circuit in the west, which lately decided to play vaudeville hereafter, and the road shows will have a path from Maine to Illinois. - Julius Calm will operate three of his theatres for vaudeville solely, one in Salem, Mass., and the other two in New England also. The remainder of his houses will play vaudeville as a portion of their amusement offering, but regularly. The ousting of "rep" and stock companies in the legitimate by this move probably marks the beginning of the ascendency to the top theatrical rung of a variety per- formance. The entire capital stock of the amuse- ment company ($500,000) is available to the corporation at a moment's notice. The other officer is Hugo Morris, secretary. The two brothers, E. C. Sinclair, one of the incorporators, and Henry BerlinghofT. compose the Board of Directors. THREE FREAK ANIMALS. Oakland, Cal., July 5. Myron Baker, of the Baker Troupe of bicyclists, has had on exhibition here at Idora Park, a three-legged horse. It is normal otherwise, and can run fairly fast. The horse is one year old and a thorough- bred. Mr. Baker also has a goat with three legs, and a cat with two, one front and back. The animals are being shipped to the Jamestown Exposition. The horse will be used'in connection with the bicycle act next season in vaudeville; just how, Mr. Baker doesn't care to say, although claim- ing that drc to the oddity, he will have a great latching act. HINMAN'S 10 STORES BOUGHT. The American Music Company, the ii«»\vly organized retail music selling con- cern including half a dozen New York publishers, has taken over the retail music department of ten department stores in this vicinity. Eight are in Greater Ne* York and the other two in Newark, N. J. These departments formerly were con- trolled by Alberta Hinmnn, the New York jobber and publisher, but he surrendered them upon a money payment. BRAY FOR NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, July 5. Along with the announcement that Klaw & Erlanger will operate the Shubert the- atre in this city for "advanced vaudeville" comes the rumor that Chas. E. Bray will manage the Orpheum during the strenuous davs of opposition. That the Orpheum people are preparing for a fight is evi- denced by the fact that they are spending thousands of dollars refurnishing and re- decorating. The Orpheum was one of the handsom- est vaudeville houses in the country, and it is probable that this process of over- hauling would not have taken place had K. & E. remained out of New Orleans. From a Crescent city point of view Klaw & Erlanger would fare better did they play vaudeville at the Tulane and transfer their high class productions to (he Shubert. Mason and Bart, the foreign acrobats who were to have made their first local appenrance this week on the New York Roof, were obliged to postpone the open- ing. A sunburned arm of one of the team was the cause. UNITED HAS MINNIE PALMER. Minnie Palmer this week wrote from London her acceptance of an offer of an American tour in the houses of the United Booking Offices' string. Her vehicle will be "My Sweetheart," involving six people. Miss Palmer has not been in this coun- try in eight years. Part of the interven- ing time she has been playing in a reper toire of dramatic works under the manage- ment of William W. Kelly, the London manager, who owns a chain of houses in London and several other English cities. Miss Palmer will open her American tour, probably in New York, in October. Will- iam L. Lykens conducted the negotiations. CLEVELAND RESUMES OPPOSITION. Cleveland, July 5. "Advanced Vaudeville" will continue as one of Cleveland's summer amusements. The Euclid Gardens, under the manage- ment of Max Faetkenhauer, will become an "Advanced Vaudeville" playhouse on July 15, receiving bookings through the William Morris office. The same grade of attractions played by Klaw &, Erlanger will be offered by Man- ager Faetkenhauer, although the venture is not a K. & E. one. Mr. Faetkenhauer will also manage the new Hippodrome in this city when completed. An effort was made by Mark A. Luescher when in Cleveland, just before the closing days of the short time lease on the Euclid Avenue Opera House, to trans- fer the Klaw A Erlanger vaudeville to the Gardens, but an existing contract at that time prevented. The Keith theatre management took a parting shot in the newspapers this week at the departing Klaw & Erlanger "Ad- vanced Vaudeville," which closed at the Euclid Avenue Opera House last Satur- day after a four weeks' run. The Keith advertisements on Sunday read "War not half over" and then went on to sav that there had been no war, con- cluding by adding "A history of ancient vaudeville in Cleveland will soon be pub- lished." CHANGE MOVING PICTURES DAILY. The Palais Theatre Company, operating the Theatre Palais, in Meridian, Miss., a moving picture establishment, has entered the film exchange business. The company has worked up a considerable business in the South supplying a chain of houses in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. It has recently been buying tapes in large quantities and from the stock changes the show at the Meridian place daily. Last week an order was placed for $7,000 worth of goods. MATINEES IN OMAHA. Omaha, Neb., July 5. When the next season at the Orpheum Theatre commences daily matinees will be given. This has been brought about by the patronage during the past season. Effie Ellsler is shortly to appear in vaudeville, supported by Frank Weston. INSURANCE MAY COST $100,000. The adjustment of the insurance loss on the Olympic Theatre in Chicago may cost Kohl & Castle $100,000 extra in the re- building, which will be commenced when the settlement is made. The builidng laws of Chicago provide that when the loss by fire on a theatre shall equal 50 per cent of the building's value upon being rebuilt it must conform to the latest requirements. Less than that percentage of damage, the former style, under which the Olympic was originally built, may prevail. One hundred thousand dollars is the additional amount dependent upon the ap- praisal of the fire's fury if the amount reaches the 50 per cent, according to an interested Chicago manager, but this will not interfere with the work. One hun- dred and sixty thousand dollars was lately spent upon the edifice. No settled date is set for the reopening. WILLS HURRIES FOR WITNESSES. Argument on the application of Broad* hurst & Currie, the legitimate managers, for a court order to restrain Nat M. Wills from appearing in vaudeville during the life of a contract which they declare binds his services to them, was up for argument in Pittsburg Monday and Wednesday of this week. During the first day's proceedings Wills was called to testify. He made certain statements and when the court called upon him to substantiate them he answered that his witnesses were in New York. Thereupon the court directed him to pro- duce these witnesses. Wills asked for twenty-four hours adjournment. It was granted. He jumped upon the next train, reached town Tuesday morning, herded his witnesses together and made the return trip in time to appear in court Wednesday morning. The argument was resumed. Decision will be handed down probably next week. KLAW BOOKING ACTS. In the final days of his visit abroad, Marc Klaw, of Klaw & Erlanger, has sta- tioned himself in London, solely in quest of vaudeville features for his firm. Mr. Klaw will leave for New York toward the latter end of the month, and will be replaced on the other side by some- one from this city, who has not yet been selected. The above picture wai taken at Noblette'a Ranch, New West Baden ami French list Springe, Intl. Seated in the polf wagon are Noblette and Marahall, am! Ruaaell ., .<! Held, who arc spending a month's viuiitton In the HooKler State. They have hem booked Mild for next season by Edward C. Hajrcnan. Western Vaudeville Association Chicago.