Variety (August 1907)

VARIETY EASTERN IN MILWAUKEE. Milwaukee, Aug. 2. The rivalry in the burlesque field has reached Milwaukee. The Columbia Amusement Company (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) has come into control of the Oar- rick Theatre, which opened several weeks ago with stock. The deal by which the Garrick, formerly the Star, will go back to burlesque, was closed July 25, when the unexpired lease of Richard Kami, sub- lessee from Edwin Thanhouser, was taken over by Harry Harris, S. R. Simon and two or three others representing the Co- lumbia people. Some trouble may arise, as it is understood that when Mr. Than- houser gave Mr. Kann a sub-lease Mr. Kann was to make no theatrical engage, ments without Thanhouser's sanction. Mr. Thanhouser is believed to have been in New York lately to engage a stock company for the Garrick as he expected to redecorate it as soon as all financial difficulties had been satisfactorily settled. It is claimed that the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) had offered to spend upward of $35,000 on improvements on the Garrick, if they could secure a con- tinued lease, shortly before the lease which the Empire held on the old Star expired. The Empire was informed the Building Department would not per- mit the further use of the Garrick for theatrical purposes. BEHMAN SHOW COMPLETE. The complete roster of the Behman Show, as arranged by Manager Jack Sin- ger, is as follows: Pete Curley, Tommy Glenroy, The Moores, Carson Brothers, James C. Morton, Rienze A. Bresee*, Ned Doudy, James Kendis, Signor Alotte, Lola Bigger, Mollie Williams, Evelyn La Tell, Delia Marion, Vera Emmerett, Meta Reinze, Little Goldie, Ursula Curley, Louis Sedgwick, Belle Court, Gladys* Le Moine, Fannie Williams, Agnes Enright, Jeanette Morton, Addie French, Johanna Stiller, Margaret Manly. Minnie Stewart, Ruth Reynolds, Gertrude Wilson, Susie Morrow, Vera Renard, Minnie Le Moine, Nellie Smith, Margaret Earl, Jessie Mora, Helen Williams and Capt. Fred Haley and 17 Zouaves. Mario Armellino is musical director; Herman Levy, advance agent; Fred Heroy, electrician; John Ortis, carpenter. PRIMROSE TAKES OUT MINSTRELS. A few weeks only will be played by Geo. H. Primrose in vaudeville before he starts on a tour with his own minstrel troupe. This will commence on Sept. 30, at Chicago. On Sept. 2, Mr. Primrose will appear at Hammerstein's, and continue in vaude- ville until the date of his Chicago opening. SUES "GLOBE" FOR LIBEL. WinBor McCay, the cartoonist, now play- ing vaudeville in a quick sketching act, has brought a $50,000 libel suit against the New York "Globe." McCay alleges that his reputation has been damaged by the publication in that paper of a spurious article connecting his name with a brawl at the race track with one "Spike" Sul- livan, a prize fighter. Raymond Reuben- stein is counsel for Mr. McCay. WESTERN SHOWS STARTED. While the regular season does not open until August 10, this week saw the actual beginning of burlesque activities on the Western Wheel. Several companies left the city to do their breaking in work in provincial towns, taking time regularly played by "turkey" organizations. "The Ideals" left New York Wednesday and opened in Altoona, Pa., the following day. "The Rollicking Girls" opened in Uniontown, Pa., yesterday. Two other companies are due to play regular houses beginning to-night. "The Champagne Girls" are at Milwaukee, and "The Kentucky Belles" in Baltimore. Miner's "High Jinks" are due to open in Chicago next week, with "Miss New York Jr.," in the other Empire Circuit Company house. GIRL ACTS IN BURLESQUE. Of the crowd of girls to arrive here next week for the burlesque shows, "The Eight English Beauties" are consigned to the Al. Reeves Show. The Three Sisters Lea, acrobatic, go with Weber & Rush, and the Seven Roma Girls, jugglers, are billed to the "Morning Glories.'' Most of the others have been engaged solely for chorus work. NEW SHOW STARTS FROM CHICAGO. Chicago, Aug. 2. The new burlesque show which I. M. Weingarden has organized for the Colum- bia Amusement Company, will start from Chicago after all. Mr. Weingarden has been advised by the firm to proceed with the* details originally planned by him in- stead of starting in New York and then jumping to Columbus to open. The same people engaged several weeks ago will go with the show. They are Nat Fields, Harry Harvey, Leo Kendal, Carrie Seitz and about eighteen girls. Sam Scribner is expected here in a week or ten days and will witness a few rehearsals. A CHEAP SHOWMAN. Chicago, Aug. 2. No one around here ever heard of Waterloo, Wis., until last week when out of the depth of the woods, C. Failinger, who runs the general store in the town, and is a "showman" on the grounds that he shows merchandise to men, wrote the following letter to Frank M. Barnes. Mr. Barnes' answer is also appended, and after dictating the missive the agent stuck a pin through the tiny spot on the map of Wisconsin which indicates where Waterloo used to be : O. FAILING EB, Dealer In General Merchandise. Waterloo, Wis., July 26. F. M. Barnes, Chicago. 111. Dear Sir:—I would like to get some attractions costing about $10 or $12. Can you help ua out? Youra truly, (Signed) C. FAILINGER. Chicago, July 27. Mr. C. Failinger. Waterloo. Wis. Pear Sir:—Yours received and contents noted carefully. The KLEVBN NRLSON FAMILY are open for your time and will he pleased to play the date, hut Mr. Nelson Informs me that he cannot accept lees than $1R.00 for Waterloo. Yours rery truly, (Signed) F. M. BARNES. GRIEVES MANAGER "MERRY MAKERS." Buffalo, August 2. John Grieves, who is at present running stock at the Lafayette in this city, will manage the "Merry Makers" (Western Burlesque Wheel) next season. Mr. Grieves claims he has done better business at the Lafayette, with his stock company of 42 people, than the house did in the regular season. WATSON'S NEW SHOW. William B. Watson, the manager, has commenced rehearsals for a new show he will place on the Western Wheel. It will be called "The Oriental Cosy Corner Girls," and will fill in the week left open by the addition of Wilkes Barre. The Western house in that city will also be managed by Mr. Watson. ADAMS STREET NOW OLYMPIC. At a meeting of the Columbia Amuse- ment Company board of directors at its New York headquarters Monday morning, it was voted to change the name of Hyde & Behman'a Adams Street theatre to the Olympic. The house opens September 2 under the newly announced regime of burlesque. Phil Sheridan's "City Sports" will be the opening attraction. THEATRE ON CHURCH SITE. Cincinnati, Aug. 2. What appears to be a plan to secure a site for a vaudeville theatre took shape last week, when the congregation of the Vine Street Congregational Church met to consider an offer from a theatrical manager to purchase the church prop- erty. A resolution was passed author- izing the trustees to proceed with the sale on condition that the selling price should not be less than $75,000. That was the amount which Trustee H. W. Bacus, announced had been offered. The congregation wanted a larger sum. The lot has a 75-foot frontage on Vine street and is 90 feet deep. RUSSIAN REVOLUTIONIST HERE. Maria Ossipona Mieler, a Russian prima donna, who was at one time arrested at St. Petersburg for singing the Russian Revolutionary hymn at a meeting of Revolutionists, is over here waiting for time. PRINCIPAL AND TITLE ALIKE. Samuel H. Wallach &, Co., the vaudeville producing firm, will presently put out a new act under the title "Vogel, the Boy Detective, and His Shadow, Nearly." Henry Vogel is a baritone singer of some note, and a midget will be employed as his "shadow." The act, which will be played in "one," is the work of Byron Onlcy* co-author of "Brewster's Millions." B. Obermayer, the agent, returns on August 6. Upon Libbey Blondell's return, she will appear in a "Johnny" act, importing four English boys, who will come over with her for the purpose. BIG ACT DELAYED. The big act employing 300 people to be produced by Klaw A Erlanger next sea- son has had its opening date adjourned until January. Another piece now under way will carry 100 people and be shown some time in September. BERT PIERSON DIES. After an illness of four days caused by pneumonia, Bert Pierson, last season with "The Washington Society Girls," died last Monday (July 29), at his home in this city. THOS. J. FARR0N, JR., DEAD. Thos. J. Farron, Jr., died at the resi- dence of his parents in Buffalo, N. Y., Sun- day, July 28, from heart failure. The de- ceased was born in Liverpool, England, in 1880, while his father who, at that time was of the celebrated team of Baker and Farron, playing the provinces in "Chris and Lena."- After touring England the family moved to Buffalo, which has been their home since. "Young Joe," as he was familiarly known, first entered the pro- fession, associating himself with Gus Fay, the team being known as Farron and Fay, joining the Fitz and Webster "Breezy Time" company, after which they doubled with a quartet known as the "Olympic Comedy Four." The following season he filled his father's place in the "Chris and Lena" Company, Mr. Farron, Sr., entering into commercial business. For the past five seasons Farron and Fay were with Ir- win's "Majesties." Mr. Farron was a promising young and faithful artist and a writer of some very popular songs and lyrics. He leaves a young widow, nee Kitty Watson, of the Watson Sisters. The funeral was held at the residence of his parents, the services being conducted by the local Lodge of Eagles and interment at Forrest Lawn Cemetery. A MANAGER IN TIME. If New Rochelle remains on the map, M. S. Bentham may become a vaudeville manager. There is a theatre in the town, which is used by Mr. Bentham over the hot spell as a summer resort. Julius Cann has some agreement with the house, and when that ceases to exist, Bentham holds an option on the lease. Mr. Bentham says he will take the theatre to manage, but then, Mr. Bentham said he knew the way to New Rochelle by the road, and after engaging an auto- mobile to take up a party of friends from New York, he had the chauffeur drive to every town and village between here and Albany, but could not find his own town for six hour-j. OK! GIRLS, DEL MAR'S MARRIED. Jules Delmar, of the United Booking Offices, celebrated his fifth wedding anni- versary at his summer home, New Canaan, Conn., last Saturday. Even those who weren't invited to the dinner party in the evening knew that some celebration was in progress, when Delmar drove up Broad- way to the Grand Central Depot in the afternoon. Mr. Delmar occupied a small corner of the cab, from which projected on all sides the materials of the dinner and gifts of all sizes and shapes for the Delmar youngster. WILLIAMS EXPECTED TO-DAY. Percy G. Williams is expected to return home to-day. At the United Offices it was said this week that nothing was known there whether a list of foreign bookings made by Mr. Williams while abroad would be given out upon his arrival^