Variety (September 1907)

VARIETY BOTH SIDES SATISFIED WITH VAUDEVILLE PATRONAGE The Opposing Forces in Vaudeville Claim Business is Excellent, Despite Opposition. In the second week of the season the vaudeville factions are seemingly content with the conditions. At the general offices of Klaw & Erlanger, it was said this week, that with a trio of exceptions, the "Advanced Vaudeville" circuit was enjoying good pa- tronage, up to expectations, and in a few instances even beyond. The exceptions to the general run of satisfactory business were named as the Duquesne in Pittsburg, Shubert in New- ark and Shubert in Brooklyn. From the information given, it was taken that the Shubert, Brooklyn, was considered a poor vaudeville proposition, while the other two were expected to be built up. In the West and Southwest, it was said by the Klaw & Erlanger people, the pat- ronage was most encouraging, particu- larly in Kansas City, St. Louis and Louis- ville. In the two last-named cities, it was .stated, business ran to capacity, and the Teck, Buffalo, was another house where the large attendance so early in the sea- son was a welcome surprise. "Three bad out of seventeen is a mighty good average," was the expression used to sum up the Klaw & Erlanger vaudeville situation to date. At the United Booking Offices it was said that reports from all over the cir- cuits indicated an increased business as compared with the same period last sea- son. In Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Buffalo and the Poli cities (New England), capacity attendance was prevailing, with no unfavorable statements from any house looked by the United. An official of the United said: "It si>oms that where there is opposition our business is the largest, and this bears out my contention which has always been that competition gives a stimulus to vaudeville, through the extraordinary advertising, etc., which makes its effect felt at the box office. As far as I am concerned, I hope it will continue." A manager booking through the United, who has one theatre now opposed by the other side remarked this week that he did not feel the opposition in the least, and felt that vaudeville played against him in the Klaw & Erlanger house would not be so detrimental as though a popular legiti- mate attraction occupied the theatre for a week, which might draw some of his busi- ness away. Both offices hold an air of confidence, and as far as the internal workings of either were on view, neither was excited nor worried over the fight. Contrary to the general impression, it seems to be accepted that the Percy G. Williams' Orpheum and Klaw & Erlanger's Grand Opera House, both in Brooklyn, are not competitors for trade. Both are drawing their individual patronage, and the indications of the sufferer from the vaudeville scrimmage, in Brooklyn seems to point towards Kceney's Fulton Street Theatre, the opening of which is set for September 30. With the large bills further down Ful- ton street, a short car ride only from the Keeney house, it is thought Mr. Keeney will feel the additional vaudeville interest the most in a financial way, both as to patronage and the cost of his shows, if he at all keeps abreast of his contemporaries. ATTACHED ARTISTS' SALARY. When the Four Bards finished their per- formance at the Shubert theatre, Newark, last Saturday night, they discovered that an attachment had been levied upon their salary under a judgment obtained against the act by Charles Bornhaupt, now the Marinelli New York representative. The Bards were booked for abroad by Mr. Bornhaupt, when he conducted his own agency, but did not keep the engage- ment. Mr. Bornhaupt sued for his com- missions, and recovered judgment by de- fault. The attachment inconvenienced the act for the moment, no preliminary notifica- tion of such a step having been given. HOPKINS' CONTINUOUS. Louisville, Ky., Sept. 13. Commencing with the matinee on Sun- day, Sept. 15, when Hopkins' theatre re- opens for the season, the policy of the house will be continuous, the show run- ning from 1:30 to 10:30, with admission placed at ten, twenty and thirty cents. Hopkins' is booked by the Western Vaudeville Association, of Chicago, and the United Booking Offices, in New York City. It will oppose the Mary Anderson, now playing Klaw & Erlanger's "Advanced Vaudeville." REMICK'S NEW ADVERTISING SCHEME. Through a departure in sheet music ad- vertising inaugurated by "Mose' Gumble of the New York office of Jerome H. Rem- ick & Co., the music publishers, the firm's music will be prominently placed in a number of "IVnnv Theatres" all over the country. Mr. Gumble has secured the prominent spare inside and outside of a dozen or so such places in Boston, and there are more than that number of stores in New York now having the best patronized phono- graphs playing the Remick melodies, be- sides having a large placard over the en- trance of each, giving the title of the song Mr. Gumble wishes displayed. Remick & Co.^ announce that August \\;iK the biggest month for sales in the history of the firm. ^ The Remick firm is also looking for new fields in the departmental merchan- dise line. Large drug stores are now hav- ing the Remick music placed on sale. Hall & Lyons, druggists, of Providence, B. I., alreadv carrv a sheet music dis- play, and Remick & Co. will make a simi- lar connection in the large cities of the country. 36 WEEKS CANCELLED TOR "COPY" ACT. Last week the Ward Brothers put on a new act at the Alhambra under the title of "There's No Place Like Home." Fol- lowing the first performance there was a great deal of comment among the profes- sion, the opinion being widely expressed that the Ward Brothers had "lifted" pretty much all of Eddie Leonard's "In the Land of Cotton," a similar act. There Had been some changes in scenic setting, but much of Leonard's music and nearly all his dances were in use by the Wards. The brothers later made a statement to a Variety representative, supported by William L. Lykens, their agent, who for- merly acted in the same capacity for Leonard, claiming that the Leonard act was their property, the production having been financed by them originally. The Wards this week cancelled 36 weeks of vaudeville time with their new offer- ing, but deny that the similarity of their act and Leonard's had anything to do with this action. An engagement in a production was given as the reason. Mr. Leonard now comes forward with the statement that the Ward Brothers de- liberately stole his property. The black- face comedian declares that his own money and money advanced by John Con- sidine, of the Metropole Hotel went into the production, and the Wards have no proprietory right at all in the piece. The scenery is now tied up on a claim made against it by the builder, but Leonard de- clared this week that he was paying this obligation off, and as soon as the prop- erty was clear he would seek further vaudeville bookings with it. Mr. Leonard's attorney this week tele- graphed to Mr. Lykens, warning him that the Ward Brothers were using his client's property illegally, and court proceedings would be instituted if they continued to do so. ROTH'S MYSTERIOUS ERRAND. Herman L. Roth, the New York lawyer, sailed Thursday for London per steam- ship "Bremen." His mission to the Eng- lish capital is fraught with mystery, but he states that he carries with him author- ity from an American manager to close negotiations, already under way, for the acquisition of a London vaudeville thea- tre. "I am not at liberty to divulge the name of my principal at this time," said Mr. Roth, "but you are at liberty to do all the guessing you like." Mr. Roth likewise declared that he would argue an important legal case in the English courts, involving a point of deep interest to the vaudeville profession and the international relations which have recently sprung into so important a place in the consideration of artists and man- agers. While abroad the attorney will visit Paris and Berlin on business and will seek to buy the American rights to the music written by Conti, for the grand opera productions in Vienna and Buda-Pesth. If he is successful in this, Mr. Roth will try to find an American market for the for- eign composer's works in this country. FEIBER'S MISSION ABROAD. London, Sept. 4. H. H. Feiber, the representative of the United Booking Offices, announced through the London "Music Hall" that his pres- ent visit was one of great importance, and he begged to be excused from un- necessary intrusion. It now appears Mr. Feiber's mission here is one of cancella- tion, as there are thirteen turns he wants to sponge off the booking slate of the United Offices. Klaw & Erlanger arc so whooping things up that turns not so big as Jumbo are getting a "shoo fly" shove, acts involved scaling from $100 to $150 weekly. A case to-day under sharp Federation scrutiny is that of Odeyne Sparks, en- gaged to open Oct. 7 at a Keith house for four weeks. She is considered a good turn here, and was booked through Hy- man's agency, Mr. Feiber never having seen the act, his tactics toward Miss Sparks are construed by sound legal authority as intimidating. He told her they were hunting for big game; that if she insisted on going she might be com- pelled to open the show, and that she would not be a success. Feiber also threw other dark hints, making observations about the "combine's" powers and money, and its ability to play even with recal- citrants. The Variety Federation, I. A. L. and White Rats will all give this matter due consideration, and if Miss Sparks con- cludes to face the music she will have ample artistic support, while we trust the vast variety reading public will also understand the situation. Dandy George is also on the list, but of what he will do you will be apprised later on. He has a good act, and one that goes strong with women and children. (In the last issue of Variety, which carried a brief cable touching upon the above, Percy G. Williams stated that the only explanation he could think of as cause for the reported action of Mr. Fei- ber's was the case of Miss Sparks, who was booked over here for four weeks, as stated above, but had demanded more time, which could not be given.) CLAIRE ROMAINE. Claire Romaine, "London's Pet Boy" as the singer is termed on the other side, occupies the ovals on the front page this week in some of her different characters. Miss Romaine appeared in American vaudeville for the first time this week, playing at the New York Theatre, where she scored an immediate and decided suc- cess. In London and throughout England, Miss Romain's name is a household word among amusement patrons. She has maJe her impersonations of the English youth famous. Although English by birth, Miss Ro- maine has an American connection, be- ing a step-sister to Dorothy Russell, Lil- lian Russell's daughter, the American prima donna's first hushan<l, Ted Solomon, having been Miss Homainc's father also. The Englishwoman is booked over here for an engagement on the Klaw & Er- langer vaudeville circuit. Hugo Morris is booking concerts for eight local theatres offering Sunday shows obtained through the Morris office. Mariette and llasse, German "whirl- wind" dancers, arc coming over under the management of M. B. Leavitt.