Variety (September 1907)

8 VARIETY T. M. A.'S WORTHY OBJECT. Toronto, Sept. 13. At a recent meeting of the Grand Ex- ecutive Board of the Theatrical Mechani- cal A-MKiations of the United States and Canada a movement was started to found a home for the aged and infirm members of the order. A circular letter has been forwarded to all the T. M. A. lodges by Grand Secre- tary R. C. Newman, of this city, asking that a committee be appointed by each to devise the best wavs and means to raise funds for the purchase of required -land, and the erection of a building. Each T. M. A. member is appealed to for a donation of any amount to- wards the object of the movement. The T. M. A. has a membership of 8,000, and it is suggested by the letter that if, at the very least, a donation of even $1 is made by each, there would be a substan- tial foundation for the accomplishment of this worthv cause. Monies received will be held subject to the decision of the Grand Lodge. If that body by a vote declares the scheme im- practicable, all subscriptions will be re- turned, a condition being that the amounts subscribed shall be directed to no other purpose. NEW CIRCUIT OPENS. Wheeling, W. Va., Sept. 13. Wonderland Theatre, H. W. Rogers, manager, opened to-night to two big audi- ences. Wonderland is owned by the Met- ropolitan Amusement Company. It is in a central location. The theatre proper is on the second floor, and has a seating ca- pacity of 800. The lower floor is used as a penny arcade, the only one in Wheeling. The house will play vaudeville, and will be on a circuit of 12 similar houses, play- ing popular priced bills. There were seven acts on the opening bill and all were well received. The Cowels were the feature act. Little Marguerite does an interesting spe- cialty for a child. Others were The News- boys' Quartet, The Musical Vendettas, Florence Pierce, cartoonist; Brooks and Wise Bob, Harry Boyd minstrel. LEAVITT HAS A DAMAGE SUIT. M. B. Leavitt, the impresario, with a managerial record second to none, received a letter the other day from his solicitor in Paris and now Mr. Leavitt has almost a lawsuit on his hands, but he is the ag- gressor. The story of the manager's lost trunks has already been recited, the disappearance and the recovery. The communication told Mr. Leavitt that when the trunks were ready for deliv- ery it was found that they had been opened. A letter of credit for a large amount in one was transmitted to Mr. Leavitt through Cook's Agency, but his attorney advised that a suit against the "Midi" and "P. L. M." railways, two French transportation companies which handled the baggage, could be successfully maintained. A cable was immediately sent by Mr. Leavitt advising his Jawyer to sue for $10,000, but, on a pinch, to accept $5,000 fn settlement. Leon H. Curtin, nephew of James II. Curtin. is spending a few months in Paris. He will while there acquire ideas for his uncle's burlesque productions for next sea- son. "LION HUNT" POR MOVING PIC- TURES. London, Sept. 4. One Mr. Olsen, a cinematograph maker of Denmark, has lost money and gotten himself in some trouble through trying to fake a lion hunt. As lions do not roam through Hamlet's country, two live ones were purchased from Hagenbeck, at Ham- burg, and arrangements for the big game skirmish made on the little barren island of Roskilqe, near Copenhagen. A mid-African background was made with palms and artificial sand hills, and into this tropical scene were introduced horses and sheep, with sportsmen clad in lion hunting garb. The plot of the jungle drama was to let the famished lions fell and eat the ani- mals, after which the bold hunters would kill them with their trusty guns. How- ever, some humane people protested to the Minister of Justice, and the police sud- denly appeared on the island, stopping the show. Three days later, however, the man of exhaust less enterprise concluded to turn outlaw, and pull off the hunt regardless. At an early hour he placed his cinemato- graph operators in position, some in iron cages, some on an elevated stage, and some in boats. Then the manacled jungle mon- sters were loosened at a given signal. One of the beasts at first refused to stir. When, however, its companion dashed upon and killed a horse, the other awoke, and a furious struggle followed for the carcass. The lions went for each other like the leg- endary cats of Kilkenny. When sufficient films had been secured of this contest men dressed as hunters fired and killed both beasts, after which all concerned made a very hasty retreat. This "great hunt of roaring and furious lions" amid artificial palms only occurred Aug. 21, since which the police have re- asserted themselves. They have buried the two lions and arrested the photographer, whose license has been withdrawn, while the Minister of Justice has prohibited the purchase of the fight films. BESSIE WYNN MUCH SOUGHT AFTER. Worcester, Mass., Sept. 13. Bessie Wynn is a much-sought-after young prima donna there days. She is playing out 47 weeks over the United Booking Offices time, but has received a number of offers for musical comedy en- gagements. One was an offer to co-star with Victor Moore, which has since been accepted by Nella Bergen. Lew Fields wanted Miss Wynn for "The Girl Behind the Counter," and the Shuberts contributed an offer for "The White Hen" and "The Cow-Girl." Miss Wynn will, however, play out her vaudeville time, afterwards going into a musical production by Victor Herbert. CLEVELAND'S MANY THEATRES. Cleveland, Sept. 13. Plans are nearing completion for still another theatre here. Already there are eleven running within the city limits, and more in prospect. The newly announced playhouse is to occupy the old Euclid Avenue Presbyterian church property at Euclid avenue and East 14th street. The church building which now occupies the ground will be demolished. The intended policy of the proposed new house is not known. London, Aug. 31. Nearly all the big American yarns are now dead, so send us something fresh. As to Merry England, the big managers are observing the award very nicely, and Thomas Barrasford has declared his al- legiance openly. But some of the smaller fry are a bit troublesome, and a little cloud no bigger than a man's hand is aris- ing on the Manchester horizon. A few of the evening papers there are even indulg- ing in strike talk, and have dug up that old headline, "Music Hall War." Be it known to the wide, wide world that one Charles A. Wilkes, manager of the Manchester Tivoli, is enamored of the bright idea of giving three matinees weekly besides two shows nightly without that dose of extra pay that is called for by- the Arbitrator's Award. The V. A. Fs have decided to have that award en- forced whether or no on general prin- ciples. So a big Federation Sunday meet- ing is called for to-morrow at the Man- Chester Palace. There is no doubt that the Federation, which is now stronger than ever, will read the riot act, as it were, to the various managers who want to twist its tail. So it would not be sur-' prising if either a strike or some forcible move by the Trade Unions of Manchester would eventuate next Monday. It all de- pends. Though we want no trouble, there's a very fair prospect of fur and feathers flying if things are not done in the well ordered way prescribed by our big document. "Zuyder Zee" closes at the Hippodrome after next week. It is rumored that a Swiss spectacle may materialize soon, mayhap with real avalanches, or snow slides as they call them in the Rockies. "The drain of people to America is quite noticeable. Many old familiar faces are missing around certain theatrical rendez- vous. A few turns are going to the Con- tinent, but not the biggest acts as a rule. Rickards is still here signing people, and is pretty well booked up for 1908. Grimsby Palace has paid $750 damages for accidental killing of a stage manager. Rope broke, and drop curtain balance weights fell on him. New Darlington Hippodrome opens Monday, Marie Loftus topping. An Assouan chief with seven wives and 21 children will be in a tribal exhibit at Olympia's Fun City. Sylves- ter's Hippodrome, Coventry, will not open next Monday as planned. License re- fused. Cork Palace opens Sept. 2. Bar- rasford's Alhambra, Brussels, much larger than Paris AJhambra Oct. 15. Little Tich may feature the opening bill. George P.astow, whose country rustic impersona- tions would make a hit in America, re- sembling somewhat the quaint Yankee work of Charles Cowles, is up after a spell of sickness. The V. A. F. repre- sentatives had a meeting with Arbitrator Askwith last Thursday to secure light on certain readings of the award. H. H. Feiber is here on some rather important business, judging by the way he is put- ting smaller things on one side. At the late Continental meet of directors were represented 10 establishments in Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Chemnitz, Copenhagen, Leipzig, Breslau, Munich, Dresden, Lu- cerne and all sat around like a minstrel first part with H. B. Marinelli in the centre. E. J. Macdermott, son of the late G. II., who sang "We Don't Want to Fight, but by Jingo if We Do," now man- ages Richmond Theatre. Shepherd's Bush Empire had a rousing anniversary, G2 turn8 going on. Eric Longden has just assumed the management of Macnaghten's Lincoln Pal- ace. Zipho, an American, who does a 700-foot slide at Manchester "White City," last Wednesday collided with the rockwork of the fairy fountain, tearing his tights from one leg and injuring his thigh.' He dropped into the lake forth- with. Now at it again. Roltair's "Crea- tion" is to be at the Olympic show. Drawee, Frisco and Hambo, who just closed a month at Copenhagen, go to South America in October. La Milo's posters now bear the legend of the gar- ter, "Honi soit qui mal y pense," or "Evil to him who evil thinks." The Palace has been chosen for the gala performance to be given the French Presi- dent and the Conseil Municipal de Paris on Sept. 10. Seven new acts are on the Hippodrome bill next week. A sensation- al sketch at the Middlesex is called "The House with the Crimson Blind," and in- troduces crimson deeds to match. At the Cambridge is a philosophical song, "What You Can't Get You Can Always Do Wtihout," and that, of course, might apply to payment for matinees. "How charming is divine philosophy," but some- times It's better to strike than be philo- sophical. Denise Orne, at the Palace, has just re- vealed that she was secretly married last April to the Hon. John R. L. Yarde- Buller. He is a son and heir to Lord Churston, so later on she will be Lady Churston. While they do so many "crooked* things in Europe, they can also do a few very queer things in America, and play- ing the "copy" act of Hymack ahead of him is pretty "raw," while insult is added to injury by saying it is the "orig- inal." Which it decidedly is not. Hy- mack worked patiently for some years putting this act together, adding now a little and then a little, and such a turn is more easily stolen than evolved. That Hymaek'8 name is not stolen from Nynrack's is self-evident, as it is built on his real name Henry Mack (H'yMack). Little Tich has been copied by Little Pich, while down in Egypt the other day was billed a Little Ditch. The statement that Little Pich would play the States as Little Carl gave general satisfaction here. Name steals should be left to Price and Revost and the like. Vesta Victoria will arrive and open some time this month on the K. & E. circuit.