Variety (September 1907)

VARIETY "LAY-OFF" FILLED. The Behmau show (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) will open the new Columbia Amuse- ment Company theatre in Scranton, Pa., Monday. Hob Manchester's "Gay Masque raders" was to have opened the houae laat Monday, but at the laat minute it was f«uBd impossible to get the aeata placed in position in time for the opening. "The Masqueraders" laid off the first three days of this week In consequence, finishing the week in Reading. The two towns will here- after split the week between them. MANCHESTER TAKES "THE RUBY." Robert Fitssimmons and his wife (Julia Gilford) have been placed under contract for nine weeks to play in the olio of Bob Manchester's "Crackerjacks" (Eastern Burlesque Wheel). Sherman and De Forest, who have been for some weeks with the same manager's "Gay Masque- ruders,*' have had their contract extended six weeks, making a total of fifteen. WANT THE MELNOTTE SISTERS. Tom Miner threatens to bring suit to prevent the vaudeville appearance of the Melnotte Sisters and Fern, who played Henderson's, Coney Island, last week. Miner claims that the "sister" act is under contract to him and was scheduled to play this year with his "Dreamland Bur- lesquers," but "jumped" the contract last summer. The girls played the Henderson house earlier this season with Teddie Black, but Mr. Miner did not act against them at that time in the hope that the matter could be arranged. The manager had printed a quantity of special paper advertising the presence of the Melnottes in the "Dream- landers," and will put this item of expense before the court as a part of the damage sustained. Mr. Miner says that he will bring injunc- tion .proceedings against the girls upon their first New York vaudeville appear- ance. FIRE EPIDEMIC IN ST. LOUIS. St. Louis, Sept. 27. There has been an epidemic of fires in moving picture establishments here with- in the last ten days. The one at Tromme &. Tweedham's Nickelodeon Friday night was the fourth within that period, and there is talk of taking official action to have the places further safeguarded. The fire at the Nickelodeon started at 11:15 in the gallery, while the place was crowded and almost caused a panic. The audience was quieted by Harry Tromme, one of the proprietors, who put the fire out. He was painfully burned about the face and head. CHORUS GIRL "JUMPS." Washington, Sept. 27. Anything could happen in Washington, and if Carrie Franklin, of the "Cherry Blossoms," had only waited, Will A. Pyne, the manager, would not have had his feel- ings damaged. Miss Franklin, however, selected Cleve- land for her jumping off point, and she left the company, Mr. Pyne, and an ad- vance of $74 behind her. It is not a mat- ter of record whether she scurried a way with her wardrobe also. HIGHSCHOOL GIRLS" REVISING. "The Highschool Girls" (Western Bur- lesque Wheel) is "laying off" for this week for revision and improvement. It was to have played the Dewey Theatre this week, but the Krauses insisted upon having a substitute for their 14th street house. Accordingly Thiese's "Strolliug Players," scheduled to rest this week owing to the fact that the Schenectady house, in process t of erection, is not ready, was selected to fill in. "The Highschool Girls" was billed as the coming attraction last week at the Dewey until Friday night, when a change in the three-sheets in the lobby occurred. The two shows do not exchange any time other than the present week. Both will continue on their original routes Mon- day. "The Highschool Girls" is an Empire Circuit Company production, lieing owned by the corporation, although several mem- bers of that concern, including Mrs. Barry, of Albany and Troy, are interested finan- cially.' The show was given over to Harry Martell to put on at the beginning of the season, but that manager, under pressure of other business, turned it over to a subordinate. $3,700 AHEAD OF LAST SEASON. As a commentary upon the increased business this year of all the burlesque com- panies controlled jointly by Bob Man- chester and Gus Hill (three in number), they stand at this early stage just about $3,700 ahead of the corresponding period last season. On Oct. 1, 1906, the firm's burlesque account showed a loss of $1,500, as against a $2,200 profit to date this year. WHIPPED "PEEPER." Belleville, 111., Sept. 27. The operation of the laws here is some- times a bit puzzling to visiting managers. Charles Dudley thinks he is aggrieved be- cause he was fined $3 and costs on a charge of disturbing the peace. He chastised a 'peeping Tom" last week. Dudley is manager for tn'e "Sunbeam Burlesquers," who played here. The wo-' men of the company, including Mrs. Dud- ley, used a side tent as a dressing room. Several local "eutups," under the influence of the grape, lifted the tent wall and took a peep. Dudley caught them at it. All hands were arrested and the fine was im- posed upon the manager. PUBLICATION SENT PRICE UP. It is probable that the People's Theatre on the Bowery would have been an item in the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) 1I1 is season had not the news of an impending deal with this in view leaked out and been announced several months ago in Variety. When the concern which now leases the Feople's learned of the project, their estimate of the value of their lease immediately leaped to a prohibitive figure, and the plan was abandoned. The lease runs out this year, and this removes the only bar to the scheme.' K0N0RAH NOT YET ELECTED. The latest reports to arrive from Ber- lin convey the information that there is some dissension in the International Art- isten Lodge over the proposition to elect Max Berol Konorah as a salaried president for A period of four years. Mr. Konorah, who is on the K. & E. circuit, is at pres- ent, chief executive of the lodge without compensation. ALL-AMERICAN VAUDEVILLE FOR FRENCH CAPITAL Martin Beck, the Vaudeville Manager, Organizing Two Companies of American Acts to Play in Paris Next Summer—Has Secured the Theatres. Martin Beck, general manager of the Orpheum Circuit, stated this week that next summer he would take over to Paris two all-star companies of American vaude- ville acts. Two Paris theatres have been leased by Mr. Beck, and the shows would be given during the hot spell, a period of about fourteen weeks. The bills are now being formed by the manager, who would not divulge the names of any acts yet selected. Mr. Beck said that he had received ap- plications from German managers to play tlie shows in their houses after the Paris engagement, the Germans having heard of his negotiations for the French the- atres, but he has not made up his mind whether a tour beyond Paris would be made. WASHINGTON FORBIDS SUNDAY SHOWS. Washington, Sept. 27. The Corporation Counsel has defined the powers of the Police Commissioners in re- gard to Sunday vaudeville shows, and the authorities say the Sunday "sacred con- certs" must stop, under penalty. The penalty for violation also provides for a revocation of the theatrical license. LAURIE ORDWAY TO SUE. There's a lawsuit dead ahead in the path of "Patsy" Morrison, the Rockaway Beach vaudeville manager. Mr. Morrison will be the defendant in the action, which is to be brought against him by Hugh Coyle, attorney for Laurie Ordway, the character comedienne. Miss Ordway was canceled by Mr. Mor- rison one Monday afternoon last summer, for no other reason, according to the young woman, than that the manager said he wanted a "cheaper act." The engagement was made under writ- ten contract, and with this in evidence, Miss Ordway expects to secure a judg- ment for the full amount she should have received. AWAY FOR TWO YEARS. Boston, Sept. 27. Aurelia Coccia and Minnie Amato are not with the "Kentucky Belles" this week, having left the show last Saturday night. They have been booked for a two years' tour of Australia, South Africa and India. J. G. Gibson and Adele Rowney re- placed them with the show. GAYETY'S TREASURER RESIGNS. Washington, Sept. 27. Jos. I^esser, treasurer of the New Gayety (Eastern Burlesque Wheel), has resigned, without any reason given. Manager W. S. Clark has had thirty applications for the vacancy. The same opposition seems to extend to the scheme to bring the minor German artist* under another organization, to be known as the National. The executive committee of the T. A. L. has both propositions before it, causing some wordy arguments. The decision will probably be made by the general meeting which convenes next December. ARGUING OVER NANCE O'NEILL. Nance O'Neill, with McKee Rankin, will open at the (J rand Opera House, Pitts- burg, on Monday with a sketch. After another week has elapsed Miss O'Neill will play in Boston for two weeks, it is said. Miss O'Neill's last engagement in the Bean Town while in the legitimate was a triumph for her, and her personal popularity is the cause of the extended stay. In Pittsburg also Miss O'Neill stands high in favor among theatregoers. But while Miss O'Neill and Mr. Rankin are arranging their vaudeville plans, the agents have commenced to look each other over to see who can sustain the longest struggle for the commission to be received from Miss O'Neill's weekly sal- ary, placed at from $1,200 to $1,500, but i.ot lower than the first named amount. William L. Lykens has his name on the contracts, but Robert Grau, an agent who is not actively booking through the United Offices just at present, says he saw Miss O'Neill first for this engagement, and wants to be "declared in." Mr. Ly- kens is reported to have said he has been after the actress for a long time. When she arrived in the city last, Grau obtained word of her whereabouts, and although Lykens secured the contracts, Grau asks for a part of the percentage. The commission to be split, if such a thing is done by the agents, will be five per cent. Miss O'Neill paying ten, and the remaining five finding its way into the coffers of the United Booking Offices. TANGLE CAUSES "LAY OFF." Buffalo, Sept. 27. Owing to the litigation between the Shuberts and John Laughlin over posses- sion of the Lyceum, "Wine, Woman and Song" will "lay off" next week. The Thiese show was booked for this house here, but pending a settlement it is dark. x The last move in the controversy was the appointment by the courts of Lee Shubert and Charles O. Maas as receivers. LONG AND WET RIDE. Washington, Sept. 27. Jack Norworth is at Chase's this week. He arrived in his automobile, coming from New York on Saturday and Sunday when it rained. It rained very hard all the way here, and Mr. Norworth was wet. It was so damp that Jack said he couldn't imagine how the water held out so long. SANTELL STRANDS IN KENTUCKY. Paducah, Ky.. Sept. 27. The Santell Vaudeville Company stranded here. Santell "jumped" at May- field. He i* a "hereules" from Cincinnati. 'I he acts claim he owes them about $1,000,