Variety (September 1907)

8 VARIETY HOLDS UP AGENT'S LICENSE. The New York License Bureau has with- held its sanction from the application of Charles L. Sasse, the circus agent, with offices on East 14th street, for a license to conduct a booking agency under the Em- ployment Agency law. The action is consequent upon a com- plaint made to License Commissioner John N. Bogart against the agent by Margot Von Studdeheim, an equestrienne artiste, who charged that Sasse had caused her serious financial loss by booking her for a park engagement in Havana, Cuba, and cancelled her after one week, al- though the engagement was for a longer time. Several other artists have complained from time to time of similar treatment in connection with this Havana park and have threatened to bring suit. It is gen- erally believed, however, that the agent was innocent of any intention to injure artists, the trouble resting with the park management. Mr. Sasse returned only a few weeks ago from Europe after a three months' absence. LOOKING AHEAD FOR THE CIRCLE. Dave Marion, who wrote the book and lyrics for Miner's "Dreamland Bur- lesquers" this year, has signed contracts with George Kraus, of Sullivan ft Kraus, to supply a musical comedy for production at the New Circle, New York, next year. This is the first intimation of the future disposition of the theatre. It is dark just now, owing to the withdrawal by Mortimer M. Thiese of the last production there, "From Across the Pond." A new musical piece is in contemplation for the house. It will be a revised version of that pro- duction and will be offered under the same but different cast and will open during next week some time. Thiese is supplying attractions under a two years' contract with Kraus. The Marion contract would seem to indicate that Kraus will conduct the Circle in- dividually next year. LEVY OUT FOR WRITERS. Now that Jack Levy, the agent, has launched jptarry Von Tilzer, the music publisher, upon a vaudeville stage, he is out gunning for more material of the same kind for the managers. In the course of his search, Mr. Levy has had William Jerome and Jean Schwartz in mind, the two writers forming the part- nership of Jerome ft Schwartz. Mr. Levy will not say that he secured the partners for vaudeville, but leaves a dark, hinted impression that if Mr. Von Tilzer's colors are still floating from the top of the Hammerstein mast at the ex- piration of next week, he has great ex- pectations that Jerome ft Schwartz will "fall." SHEEDY WILL HAVE CIRCUIT. Falr*lttver, Mass., Sept. 27. The story has it that M. R. Sheedy, the vaudeville manager, with a chain of vaudeville theatres in New England, will shortly extend his circuit into several cities in this part of the country. His first move will be an invasion of Brock- ton, Mass., where he promises to have a theatre ready for opening about the mid- dle of the Autumn. It may be used as a moving picture establishment at first. PARIS NOTES By 0. M. SEIBT. V amity's Paris Office, 5, Rue Laffitte (Boulevard des Italiens). Sept. 15. The new pantomime ("Giska, la Boh6- inienne") of Otero at the Folies Marigny is one of the poorest seen. Nobody ex- pected much, but the whole play proved to be a "frost." The only feature seems to be a new "cootch" dance by Otero, well liked by the audience. The worst impression is left by seeing Otero imitating Guerrero; this would be great comedy if carried further. To mention the fact, Otero is a big draw, and the Marigny is packed to capacity nightly. Others on the bill are Sam Elton, 3 Willes, Dora Parnes, The Teins (clever casting act), Zertho's Dogs, Maxini and Boby, The Yost, Johnny and Charlie and Tom Titt and Titt-Bit. The new Apollo is doing so far splendid business after the reopening, which took place August 31. Hymack (the original), ie the feature, his act going exceptionally strong despite that he speaks in English. Morris Cronin, another success. Morton and Elliott are well liked, the act receiv- ing four curtains. Tiller's "Eight Apollo Girls," singing "coon songs with cockney" accent, are working hard, but without sprightliness. Wylie's Dog Circus is a good show. Others are: 3 Tauberts, xyl- ophonists, Ruby Helder, baritone, Mile. Odette Feria, Chan tense Franchise, Ros- zika Schirmay, Hungarian dancer, Marcell and Boris, clever gymnasts, Miette, La Cigale Parisienne, Mile. Derysse, Gre- cian dancer. The show still lacks a good orchestra, which affects almost every act. Maestro Gauwin, the leader, is not quali- fied to conduct a music hall band. Barrasford's Alhambra opened on the 1st, with the following bill: Leslie Bros., Australian musical comedians, Keen and Waller, eccentrics, Newell and Niblo, in- strumentalists, Selbo, a very clever club juggler and plate thrower, Carl and Mary Ohm, animal act, Rastus and Banks, col- ored, Dora Martini, aerial, Richards' Trio, comedy acrobats, Onlaw Trio, wire, Wal- ton and Willis, eccentrics, Eitharien FreYes, parodists, Valoni, juggler. The Nouveau Cirque announces the re- opening for Friday, Sept. 13. The Casino has again changed manage- ment. Mons. Zittel, formerly secretary of the Folies Bergere while that house was directed by Ruez, is the new manager. The re-opening of the Casino is adver- tised, without date given. A revue-ballet and variety show will be the entertain- ment. The Casino is situated next door to the Apollo. A lively fight is expected to ensue. It seems almost impossible for both houses to succeed. A new act will open at the Apollo on the 24th. It is something of a "motorcar sensation" and is called "Le Choc Infer- nal," produced by a Frenchman, Mr. Ronco. A motorcar, in which sets a chauf- feuse comes down a track at furious speed, jumps over a space, and is caught by Mr. Ronco, landing right on the Frenchman's head. London, Sept. 14. In a late Tivoli speech director Mr. Tozer dwelt on the fact that certnin art- ists had told him there would never be another strike, but he need not feel too sure of this. Trouble is already in the air, and unless there is a quick change in the situation something drastic , may eventuate. Managers who are holding to the award insist that the others be also held and will be protected to the utmost. Managers are invited to attend to-mor- row's meeting. A strong resolution may be expected in the finish, telling what's what in plain language, though such final action as is deemed necessary will be left in the hands of the executive committee. 'On the Stoll tour Mr. Thornton at Sun- derland is especially against things broad and bad, and a falling curtain will "cut" your act if you make the least venture on forbidden ground. Alice Lloyd is being extensively illus- trated as an artist who will earn $375,000 in five years. The half-tone blocks that go with this announcement wear a smile whose ecstatic radiance is commensurate with the cash statement.—Hugh J. Did- cott, one of our oldest agents, and once much renowned as a man who boomed big salaries, now writes a crisp column of music hall notes for a new weekly paper, "Mammon." Like some other capable agents he was once a music hall singer. Now, Ex-Secretary Gerald once said a very good thing when he compared the two kinds of managers to the two kinds of tobacco, "straight cut" and "twist." Now it is managers of the twisting kind who are sticking darts in the artists as a banderillero sticks them in a bull. Many are using old contracts instead of the form prescribed; others use new contracts that are tricky as a spring mousetrap. Some cut the figure for six shows and add in the cut for the matinee, making the same old salary. In every possible way they beat the artist around the bush, so that things are strained very nearly to the breaking point. Mme. Rose Ettinger, a distinguished operatic singer who lately performed be- fore the German Empress, has attempted suicide in the provinces, and lies in a pre- carious condition. She was found in bed wounded, a six-shooter with one chamber emptied on the floor. At the Blackpool Tower eight of the finest animals have mysteriously died, in- cluding a large Bengal tiger, and a mag- nificent lion and lioness from the Hima- layan region of India. Malicious outrage is suspected, and specialists from Lon- don and Liverpool are conducting a post- mortem. Loss about $5,000. At Newmarket there has been a dis- tressing cinematograph accident, some outgoers during an intermission acci- dentally upsetting the machine. The manager ran to the street at once with the blazing celluloid films, while the oper- ator promptly turned off the gas, and a fireman luckily present brought a fire hose into play. Still the flames flashing up made a terrible panic, and some hun- dreds were more or less hurt, one woman dying from her injuries. Those who kept cool came out best, as usual. la London ornate little structures for housing pic- ture machines are built mid-circle in West-end halls, and the idea is a good one, preventing possibility of collision with careless or excited comers or goers. The Battersea Empire opens next Mon- day, September 16, under Manager H. E. Brammall, formerly of the Crystal Pal- ace. It has been extensively fixed up, the color scheme having a warm tone of red, and good shows are promised. Next Monday the Hippodrome has "The Avalanche," in which will be seen moun- tain climbing under real Swiss guides, all the climbers roped together. Jack DeFrece has assumed the manage- ment of the Stoke Newington Palace, superseding Albert Gilmer, erst of the Ox- ford. ■ Again are storm signals flying. The artists are growing restless; they feel that sometimes forebearance ceases to be a vir- tue. Messrs. Stoll, Barrasford, Broadhead, Gros and Gibbons are behaving splendidly as to matinee payments; they know that spirited artists dislike above all things to be trifled with; they know also that a great manager can never afford to look small or ungenerous, as in that event he is ranked as a "ginger-bread" instead of a "thoroughbred." There are various other managers who are following their example, and learning to the utmost "the luxury of doing good." Leaving these, we come to the double- dealing gentlemen, who are disposed to "monkey with the band wagon," and would plant their large and hob-nailed boots on the bowing necks of the artists. There are quite a number of these fellows—men who have the taking hands that never want. The worst offender is the London Syndicate, called by some punsters "The 'Skin-dicate.'" These people are greedily after all, forgetting that big mouthfuls choke the puppy. No doubt there is some wisdom in economy, and some virtue even in paring potatoes thin, though the most frugal souls stand appalled at the micro- scopic littleness shown in the latest "Syn- dicate" contracts. Everyone knows that the awarded mati- nee payment was "over and above" and not "inclusive," yet the new contracts for the Oxford, Tivoli, Canterbury, Paragon and Empress have a salary stipulation that "six-sevenths shall be deemed to be in respect of six evening performances, and one-seventh of such salary shall be deemed to be in respect of one Saturday matinee." Thus a matinee payment of one-seventh of a ten pound ($50) wage would be 28 shillings 0 6-7 pence ($7.15). and since there is no such coin as six- sevenths of a penny, the Syndicate grave- ly tells us that exact payment would be breaking the award, which it could not be a party to. Of course an (Continued on page 17.)