Variety (October 1907)

VARIETY "UNCLEAN" SHOWS MONEY MAKERS. The question of the relative earning powers of clean burlesque shows as against the "unclean" variety has never engaged the attention of Wheel manag- ers to the extent it has this season. The point has been argued pro and con since the opening of the burlesque year. Supporters of the "unclean" show as a profitable business proposition are point- ing to the record made so far by "The Lid Lifters," one of the worst offenders on either Wheel. This company has left a trail of broken records through the West, but its experience at the Gayety, St. Louis, is almost startling as an indica- tion of the taste of burlesque audiences. The Gayety has been doing from $3,000 to $4,000 a week gross since last August, with an exceptional engagement of $4,500 one week. "The Lid Lifters" played the house last week, piling up a total of $7,500, a little less than $300 below the record for the theatre. CHAS. ROBINSON A BENEDICT. Before "The Night Owls," of which Charles Robinson is the owner, started off on the road this season, Mr. Robinson quietly married, and his marriage did not become known until the show returned to town this week. It is at Hurtig & Sea- mon's 125th Street Music Hall. Mrs. Robinson is with the show. BURLESQUE "TURNS DOWN" BAY- ONNE. It is said by a director of the Columbia Amusement Company that the Bayonne Theatre, Bayonne, N. J., has again been offered to that concern for use as a bur- lesque house. The Eastern Wheel is now filled, and the tender was declined. The Empire Circuit Company is believed to have turned down the same offer. The concern which owns the Bayonne Theatre is building a new house to play combina- tions. TORONTO HOUSE DELAYED. Toronto, Oct. 18. Gus Hill, of the Columbia Amusement Company, made a flying visit to Toronto late last week, to inspect the Gayety Theatre, in course of construction, for his concern. Delays in the work have arisen within the last few weeks. It is now an- nounced the opening, to have taken place Oct. 28, hAs been postponed to Nov. 25. 5ASSE RECEIVES LICENSE. Charles L. Sasse, the circus booking agent in East 14th street, this week re- ceived his license to conduct a general booking business under the Employment Agency Law. Sasse's license was with- held for a few weeks pending the set- tlement of a complaint filed with Commis- sioner of Licenses John N. Bogart by Mar- got Suddeheim, the equestrienne artiste, Mme. Suddeheim declared that she had been booked by Mr. Sasse for an engage- ment with a circus in Cuba, and after playing two weeks there had been can- celled for the remaining time, amounting to about four weeks. The matter was settled by Mr. Sasse paying the artiste her travelling and other expenses, a total of $200. Mme. Sudde- heim sailed for Germany this week. SLOWLY BUILDING IN BROOKLYN. Work is progressing rather slowly on the Empire Circuit Company's theatre in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, now in process of erection. There seems to be no disposi- tion to rush the construction work. It was promised by the contractors that the building would be ready for use in Feb- ruary. The delay is accounted for by the stringency of the money market. The house, according to one authority, is being built by a Brooklyn real estate man, under a contract, by which the burlesque people will pay a rental amounting to 6 per cent, annually on the initial cost of ground and building, and this investor does not care to make large outlay dur- ing the present tightness of the money market. JIM CURTIN'S FORGOTTEN BULLET. Jas. H. Curtin, manager of the London, discovered a bullet the other day he had overlooked for a quarter of a century. It was presented to him by a Texan rough when Mr. Curtin officiated as sheriff in a county of that State. Mr. Curtin received the small missile rather suddenly, the man shooting it from a pistol at the sheriff's heart. He was a poor marksman, a detail at which Mr. Curtin expressed satisfaction at the time. The bullet entered his left shoulder in- stead. The doctors around Houston could not locate the pellet at the time. The man- ager knew he had it about him, but for- got the incident. Lately he has suffered. In the abdominal region there was a hard substance, causing much pain, and Mr. Curtin feared appendicitis. An examination by a physician was fol- lowed by a quick incision, and behold the twenty-five-year-old bullet, which had worked itself from the left shoulder down and around to just below the stomach on the right side. CONTRACT FOR WESTERN HOUSE LET. Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 18. The Engineering Construction Company of Baltimore, through Architect McElfat- rick, of New York City, was ^o-day awarded the contract for erecting the new Luzerne Theatre in this city for Charles Knapp and a party of Baltimore capitalists. The theatre will be booked by the Em- pire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel). The contract calls for the completion by Jan. 1. IT'S UP TO HILL. Will Drew, of Campbell & Drew, the Western Burlesque Wheel managers, de- clares that his attorneys will move this week for the dismissal of the injunction secured against an act in one of his shows, which Gus Hill alleges is an in- fringement upon his exclusive right to the use of "A Night in an English Music Hall" for burlesque purposes. Mr. Drew declared that Hill had not yet filed the $500 bond as' directed by the United States Circuit Court of Illinois, and this indication that he does not intend to prosecute the action will form the basis of his attorney's argument for a dismissal of the restraining order. TWO NEW EASTERN SHOWS. The contractors have promised to turn over the new Eastern Burlesque Wheel houses in Montreal and Chicago in time to open for the holidays. The Hyde & Behman Amusement Company is building the Chicago house. The Eastern Wheel is now complete, with an equal number of traveling shows and theatres. When the two houses mentioned are thrown open, two new shows will be placed in the field, and the time follow- ing each new town will be set back a week, after which the Wheel will revolve as before. "POST" AFTER HYNICKA. Cincinnati, Oct. 18. The "Post," in its search for political capital, has been turning its attention to the alleged indelicacy of the shows given at the Standard Theatre (Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel), seeking, it is said, to dis- credit R. K. Hynicka, the local politician, through his connection with that play- house. Last week the "Post" condemned an Oriental dancer who was a feature of Jacobs & Jermon's "Golden Crook" Com- pany. This same dancer appeared at the People's Theatre, belonging to the West- ern Wheel, and escaped the "Post's" criti- cism. GUS ELEN. The photos on the—front page ovals this week are of Gus Elen, the noted Eng- lish coster singer, in different poses. Mr. Elen in the large picture bears a strik- ing resemblance to the late Richard Mans- field. First appearing in this country at the New York Theatre on September 9th, under special engagement to Klaw & Erlanger, Mr. Elen played two weeks at that house, appearing also in the K. & E. houses at Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Boston. He is sailing for his home to-day (Sat- urday) on the "Lusitania" to\fulfill for- eign engagements. A prolongation of his American time was offered by KJaw & Erlanger. Mr. Elen in his delineations of the El lish "coster" is a finished character actor. Though presenting characters unfamiliar to Americans, his work was quickly ap- preciated. He is a thorough artist, and is preferred by many to Chevalier. So emi- nent an authority as Alan Dale, the dramatic reviewer, who did not see Mr. Elen while here, having witnessed his performance abroad, expressed this prefer- ence. America has greatly pleased the Eng- lishman. It is with regret he leaves, and Mr. Elen said that did not his English contracts demand his presence at home, he would have been extremely pleased to have remained pn this side, which may be accepted as indicative of an intention to return at some future time. As ono of the most artistic character portrayers who has ever graced our vaude- ville stare, Mr. Elen will always be wel- comed. "COOCHERS" STOPPED BY POLICE. Indianapolis, Oct. 18. "The War of the Oootchies" has come to an end in Indianapolis. Hereafter the burlesque shows at the rival houses will have to get along as best they can with- out the mystic beauties of the classic "hootchamakootch." The Empire (Western Wheel) has been introducing an Oriental dancer into every attraction during the last four weeks and also allowing the comedians of the various burlesque shows to indulge in all sorts of broad fun-mak- ing. Until a week ago the Gayety (East- ern Wheel) had been looked upon as a "clean" burlesque house, where women and children could go without fear of being shocked. But when it came to pass that the Em- pire drew the crowds while the Gayety didn't Manager Edward Shayne, of the Gayety, concluded that he would change his policy, just as an experiment, and give the burlesque patrons what they seemed to want. So he not only intro- duced a "hootchie-kootchie" dancer into one show to dazzle his clientele, but he followed this up with another last week, who proceeded to "cut loose" in a style that was quite unbecoming a lady. Hearing that the Gayety was being packed at each performance, Manager Harry Drury, of the Empire, gave permis- sion to the dancer with his current at- traction to "let herself go" in the Oriental terpsichorean art. And so it was that the lovers of the "hootchamakootch" were treated to an embarrassment of riches— until Chief of Police Metzger stepped in and said, "Stay! Away with all cooch stuff. The lid is on." And it was—from that moment. BANQUETTED LOUIS ROBIE. Washington, Oct. 18. A banquet was tendered Louis Robie, manager of the "Knickerbockers," by Charles Stohlman and others of Mr. Robie's Washington friends, while the manager was in the city last week with his show. The full complement of the "Knicker- bockers" attended. Among the others present were W. S. Clark and Eugene managers of the Gayety and Lyceum, "respectively. Anrny~speeches were made, including some laudatory remarks addressed to each other by the managers. Mason and Shannon were obliged to can- cel this week, owing to the loss of Sam Shannon's voice. Last week the act played both tho 23rd Street and 58th Street houses. "COPY" LEFT TO ARBITRATION. A committee of Eastern Burlesque Wheel managers visited Hurtig & Sea- mon's Music Hall this week to witness the performance of "The Behman Show." It was reported before the Jack Singer or- ganization came into New York that a colorable imitation of "A Night in an English Music Hall" was being used. Gus Hill owns the exclusive rights to the reproduction of this property in bur- lesque and musical comedy, and he ob- jected to the playing of the piece in "The Behman Show." Owing to the fact that both Hill and Singer are members of the same concern (Eastern Wheel) the matter was left to the judgment of a committee, both side agreeing to abide by its decision. Lily Lena, a foreign singer, lately ar- rived in London after a tour of Australia, will appear at the Colonial next month.