Variety (October 1907)

■ * VARIETY • • MORRIS RUNNING NEW ENGLAND HOUSES.' Springfield, Mass., Oct. 18. The William Morris Amusement Com puny, of New York, took possession of the Nelson Theatre in this city, and the Franklin Square, Worcester, on Monday last. P. J. Casey is the general manager for the Morris Company, and in this capacity was in the city for a few days previous to the first show arranging details and placing large advertisements in the papers. Mr. Casey advertised the Nelson would admit the holders of a printed cou- pon to the theatre, with an additional charge of ten cents. He left for New York on Monday. Walter Pepper, a local man, has been appointed resident manager for the Nel- son; Butler Boyle, of New Yorjc, is in temporary charge at the Franklin Square, Worcester. The prospect of a profitable vaudeville season at the former K. & E. theatres, either under the Morris management or any one else's, is not considered probable. It is said that according to the present expenses and cost of bill a weekly profit would only become possible through ca- pacity houses at both performances daily, an unlikely condition. The cost of the bill weekly at both houses is about from $1,800 to $2,000 each. The fixed charges must be about $1,000 more. The money capacities at the pres- ent low admissions are placed at between $2,500 and $3,000 gross, if the houses should be packed al every performance. A conservative estimate of the cost of opposition to S. Z. Poli in the two New Knglahtd towns of Springfield and Wor- ker, Mass., is said t0 be $50,000 on the Present season, and it is hinted here that compromise arrangement of some sort i^ already under consideration. One item of potential loss to Poli arises from the necessity of keeping his prices in the two opposition towns down to the 10, 20 and 30-cent schedule. Some time ago he raised the admission scale to fifty cents in Bridgeport, Waterbury, Hartford and New Haven, Conn., and it was his purpose to follow a like policy in Spring- field and Worcester this year. Many of the shows were laid out with this in- creased earning capacity in view. The entrance of "Advanced Vaudeville" made the movement impractical. The difference between the old and new prices represents about $350 a week, or $28,000 for both houses on the season. Opposition bas a ] so forced Poli to increase the cost of his bills in these places by $400 a week, or a total for the season of $32,000. Both items amount to $50,000, and this does not take into account any loss the manager has suffered from business drawn away from his into the opposition houses. SHUBERT, BROOKLYN, "DARK." There has been a hitch in the plans of Lubin, the Philadelphia film manufac- turer, to open the Shubert, Brooklyn, as a five and ten-cent house with a short vaudeville entertainment, reinforced with moving pictures. It is understood that the Campbell Estate, owners of the property, entered strenuous objections to the use of the theatre for such a purpose. The Shubert remains dark pending a settlement of the disagreement. AGENTS HAVE ORGANIZED. At last the blow has fallen. The vaude- ville agents of New York have organized. This has been in the air for a long time. On Wednesday the commission men met in the Knickerbocker Theatre building, re- solving themselves into a social body for business intercourse under the title of "The Associated Vaudeville Agents of America." All vaudeville agents of "equal standing" are eligible to the order. It lias been formed for the purpose of bringing the men having a common cause into closer and more fraternal contact. Nine agencies were represented at the first call, when a permanent organization was effected. Those "of equal standing" who did not then become members have since received invitations to join. It is estimated that the "Associated Agents" will have a list of twenty among its charter members. There are perhaps a few more over that number at present in New York who would be admitted upon the plane of equality, which has been adopted as the standard of eligibility. William L. Lykens was elected presi- dent; Jack Levy, first vice-president; Rob- ert Grau, second vice-president; Alf T. Wilton, secretary, and Jos. Vion (Vion & Lowe), treasurer. The other agents who helped to form the society were Myers & Keller, Wesley & Pincus, Louis Pincus, and Reich & Plunkett. The chief object of the new organiza- tion is said to be sociability. Another im- portant object is believed to place a vaude- ville agent upon a substantial and busi- ness-like footing, when many of the present picayune annoyances will be done away with. CHICAGO'S NEW HOUSE OPENING. Chicago, Oct. 18. The Virginia, the new theatre which Paul D. Howse erected on Madison street and Ilalsted, opens tomorrow (Saturday). J. V. Ritchey is resident manager. Vaudeville changing weekly and a mu- sical comedy stock, with Sam Morris, Jessie Moseley and eight "broilers," will make up the entertainment. MEMBERSHIP NEARING 2,000. The membership of the White Rats of America is striding forwardly rapidly, and now nears the two thousand mark. A comparative statement for the sum- mer months of receipts for initiation fees, furnished by President R. C. Mudge, shows that the warm weather caused no considerable decrease. For June $1,500 passed into the treas- ury of the order from this source, July, $900, August, $550, and in September the amount regained its usual level of late, reaching $1,950. The sinking or reserve fund of the Rats is close to $50,000. Mr. Mudge stated that before the season ended it was ex- pected that this would be swollen to $100,000. • The prosperity of the order has at- tracted attention, and its present rela- tions with managers and agents are the most agreeable. Managers from all over ' the country write asking that differences between themselves and artists be ad- justed. Mr. Mudge commenting upon this favorable aspect remarked that the W T hite Rats had anticipated by at least three years this position. ■0; NASH AND H0DGD0N MANAGERS. Philadelphia, Oct. 18. It was reported this week that Phil Xash and Sam Hodgdon, of the United Offices, had secured the lease of the new theatre in Camden, N. J., from Dr. W. H. Long. Possession will be taken imme- diately, and vaudeville booked through the United will be given, beginning Monday, Oct. 21. A well known manager from Bos- ton is named as the manager of the new house. Since the theatre opened vaude- ville has been given and business has been satisfactory. The deal was completed here Tuesday and has been contemplated for some time. FRANK MELVILLE ASSIGNS. Frank Melville, the agent who formerly booked summer parks and fairs, and who the season just passed operated Melville Park in Bayonne, N. J., has made assign- ment of all his property and that of the Melville Amusement Company in favor of his creditors. The creditors met Satur- day in Melville Park.to discuss a plan of operating the establishment by a com- mittee of their number, and it was hoped by this mepns bankruptcy proceedings could be avoided. The scheme was to have the creditors take over the, property under a trust mortgage, whereby the creditors could handle it. This arrangement was to run a year, amounting to an extension of time in favor of Melville. The park manager's liabilities amount to about $05,000; his assets the Bayonne summer resort. BILLS JUST THE SAME. Pittsburg, Oct. 18. Xow that "Advanced Vaudeville" has re- •tired at least temporarily from the local vaudeville field, John Harris, manager of Harry Davis' Grand Opera House here, makes the announcement that there will be no diminution in the cost of his weekly bill. JEAN SCHWARTZ ALL READY. Hist; it's a secret, but Jean Schwartz has been wrestling with his piano. Mr. Schwartz, you understand, is of Schwartz and Jerome, some tong writers for some time, both together, Schwartz taking charge of the melody output. His labors with the mahogany-eased ki'ys are for the_ purpose of appearing upon the vaudeville stage as a pianologist. 'lis true, and Mr. Schwartz ^vill not deny it. He can have a job anV--time he's ready, and he's ready. Maurice Boom ami Harry D'Esta have purchased the Family Theatre. Chester, Pa., conducted by them as a vaudcvill" house for the past year. AGREEMENT MUST SPECIFY. A report coming in to New York from the Orpheum Circuit in the West said in effect thjit foreign acts now playing on it kid complained the understanding had '10m W. Passpart in Paris, who' booked them, was that American railroads al- lowed 300 pounds of baggage with each transportation ticket. In one case it was said an act had been obliged to expend $13 of its own money for excess luggage on one jump over the circuit, and this, is was claimed, was due to Mr. Passpart's misinformation. Upon being informed of the report, Mar- tin Beck, general manager of the Orpheum circuit, said he was surprised that it had received any credence. le standing of the Orpheum Circuit is such,7 said Mr. Beck, "a matter of that kind can not be dignified by a reply. Mr. Passpart, who is my representative in Paris, would not make any such state- ment." An Orpheum Circuit contract was shown by the general manager. It contained a clause printed in three languages saying any verbal agreements would not be rec- ognized. In another signed contract shown by Mr. Beck the wording read "All trans- portation and baggage." The "and bag- gage" had been inserted in ink. "Where that wording occurs," remarked Mr. Beck, "we pay all excess. Where it does not, we pay nothing. Our contract speaks for itself." MARIE LLOYD ON ORPHEUM CIR- CUIT. The option contained in the contract of Marie Lloyd with the United Booking Of- fices, which called for an extension of ten weeks beyond the twenty engaged for has been taken advantage of by the agency, and Miss Lloyd is now booked for a full term of thirty weeks on this side. A portion of this time will be spent by the Englishwoman on the Orpheum Cir- cuit and in other Western houses. During the week Miss Lloyd missed sev- eral performances at the Colonial. Tues- day afternoon after the first song, the Knglish singer announced that a cold obliged her to retire. In the evening, it not being expected she would be able to appear, Irene Franklin and • Burt Green, playing at the 23d street house, were summoned to replace her. While Miss Franklin and Mr. Green were in the theatre Miss Lloyd sent word to Manager Dave Robinson she would ap- pear, and she did. On Wednesday Miss Lloyd had to pass over both performances, the act first called for the emerccnev filling in the program's gap. Arthur Nelson in "A Racing Romance," the spectacular "automobile" sketch, will open at the 23rd Street house October 28. It is already billed around the theatre. ' Williams and Tucker will continue in vaudeville under the direction of Alf. T. Wilton. SUES FOR DOG'S AFFECTIONS. Minneapolis, Oct. 18. Henri French, the impersonator, and "The Stunning Grenadiers" played the Orpheum last week. Towards the end of it. the local papers eam»-mrt» with a story that Mr. French had sued Maude Corbett, of the "girl act," for $2,000 alleging the alienation by Mi*s Corbett of his French poodle dog's affections. Miss Corbett said it wasn't so; Mr. French said it was, but from the outside of the theatre it seemed as though the publicity promoter for the* house might have knowledge of the affair.