Variety (October 1907)

VARIETY SHEET MUSIC WAR ON. Much surprise was occasioned in the music trade last week when Vaiuety pre- dicted that on Saturday sheet music would be on sale in a New York department store at one cent per copy. This surprise increased to alarm among the publishers when it was learned that Variety's prediction had been borne out, and that Rothenberg's department store on 14th street was advertising a special sale of sheet music on that day from the catalogues of all publishers at lc. each. From 8 to 10 a. m. Rothenberg's dis- posed of 20,000 copies at that price. At ten o'clock the doors were locked and a squad of ten policemen scattered in front of the building to hold back the mob of buyers. The sale was resumed at 2 p. m., and orders only accepted for lots. In the same daily paper advertising the Rothenberg sale appeared an advertisement of Macy's quoting music at five cents a copy, a drop of one cent from the pre- vious week. Other stores listed sheet music at eight or nine cents, the slash of Rothenberg's to one cent being a com- plete surprise. Variety had an exclusive story, and not even the music trade papers had an inkling of the intended crushing cut. The American Music Stores Company, com- posed of F. B. Haviland & Co., Leo Feist, Witmark & Sons, (has. K. Harris and F. A. Mills, operate the music department at Rothenberg's. As stated in -Vai.icty, Hie decisive step was intended as an object lesson in an en- deavor to bring the retail price back to a profitable level, and to a figure at which the publishers and department stores would be a unit. If this is not accomplished, another "bargain one cent" sale may take place, and be continued until some decided action iataken. What steps are to be taken tjrtV-weck can not be learned, but the out- come of the sheet music war is being watched with much interest. Among the well known numbers in- cluded in the one cent sale last Sat- urday, published by both members and non-members of the American Co., were "My Irish Uosie" (Francis, Day & Hunter), "'Neath the Old Cherry Tree, Sweet Marie" (James II. Remick & Co.); "Mariuteh" (Harry Von Tilzer); "School Days" (C.us Edwards); "Somewhere" ((has. K. Harris); "fJolden Rod" (Leo Feist); " 'Neath the Old Acorn Tree, Sweet Estelle" (Ilelf & linger) ; "Love Me and the World is Mine" (Witmark & Sons) ; "She Was a Grand Old Lady" (Jos. W. Stein & Co.); "Monkey Land," (F. IV Haviland & Co.); "Red Wing" (F. A. Mills); "Honey Boy" (Albert Von Tilzer). Chicago, Oct. 18. The prices of sheet music in this city are falling down. The Siegel-Cooper store has made a special sale at eight cents a copy, beating the low price up to that time made by Jerome IT. Remick & Co., of ten cents. Formerly here there have been two standard prices. Lighteen cents regular, and fifteen cents at "special" sales. The Remick (inn came into town taking the Sol Bloom store. It advertised sheet music for ten cents, and the cut by Sicgcl- Cooper followed. No one knows where it will end. K.-P. TAKES IMPERIAL. Keith & Proctor have taken over a long- term lease of the Imperial Theatre (the old Montauk) on Fulton street, Brooklyn. That is to say, it used to be on Fulton street. Since last spring engineers have been busy with the building, which has now been moved from its old site to face on an adjoining side street. The old structure was moved back some distance, and then, by a most remark- ble feat of engineering, turned about on its own centre to face half way 'round on the cross street. The shift was made to provide for the approach to the new East River bridge, now in process of construc- tion. When the Imperial is ready for opening the Spooner Stock Company, now housed in the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, will be moved over, and another of the Keith-Proctor stock organizations put in the Broadway house. 4x WAITING FOR OTHER CHICAGO HOUSES. At the headquarters of the United States Amusement Company, it was said this week that the success of the Auditorium in Chicago had decided the future fate of the Colonial theatre in the same city as a vaudeville theatre. The policy would be changed immediately upon the ending of "The Talk of New York's" run, now play- ing there. The Colonial is Chicago's largest theatre. It is second in size to the Auditorium iu seating capacity. At the same time it was stated the Gar- rick, formerly the Shuberts' Chicago home, but turned over to the Amusement Com- pany with the other Shubert houses, would shortly have "Advanced Vaudeville" also. -* "ADVANCED" SIGNS IN NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, Oct. 18. The Shubert will open October 28 with Mrs. Fiske in an engagement to last two weeks. This house is now under the con- trol of the United States Amusement Company, of New York, which acquired it s along with the other Shubert theatres at the time of the K. & E.-Shubert alliance. Thos. C. Campbell, manager of the Tu- la ne and Crescent (both K. & E.), has been appointed manager of the Shubert by the Amusement Company, and it looks as if "Advanced Vaudeville" will arrive here soon as a permanency. Mr. Campbell is non-comittal on the subject. SITE BOUGHT IN PROVIDENCE. Providence, R. L, Oct. 18. It is rumored here that Klaw & Er- langer, or one of their connections, are contemplating an invasion of this place, heretofore the exclusive territory of E. F. Albee. A syndicate from New York is known to have purchased a plot on Darrance street to be used as a site for a vaude- ville playhouse. TREMONT REDUCES. Boston,,Oct. 18. The 'Fremont (K. & F.) has reduced the scale for admission to 25 and 50 cents at matinees, closing the second balcony for the afternoon performances. Business has increased with the latest move. ATTACHES QUARTET'S SALARY. The salary of the Empire City Quartet was attached Saturday night at the end of their engagement in the Grand Opera House, Pittsburg, by attorneys acting for Joe Adams, the proprietor of a hotel in West 44th street, New York, on a claim amounting to $300 against Harry Cooper. The case is still pending in the Pennsyl- vania courts, the qiiartet offering the de- fense that the salary of the act which was held up is not the property of Harry Cooper, but of his brother, Irving, and the contention is made that the joint salary of the quartet cannot be attached to sat- isfy a claim made against Harry Cooper personally. JOE BOGANNY GOING HOME. .Ine Bognnny, of The Bogannys, the European acrobatic act which was can- celled on the Klaw & Erlanger time be- cause a collection of substitutes was sent over in place of the original act which had been contracted for. sailed for home this week. doe Bogatiny engaged first class passage on an east-bound steamship for home, and offered to furnish third class transporta- tion for the other members of the act. They refused to accept this tender, and re- mained on this side. . The act was offered to the United, but the agency declined to give it attention. MAJESTIC READY IN MONTGOMERY. Chicago, Oct. 18. The new-Majestic, Montgomery, Ala., is scheduled to open October 21st, under the direction of R. J. Chambers and Com- pany. It is booked in conjunction with the Inter-State Circuit in the South. "JIMMY" LEE AN AGENT. Jimmie Lee, the newspaper man and press agent, is now in the agency busi- ness. lie has entered a partnership with William Atwell and the firm will book chilis. They supply attractions for a number of Tammany Hall Club enter- tainments; Atwell has just recovered from a seri- ous illness, lie was at Lake Saranac in the Adirondncks for several months, re- turning to the city onlv a few weeks ago. NEW HOUSE RUNNING. Johnstown, Pa., Oct. 18. The new Majestic Theatre opened bril- liantly Monday evening. The mayor made a brief address, at the close of which he formally dedicated the theatre. The proprietors are Michael J. Boyle and Thomas Holt/mann and Manager L. B. Cool. The interior color scheme is a rich red, relieved by olive green and gold finish. Capacity about 1,500. There is a balcony and gallery. The Majestic has a fire tower capable of holding an entire audience, as well as a Cue tunnel under the stage. Hooking is through the United Offices. SAVES LIFE FOR $50. For the sum of $50, paid to her by B. Obermayer, the agent, a woman giving her name as Mrs. Asche allowed a trans- fusion of blood to be made from her right wrist into the left arm of a German acro- batic girl named Elsie Witte at the Ger- man Hospital in this city last Saturday, saving the hitter's life. Miss Witte came over here with a for- eign act under the direction of Mr. Ober- mayer. Soon after arriving she was stricken with an affection of the heart, caused by violent exertion in her acrobatic feats, and removed to the hospital. Following an examination by the physicians, Mr. Obermayer was sum- moned, and told the girl's life would be saved if someone could be procured to give her healthy blood. The agent could see only one possible chance. He advertised in three dailies, offering $50 to "any healthy person willing to sacrifice a small amount of blood to save a sick person." In the morning upon ar- riving at his office, the address given in the advertisement, eleven women and one man were awaiting him. All were ready for the ordeal. Mrs. Asche was selected, and without further ado, not communi- cating with her family nor anyone, she repaired to the hospital, suffered the transfusion operation lasting 35 minutes, and remained there four days. While the transmission was taking place Miss Witte's skin, which had grown pure white, gradually assunred the healthy color. It is expected she will also be in condition to leave the sick room soon. AMBOY'S BOOKINGS MIXED. Perth Amboy, N. J., Oct. 18. Dorothy Howard with her company left here for New York Tuesday declaring that she would institute an action for damages against Manager Rose, of the Amboy Theatre. According to Miss Howard's story, she was booked for the Amboy by David H. Keith, a New York booking agent supply- ing attractions for the local house, her con- tract reading for week of Oct. 14. She was to have tried out a new Tlorwitz sketch entitled 'Man, Woman and Auto." Killing matter was forwarded in regu- lar form, but when the company arrived on Monday morning, Rose is declared to liave refused to play the act, asserting that a mistake had been made and the engagement was for next week, this week's bill being complete. Miss Howard retained Lawyer dames S. Wright, but the manager remained ob- durate In spite of his arguments, declar- ing that he had no responsibility in the matter, and the booking agent was the person at fault. Collins and Hart were shifted to the Auditorium, Chicago, for this, the opening week. They were scheduled to play Louis- ville. JOHNS COMING BACK. Lwellyn Johns, the Moss-Stoll repre- sentative, who remained over here last spring in the interests of the English managers, will return to New York the first week in November, locating in his former offices in the New York Theatre building. Mr. Johns is now traveling over the Continent surveying the foreign acts. Walter Put! r field, of the Bijou Circuit in Michigan, has successfully passed through an operation for appendicitis.