Variety (December 1907)

VARIETY WHAT CHICAGO SAYS Personal Opinions and Comments on the Vaudeville and Burlesque Situation. Walter F. Keefe (Manager Booking De- partment, Western Vaudeville Associa- tion). -"In the very near future all first- class theatres will give more attention to sketches. Close observers believe that serious, well-constructed and well-acted sketches will be important features of all programs. The moving picture, electrical and scientific novelty field is practically undeveloped. The man who can keep pace with the kaleidoscopic improvements bound to come is fortunate. Retrospec- tively, vaudeville has shown an amazing growth and development. The future, at lea,st for the next ten years, should be a continuation of these conditions. Good vaudeville acts, novelties and original conceptions will always command good salaries. Bad acts will be eliminated. Personally I believe the friendly competi- tion among managers booking their houses with aililiated circuits will always keep the salaries up. All manager^ are look- ing for good acts. Invariably they do not care to wait long for them. Have noth- ing to say regarding the so-called Ad- vanced Vaudeville invasion except that no one was seriously injured, and the whole theatrical situation will be clarified when the forthcoming end is definitely an nounced." Paul Goudron (Manager Booking De- partment, Sullivan-Considine Circuit).— "Owing to the fact that I have been on the Coast for the past seventeen years, and have only been in Chicago three or four weeks, I will not .say anything re- garding the situation in this vicinity. I will say, however, that the houses on the Coast are doing as good business as ever, and that the managers out there scarcely feel the financial flurry. Now that artists can get a good number of consecutive week,s on the Coast, the days of five and ten shows a day are over on the Coast, and three-a-day is the regular number of shows given in all the houses at present. In a very short time you will see a string of two-a-day houses in the far West. I might add, regarding the situation here in the East, that the .supply of acts is largely in excess of the demand, thus having a tendency to lower salaries." Sam Du Vries (Vaudeville Agent, In- ternational Theatrical Company).—"I think the future of vaudeville depends principally on the booking agents em- ploying the proper kind of acts and giv- ing careful study to the likes and dis- likes of the patrons of his various houses, and should have the co-operation of man- agers. Then as long as we give the pub- lic good vaudeville at proper priceB it will continue to grow, as I think it is just the kind of amusement that appeals to the various nationalities that are making the fa,st growing population of our country." John A. Fennessy (Manager Folly The- atre, Western Wheel Burlesque House).— "The shows this year are better and more complete as regards the comedians, ma- terial and general equipment. It is no longer necessary to inject suggestiveness. Our clientele appreciates clean shows. The comedy is more elevating and of the musical comedy style, and the patrons are more pleased. Considering the money stringency, business is better than a year ago. Better class attendance is one of the marked advancements." Sid J. Euson (Manager Euson's The- atre, Eastern Burlesque Wheel).—"Ele- vated Burlesque the same as vaudeville emerged from the old-time variety. I am a firm believer in clean and refined bur- lesque. A good show must consist of good comedians, bright material, showy FLOURNOY STOCK PRODUCER. San Francisco, Dec. 9. The management of the new Sixteenth Street Theatre has not yet been an- nounced, but it is now certain that Al Flournoy, who was first slated for the post, will not be selected. Mr. Flournoy has accepted the offer of the Empire, San Francisco, to act as producer there. With him will be associated James Lee, who before the fire was the star of the Lyceum Stock Company. He has since been in stock at the Unique, Los Angeles, and later at the People's, under the man- agement of Mr. Flournoy. A. M. Zinn will stage the musical numbers of the Em- pire Stock Company, using his dancing girls as a chorus. FOUR VIEWS OF MR. JULIAN ELTINGE. Recognized by press and public as the world's greatest impersonator. Mr. Eltinge's remarkable powers of impersonation are remarkably illustrated in the accompanying picture, which includes a photograph of him as he appears off the stage, and the others showing him in some of his famous character roles. During the Inst few months Julian Kit Inge's new nrt lim been creating a nensatlon In the New York Vaudeville houses. He has proven himself one of Vaudeville's foremost artists and an absolute leader in his kind of work. His act 1s extraordinary In that it combines the most delicate and artistic work and still has a sensational finish. Kltinge's act is extremely high class, which probably accounts for his popularity as a club and private entertainer. He undoubtedly plays more private shows than any other Vaude- vllllan in America. costumes and plenty of girls. Better class burlesque is the thing. It will get the money for the Eastern and Western wheels. All the shows must be clean. I believe in catering to all clashes." William A. Singer (Manager Empire Theatre, Western Burlesque Wheel).— "(live me a good clean show with some capable comedians, good working chorus and plenty of comedy. The regular bur- lesque patrons demand it. The days of the slap-stick are over. We are getting a better class of people." 4 '0h, nothing," was the reply. "He just talks, but he doesn't hurt the show/' CORBETT DIDN'T HURT. When James ,1. Corbett was defeated for the pugilistic championship by the ofl*- cnlored-haired Fitzsimmons, the ex-cham- pion joined the Empire Show. In one of the towns where the company played, a couple of natives looked the outside bills over on Tuesday morning, one saying: "Why, that's Corbett, who fought Fitzsimmons." "What does he dot" asked the other. "Oh, he dubs around, but he don't hurt the show." PARISIAN MUSIC HALLS. By 0. M. Seibt. Paris, Nov. 30. Paris, the second largest city in Europe, is a poor place for vaudeville. Although there are plenty of so-called music halls, very few have a regular variety show. Straight variety is given only by the Al- hambra and by the Printania, the latter being a summer place. The new Apollo, which started with variety, has changed its policy and has put on a "revue" like the Folies BergGre, Casino, Moulin Rouge, Folies Marigny and Alcazar. Managers over here seem to have little confidence in vaudeville. They rather continue to do poor business with a revue. Barrasford's experience at his Alhambra Theatre is the best proof that Parisians appreciate a good show. This house is doing the best business in town. Parisians must have their revues—and they get them. It geems they cannot get along without them. Wherever you go in Paris you see a revue. The worst is they are all alike- same music, same jokes, same style of costumes and chorus girls. Even the "producers" are the same, generally Victor de Cottens or Quinel or Moreau. Some halls in Paris have a reputation ill over the globe. Why? Anybody com- ing from London and having visited the Empire, Alhambra or Palace i# disappoint- ed. What a difference in the building, the audience, orchestra, stage setting and management, ballet, dancers and chorus girls, and last, but not least, what a sort of "demonstration girls" in the prome- noire! Of course, this belongs to the "reputation" of Paris. A custom over here is the "claque." Not alone the audience is spoiled by it, but the "Chef de Claque" will tell hfa brigade (or brigands) to hiss if the artist doesn't tip them. It is improbable that any other big city has such unqualified stage hands and musician* as you will find in almost every hall in Paris. There is one good orchestra and stage management at Barrasford'a Alhambra. but this seems to be all. Curtesy <>f Columbus (O.) Citizen. BERTIE HEUROH Miss Herron Calls Herself the Miattrel Mitt. That't a Mistake. She's a Hit. She Makes Up Like Thit Right Before the Audience.