Variety (December 1907)

VARIETY A CANADIAN COMBINATION. Chicago, Dec. 20. A new Northwestern vaudeville cir- cuit of cheaper houses has been organized in Canadian territory by H. I. Murphy and Sain Du Vries, under the corporate name of The International Theatre Com- pany. Mr. Du Vries is located at Chicago, and is not financially interested in the enter- prise, but laid the plans for booking the acts in conjunction with the Clark Circuit in Montana. All acts coming from the coast and playing the Clark houses will jump to Calgary, Canada, the opening point, with consecutive weeks at Edmon- ton, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Regina and Moose Jaw to follow. > From the latter place they will be transferred to Minot, Minn., and other towns in that section, giving altogether about 20 weejcs. J. B. MORRIS EXTENDING. J. B. Morris peems to be following E. E. Mozart's policy of extension in his popu- lar priced vaudeville circuit. It is said he will soon be represented by five theatres, four of which are probably al- ready under his control. Gloversville, N. Y., and North Adams, Mass., have been represented in the Morris circuit some time. Last week he and Joseph E. Shea, a;s partners, secured the Burtis Opera House, Auburn, N. Y., and now they have added New Britain to the string, taking over the house formerly managed by Frank Keeney. $52 FOR 51 ARTISTS. Cincinnati, Dec. 20. Niklas Schilzonyi is out of Robinson's Opera House. The Hungarian went to Chicago last week, leaving $52 with John G. Warren to settle accounts with 51 art- ists and himself. Mr. Warren, the assistant manager of the theatre, did the best he could, and then tried to provide means to carry the people to their destinations. Warren received a wire from Schilzonyi from Chicago, whither he had gone, asking that he (Warren) come on there to ar- range for the transportation of the Ital- ian Grand Opera Company to Cincinnati. Warren said in reply his concern was to get actors out of town instead of bringing more in. "Governor'' John Robinson also took a hand in straightening out the affair. Late this week Mr. Warren returned from Chicago after a brief conference with Schilzonyi. He reported that the idea of bringing the Italian Grand Opera Com- pany here had been abandoned. Warren says that Schilzonyi has formed a partner- ship with Gus Menninger, of Covington, and that they contemplated reorganizing the John C. Fisher Opera Company for a tour of the Southern States and a visit to Havana. HARDEEN FOR BRIDGE JUMP. Hardeen, "the jail breaker," who makes his first New York appearance next week since playing under a Klaw & Erlanger contract, would like to be manacled and jump off the new Blackwell's bland Bridge as a sort of notification to the public he is at the New York Theatre. Permission is being sought from the au- thorities. A HOWL FROM YONKERS. , Yonkers, N. Y., Dec. 20. You vaudevillians had better just look out. Yonkers is at the bursting point. Every once in a while after the night has cast its deep black shades, a Yonkerite or Yonkerote steals out of this suburban village, reaching New York by way of Mt. Vernon, usually. When in the big city he holds up his head, acts human, and for the purpose of spending his money on something he can understand goes to a vaudeville show. Then it's "Yonkers." Everyone on the stage ''stings" "Yonkers," and the only point against Yonkers is the fact of its existence. When a vaudevillian appears at the Doric here, "Syracuse" is slandered, and we chortle, for Syracuse is away in the West, near Rochester, and we don't care, but Yonkers decidedly kicks on the "Yonkers" thing in vaudeville, especially in New York City. It hurts our growing population. Now, when a New -Yorker catches the "out-of- town" fever, and "Yonkers" is suggested, he says "A-a-ah." But there will be a reform. List to the plaint in a locaj daily here this week: SUGGESTS A BLACKLIST. "To the Editor: "It is a fact that a resident of this city may journey to any of the vaude- ville theatres in the metropolis, lean back in his seat and feel assured that he will hear Yonkers mentioned in sheer sarcasm by some actor. When an actor wants a laugh he mentions Yonkers in broad contrast to New York City. He tells his audience, for instance, of the shy country lassie, and as an example, points to the Yonker,s young lady. You will hear of the little, ancient village, and sure- ly enough it is Yonkers. "Now, this condition of affairs should not exist; should not be toler- ated. What jars me more than any- thing else is to see these self-same actors who have been joshing about ufl the night before come over here to this city and endeavor to win our good graces. "The names of the actors and act- resses, too, should be kept on rec- ord, so that when they come here we will identifv them and we will show them what we think of their actions. "Nat Karler." OIROUS NEWS "THREE OF US" AT WEBER'S. "The Three of Us" is how either Bob Dunlap. Carl Gordon or Major A. J. Criqui refers to his other two cronies when speaking of the "bunch." The "bunch" is made up of all shapes and sizes. Mr. Dunlap weighs about 2.10 pounds, and is of average height. Mr. Gor- don weighs about 100 pounds, and i.s near- ly seven feet tall, while the Major is a diminutive fellow, of "General Tom Thumb's" size. The three have been negotiated with to play in the next production at Welter's Music Hall, and a scene will be arranged for them, where the oddities and con- trasts will be markedly brought out. New Orleans, Dec. 20. A. J. Ringling, equestrian director of the Ringling Brothers' Circus and the old- est of the five brothers who are concerned in the show, died early Wednesday morn- ing in the New Orleans Sanitarium. Death was attributed to a complication of diseases. Mr. Ringling had been in poor health for some months. He trav- elled with the show part of the season, but toward the end of the tour gave up and returned to winter quarters. Two weeks ago his condition became so alarm- ing tHat it was deemed advisable to re- move him to New Orleans in order to escape the rigors of the Northern winter. He arrived here Dec. 1, and sank steadily. All the Ringling brothers, with the ex- ception of John, who is abroad, were with him at the time of his death beside Mrs. Ringling and Manager W. H. Horton of the show. The body has been taken to Baraboo, Wis., where interment will be made. London, Dec. 7. After a brief stay at the Savoy, John Ringling and "Doc" Freeman, the latter the "contract fixer" of the Chicago circus agency, left for gay Paris and slippery Berlin. Asked whether the American panic would affect their operations, genial John replied they were not a bit worried about that. Frank Brown, the old-time English circus clown, brother of Clara and Adele Purvis, and known for many circus ventures in Argentine and Chili, landed in Lisbon, and is due here via Paris. His connection with the Coliseo Argentine, Buenos Aires, will be recalled, but this time he i f s booking for the Teatro San Martino of that city. Not a single order has been placed for next year's printing of the Buffalo Bill Show, owing to the absence in London of Joseph McCaddon. By this time last year the printing companies were pretty well advanced with the Buffalo Bill and Bar- num-Bailey orders, and knew about what they would have. Mr,s. Bailey and Mc- Caddon are reported to have sailed for home late last week and should be in New York by now. John Ringling is ex- pected back shortly. Max Ford, of the Four Fords, is now a father. Mrs. Ford became the mother of a boy last Monday. The cireus wiseacres' prophecy a year ago that lien Wallace would be sole owner of the Hagenbeck-Wallaee show seems to have come true. Mr. Wallace is now sole proprietor. At the time John llavlin retired from the partnership Lee Williams, Mugavin, Frank Tate and Tal- bott likewise sold out their shares in the property. Mugavin has since bought back his interest in the Van Amberg show. Talbott will be with the Wallace outfit this year as legal adjuster, but will not be otherwise interested. Showmen were a bit surprised this week when the news leaked out that Charles Hutchinson would remain in hi f s old posi- tion as treasurer of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, when it goes out next season under the Ringling Brothers' management. It was supposed that he would be retired together with the rest of the old execu- tive staff. Charles Hutchinson is a nephew of Mrs. James A. Bailey. His brother, Fred Hutchinson, was general manager last season of the Buffalo Bill Show. No announcement of his connec- tion for the season of 1008 has yet been made, but he will probably be in the same capacity. The Orni F'amily, Mariot Twins and Eld- ridge, the rider, returned late- last week from the Pubillones Circus in Cuba. The main show is in Mexico just now, but a second organization is playing the old ter- ritory on the island of Cuba. During their say in the South the Mariots and Eldridge decided to form a trio, and have arranged a new act in which they will appear together. Joseph McCaddon and Mrs. James A. Bailey returned from London this week. No word has been received from John Ringling as to when he will sail for home. Sam Fiedler, last season "twenty-four- hour man" with the Buffalo Bill show, will probably be No. 1 car manager for the Sells-Floto the coming year. The post has been offered him, but he has not yet given an answer. There were vague rumors in circulation to the effect that, while the Forepaugh- Sells outfit will not be placed on the road next year in this country, there is a live probability that it will be sent abroad by the Ringlings for a tour of Europe. All the stock used during the European trip of the Barnum-Bailey show is still on the other side, and it would be necessary to take very little equipment over. The stock is useless for this country, the cars not being of the American standard gauge. American showmen would watch the out- come of a second invasion of England and the Continent by a Yankee show with keen interest. Andrew Cozad, professionally known as Andrew Norris, and a brother of C. I. Nor- ris, of the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus, took his life while temporary insane on Friday, Dec. 6, at the home of his brother, in Santa Cruz, Cal. Mr. Cozad had been in poor health for some years. In 1892 he with William Sells started the Sells & Norris Circus. After the termination of this partnership, with his brother he started the Norris Bros.' dog and pony show, which was very successful. About six years ago H. S. Rowe purchased his interest in the business, and Mr. Cozad retired from active work. The funeral was conducted by the Elk/* and the Eagles, he being a life member of the latter lodge. Mr. Cozad had thousands of friends throughout the country. No reports of any bookings made by John Ringling, who is abroad, have yet reached here. Mr. Ringling has been so far to London, Paris and Berlin. In Lon- don the circus man offered large induce- ment*, including a contract for two years, to the Fredianis, if they would join his circus, but future engagements forbade the acceptance.