Variety (December 1907)

Thirty-Six Pages TEN CENTS VOL. IX., NO. 3. DECEMBER 28, 1907. PRICE TEN CENTS. MORRIS INCORPORATES FOR HALF A MILLION , , Takes First Step in His Proposed Vaudeville Circuit by Incorporating. Includes His Booking Office; No ^ Connection With the William Morris Amusement Company. "William Morris, Inc.," was formed this week with a capital of $500,000 to con- duct a general theatrical business, in- cluding the booking of attractions, to- gether with the construction and opera- tion of theatres. Mr. Morris said he was prepared at the present time to offer contracts for 25 weeks next season, and would immediate- ly proceed to engage acts to supply a new circuit of that strength. The incorporators, with the exception of William Morris, are not important fig- ures in the company, but are believed to represent the real interests behind Mor- ris in his plan to form a vaudeville circuit. A verbal statement was made by Mr. Morris this week in reference to the cor« poration. He said "William Morris, Inc.,' will commence business on Jan. 1. and will take over my booking office, which the corporation will thereafter conduct. I am the president and general manager. Among the stockholders are some very wealthy men, millionaires, but I am not permitted to divulge their names. "It is the first step in the plans I have made, and I expect shortly to make other announcements showing considerable progress. I realize that any news con- cerning a new vaudeville circuit would be important just now to the artist, but I do not feel it is wise under existing con- ditions to make known my intentions un- til pending matters have been finally closed and cleared so they will have no bearing on other propositions to follow. 'One-half the capital of "William Mor- ris, Inc.,' has been paid in. and there *is. no stock for sale. The William Morris Amusement Company is an independent concern, and will have no business con- nection with the new corporation. The first-named company may pass out of ex- istence in course of time." Mr. Morris, when asked what ell Lmii* < '•■Il.i having iti*posed "t the former K. ft E. theatres to the Western Vaude- ville Association managers would have, re- plied: "That does not alter my plans in the l«a>t. I had no contract to book for the Cella houses, excepting the American. St. Louis, and did not anticipate I would be the booking agent for them. "I hold a contract for the exclusive booking Of the American for three vears from its opening, and i: the theatre opens I shall book it. If I don't it will not re- main open." A desk has been placed in Mr. Morris' private office for the use of Geo. M. Lev- entritt. of Leventritt &. Brennan, the at- torney for Mr. Morris. Mr. Leventritt prepared the incorporation papers for Mor- ris' latest company, arid the installation of the desk has been cause! by the in- creasing amount of legal matters in con- nection with Morris' ventures. There appears to be little doubt but that Mr. Morris is making many moves with the ultimate object of a circuit in view, but no information is vouchsafed for publication, which might have a harm- ful reaction. Mr. Morris left the city Friday, and before returning will le present at the opening oi the Hippodrome. Cleveland, Monday night, which he books. LEVY AND LYKENS TOGETHER. Jack Lew and William L. Lykens have entered a partnership in the vaudeville booking business, the agreement taking effect from Jan. 1. The new firm will use Mr. Levy's present headquarters at 140 West 42d Street for offices. The acts handled exclusively by both agents have been pooled and the pair now have listed more than 100 members un- der their management. Mrviv Levv and Lvken* are well known New York agents. The name the firm will be Levy & Lykens. MORRIS STILL ADVERTISING. i ne advertisements uf William Morrl: for theatres, either erected or to be built, have been printed weekly in out-of-town papers since the first appeared In Cincin- nati, Washington and Pittsburg* Last Sunday the papers in New Haven, Providence and other New England cities carried the announcements. As the Klaw & Krlanger vaudeville vacates a town tie Morris advertisement will follow it in, it was said this week. Mr. Morris would give no information ;;:• to results from this source. He re- marked "advertising pays," and that he had not failed to receive answers from every city where the advertisement had been printed. BROADWAY MANAGERS WANT LEONHARDT. Since the announcement of the change of policy at the Twenty-third Stivet The- atre, two Broadway managers liave made offer,* to Harry Leonhardt. the present manager of the house, for his services, it is said. Mr. Leonhardt has built up a reputa- tion for himself as an arranger and pro- ducer since officiating a* a manager, and Broadway has heard of him. Mr. Leonhardt would not discuss 'his future at the theatre t!ii- week. He sail a,s far as he knew he would relinquish the management of the hou**e when the change went into effect, but did not ex- pect to leave his present connection. »■ Lodge No. 1. B. P. 0. V... having a mem bership of 2,000, presented Mr. Leonhardt. at a special meeting convened for tlr» purpose, with an appropriately engrave*I u'"M watch this week a- a Christmas token of esteem. NO POSITION FOR CASEY. No position* ha« yet been accepted by P. l. Casey, .it present in charge of the remainder of the Klaw a Krlanger vaude- ville. A :«•{' :' yave Mr faseyVi future, o.•••!!- pat ion ;i» mattagei for the new (;••■>. M. Cohan theatre, in course of erection at liitii f»treet and Broadway, but this baa not been settled upon. Several offer* have been received by Casey, and he !..■- the future mapped out, but may be induced to change his sched- L*p to now that has not occurred. KARA BACK AGAIN. Kaia, the higgler, has returned. It is hs.s than a month since he threw up all engagements on this .side, sailing for CJer- many. At that time Kara wa^ under contract with Klaw & Erlanger, but becoming dis- satisfied with the "jumps" on the K. & E. circuit, departed for his home, break- ing the contract he then held. While Kara was on the water, Richard 1'itrot, his agent, opened negotiations with the Orpheum Circuit, resulting in a (ontract being issued to Kara for 22 weeks. The juggler opens at Hopkins', Louisville, January 6. CLEVELAND'S "HIP'S" FIRST SHOW. Cleveland, Dec. 27. On Monday, Dec. 30, the Hippodrome, under the management of Max Faetken- Uauer, opens with two large spectacles as the opening and closing feature. The plan of program will be modeled on the style of the New York Hippo- drome. Between the ends a vaudeville and circus entertainment will be given. The acts booked for the initial bill through the William Morris office in New York are Hagenbeck's Elephants, Baron £ Dogs. Patty Brothers, Mabel Berra, Sharp Brothers, Hickey and Nelson and the Avolos. A large scenic production will be at- tempted in the closing piece, called "The ( loudbtirst," and presented under the per- sonal direction of Mr. Faetkenhauer, who also produced the opening spectacular. 'The Cloudburst'' will have 100 people, and the "diving horses," be.sides high divers ami aquatic sports. A rush of v iters sweeping overything from its path «ill be the finale. LEFT WITHOUT SALARY. Boston, Dec. 27. The Wilt<>n Brothers, bar act, left Bos- ton last Sunday without receiving salary for the previous week played at Keith's. The act refused to play the Boston The- atre Sunday night, as it would have re- quired two hour-' work to rig up their apparatus for the one show. They had declined an offer of $100 to appear at an- other house the same evening. When the salary for the week's work at Keith's was demanded, it was refused, and the brothers left town without it.