Variety (December 1907)

VARIETY PROTECTION OF WHITE RATS OFFERED W OMEN OF P ROFESSION The Artists' Organization Proposes Scheme Whereby the Women in Variety May be Under Its Sheltering Wing December 17, 1907. To the Lady Members of the Profession. Dear Madam:—As a member of our profession you will be fully cognizant of the present standing of the order of the White Rats of America, which to-day in- cludes among its members the majority of vaudeville artists of the United States of America, and in addition is affiliated with the Internationale Artisten Loge of Ger- many and the Variety Artistes' Federation of Great Britain. With such strength and by judicious management the order has gained the "esteem and confidence of the manager and artist, so as to be the honored adjudicator in any case of dispute. The order has received many requests from lady members of the theatrical pro- fession who desire to become members of our organization, but as our Articles of Incorporation debar them, we have decided upon a plan whereby they may gain our assistance and protection in the pursuit of their calling. Upon the acceptance of an application by the order, and the payment of an an- nual subscription of $5—payable in advance—the Order of the White Rats of America will issue a certificate entitling the applicant to its assistance and pro- tection in the fulfillment of her theatrical contracts. If you desire to avail yourself of the offer, please fill out the enclosed form and remit therewith the sum of $5, representing one year's subscription in advance. Respectfully yours, (Signed) R. 0. MUDGE, HERMAN DESCO, Secretary. President. The above circular letter, officially is- sued by the White Rats of America, has been forwarded to all women in the va- riety branch of theatricals where the ad- dress has been obtainable. The letter, which particularly explains the benefits to be derived by women from association with the order, does not tell why it was promulgated. The White Rats aim to have their pro- fessional sisters feel independent in the appeal to the society for protection or the adjustment of any grievance, and to that end have imposed the nominal fee of $5 yearly to enable a certificate being issued granting the rights of an active member. The by-laws of the White Rats forbid that women shall be received into full member- ship, and this expedient has been hit upon to tide over the difficulty. The move was brought about by many appeals from variety women, and in a great number of instances the beneficiaries, to attest appreciation of services rendered, have sent presents to the officers. These tokens were returned, but they accom- plished the opening of the Lodge to women in the manner set forth above. The "enclosed form" referred to may be secured at the offices of the White Rats, 1553 Broadway, New York City. "HOLIDAY SNAPS." The landscape ought to be pretty thick- ly dotted with vaudeville this week. A dozen or more artists have taken out specialty shows either as an individual speculation or on the commonwealth plan. Louis Wesley is up in New England with a farce comedy, booked for ten days of one-night stands. E. E. Rice is guid- ing a similar organization, and Fred Hal- len played part of the week in Middle- town, N. Y., with a vaudeville company. Each route takes in the two big holi- days of the year, which are supposed to be amply sufficient to carry anything through. U. S. COURT STOPS "COPY." Justice Lowell, of the United States Dis- trict Court of Massachusetts, has granted a preliminary injunction against the use of an aerial teeth apparatus by the La Frere Sisters, holding it to be an infringe- ment of a patent owned by Joseph Wil- liamson, and covering the rigging used by the Curzon Sisters, known as "The Aerial Butterflies." A temporary injunction to the same pur- pose was issued by the court in Septem- ber and prevented the appearance of the La Freres in Brockton that month, but was shortly after modified, and that act did show for a week or two. The La Freres are now in Mexico. Justice Lowell says in his opinion: "In the affidavits and at the argument the defendants suggested no prior art ex- cept certain devices alleged to anticipate. . . . Upon reading defendants' affida- vits I am not satisfied that the appliances testified to were correctly described by af- fidavits. . . . One appliance was de- scribed in vague and contradictory lan- guage, and was not produced, though it was said to be in existence. The descrip- tion of another appliance contradicted the laws of mechanics. . . . Infringement is not disputed." The defense of La Freres consisted in part of the allegation that such an ap- paratus as the one employed by the Curz- ons had been in public use long before the latter act appeared, and had become com- mon property by such usage. John G. Elliot, the Chicago attorney, represented the Curzons in prosecuting the suit. SLIGHT FIRE AT COLUMBIA. Cincinnati, Dec. 27. Fire in one of the dressing-rooms at the Columbia caused considerable excite- ment among the artists. It did no dam- age nor delayed the performance. The flames were quickly extinguished. The blaze was caused by electric light wires. CELLA SELLS OUT. St. Louis, Dec. 27. Louis Cella and the Oppenheimers, forming the American Theatre Company, have disposed of their theatres, leased from Klaw & Erlanger. The Sam S. Shubert, Kansas City, has been taken by the Orpheum Circuit; the Shubert, Milwaukee, goes to Kohl & Cas- tle, while the Mary Anderson, Louisville, is now held by the Cincinnati crowd, in- cluding Anderson & Ziegler. A deal has been made with Middleton & Tate of this city for the combination of the Garrick, Columbia and American, the latter now building. Vaudeville will probably be discontinued in the Garrick and stock replace it. There is an agreement between the American Company and William Morris for the agent to book the American. How thy* will be bridged is not stated. The other theatres, if they continue vaude- ville, will secure a supply through the Western Vaudeville Association, Chicago. When the American Company leased the theatres from Klaw & Erlanger it en- tered into an agreement with that firm to accept bookings from them. While the William Morris office routed the shows and arranged the bills, Morris did so only as an agent for K. & E., and held no con- tract to book for Cella and the Oppen- heimers, excepting for the American, not yet opened. ^ With the K. & E. Circuit closed, there would have been no booking agent for these houses unless a new one should have been made with Morris. The con- tract held by K. & E. contained a clause which permitted the "Syndicate" to desig- nate whomsoever it pleased to book in its stead. Had not the present deal been made, the United Booking Offices would probably have been appointed. It is rumored here that Cella was forced to the disposal of the houses by the money stringency, and his urgent need for cash to complete the American. Cella is reputed to be worth four or five mill- ions, but was hard-pressed for ready cur- rency, it is said. Kansas City, Dec. 27. The Orpheum Circuit takes possession of the Sam S*. Shubert on Dec. 29. The lease on the present Orpheum here runs three years yet.* It is believed vaudeville will be continued in the Shubert, the contract made by the Shubert Brothers and United States Amusement Company (Klaw & Erlanger) having conditioned that vaudeville be played for five years. The plans which have been drawn for a new Orpheum in this city will now be thrown aside. ONE AGENT APPRECIATED. There are some agents who really do work in the interests of their clients. This must be so, otherwise Jenie Jacobs, the feminine representative of artists, would not have received an express order this week for $50 from one of the acts managed by her. The sender informed Miss Jacobs in a letter he was at a loss to know what to purchase her for a Christmas gift in ap- preciation of her services in his behalf, and begged her to accept the enclosure for the selection of a present at his ex- pense. AGENT3 MOVED. Just at present the agents who as- semble at the St. James building daily to offer acts to managers booking through the United Booking-Offices have no place to seat themselves. When opposition was rife in the vaude- ville industry, the agents were appor- tioned a room wherein to gather, discuss "the situation," and try to sell their goods. Since the circumference of vaudeville narrowed a shift about has been contem- plated in the agency suite. A similar plan was decided upon before Klaw & Erlanger opened up the flood gates of big money and bills. That stopped the pro- ceedings until this week, when P. F. Nash, with his private secretary, L. J. Golde, moved into the agents' former room, Mr. Nash announcing the agents hereafter could not offer wares to managers direct, but must submit all acts through him. The agents, driven from their lounging and business place, found no space or chairs provided for them. It is said a portion of the room now given over to the artists will be taken for the agents, but there is only a wall between the United Booking Offices, the agents and one good direct shove southward. When the "agents" booking with the United are mentioned, two are always ex- cepted. It is reported these two have been told they would have their acts ac- cepted, regardless of what might happen, and the favored individuals were not com- pelled to resort to the "room" while it was in operation. Mr. Nash, who has been appointed "the agents' boss," was more latterly located in an interior compartment in close com- munication with the United's general manager. F. F. Proctor, Jr., now occu- pies Mr. Nash's former desk and exercises a supervisory position. ALL OVER IN PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, Dec. 27. This week marks the exit of Klaw & Er- langer's "Advanced Vaudeville," the For- rest closing Saturday night. "The Follies of 1907" opens Monday. Manager Dan Fishell, with Treasurer Dan Cahan and Stage Manager David Al- len, who were brought here from the Gar- rick, St. Loui.s, will report to Klaw & Er- langer in New York next week. It is un- derstood they have been taken care of. It has not been announced who will be manager at the Forrest when the theatre reverts to the Nixon & Zimmerman con- trol. Thomas Love is spoken of, and Fer- gie McCusker for treasurer. EMMA CARUS "HATES" NIGHT STANDS. "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway" will be minus one prima donna after Jan. 11. Emma Carus has grown skeptical about the advantages of seeing the West at the rate of one town per day in the Cohan show. Miss Carus has handed in her "notice," at the same time notifying M. S. Bentham t) secure her a few weeks in vaudeville until she will appear upon Broadway in a new production. Dorothy Kenton left for Louisville Thursday, where she will commence a Western tour.