Variety (February 1908)

VARIETY 1.. NO ANNOUNCEMENTS IN CINCINNATI Cincinnati, Jan. 30. Harry Martell remained here most of this week, following the meeting of the Kxecutive Committee of the Empire Cir- cuit Company. He returned to New York late in the week. James A. Butler, G'eorge W. Heuck, and James E. Fennessy also attended the sessions which were held in the People's Theatre. Henry C. Miner was expected, but did not arrive. In the report of the meeting given out it appears that only routine matters were discussed. Reports were read on the building operations in Brooklyn, Wilkes- Barre and Schenectady. It is reported that there is some deal on between Anderson & Ziegler and J. E. Fennessy on an understanding that if the firm would not release the Hopkins Louis- ville for burlesque, Fennessy would agree not to allow his Lyric to play the Morris vaudeville. Another story said the Hopkins, by a previous arrangement, would pass to the possession of the Columbia Amusement Company (Eastern Burlesque Wheel). A house next season in Louisville was long since reported in Variety, and the gen- eral idea is that Hopkins* would be the place. ;, It is thought that the trip west of the three leading Eastern managers may have something to do with this lease. If the Eastern people land in that town, they will have to oppose The Buckingham, a Western Burlesque Wheel theatre. "ORIENTALS'" HOSPITAL LIST. Washington, Jan. 30. "The Oriental Burlesquers" were almost crippled while playing the New Lyceum here last week by four of its members being forced to retire owing to illness. May Cromwell was taken to Columbia hospital, where she underwent an opera- tion for appendicitis. She is now on the road to recovery, although still in the hospital. At the same time Blanche Belford and Mayme Heim were forced to retire from the cast on account of an attack of "grippe." They were sufficiently recov- ered to leave with the company for Bal- timore. JEANETTE DUPRE ILL. Jeanette Dupre is ill with laryngitis and unable to play. It ,may be several months before she will have entirely re- covered. Miss Dupre, who is plaintifT in a suit for divorce against William B. Watson, has asked that public denial be made of a report that she has any idea of re- marrying, should her suit be successful. SINGER WINS $2,ooo. New Orleans, Jan. 30. Jack Singer, proprietor and manager of the "Behman Show," was a constant at- tendant at the races while his organiza- tion was playing the Greenwall in this city. Henry Greenwall vouchsafed the in- formation that Mr. Singer "cleaned up" over $2,000 on the week. The "Behman Show" played to the fourth largest receipts of the season, be- ing exceeded by the "Golden Crooks," "Lid Lifters" and Robie's "Knicker- bockers." All of the latter carried "strengtheners," while the "Behman Show" had no featured attraction. WILKES-BARRE BURLESQUE HOUSE ■ ■■■;;♦ READY. Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Jan. 30. The new Luzerne Theatre on South Main Street, which is to house the at- tractions of the Empire Circuit Company (Western Burlesque Wheel), is rapidly nearing completion. The permanent heat- ing plant is in operation and the decora- tive plaster work almost completed. The seats were placed in position this week. The superintendent declares that every- thing will be in readiness for opening February 3, but there is a general im- pression that the premier will not take place until February 10. Philadelphia, Jan. 30. Lewis H. Baker, who has been acting as manager of the Bijou Theatre (Western Wheel) here this season, left here on Wednesday to assume charge of the Lu- zerne, the new burlesque house of the Em- pire Circuit (Company at Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Baker has been successful since tak- ing charge of the Bijou and the new posi- tion is a reward of merit. Joseph E. Schanberger, who has been treasurer at the Bijou this season, has been advanced to fill the position left va- cant by Baker's withdrawal. Schanberger is a brother of Fred Schanberger, manager of the Maryland of Baltimore. FEMALE WRESTLERS MIX IT. Washington, Jan. 30. A discussion that involved the audience arose at the New Lyceum Tuesday night and threatened to develop into a small riot, when an unknown woman wrestler entered the lists against Cora Livingston, a feature with "The Yankee Doodle Girls," who offered to meet all comers for a for- feit of $25 for anyone who would stay 15 minutes. The two girls ground each other's faces into the mat for what seemed to the audi- ence to be pretty close to the time limit, when a nameless male individual who acted as the "Unknown's" backer rushed into the proceedings, tore the contestants apart and announced that his protege was the winner. The other timekeeper caught the time as 20 seconds short of 15 minutes, and the referee declared the second's "butting in" a foul, giving the match to Cora. There was a loud demonstration on the jiart of the audience who supported the "Unknown" with enthusiasm, and they were only quieted by "the promise that a return match would be arranged later in the week. MANAGER MARRIED. Chicago, Jan. 30. Frank Livingston, business manager of Sam Scribner's "Big Show," and Maude Kobihson, of the same company, were secretly married several weeks ago. The announcement was made last week, although it was intended to keep it quiet until the end of the season. CHANGE IN management; . Chicago, Jan. 30. Ben Harris, formerly manager of "The Gay Morning Glories," has been ordered to "go ahead" of "The Bon Tons" by Weber «& Rush. Garcncc Burdifk replaces Mr. Harris with the other show as manager. Sam Goldie continues in charge of the "Bon Tons." KRAUS READY TO BUILD. Dave Kraus this week received the ap- proval of the local building department for plans for a theatre in Hoboken. Kraus recently took over an amusement hall there. This will be torn down and prac- tically a new house erected. Mr. Kraus would not say what use he would put the place to, except that it would probably play burlesque. The Eastern Wheel shows or stock are the only possibilities in this field, the West- ern franchise being closed to Hoboken through a contract between the Empire Circuit and T. W. Dinkins, by which the latter controls Hudson County exclusively. OBITUARY LARRY McCALE DIVORCED. Mabel Carew has been granted an abso- lute divorce from Larry McCale, the bur- lesque comedian, together with alimony and the right to the use of her maiden name. McCale is now principal comedian with Williams' "Ideals." Miss Carew is of the team of Gertie Hayes and Mabel Carew, members ot Miner's "Bohemians." FIXING UP "MORNING GLORIES." "Solly" Fields left this week for To- ledo, where "The Gay Morning Glories" are playing to re-make over the show. New "numbers," costumes and a general overhauling will take place while Mr. Fields remains with the company. It is following the intention of Weber & Rush to brighten up all their shows coming East before reaching New York. STOCK BURLESQUE TO RESUME. The burlesque stock enterprise which was interrupted by a fire in The Bayonne (N. J.) Theatre, will resume within a few weeks. Louis Lesser will be prominent in the management. BREAKS CINCINNATI RECORD. A new record was established last week at the People's Theatre, Cincinnati, when the "Washington Society Giris," with Mil- lie DeLeon ("The Girl in Blue") as an ex- tra added attraction, rolled up a gross of $6,100. This exceeds all figures for the past five years, according to Manager James E. Fennessy. NEARLY "23" IN EVANSVILLE. Cliicago, Jan. 30. The ^filyor of Evansville, Ind., objected to a photograph of -a member of the "Nightingales," which appeared in a local paper last week, and threatened to close the theatre on Sunday. It is said the Mayor is opposed to "tights," and the display had to be eliminated during the engagement of the show. On Wednesday night twenty-two people attended the performance, not an unusual occurrence in Evansville. WEEK'S SHOW AT JOHNSTOWN. Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 30. Besides the three vaudeville houses now open here, there will be another show for a week commencing Monday, playing at tlio Cambria. It has been booked by William Morris, and will have Powers' Elephants as the feature. Mr. Morris has the booking of another house in this city, also. Kenneth Lee, the writer of vaudeville sketches and skits, died very suddenly on Wednesday of last week in New York, the result of an attack of heart disease. Among his best known later work was the farcical playlet "Billy's Tombstones," J laved in vaudeville by Mr. and Mrs. Sid- ney Drew. The deceased is survived by two chil- dren. His name was originally Carmichael, and a large amount of his serious work was done under the name of Michael Car- michael. Lee was one of his family names which he had legalized as his own. The surviving children ar? in the care of Martha Lee, a former wife, from whom he was divorced. Henry Lee, the imper- sonator, is made his executor and will dis- pose of a vast amount of literary material for the benefit of the estate. William B. Howard, Sr., doorman at the Gotham, Brooklyn, and father of Will- iam B. Howard, Jr., stage manager of the same theatre, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, of pneumonia. The deceased was 84 years of age and had been connected with the Williams circuit for ten years past. * Mrs. Cora Rigby, wife of Arthur Rig- by, the former Joe Weber company com- edian, died late last week. She had been an invalid for ten years. Before illness forced her retirement she was familiar to vaudeville patrons as Cora Strong. Emma Atchison Ely, mother of Edgar Atchison Ely and J. Frank Ely, died in New York Monday. Burial services will l;e held to-morrow at "The Little Church Around the Corner," at 12:45. Interment will be made in Mt. Kisco Cemetery. A NEW PRODUCTION. In the midst of the present booking chaos bobs up B. A. Rolfe with a new musical production, to be shown at Wil- mer & Vincent's Colonial, Norfolk, Va., on Feb. 10 for the first time. The act is called "In Old Seville," hav- ing a company of six, five of whom are the Musical Nosses. "FIRE BRIGADE" WITH "BLUE RIBBONS." "The London Fire Brigade," Billio Ritchie and Tom Hearn's large comedv act, has been engaged to travel with "The Blue Ribbon Girls," a burlesque company lately purchased by M. A. Shea and Etl- ward Blondell. The act joins the show this week. It may be that the structure of the "Firo Brigade" will be utilized for one of the pieces in the "Blue Ribbons." When M. A. Shea and Ed Blondell take over the Hyde Show ("Blue Ribbon Girls"), now playing the Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel, the members of the pres ent organization will be superseded by an entirely new company and an entirely new produftion will be put on. SIGNED FOR NEXT SEASON. Bob Van Osten, Three Pickards, Woh li and Maitland, Millard Brothers and Billy ITart have signed with Manchester and Hill for next season. ^