Variety (March 1908)

VARIETY BURLESQUE MANAGER TURNED AWAY. The burlesque manager who has been knocking at the door of the Columbia Amusement Company (Eastern Burlesque Wheel), as reported in Variety some time ago, was notified this week by order of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Amusement Company that his application for entrance had been declined. The notice of declination was in writ- ing, and signed by one of the officers of the company. The manager to whom it was addressed has two houses now play- ing burlesque which he wished to place in the Eastern Wheel. ANOTHER "TURKEY" FOR GRANT. Chicago, March 12. Cliff Grant, who last season managed the "Gaiety Girls" show, this season pilot- ed a "Turkey" outfit through Indiana un- til recently, when the organization disband- ed, made his appearance in Chicago a few days ago. He contemplates taking on a one-night stand tour another show immediately after Lent. Mr. Grant says the troupe will be organized in Cincinnati. WILLIAM COURTLEIGH AND COM- PANY. Variety's front page photos this week are of William Courtleigh and his com- pany, who are presenting one of the lead- ing vaudeville comedy successes of the season, "Peaches," written by George V. Hobart. Mr. Courtleigh, a versatile actor in every sense of the word, is proving as the principal figure of his vaudeville piece that as a light comedian he ranks with the highest. Entering the variety field from the legitimate Mr. Courtleigh is too well known to theatre goers of both branches to require any extended com- ment. The namesake of the Hobart sketch is Gladys Claire ("Peaches"), who is the sweet, winsome young girl the playlet de- mands. Frank E. Jamison enacts the father, and Mr. Jamison's particularly fine performance has earned him encomiums of praise wherever the piece has been pre- sented. Edward O'Connor has lately stepped into the role of "Biff Donovan," a very agreeable part for a character actor. "Peaches" is proving its stability by a number of return engagements. Mr. Courtleigh is a player for vaudeville with a considerable degree of value through his name as a drawing power, but his selec- tion of a sketch and company has been most wise, thereby enhancing his value, a move in the varieties seldom given atten- tion to by the "legitimate." SPLAIN FLUENT TALKER. Hartford, Conn., March 12. John J. Splain, general manager of the Poli Circuit, spoke at a recent dinner given by the Sarsfield Club of Waterbury, on Emmett Day. The Waterbury "Even- ing Democrat" in reporting Mr. Splain's speech, commented on it editorially, say- ing: "It was the best oration ever deliv- ered in New England." Mr. Splain enjoys a local reputation as a fluent orator. POLICE CENSOR "TROC'S" BILL. : Chicago, March 12. The prevalency of "cooch" dancers in Chicago last week brought the most strin- gent investigation by the authorities and resulted in the elimination of the exhi- bitions under police surveillance at the burlesque houses where the "lid" was re- moved in competition for attendance. "The Girl in Red," who "wiggled" ener- getically at the Trocadero last week as the feature of the "Zaza Burlesquers," was the first to attract the attention of the crusaders through the suggestive na- ture of the performance, which reveled with unabashed immunity until the police interfered. One local newspaper, in commenting on the epidemic of "Oriental" dancers, re- ferred to the display as "demoralizing" and "old days of lawlessness recalled." It has been argued many times that the class patronizing burlesque because a cer- tain "cooch" dancer is announced, is un- desirable and will tend to injure or lessen the better qualities of a good, clean show. If all the burlesque houses here would strengthen the shows, when necessary, with other features than a dancer, fit only for a drunken "stag" party, the result would be more gratifying to man- agers and public. There would be no com- plaint from the succeeding shows, or fear that the effort to give clean performances would not be supported. "PICTURES" BURLESQUE'S ADDED FEATURE. The competition of moving picture shows around Miner's Eighth Avenue theatre has caused the management of that burlesque house to add three moving pictures to its weekly program. Miner's now advertises a "change daily." Miles Brothers supply the films. There is a five cent "store-show" on either side of Miner's. STOPS BOXING EXHIBITION. Cincinnati, March 12. Manager Fennessey of People's Thea- tre and Mayor Markbreit had an argu- ment whether to allow Matty Mathews and Rube Fern, pugilists, to spar this week in conjunction with "The Avenue Girls." The mayor announced he had issued an order that no boxing was to take place in this city, and in order to see that the edict was not violated, he directed that a ])olice officer be placed on the stage each performance. ORDERS NEW AUTO BUILT. A new "Zust" automobile is now in pro- cess of construction for Ed F. Rush, of Weber & Rush. Mr. Rush had a "Pan- hard," but it didn't run fast enough after a few spins, so the manager ordered a $10,500 car to replace it. L. Lawrence Weber, the other member of the firm, has an automobile, sedate by nature and instinct, but Mr. Weber states he is satisfied, never having had a hanker- ing for a fast life, either awheel or afoot. Moran and Wiser open at the Folies Marigny, Paris, on April 27, for the com- mencement of a long foreign tour. MORRISON HAS SIGNED. "Patsy" Morrison, the Rockaway Beach vaudeville manager, signed a con- tract with the United Offices last Satur- day to book his theatre at Rockaway for this summer through that agency. BURLESQUE IN HOBOKEN. Dave KrauB has given a contract to the Fuller Construction Co. for the erection of the new burlesque house in Hoboken, to be ready for opening in the Fall. It is proposed to play two shows a week, opening one on Sundays and the other on Thursdays. All shows are to be played return dates, getting either three or four days the first time and reversing the order for the second engagement. , ; TRAINING FOR "AMATEUR NIGHT." Cleveland, March 12. The chorus girls of the "Bon Tons," at the Empire this week, are in training for the "amateur" contests held at the Gay- ety, Toronto, where the "Bon Tons" will soon play. ■ The announcement that the Gayety in the Canadian city devoted one evening weekly to the display of choristers' tal- ents has caused the girls to rig up "acts" pending their appearance there. Frances Clare, leading woman of the "Bon Tons," has given several trunks of wardrobe to the girls, and Guy Rawson, the principal comedian, is coaching the young women. Florence Moore, principal boy with the show, left it last week. The girls between 11:30 and 1 o'clock Tuesday toured the town in six autos, sell- ing local newspapers for the benefit of the Collinwood fire sufferers. A good sum was realized. TO SEEK RE-TRIAL. J. Walker, of the Sparrow Company, complainants in the conspiracy suit against a number of burlesque managers, which resulted in a mistrial in the United States Circuit Court last week, has gone to Bermuda on a recreation trip. He will be away ten days or so. Mr. Edwards, of Montreal, also of the Sparrow Company, returned to his home city. Upon the return of Mr. Walker, it is said, steps will be taken immediately to bring about a re-trial of the action. Re- port has it that attachments issued against nearly all of the Eastern shows for the past two years in Canada and the cost of the defense has already cost the defend- ants $50,000. While the case was in progress a tilt occurred between Sam A. Scribner (East- ern Wheel), one of the defendants, and the attorney for the plaintiffs. Upon Mr. Scribner taking the stand, he was asked if he notified managers not to play Montreal. He admitted he did. "By wire, mail, telephone, personally and every way I could," replied Mr. Scribner to the lawyer, "and I would do it again." The following then passed between the two: Q. You are the manager of "The Gay Morning Glories?" A. Yes. Q. It is a burlesque show? A. Yes. Q. It is the best show in the world? A. If I were not under oath, I would say it was. PLANS APPROVED. Plans for the new Flatbush Avenue theatre of the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) were approved by the building department last week, and the actual work of construction will be com- menced within a very few weeks. HENRY DIGS UP ANOTHER "DRAW." Toronto, March 12. It looks as though Thomas R. Henry, manager of the Gayety, would become the official originator of drawing ideas for the burlesque circuits, if he continues on his unusual progressive course. Mr. Henry's latest, which went into ef- fect the other day, was to line the chorus girls up on the stage, and then by popular vote of the audience, decide which was the better looking. It is tough on the homely girls, of course, but the house greatly enjoys it. In return, after the decision has been ren- dered, each girl is allowed to select the man in the front whom she thinks the most of from such casual sight as may be obtained from the stage. The house voices its approval as to the leader in this game, as well. Cash prizes are distrib- uted. No one knows what will happen when a chorister selects a married man for her choice, and the audience gives him the seal of approval. According to the com- mon law governing burlesque shows since the earliest days when the "Black Crook" was looked upon as an advance agent for the infernal regions, any man in a bur- lesque theatre known to have money on his person is required to spend it through the oyster and wine route on the girl with the prettiest figure or face. That's what troubles t^e chorus girls when making the choice. GREENWALL'S MANAGER BACK. New Orleans, La., March 12. Morris Marks, who as reported in Va- riety some months ago, left this city un- expectedly, has returned. Mr. Marks is a nephew of Manager Greenwall, and before his departure represented the local Green- wall interests in the capacity of business manager. Mr. Marks will occupy his for- mer position. EMPIRE MEEJtS in WEST. Chicago, March 12. There will be a meeting of the Empire Circuit Company (Western Wheel) in Chi- cago next Wednesday. Plans to organize the shows in this city on the Western Wheel owned by Butler, Jacobs & Lowry, J. E. Fennessy and other Western man- agers residing in this part of the country will be mapped out. All acts will be fur- nished through the Western Vaudeville Association, as previously reported. At the New York headquarters of the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) it was denied that there was any intention of making Cliicago the starting point of all the burlesque companies. Harry Martell, who has charge of the Eastern end of the circuit, declared that he knew nothing of the scheme. ADDING "CHEAP" HOUSES. Chicago, March 12. Three more cheap vaudeville theatres will be opened by P. J. Schaefer, who owns two in the vicinity of the Folly Theatre. He has leased the storerooms located at 268 and 310 State Street, and the prop- erty on the corner of Thirty-ninth and Cottage Grove Avenue, giving him five 10- cent houses in the city, four in the down- town district. '1