Variety (March 1908)

VARIETY MANAGERS MAKE MOVE TO STO P "SONO PLUGGING" Led by Martin Beck, of the Orpheum Circuit, United Managers Discuss It. Mr. Beck Takes First Step If the intentions of Martin Beck, gen- eral manager ol the Orpheum Circuit, are carried to a fruitful finale, with the co- operation of the other United managers, "song plugging" by high priced acts on the vaudeville stage is doomed to become a remembrance of only a bright and happy past for music publishers. The appearance of a high salaried act on the stage joyfully inviting the audi- ence to "join in the chorus," while the publisher of the song sends an extra sup- ply of copies to that particular city for the week of the engagement, has grated upon Mr. Beck for a very long while. He says it has always been one of the neces- sary reforms in vaudeville which press of other afTairs prevented him taking up. This week, however, Mr. Beck called a meeting of the United managers for the purpose of delving into the subject, which was accordingly done without results be- coming known. His personal ideas on the subject were that no singer in what is known as the first grade should be allowed to warble a published song on any vaudeville stage, said Mr. Beck. The Orpheum's general manager, from his conversation, was fully versed as to how his decision would be accepted by both artists and publishers. Two large publishers, Mr. Beck added, had already been notified by him that their published songs would not be sung any more on the Orpheum Circuit. The Empire Gty Quartet was notified from Mr. Beck's office that they must stop "song plugging" in their act. The Quartet had carried the device so far a sheet with the words of the choruses was unrolled to en- able the audience to help out. Ho^ *in act was to provide itself with songs, if published ones were barred, was not gone into by Mr. Beck, who, however, intimated that the custom prevailing in England of purchasing and holding one's own musical numbers could be followed over here. That acts not in a position to go to this investment would not be included in any general order to be universally promul- gated was made plain by Mr. Beck. "DUMONT»S MINSTRELS" PASSING. Philadelphia, March 12. The moving picture craze is spreading in this city, and has claimed one of the landmarks of the show world for the list. On April 4 the Eleventh Street Opera House, which is better known as "Du- mont's Minstrels," will close its season, and on April 6 the house will be opened as a moving picture show house. It is very likely that illustrated songs and possibly cheap vaudeville will be given in connection. The report that this will be the last of stock minstrels in Philadelphia, at least for a while, could not be confirmed, but if the picture show business proves suc- cessful it will probably become perma- nent. It will be given a thorough trial during the Summer season. Frank Dumont took the house in 1895, and is there vet with such veterans as Hughey Dougherty, Vic Richards, Charley Turner and several other entertainers who have won a place in theatrical his- tory surrounding him. Old-time minstrel first parts and burlesques on current top- ics are given weekly. Business has been dropping back gradu- ally and for the past few weeks it has been very light. "Dumont's" claims a clien- tele all its own, and its closing as a home for minstrelsy is generally heard with deep regret. MILLIARD PRAISES STAGE CREW. Boston, March 12. Employees of the Orpheum Theatre have been walking around in a daze this week, wondering what really happened. On Sunday night, at the close of his en- gagement, Robert E. Hilliard held the curtain while he made a speech. He told the audience that he wanted to thank the management of the Orpheum for many courtesies during the week, and that he particularly wanted to thank the stage manager and his employees, for they had given him the best setting for his act he had ever had. *. COMEDY CLUB'S BENEFIT. The annual benefit of the Vaudeville Comedy Club will take place on Easter Sunday, April 19, at the New York The- atre. The Club will make it the biggest affair of its kind given in New York this season, the volunteers already enlisted for the program including some of the best known names on the boards. ANOTHER SOUTHERN CIRCUIT. Chicago, March 12. A new vaudeville circuit is being formed in the South, embracing the principal cities and towns in Texas, Arkansas, Mis- souri, Indian Territory and Oklahoma. The promoters are the individual man- ngfrs of the combination theatres, who are of the opinion that vaudeville is the class of entertainment their patrons desire and wish to support. - Several theatres in that section are now opening with vaudeville, and as soon as the other legitimate houses affiliate, the combination may develop and ultimately become one of the largest and most im- portant vaudeville circuits in that part of the country. The Indian and Oklahoma territories have had little of vaudeville in the past and are becoming accustomed to it. FLETCHER'S SECOND WORLD'S TOUR. Cliarles Leonard Fletcher finishes his American season in Pittsburg March 28, and iinmedifttely sails for London, where he is hooked for the summer. Mr. Fletcher starts on his second world tour in Septcmbor. He will be accompa- nied by Hill nnd Whittaker, who sail for Ix>ndon May 27. WHITE RATS' "MISSION MEETINGS." What Business Manager Harry Mount- ford, of the White Rats, describes as "Mis- sion Meetings," were held all over the country yesterday (Friday) wherever White Rats were assembled. . Blank printed invitations were for- warded from the headquarters to all mem- bers, and these, when filled out, were mailed by the members to the other pro- fessionals in the city where they happened to be located. They called for a gathering on Friday evening. The meetings were open, and the visitors were told of the ad- vantages of becoming a Rat. In New York, a large meeting was held at the Club House, with Charles J. Stine presiding. This will become a weekly fea- ture of the organization, and "mission" work will be steadily hammered away at. Mr. Mountford confidently expects the membership of the order will have been in- creased to 3,000 before 1908 passes away. On Monday, Harry Knowles in company with Denis O'Brien, the society's attorney, will journey to Washington, where they will appear before the committee which have the Copyright Bill in charge. Mr. Knowles will present himself as a^ com- mittee representing the Rats, and speat4a~ favor of the Banchford bill giving protec- tion to authors, composers, etc., while ask- ing that the Smoot measure, aimed directly against this course, be thrown out. Mr. Knowles argued in favor of the Copyright I>aw being properly amended to afford pro- tection at a meeting of the "Sunrise Club" one evening this week, at which Victor Herbert and several others, all much inter- ested in the successful passage, expressed similar views. Mr. O'Brien, as attorney for the Rats, is now in consultation with the attorneys for a vaudeville circuit. The conferences will result, in an irrevocable contract, equitable in every respect, and approved by both sides, being drawn and adopted by the Rats and the circuit. KEITH'S REASON FOR LOSING ORPHEUM. Boston, March 12. It is said the reason B. F. Keith did not exercise his option of renewal on the Orpheum Theatre lease, which William Morris now holds, was because of the doubt whether there will be allowed Sun- day concerts in this city next season. The report says Mr. Keith could have had the Orpheum at the same figure he is now paying, $40,000 annually, but con- sidered the risk of no Sabbath perform- ances too great. CONTEST DRAWING BIG BUSINESS. This will l)e the largest week in y)oint of attendance and receipts at Hammerstein's since that house com- menced to travel the vaudeville road. Vesta Victoria and Eva Thnguay are the joint headliners. Every performance finds capacit}' attendance, with standees crowding the spaces behind the orchestra rail until it becomes difficult for a late rorner to make wav through the crowd. On Monday afternoon a great number of speculators occupied the sidewalk in front of the theatre. The police were finally called upon to disperse them. The receipts at Hanmicrstrin's this week, which are limited only by the capacity of the house, will reach the $12,000 mark. EXPERIMENTING IN CHICAGO. The conflicting statements as regards the destines of the Olympic and Haymar- ket Theatres, at the end of the present sea?on, have finally reached a climax- Ac- cording to the plans of Kohl & Castle, the lessees and managers, vaudeville will be abandoned the latter part of May, and moving picture shows installed. This will leave the Majestic alone in the field. The Kinodrome Company, which fur- nishes the pictures at the three houses, will supply the machine and films, and new and novel subjects embellished with spe- cial effects will be a feature. The announcement that the Olympic, the oldest variety house in Chicago, and the Haymarket, the most popular and only vaudeville on the thickly populated West Side,, would change the policy to moving picture shows came as a surprise. The Olympic has been one of the most profitable vaudeville houses in the city, and the Haymarket enjoyed large patron- age all season. Experimenting with pictures in the the* atres during the summer is looked upon as an inexpensive way to keep the houses open, with the additional advantage of the effect the announcement may have upon vaudeville artists in connection with the installation of pictures in some New York vaudeville theatres of late. RECEIVERSHIP ARGUED. Judge Crane in the Supreme Court, Brooklyn, on Tuesday reserved decision in the application of Edwin Owing Towne, Raymond Brown and Bird S. Dougherty, for a receiver for "The Star Bout." Both sides were directed to file affidavits. In the argument of the case, House, Crossman & Vorhaus, representing the de- fendants, entered the claim that Cranville had written the playlet and offered Ned Wayburn half of the pro'fits to stage it. Wayburn, they said, had accepted, and being in financial difficulties, had tried to have the act incorporated in order to pro- tect his interest in the profits from his creditors. Cranville had refused to agree to this scheme, and had incorporated on his own account. MONKEY HAS GOLD TOOTH. New Orleans, March 12. For some time past "Capt. Coco," a .Tapanese ape, owned by Charles Barnold. has been suffering great pain, caused by the decaying of one of his upper molars. Barnold, whose troupe of dogs and mon- keys amused the patrons of the Orpheum last week, was willing to undergo any reasonable expense to stay the agony of his pet. A local dentist undertook to crown "Oreo's" tooth, and completed the work in three sittings. Drills and probes were used; the nerve was killed and extracted, the nerve channel thoroughly cleansed, and, in fact, every mode of torture that most humans have experienced at one time or other resorted to. Barnold is now displaying the new gold tooth of his pride as an encore. "The Six American Dancers" have been offered a foreign engagement by the Mari- nelli ofllce during .Tune noxt, the only open time the aet has for a year.