Variety (March 1908)

VARIETY MORRIS BOOKING FOR THE MOSS-STOLL CIRCUIT. Impression That Agent Mas Understanding With Oswald Stoli to Book or Exchange Acts. When the engagement of "That" Quar- tet to play five weeks in London com- mencing May 18 became known this week, it was also learned that the engage- ment had been booked through the Will- iam Morris office. "That" Quartet will play the Moss-Stoll Circuit, where the act was placed by William Morris through cables to Oswald StoU this week. Morris is said to be in communication with StoU for other American acts. This understanding between Morris and StoU, the head of the Moss-Stoll circuit, the largest abroad, was had when the agent lately visited the manager in Lon- don. It is taken to mean that Morris has effected some deal with the English- men whereby an exchange of acts will take place through the respective offices, and there may be included in the deal, if one has been made, the importation of the productions at the London Hippodrome, a Moss-Stoll house, to this country for presentation in the hippodromes, com- mencing with the one in Cleveland, which Morris will book for. Moss-Stoll have a New York representa- tive, L. Johns, with an office in the New York Theatre Building. Mr. Johns was formerly private secretary to Mr. StoU and is not permanently located in the city. He is reported to have the booking license for acts where the salary does not exceed a stipulated amount. Somers & Warner, the London agents, who are represented here by B. Ober- mayer, are supposed to place a great num- ber of acts on the Moss-Stoll time. "That" Quartet sail on May 9 to fulfill the foreign engagement. ... GALLAGHER LEAVES BARRETT. Chicago, March 19. Gallagher and Barrett, who are at the Majestic, announced this week that after playing Proctor's, Newark, in June the team would separate on an understanding which will permit Jos. Barrett to continue with the team name and present sketch, "Battle of Too Soon," while Edw. F. Gal- lagher will remain in vaudeville with a monologue called "The Chauffeur," writ- ten by himself. Several offers were received by the team from legitimate managers, but they both decided to stick to vaudeville. This is the thirteenth year of their partnership, which has not been dissolved. PHIL A. CONTRIBUTES McDOUGALL. Philadelphia, March 19. And just to think that Walt McDougall, the cartoonist, with an international fame, should hand this town a soak be- low the belt on its general undeserved reputation of "sleepiness" by delaying his vaudeviUe appearance until after Bert Levy, Winsor McKay, Victor Gillam and the rest of his contemporaries in black and white who wanted to work on the stage, had done so. But still, Philadelphia is right glad to claim Mr. McDougall for its own, the great artist and "dean of the cartoonists** having heen located here for many years, and there will be a grand old "rouser" pulled off when Walt first appears at Keith's (Philadelphia) for the amuse- ment of the vaudeville public. That is going to happen April 6. New York can keep its ear to the ground, and the rumble on that date will be a fair sample of "Philly" awake. READING AND PICTURES AGAIN. The possibility of moving pictures at the Orpheum, Reading, came up again this week, when it was said Sydney Wilmer, of Wilmer & Vincent (recovered from his recent illness), had gone to Reading with the picture bee buzzing. It was intended some time ago to place pictures in the Orpheum, but a sudden spurt of business caused the abandonment, and vaudeville was continued. "' . ^ CHICAGO REPORT NOT TRUE. Chicago, March 19. It has been reported here all week that one Talbot, of either St. Louis or In- dianapolis, had made an offer for the Kohl & Castle theatres, Haymarket, Olympic and Chicago Opera House for the purpose of installing moving pictures in each. Further than that the report said the deal was about to be put through, no informa- tion could be obtained. At the Orpheum Circuit's offices Martin Beck, who is interested in the Kohl &, Castle Circuit, stated there was no truth in the Chicago rumor and that it was the first he had heard of it. POLI HAS EUROPEAN HABIT. The "Lusitania" has on her passenger list Mr. and Mrs. S. Z. Poli, who sail on the boat to-day for a tour of the old country to extend from one to three months. —Mr. Poli is the head of the Poli Circuit, and following the lead of other managers interested in the late vaudeville im- broglio, has concluded there is a vacation coming to him. VIOLET ALLEN. Violet Allen, a picture of whom is in the Inrge center oval on the front page this week, has been appearing in vaudeville with Searl Allen for the past five years, playing several sketches under the firm name of "Searl and Violet Allen." Mr. Allen's photo is on the upper left hand corner of the page. For next season Miss Allen will have a new act, written by Searl Allen, who is the author of the many pieces they have appeared in, as well as the writer of many others. ^ The facility of Mr. Allen in turning out vaudeville pieces having a quick, snappy air has placed his writings in great de- mand. This he has turned to his own advantage as well, Searl Allen and Violet 'Allen having changed their act often, be- coming,' noted for this among vaudevil- lians. "MISSION MEETINGS" A SUCCESS. The "mission meetings" inaugurated by the White Rats on Friday evening, March 13, proved successful beyond the expecta- tions of the promoters. As previously reported, the meetings are open, and anyone may attend. They are' held for mutual discussion and prop- agation for the benefit of the order. Sixteen meetings were held in different cities. The local meeting resulted in eighteen applications for membership be- fore it adjourned. Other applications from out of town were still coming into the headquarters during the week. Another meeting was held last night (Friday) in the club rooms, at which Tim Oonin presided. Invitations to this were extended by mail to managers and agents. This course will be pursued weekly for the object of having the managers become more familiar with the artists' gathering in the hope they will also become inter- ested, eventually joining in the general talk at each gathering, giving their views at will. At no time will a manager or an agent be requested to speak or become in- volved in any discussion. He will be re- ceived as a guest of the society, and treated with that regard. It is fondly trusted by the Rats that at no far dis- tant date the managers and agents will come to look forward to the open weekly meetings, which should bring the manager and artist into a closer understanding of the other. The Board of Directors of the Rats have passed rules and regulations govern- ing loans to be made to members. Moneys will be advanced to members for railway fares and necessities of travel when the member is in good standing, without hav- ing an indebtedness to the lodge for levies, fines or previous loans. He will be obliged to sign an "I. 0. U.** for the amount advanced to enable him to keep an engagement, and the amount must be refunded from that week's salary, the board deciding that, without the advance, the engagement possibly would not have been played. A White Rat may obtain a loan for transportation to cover the amount re- quired for all his company, though the members of the company should not be Rats. A Rat who has a partner, a non- member of the organization, may secure an advance for both—once only. After- wards the partner will not be included in any loan made, provided in this case that the partner of the White Rat is eligible for membership. Members have been requested by the Board of Directors to give special atten- tion to the enrollment of women in the auxiliary society. Several prominent art- istes have signified a desire to join. UNITED GAINS ONE. Auburn, N. Y., March 19. Commencing on March 23, the Burtis Opera House, playing vaudeville, will be- come a part of the United Booking Offices circuit. The house will be managed by William S. Hennessy from that date, he having the sage counsel and advice of J. K. Burk, who is also interested. Mr. HennessjF is the son of D. F. Hennessy, the office manager of the United. Auburn will be added to the small but select interior circuit in the United now consisting of CJamden, Perth Amboy and Yonkers. NEARLY ALL CLAIMS FILED. According to Pat Casey, the K. & E. general trouble adjuster, but few out- standing claims against Klaw & Erlanger for transportation or other matters re- main to be file<l. The claims would be tabulated thi^^ week, said Mr. Casey, and he hoped all artists having any claim under a K. & E. contract would file the same at once with him so it might be disposed of. , NEW POLICY AT MOHAWK. Schenectady, N. Y., March 19. The new vaudeville policy went into effect at the Mohawk (Weber & Rush) on Monday last. Six acts and two reels of pictures are presented at prices ranging from 5 to 15 cents at matinees, 10 to 30 cents in the evenings. -. Tlie cost of the bills as compared with those previously has been reduced one- half, while it is estimated the week's re- ceipt will be about two-thirds of that for- merly taken in at the box office. The business conditions of the city obliged some such sort of move on the part of the managers to meet the position of the working people here. UNITED WANTS OFFICES QUICK. The tenants on the eighth floor of the St. James BuUding not directly connected with the United Booking Offices can va- cate none too quickly to suit the agency, which will occupy the entire floor after ^lay 1, in association with the Orpheum Circuit. In a week or so alterations wiU start upon the several suites to be acquired. The agents who will remove to either the seventh or ninth floor are H. B. Mari- nelli, M. S. Bentham, Arthur Hopkins and Al Sutherland. The Marinelli agency awaits only the removal or ejectment of the tenant above it to step into the empty offices, giving the Orpheum (Circuit the right of entry into its present quarters. EDDIE LEONARD. Eddie I/e<>n«rd, popularly kmmn on l»<>th Bi<1<-< (if lilt' footiljjlits as oiiH of our loadiiiK mlngtrrls. wan fiiRHgrd tlir<.ii}?ii Wcslpy & IMncus, 11i«' Viiiidcvilh' ngontB, to oontlnne Ills pivsent bookliiK*^ for forty \v«'ek9, cumtuencing S«'pteml)er 7th next, ill vHiidcville. An <'iiBa>,Mnient with Cohan & Harris' mw "(Jeo. Kvaii8' Honey Boy Minstrels" for next sen- son cnuscd Mr. I^eonard to change his plans. II«' win n'tiirn to the varieties after the nilnstrfl lour, under Wesley & Plnciis' dlreetlon, and v\lli then take up the time which has now been post poned by the managers at the Arm's request. Mr. Ijeonard. asMlsted by the Gordon Brothers, will play Hammerstelu's next week (March 23).