Variety (March 1908)

VARIETY "ARTISTIC VAUDEVILLE" AIM OF MARTIN BECK. General Manager of the Orpheum Circuit Propounds His Views for a Higher Grade of Vaudeville—Plans to Bring Artist and Manager Closer Together. Ucccnt intorviows with Martin Bock, CJeneral Managor of the Orpheura Circuit, and a leading figure in the vaudeville of the world, reiwrted in Vakietv, have told to a certain degree the general gist of the statement over Mr. Heck's signature which ai)i)ears in an advertisement on the last page of this issue. Mr. Beck has divided his statement into the departments of his vaudeville busi- ness. He discusses the production end, the booking, and dwells" at lengili upou- the ill effects and artistic decline which the use of the vaudeville stage for ad- vertising purposes entails. The remarks by Mr. Beck upon book- ings become a large news matter to the vaudeville artist. lie says that shortly there will be announced certain hours daily where, through appointment, artists or producers and those desiring to enter vaudeville may make appointment with managers for the object of talking over ^their bookings, or acts, or productions. This system of bringing the artist and manager (it is presumed Mr. Bock speaks only for the managers booking through the Western Vaudeville Association) to- gether is the goal towards which the artists has rtlways looked, albeit it might be argued that Mr. Beck will in the course of the development of this plan place a .serious impediment in the way of agents, who would be eliminated from participa- tion in the affairs of acts desiring to transact tl eir business direct with the managers. In consideration of the setting apart of hours daily for conference with the artist, the ()ri>heunrs head requests that in re- turn the manager be not spoken to on liusiiioss matters outside his own otfice. In the "advertising" section of Mr. Bock's statement, it may be judged that while he si>ocirically mentions he shall for- bid the "plugging" of songs, he prob- ably moans as well, by lifting vaudeville up artistically, the mention of brands of li(luors, patent-medicines or other adver- tising given to merchandise by artists, readily recognized by any audience as a "free ad." The details of the now press department the Orphoum Circuit will install have boon sot forth in these coumns. ANNABELLE WHITFORD PREPARING. Pending the ending of the season for "The Follies of 1907," which will occur in r»oston within a few weeks, Annabelle Whitford, "The Gibson Girl" in the revue, is prej)aring a vaudeville number, consist- ing of herself in the character and a few '(Jibson (Jirls" who now surround her nightIv. With this number Miss Whitford and the young women will come ifito the vaudeville circle, where her fame as a beauty and a favorite is depended upon to keep the local houses tightly packed dur- ing her visit. "The Follies" closes to night at the Auditorium, Chicago, opening at Buffalo, Monday, then playing through the State until Brooklyn is reached, where the show will remain a week. After the close of the season it will be revised and renamed "The Follies of 1908," returning to the New York Roof for a summer's run, when Miss Whitford will rejoin it, having ob- tained a temporary release from Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., for the vaudeville visit. W. J. FERGUSON WITH K.-P. The late star of "The Toymaker of Nureinburg," W. J. Ferguson, has about completed negotiations with Keith-Proc- tor for a Spring vaudeville tour in the firm's houses. Mr. Ferguson may appear in a con- densed version of "Jane." His first date has not yet been fixed upon. DAZIE ENGAGES FOR ROOF. "The Follies of 1908" which will occupy the New York Theatre Roof stage this summer, will have Dazie as one of the features. She has signed a contract with Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., overturning her plans for a trip around the world until the engagement shall have been concluded. MISS WYCHERLY CONTRACTS TO STAR. Margaret Wycherly will, upon the ter- mination of a short vaudeville engagement now in mind, hand herself over to the future stage direction of Alfred E. Aarons and John P. Slc»cum, with whom Miss Wvcherlv has signed a contract for the coming five years. Bayard Veilliers (Miss Wycherly's hus- band) is in collaboration with Stanlius Stange, writing a play for the actress, in which she will api)ear in New York around Faster under her new manage- ment. Mr. Veilliers will be in charge of his wife's difTorent plays during the life of the auroeinent. MARK LUESCHER WITH ORPHEUM. Mark I.uescher is now the general press ro|)rosontative for the Orphoum Circuit, with hoadcpiarters in its offices at the St. James building. Martin Beck, the general manager, and !S!r. Luescher, concluded the negotiations, ponding for some time, last Saturday. A long contract at a large figure is said to repose in Mr. Luoscher's safe. On Mon- day next he enters upon hirs new duties. CHORUS GIRLS TO-NIGHT. To-night (Saturday) is tho night for the Cliorus Girls' Association. The young women who look so pretty upon tlio stage — will gather at the Amsterdam Opera TTouse, and revel in the joys of a masquod ball. I'here will be a contest for $r)0 in gold awarded to the best kisser. Tod Marks will judge the osculatory ability. All the "girl shows'' in town will be represented. ♦'NOTHING DOING," SAYS MORRIS: "Nothing doing this week," said William Morris, when asked if any new develop- ments had arisen in connection with "The Morris Circuit" of vaudeville theatres. Mr. Morris spent a few days out of town the latter part of last week and the early portion of this, but became mute on the subject of his whereabouts when questioned. The independent agent stated there were several matters "in the air," which would be given out when satisfactorily settled. PLACE CASE WITH RATS. The White Rats have received the claim against Frank A. Keeney, the Brooklyn jnanager, filed with the order this week by Campbell and Brady, an act playing Keeney's, New Britain, last week. ^^^lile in Connecticut for Mr. Keeney, he informed the act they were to play his Fulton Street Theatre commencing Mon- day. For a New York showing the act felt quite delighted, but was surprised to learn upon reaching town they had been cancelled. The only contract in existence was an "0. K." card of Keeney's. The team had refused an engagement at the Novelty, Brooklyn, considering their date with Keeney's closed. Very unhappy and dissatisfied the act presented its ease to the Riits on Monday last. It then left for Easton, Pa., to join the John T. and Eva Fay Company, re- ceiving a sudden call. TWO HOUSES IN NASHVILLE. Chicago, March 10. Wlien the new theatre in course of con- struction at Nashville opens, al)out Dec. 1 next, the Grand Opera House, now play- ing vaudeville, will not be abolished. lioth houses are contracted for exclu- sively by R. E. Rickson and E. F. Car- luthers, and together with their properties at Knoxville and Chattanooga will book in conjunction with the Inter State Cir- cuit. DEBUT OF LAUDER'S BROTHER. London, March 9. Announcement is made here that Aliok T-juidor, a brother of TIarry Lauder, the Scotch comedian, has boon booked for the Empire, Glasgow, in a new Scotch char- actor sketch written bv himself. It is called "The Christening." SHUBERT CLAIMS CONTRACT. \\'\\h all tho details arranged for the appoaraiici* of Flavia Arcara, tho loading woman of "The Orcliid," to appear f»n the r. C. Williams Circuit, excepting the signing of tlic agroonu-nt. there came to Mr. Williams this week a letter from Lee Slinbcrl iiotifyiiig the vaudeville manager of a claim upon tho services of Miss Art-aia the Shubcrts allege to hold by virtue of a contract with her. Mr. Willianis placed the lettei' with his altoiiiey for crmsultat ioii wIMi the Shu- lieits' lawyer. 1 pon an answer lieifig re- turued endorsing tho statement contained ill the letter. Mr. Williams will waive al^ rights. Otherwise Miss Arcara will play vaudeville on \piil 20. as previously ar- ran^M^l for. no injunction interfering. The Four Mortons open April 2o on lli«' Keith I'ro( lor 1ih al time for four w^-oks. SUTHERLAND BOOKS A COUPLE. The Lis Kya.syas, a foreign strong act,, having a girl, 19 years of age, who holds a cannon by her teeth while it is being fired, were engaged by Al Sutherland while in Europe to open over here at the Toronto Fair in August. The Denters, a foreign horse act, carrying sixteen animals, and coming from the S<hunuinn Circus, Berlin, will come over here in the Fall, playing vaude- ville houses wherever a stage may be found to accommodate the act. Afr. Sutherland also brought back a stenographer who speaks and writes five languages. Slie is now installed in his ollices in the St. James Building. He will leave for the other side again in August, opening a branch of his booking agency in Berlin and London during hia next visit. While abroad on his three months' trip, during which Mr. Sutherland placed his ten-year-old son, Edward, in a Paris pre- paratory school, the agent lost 24 pounds, returning in a high state of physical con- dition. As the boat carrying Mr. Sutherland was leaving the foreign shores an au revoir "Marconigram" was handed him from his son. Edward is a pet subject of his father's. Mr. Sutherland told this week of how the boy, after having been in the school two days, came in second on a cross-country run. A week afterwards he won a two- andone-half-mile run across the country. There are four American boys, including Edward, in the college, and the quartet run the school. The remainder are nearly all French youths.- Edward will remain at the Paris school for the next four years. INVESTIGATING WOOD'S DEATH. V\x)n the demands of his widow, the Sta'e Department has started an investi- gation into the death of Will H. Wood, the American illusionist who was lost by drowning en route from Frontera, Mex., to Progresso, Yucatan. The fact that Wood was the only per- son lost in the wreck of the little vessel which foundered in a storm, added to the circumstance that he had in his possession when last soon about $14,00(), are made the ground for the suspicion that he may have nu't with foul play. The government has not yet made Known the result of its investigation, which is still in progress. AGENT SUES MONOLOGIST. Jenie Jacobs, the vaudeville agent, tlirouL'h her attorney, .M. Strassman, has brought suit against James Thornton to recover $1.')() coiiimission which she claims upon an engageinent booked through her oHico for the Palace, London. I'apors wore served on the moriologist during his engagement at the Fifth Ave- nue last week. The case will come up in the Municipal ( ourt next Tuesday. NEW ONE IN WATERTOWN. Walertown. .\. V . .Man !i V.K Watortown is to have a new theatre on tho ruMio S(|uare, owned and man- aL'«'d by Julius Rothstein, a local man. The lioiise will have a seating capacity of noo. and will give four shows, consist- irif^^ of four vaudeville acfn and illustrated songs.