Variety (April 1908)

10 VARIETY ARTISTS' FORUM Gonfln* your letters to 150 wards and write eo MM elde ef pt+* only. Aaonymoui fi—■hatha! will not be printed. Name ef writer must be signed end be bald la strict confidence. If desired. Pittsburg, Pa. March 28. Editor Variety: I enclose a newspaper clipping from the Pittsburg "Sun," illustrative of the fact that certainly some critics write their criticisms without seeing the performance. The article states, "Ida Fullers tinge S3 well as dances." As there is not a note of singing in my act, I find the article very amusing. An- other paper copied the article, and if others should do the same it might prove a bit confusing to managers and more so to me if they should insist that I ting. This may bring a bit of comfort to artists who sometimes feel that they are unjustly criticised. Ida Fuller. ("Not a Song and Dance Act.") Boston, Mass., March 31. Editor Variety: I received a letter to-day from Mr. James 0. Booth, of Booth and Gordon, comedy cyclists, who are at present in the West, in regard to the "Shoe Wheel and Grind Stone." Mr. W. £. Ritchie claims to be the originator of the "Shoe Wheel." Mr. Booth writes that Mr. Tom Kitchner used the "Shoe Wheel and Grind Stone" twelve years ago with the Robinson Show, and he can prove it. Mr. Booth also states that Mr. Ritchie is going too far when he says that other acts are living off his ideas. Mr. Booth states that Mr. Wilmot was a well known rider years ago, but how about the old-timers such as The Hoover Brothers, Richardson, Sid Black, and many others he (Booth) can refer toT Charles Ahearn. Bristol, Vs., Tenn., March 28. Editor Variety: In your issue of March 21 I note a let- ter written by Dolly Carpenter in regard to The Elite Theatre here, of which I am the owner. This is so misrepresented that I address a letter to you to give our side of the story. The facts are about as follows: Fred and Dolly Carpenter were booked in here by an agency. The agency had been booking the house for some time, giving us artists to play seven to ten shows a day as is the custom of the house. The Carpenters ac- knowledged contract, sent photographs and had us secure them hotel accommodations. We heard nothing further until Sunday evening before they were to have opened. Another artist who had been playing at the same house the previous week arrived and told us that the Carpenters were not coming as they had got another week's work and the work was lighter. The only kick we had coming was that they might have cancelled in time for us to fill our program, while as a matter of fact we had to close up for a day and a half awaiting substitutes. On the following Sunday the Carpenters, on their way to Morristown, had a lay- off here of several hours, and took advan- tage of the time to hunt up Mr. Kilgore, my maLager, who has been a road man- ager for six years, and a fellow towns- man, and finding him at one of the most prominent hotels, accosted him with some very uncomplimentary remarks. This is a quiet place on Sunday, and the dramatic incident above noted drew somewhat of a crowd. Miss Carpenter walked the full length of the main thoroughfare loudly and dramatically voicing her invectives and punctuating them with such remarks as that she "was from Missouri," she "was the only woman in the U. S. licensed to carry a gun," etc., »+c. She later came to the theatre and in- vited us to sue them as she wished to show the provincials a few things. She was so insistent that we finally proceeded e to oblige her. The one truthful remark in her entire letter to you relates to the fact that they did steal their baggage from custody, for which a warrant is now outstanding against them here. This is the other side of the affair which has become local "town history." The management of The Elite is responsi- ble, and have employed many first class artists, and continue to do so, notwith- standing Miss Carpenter's swagger threat while here that she would put the house out of business. L. B. Jones. March 80, 1908. Editor Variety: In a recent issue of your paper you published a letter in reference to an act called the "Man in White," in which I was accused of infringing on some one else's right to use that title. I have been doing my act for the past few years. The title was given me by the press and public. It has never pro- cured for me one day's work. My ability, as every one knows, gets me work, not the title. I have no desire to infringe on any one's rights, though I hold a copyright number 10,838, entered at Washington. Trust this will, put an end to any fur- ther discussion. Phil Jean Barnard. En Route. Editor Variety: I respectfully submit a report of the practice and impositions of Manager A. Sigfried, of the Bijou, Decatur, 111., which, in justice to the vaudeville profession, I trust you will grant space for. Were I the only one who has fault to find with this person, I would remain a silent martyr, but a score of acts have experienced the same "lemon." Since he persists in continuing his questionable tactics, the profession in general will be rendered great good by denouncing him and thus undoubtedly prompt many acts who are booked to appear at the Bijou, Decatur, 111., under the management of this H. Sigfried, to beware. The facts follow: Sigfried, Decatur, HI., books through the Western Vaudeville Association of Chicago. A clause in his contract reads: "Either party to this contract may cancel same by giving two weeks' notice." Above this is another clause: "Said party of first part (Sigfried) may cancel said engagement at any time after the first or prior to this third performance by paying to party of the second part a sum equal to one-seventh of the weekly com* pensation herein mentioned." If Sigfried can get hold of an act at a great sacrifice at the last moment he will cancel his regular bookings regardless of the two weeks' notice clause unless the act originally booked accepts a cut in preference to cancellation. This he tried on me on one week's no- tice. I declined to accept cancellation, admonishing him not to overstock, and that I would report as per my con- tract. I did so. He allowed me to open Monday matinee. My act went so great that he acknowledged it to me, but called my attention to the fact that he need give no excuse as per above cancellation clause and could close me if he wished. Then he offered me a cut of $75 less than origi- nal price agreed upon, which I promptly refused, whereupon he closed me. I en- gaged Whitley & Fitzgerald, Decatur's best attorneys, to bring suit My attorneys, however, after reading thoroughly the various clauses, informed me that his contract was onesided, and that the courts would not hesr any evi- dence to explain his impositions. Sigfried refused absolutely to settle and I had to bring suit to recover the one- seventh due me. Sigfried, on the morning the case came to a final determination, paid the amount, with costs, to the Jus- tice. In conclusion wish to add that I have played for many other managers on con- tracts containing the same clauses before and after this Sigfried deal and said con- tracts, over 100 in all, were fulfilled to the letter. Chat. W. Sehepp. (Schepp's Dog, Pony and Monkey Circus). (In the above letter of Mr. Schepp's, as well as several others along the same lines we have received, it is stated that the cancellation was valid, having been brought about through a clause in the contract giving the manager the right to cancel after the first and before the third performance. It devolves upon the artist to protect himself against an agreement of this inequitable nature by declining to sign a contract with that clause or a similar one in it. It should be scratched out, and for the information of artists it may be said that it should be scratched out before and not after the manager eigne it. If the manager first signs a contract and there are to be alterations or erasures afterwards, his signature should again be obtained when the altera- tions or erasures have been made, regard- less whether he or an agent verbally agrees to them. Upon a manager en- gaging an act, he should not be given the privilege to close for any reason, and any clause in a contract allowing him to do so should be stricken out by the artist, who might better refuse to play the date rather than be at the pleasure of the man- agement, especially when such manage- ment is known to be tricky or un- scrupulous.—Ed.) Tom Nawn has been engaged to open at the Alhambra, London, on July 6. His con- tracts for the other side call for six weeks. OBITUARY William a Ott, of Klein, Ott Brothers end-Vfebolfan, died M*rcb.„2.9 »1 Cayenne, N. J. Typhoid fever and hemorrhages were the cause. The body was removed to Beaver Falls, Pa., for burial. Buffalo, April 2. R. H. Brock, the business manager of the "Rents-Santley" show for the past eighteen years, died on March 31 at the Homeopathic Hospital in this city. W. S. ("Bill") Cunningham died at Cleveland March 26. He was well known in "straight" parts, having entered the profession in 78. His latest appearance was with Bob Cunningham (Bob and Daisy Cunningham), his brother. A widow survives. The deceased's father and three sisters are living in Toronto. Sophie Welch Webb, a principal of "The City Sports," died in New Orleans March 21. Mrs. Webb was a widow, twenty-nine years of age. VICTOR MOORE POSSIBLE. There are about five weeks of vaude- ville which Victor Moore, "The Talk of New York" star, could play after the show's season will have ended, and Pat Casey has everything in readiness for Mr. Moore's re-entrance if the comedian concludes to accept the time. Upon Mr. Moore reappearing in vaude- ville, he may bring with him a "number" made popular in the New York run of the Geo. M. Cohan piece at the Knicker- bocker. CASEY GETS RALPH HERTZ. If Ralph Herts, at present with "The Soul Kiss," goes into vaudeville after the close of that piece, it will be under the direction of The Casey Agency, accord- ing to Pat Casey. Mr. Casey said he had seen Mr. Herts, end the arrangements made were to that effect. REMICK & CO. UPTOWN. The music publishing house of Jerome H. Remick & Co., is now nicely located in the new five-story and basement build- ing at 131 West Forty-first street The Remick firm occupies the entire premises, two floors of which are devoted to the professional department under the charge of Mose Gumble. Twelve piano rooms will be utilised for the rehearsal of songs. On the fourth floor Manager Fred Bel- cher is situated, with his private office in the rear. It will be a week or so before the offices are entirely settled. An elevator conveys a visitor to any department direct To commemorate the removal, Al. Gumble has composed the music to two unpublished sets of lyrics. One, by Edgar Malone, is entitled "There is No Moon Like the Honeymoon." The ottier, written by Jsck Ma honey, has been named "We Won't Go Home Until Morning, Bill," a new idea on a popular subject. Lalla Selblni, after finishing the Cuban MISS RITCHIE AT HAMMERSTEIN'S. engagement booked, goes to Europe, open- Adele Ritchie has been engaged to play ing at Vienna on June 16. Hammerstein's week April IS.