Variety (May 1908)

VARIETY BURLESQUE HOUSE MAN- AGERS E XPRESS TH EIR VIEWS Replying to VARIETY'S Questions, Resident Directors on Both Wheels Sum Up Conditions. The following replies from resident managers on both the Western and East- ern Burlesque Wheels were received in answer to questions propounded by Variety relative to the burlesque business this season as they found it, grade of shows played, outlook for next season, etc.: Green wall's Theatre (Eastern Wheel.) New Orleans, April 28. Business at the Greenwall up to the last five weeks was the same as last year, if anything a little better, but for the past five weeks, owing to the financial condition of affairs here (for we have only felt the effect of it lately) business has not been so good, and consequently our business will be about 20 per cent, less than last year. The Columbia Amusement Burlesque Companies have been the attraction, and will be next season, only the shows will be a great deal better. This season some have been good; others bad, and some very bad indeed. H. Greenwall, President, the Greenwall Theatrical Cir- cuit Co. Avenue Theatre (Western Wheel). Detroit, April 28. The business at this theatre has sur- prised most of the people traveling with road shows as well as ourselves. The season opened with the most tremendous business ever done by any burlesque organ- ization in Detroit, which, if it had kept up, would have been marvelous for a town of this size, as in accordance with the finan- cial business of the times, our business dropped back to what we had been averag- ing the previous season. In regard to the shows I have nothing to say, as this year's output would be hard to beat. Frank D. Droto, Manager. Gayety Theatre (Eastern Wheel). Milwaukee, April 28. I have had a very prosperous season. This house plays the Eastern Wheel at- tractions. Up to the present season there was but one burlesque theatre in Mil- waukee (Western Wheel). We have, in spite of strong competition, succeeded in playing to a larger average business with our house than the opposition did when they had the entire field to themselves. The shows I have played have been more than satisfactory. The public here likes them, and nice, clean burlesque shows, under healthy conditions, will al- ways do well. I look forward to another prosperous season. S. R. Simon, Manager. Gayety Theatre (Eastern Wheel). Pittsburg, Pa., April 28. We have no cause to complain, and, considering the financial stringency, the Gayety is extremely fortunate. Prospects for next season look bright, and with the splendid line of burlesque attractions booked, we are bound to get the business. Jos. H. Browne t Manager. Cleveland, April 28. The burlesque business this season was excellent for the first five months. A few weeks after the first of the year there was a gradual decline, and the business the last half of the season did not com- pare very well with that of last year. Taking the season as a whole, however, the average was very satisfactory—prob- ably better than '06-'07. The shows, with the few usual exceptions, have been satis- factory. Drew & Campbell, Managers. (Western Wheel.) • Empire Theatre (Eastern Wheel). Albany, N. Y., April 22. A careful and conservative review of the year just closing prompts me to say that while the standard of the produc- tions put on by the Columbia Amusement Company here has been responsible to a great extent, of course, for our remarkably successful season, they have done more than to promote our own individual wel- fare. They have brought the better element of the people to a closer, keener realiza- tion of what can be done with good, clean, wholesome burlesque productions. The pa- tronage at the Empire has not only been continuously large, surpassing even the excellent records of a year ago, but of a better quality than has ever attended burlesque shows in this city. James H. Rhodes, Manager. Gayety Theatre (Eastern Wheel). Philadelphia, April 28. Our season just closing has been most gratifying. It is the first this house has played burlesque under the direction of the Columbia Amusement Company. The theatre has set a most excellent standard, and will no doubt continue to do as well, if not better, the coming sea- son. Our shows, with the possible excep- tion of a few, have uniformly been good. In some cases they have been both good and bad. However, it is the aim of the Columbia Amusement Company to strengthen all of their shows next season in such a man- ner that it will add greatly to their al- ready rapid strides. Edward Shayne, Manager. Bijou Theatre.(Western Wheel). Philadelphia, April 28. Considering bad times and the business of other theatres, we have no complaint to offer, and taking the season so far our business has been good. In regard to the attractions, there arc quite a few that could stand improve- ment. It is a very hard matter to figure on next season for business, but, in my opin- ion, I cannot see any great improvement until after election in November. As for the shows for next season, I think if the managers of different attrac- tions would pay a little more attention to the hiring and enlarging of the chorus- es, and not be so severe on the comedy, it would benefit to a large extent. Jos. E. Schanberger, Manager. Trocadero Theatre (Western Wheel). Philadelphia, April 28. We have had a highly satisfactory sea- son throughout. Up to the time of the financial disturbance we were turning peo- ple away. Since then we have been mak- ing money for the traveling managers as well as for the theatre. The attractions have been up to the average and generally satisfying. Indications point to even greater things next season. The Empire officials promise that next season they will provide the best shows ever put out in burlesque. With the Presidential situation settled, I feel confident of a period of unprece- dented prosperity in our field. Fred Wilson, Manager. Monumental Theatre (Western Wheel). Baltimore, April 28. Considering the stringency of money, the season has been most satisfactory. The class of entertainments have been better. The tone of the music is improv- ing, and the cleanliness in the dress of the comedians is marked. The day for monkey-faced make-ups nas passed. A little saneness in plot would go a long way to help matters. I do not see any danger in the coming season for good companies, with plenty of girls. Sam M. Dawson, Manager. Gayety Theatre (Eastern Wheel). Baltimore, April 28. The Gayety has enjoyed a most pros- perous season, the profits exceeding those of last season. Commercially this city has experienced a general depression, while the financial conditions have been anything but en- couraging, yet the high standard and qual- ity of the shows provided by the Columbia Amusement Company have developed in our patrons a confidence, with a result as cited. If good shows are provided next sea- son, the Gayety will continue its relation to the U. 8. Mint. W. L. Ballauf, Jr., Manager. EMPIRE PASSES DIVIDEND. The conferees of the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) directors' meeting in Cincinnati returned to New York last Saturday. The proceedings were about to the effect of Variety's re- port of the conference. In addition to the proceedings as reported, the directors passed a dividend of 25 per cent. It seems probable that there will be more than twenty-two shows concerned in the production pool next season. At the meeting applications were received from the managers of that many shows. It was the general impression that per- haps half a dozen others would be heard from later. One of the directors expressed the opin- ion that as an experiment twenty shows would make a sufficient number of partici- pants, but there was no effort made to limit membership in the merger, the offer- ing being open to every manager on the Western Wheel. Bids were received for the contracts on the Flatbush Avenue theatre, construction upon which will begin shortly. The com- petition narrowed down to two contrac- tors, and a committee was directed to make a choice. The work will be let in a single contract, the contractor being per- mitted to sublet parts. A number of other matters were gone into, but not settled so thpt the result of the deliberations could be made pub- lic. These will again be brought up when the travelling managers of the circuit meet in June for their annual conclave. Chicago, April 30. The following letter will be sent all Western Wheel managers: "Resolved, That for the purpose of in- creasing the merit and attractiveness of all the shows playing over the Empire Circuit of theatres, all owners of shows are hereby solicited to book all their peo- ple and all acts to be engaged for the shows for next season through the offices of the Western Vaudeville Association of Chicago and New York. This is not to ap- ply to artists already under contract. "Resolved further, That all acts and people to be engaged for the shows belong- ing to the Empire Circuit shall be booked only through the Western Vaudeville As- sociation of Chicago and New York. "Resolved further, that the Executive Committee of this company is hereby au- thorized to take all the necessary steps to carry out the real intent of these resolu- tions." The resolutions were adopted at the cir- cuit's meeting held in Cincinnati last week. SNITZ MOORE IN FROHMAN PIECE. When "The Girl from Gottenburg" is produced by Charles Frohman at the Knickerbocker Theatre next September. Snitz Moore, now playing in "The Gay Morning Glories," will be cast as the sec- ond comedian, in the role of a "Dutch man," in the piece. Contracts were signed this week. KATHERYN AND VIOLET PEARL. Ttip principal member* of "The Rolllckera" reading VARIETY In rateraon, N. J. The blank upa'cn In the picture* represent Pateraoii. There la «o good reason to blame the glrla for reading anything In that town. "HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS'" LAST WEEK. Chicago, April 30. "The High School Girls" will close at Indianapolis next week, not playing the Folly, Chicago, as reported.