Variety (May 1908)

8 VARIETY THE WHITE RATS URGE PROTEC TION OF O RIGINALITY The Artists' Organization Appeals to Its Members to Conserve an Originator's Interests, and Preserve an Honorable Stand at All Times. The following circular, issued by the White Rats of America, and headed "A Little Good Advice" bears upon the much mooted subject of "choosing," "stealing" and "lifting" of material and acts: "Regarding the stealing of Acta, or Portions Thereof: "All artists should remember that in originality lies strength. If each Individual act were en- tirely original, and could only be seen when that particular act Is engaged, It places an absolute settled value on that act, and la in Itself a pro- duction, supreme in its line, commanding the full value thereof and not to be obtained from any other source, but when bits of an act are stolen and produced by others, the original act becomes commonplace and its value depreciates. "It Is far better to do a bad, but original act, and to continue to Improve it, than to do a stolen or partly stolen one. The thief depen 1j upon the producing power of others, therefore bis own mind becomes dormant and stale, falling into the rut of the ordinary, and he can never hope to produce at sometime, something that will bring him both fame and fortune, or at least if be.be a man let him face his brother with a clear conscience. "All brothers should vigorously prosecute and put to shame those whom they know to be of such character, alwaya remembering that steal- ing acts or parts thereof, as well as original ideas, thus depreciating the owner's value, la no less despicable a theft than stealing from one's pocket, or the food from one's mouth, and offenders will be made to feel the weight of our righteous disapproval." In another circular issued by the so- ciety, the subjoined advice is given mem- bers in the interests of themselves, man- agers and the organization: 1. It la the imperative duty of a White Rat to live up to and observe every detail of bis contract. 2. Don't sign a contract till you have care- fully studied it, unless it be a White Rat con- tract. 3. No legal or other protection will be granted to any member who, by his own fault, breaks any clause In bis contnact. 4. No member of the order must ever use the name of the order in a coercive or threatening manner to a manager or other person in author- ity in any argument or dispute, but should imme- diately refer it to the White Rata. 5. The membera of this order are notified that unless it la otherwise stated in the contract, the manager baa a perfect and absolute right to place any act in any position on the bill, and if an act refuses to go on when so placed, the act is canceling its contract. 6. The way an act is billed, unless otherwise specifically mentioned in the contract, is no ground of complaint, to this order. 7. Be ready to assist those under whom you are working, and do everything In your power to make every performance a success. 8. Refrain from adverse criticism on other vaudeville acts playing on the same hill. 9. All members of this order when entering into any engagements either with other membera or with non-members, either as a partner or as an employee or as an employer, are instructed to have the arrangement or understanding !n writing. Verbal contracts and verbal arrange- ments always lead to trouble. 10. It is sincerely hoped that brother Rats, by their courteous, honorable and gentlemanly behavior, will earn the esteem of the manage- ments, both personally and for this order, and thereby assist us In arriving at the goal we are aiming at, "The improvement, protection and promotion of the players and entertainers of the amusement world, their calling and con- ditions." / ,</ PREPARING^ FOR GOLDEN'S BOOK. It has been decided by the White Rats, in meeting, to place all other important matters to one side until Geo. Fuller Golden's novel, "Mi Lady Vaudeville and Her White Rats," is on the news stands. The story will embrace a history of vaudeville and the White Rats' organi- zation, founded by Mr. Golden. An as- sured circulation of 30,000 is given the book before publication through the au- thor's intention to distribute that num- ber of volumes from the first edition to prospective readers, who will be invited to read first and remit afterwards. The 30,000 to be placed in general cir- culation in this way will be exclusive of the large number of orders placed by newsdealers and individuals with Mr. Golden so far. Since the White Rats as an order has officially taken hold of the publication, all information relative to the work may be obtained of Harry Mountford, secretary to the Board of Directors, at the head- quarters. One section will be devoted to adver- tisements altogether. [ON A BENEFITS NET $1,700. The benefits given for the Charity Fund of the White Rats at the New York and Liberty theatres last Sunday night netted the organization $1,700. Geo. M. Cohan set the high mark for an orchestra chair by paying $250 for a lene seat, and j^ew York Lodge, No. 1, of Elks, subscribed $100 for a page ad- vertisement in the program. Weather interfered with the attendance in both houses, and other conditions tended to hold the show down. •—/ ACTION AGAINST "COPY." Tom McNaughton, manager for Alice Lloyd, instructed his attorney, Geo. M. I«eventritt, who secured for Miss Lloyd copyrights upon her "mirror effects" in the "Lovelight" song, to proceed against one Jean Lennox, a young woman appear- ing for the first time in New York vaude- ville at Keith-Proctor's 58th Street Thea- tre this week. From reports. Miss Lennox, having nothing else to offer managers and pa- trons, fastened upon Miss Lloyd's novel idea of flashing a light from a mirror. Miss Lennox is also accused of having re- written a song which was played for her in a music publisher's establishment some time ago, although she is billed as a song writer on her individual account. It was said on Thursday that Mr. Leventritt would apply for an injunction if the house manager at 68th Street did not oblige Miss Lennox to withdraw the "copy." . / TAKE OUT THEATRICAL LICENSES. The Keith-Proctor 23rd Street and Union Square theatres made application for a. renewal of its theatrical license, which expired April 30. On May 1, the new municipal theatrical year commenced, when all licenses are reissued. It was thought that owing to moving pictures being the governing policy just now at the two K.-P. houses, application would be made for a common show per- mit, under which most moving picture performances are conducted, the theatrical license costing $500, while the latter is delivered at $25. Report now says that with the vaude- ville conditions normal at the commence- ment of next season, it is more than likely that both the present picture thea- tres will revert to their former policy, vaudeville. ORPHEUM CLOSES. Boston, April 30. Thi« U the.ftnfli we*»kJf» r vRudpyillaJu. the Orpheum here under the Keith regime. Despite denials, there are indications that motion pictures will be placed in there this summer, prior to its opening under the William Morris management Sept. 1. WIGWAM BACK IN FOLD. San Francisco. April 30. Sam H. Harris' Wigwam has returned to the Western States Managers' Associa- tion, and Mr. Harris is also back in the fold. The Wigwam bookings were lately transferred from the Western States to the Sullivan-Considine Circuit. With the return of E. Ed. Ackerman, of the Western States, and Alex Pantages, from the New York trip, Harris was brought back. HAS JttuNEY: CAN'T PAY. W T ith money on hand he can't deliver to its rightful owners, Maurice Goodman, at- torney for the United Booking Offices, is worrying. Mr. Goodman says settlements, in the form of checks, are ready for all acts holding Klaw & Erlanger contracts to whom railroad fares are due, and he wants addresses. Mr. Goodman also wants any claim any Klaw & Erlanger act may yet have under a contract. These will be adjusted at once, according to the United's lawyer. DANISH DANCER AT ALHAMBRA. Commencing next September, and con- tinuing for five years, as per the contract signed, Britta Petersen, a ballet dancer who was discovered in an opera at Copen- hagen by H. B. Marinelli, will be the premiere ballerina at the Alhambra, Lon- don. The Danish dancer is being boomed as a "find" of great value. Mr. Marinelli from Denmark's capital wired the Al- hambra manager, who went, saw and signed immediately. The Marinelli New York office modestly, but glowingly, dwelling upon Miss Peter- sen, remarked she rivaled the greatest dancer who ever graced a stage. show Without pictures. Hartford, April 30. H. H. Jennings, manager of the Hart- ford Opera House, will play a week of vaudeville commencing Monday, with John De Lor is as headliner. The show will consist of eight acts, booked by William Morris, New York. There will be no moving pictures on the bill. The Opera House bill will be in op- position to Poli's. IMPRISONMENT FOR MISREPRESEN- TATION. Imprisonment for one and two years respectively was meted out to Urayton Bentley and Joseph Athos, who were con- nected with a concern styled "The Euro- pean Amusement Company," in the Gen- eral Sessions this week. The men were arrested on the charge of obtaining money under false misrepre- sentations. The testimony adduced at the trial brought to light several victims who had paid in from $50 to $250 upon prom- ises, never fulfilled. Another member could not be located by the police. The "Amusement Company" has had but a brief existence at a Sixth Avenue ad- dress. CASEY AGENCY "OPENING." The Pat Casey Agency moved into its new offices on the seventh floor of the St. James Building last Monday. Tuesday evening the offices were formally dedicated with an "opening" of the approved pat- tern, supplied by Shanley's Restaurant, and charged to the account of Pat Casey. The wet and dry stuff was strewn around the floor and tables in heaps. No "tab" was kept on anyone, and no "souses" acquired, although several present received a fair start. The offices are fitted up extravagantly for vaudeville. A "cellarette" in an ob- scure corner of the suite will be a perma- nent feature of the Pat Casey Agency headquarters. A large crowd continually drifted in and out of the offices between six and nine, when the doors were closed, with difficulty. Among the more prominent of the callers were A. L. Erlanger, Percy G. Williams, Martin Beck, E. F. Albee, John J. Murdock, M. E. Robinson, Carl Lothrop, W. F. Tucker, Ambrose O'Brien, Aaron Kessler, Abe Thalheimer, Al Sutherland, Fred Brandt, FVank Hopkins, Charles Davis, Lester Rose, Dave Steinhardt, Edgar Al- len and Maurice Goodman, "the" lawyer. A few of the young women who graced the occasion were the charming Misses Kathcryn McDonald, Mae Woods and Rose Dugan ("Oh, you Rosic-"local). Quite a number of agents who are carrying on a booking business were par- ticularly conspicuous by their absence. Many messages of congratulation were received. Marc Klaw and William Morris cabled theirs, as well as a number of well known managers and artists abroad. B. F. Keith wired a message of good luck. MARKS' "SUNDAYS" IN LIBERTY. Before sailing for England to-day on his annual pilgrimage, Ted D. Marks ar- ranged to present the tenth year of his Sunday concerts at the Liberty Theatre, beginning with a matinee September 20 next. THOMPSON IN CONAN DOYLE PIECE. The "Lucania" on Wednesday carried away William II. Thompson, who left suddenly to procure, across the seas, the costumes and effects required by the late Henry Irving's "Waterloo*" written by Conan Doyle. Mr. Thompson immediately upon secur- ing the piece submitted it to the United managers through his agent, M. S. Ben- tham, and received fifteen weeks in fifteen minutes. He will open with the new playlet at the Colonial on January 4, 1909, playing his present 'bookings with the sketch he entered vaudeville with until then. HERK SUCCEEDS SINGER. Chicago, April 30. When William Singer leaves the man- agerial post at the Empire to enter into the same capacity at the new Princess, I. II. Herk, now with "Miss New York, Jr.", will succeed him. Mir. Herk's stay at the Empire as manager will be permanent, it is said. He still retains his interest in the show. A new act to be produced by Jesse L. Lasky on May 11 at Poli's, New Haven, is named "The 8 Hoboes," and will present various types of the specie "tramp" as seen by Mr. Lasky during his walks along Broadway.