Variety (May 1908)

VARIETY ARTISTS' FORUM Confine your letters to 150 words end writ* on one side el paper only. Anonymous communlcetlons will not be printed. Name of writer mutt be signed ana will bo hold In strict confidence. If desired. 245 East 126th Street, New York City, April 28. Editor Variety: I am Annie Rinehart, a performer of former years, but through reverses, I lost all I had, and was forced to accept a posi- tion as caretaker. It has been a very hard winter, and I have been compelled to work out also, until a brother lay dying and my little girl was sick with scarlet fever. The Board of Health was just about to take my loved one away, when I begged them not to, but they said they must. I went to the Alhambra Theatre (126th Street and Seventh Avenue) and spoke to a gentleman there, telling him all. He said, "I'll see what I can do." 1 went iff another manager, who shook his head and said "No." I gave up all hope and went home. I wasn't theie ten minutes before a gentle- man came in. I said, "Did you come to take my baby ?" he said, "No, I am Mr. White, of the Alhambra, and don't cry, I came to help you." Mr. White and his dear, good wife went out, and when they came back we thought it was Christinas. The two children got all the clothes they wanted, and we uad all we wanted to eat. Mr. White saved my baby by getting a doctor. In three days the baby was well. Afterwards a,Mr. Fields, from the White Hats, came up with Mr. White and hand- ed me $33.75, thanks to the White Rats. The Actors' Fund has given me $7 week- ly, for which I thank it and Mr. Young, who brings it to me. I also thank Hairy Sandcison. of Pas- tor's, for a fine basket and money, and I am grateful to Mr. LanddorfT, of the (.otham (125th Street), for $17.50. All this came to me through Mr. White, who interceded for me. My brother died, and Mr. White and the good bovs from the Alhambra buried him and attended to everything I feel this is the only way of showing my appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. White and all who i.ave been so kind to me. J trust to God that the prayers of myself and children will reach them all again and again. Annie Rinehart. (The Mr. White referred to in tlv ill ovt is Arthur White, the operator of the Vita- giaph n at line at the Alhambra.—Ed.) Chicago, April 25, 1908. Editor Variety: Noting the many complaints in the Forum anent unlawful cancellations and closings of acts by various Middle West and other vaudeville managers, 1 beg to suggest that Vakikty would accomplish more in two or three issues than has been accomplished by all the flamboyant ora- tory regarding love and brotherhood of the past eight years, by publishing a blacklist of irresponsible managers, bark- ing same by affidavits, accompanied by the correspondence and contracts in vol veil. Foreign artists must have a unique opin- ion of American vaudeville, when they read of these lawless, irresponsible and utterly disgusting practices on the part of cer- tain mushroom managers, who have been allowed to sneak into the business on rubber shoes, because they were fortunate enough to secure some lease on an ob- scure building in some obscure town, in some State noted for its general obscurity. I think Variety will do more for the protection of the artist by commencing and continuing such a list than by any other means that has yet been advanced. There will always be a class of artists willing to play for this class of managers, but when they are duly and officially warned, such artist must take the chance; in the meantime, it is rp to every artist who has red blood in his veins to report such cases, stating the facts simply, with out comment, and backing same by affi- davits. J. C. Nugent. LEE HARRISON ACCUSES BARNES. George Ade did something for Lee Har- rison. Mr. Ade wrote dialogue about an umbrella, and Mr. Harrison incorporated it in a monologue when he last appeared in vaudeville. Now Mr. Harrison is with "The Soul Kiss." He says Mr. Ade fur- nished him with the "umbrella" material more from personal friendship than for gain, but this did not deter Paul Barnes from making use of it on the other side. Barnes has scored a success, according to reports, in Great Britain, but Lee in- sists he shall stop making use of his "umbrella" talk, and the authority on "Who's Who" has placed the matter be- fore the White Rats for action. BOSTON HIPPODROME CLOSED. Several acts, among them the Flying llanvards, returned to New York this week, following the sudden closing of the Boston Hippodrome, an enterprise which ran there several weeks under the man- agement of A. R. Rogers. In several cases, acts had a week's salary coming to them, but Rogers had forestalled any attempt to force imme- diate payment by filing an application for discharge in bankruptcy. At the beginning the Hippodrome seemed to be very successful, but the com- bination of the Chelsea tire and Holv Week cut deeply into the profits. Rogers is the owner of the famous trick horses "Jim Key" and "Trixie" and has a large manu- facturing business. It is believed that all bis obligations will be satisfied. BALLETS IN BURLESQUE. Chicago, April 30. An innovation in the proposed estab- lishment of the "stock chorus" will be inaugurated by James Butler at the Standard Theatre, St. Louis, next teuton. The Standard is a Western. Burlesque Wheel house and owned by Mr. Butler, president of the Empire Circuit. Mile. Bartolletti and Millie l)e Forrest, danseuses, have been engaged with twelve girls, to introduce a series of ballets and noveltv musical numbers in connection with the regular traveling shows. The ballets will fill in the time of the unnecessary delays or between the "num- bers," and take the place of any comedy business which might become ineffectual in the performance. RESTRICTIONS DISCONTINUED. Chicago, April 30. Traveling burlesque companies playing Chicago arc now permitted to use ail their scenery and accessories, owing to the dissolution of an injunction, issued here shortly after the Iroquois Theatre fire, which interfered with their complete liberty in this respect. A few vaudeville acts experienced some trouble from the same cause. It is be- lieved that the stringent rules as to fire- proofing, which have worked a severe in- convenience upon all traveling shows, may be relaxed somewhat. A recent inspec- tion by the authorities disclosed that all the theatres are properly equipped with safety devices. The injunction prohibited the moving of scenery in all so called "fourth class" houses. IMPROVEMENT ON "H. H." CIRCUIT. Ten thousand dollars will be spent in improvements on one house on the "H. H." circuit next season. It is the Broadway Theatre at Camden. Phil Nash says so. Mr. Nash intended spending $6,000 on the house last fall, but having delayed the re- pairs this while, the amount will be in- creased to $10,000. The "H. H." circuit, known as the "in- side of vaudeville," may yet have an addi- tion in the near future. A pilot on a ferry boat reported to the United Offices the other day he saw a man in Long Island City, and the rumor factory got to work. SUTHERLAND'S PLAYERS' DIRECT- ORY. A\ Sutherland, the agent, together with Ned Nye. the comedian, intend compiling an artists' directory, containing the names and permanent addresses of all players, f< r the convenience of agents and man- agers. The list will also show the nearest of kin in the event of death. Something of this sort has long been wanted, according to theatrical people, and the early indications are that "The Players' Directory" will be a complete list of all theatrical people. The price of insertion in the book has been placed at $1. : WOULDN'T SUBMIT TO "HOOK." Toronto, April 30. A new peril has arisen in connection with the epidemic of '•amateur night" performances. This week at a local theatre, one of the amateurs, a young Englishman, turned upon a stage hand who was working "the hook," and a rough and tumble fight on the stage resulted. The pair were pried apart behind the scenes, and the militant amateur was permitted to return and go on with his act. LYKENS & LEVY'S "JUBILEE." On Sunday evening. May 10, Lykens & Levy, the vaudeville agents, will hold a "mammoth jubilee" at Weber's Music Hall. The "jubilee" will be in the nature of a benefit for Jack Levy, according to an announcement, and the proceeds will be utilized by Mr. Levy to correct an ail- ment long affecting his lower limbs, oblig- ing him to walk with the assistance of a cane. Some of the features the firm has on the list to appear arc among the best known of Broadway theatrical names. BECK'S EUROPEAN BOOKINGS. Martin Beck, of the Orpheum Circuit, closed arrangements by cable this week for a uuinbet of ilmope«»n a\ U. They are exclusively for the Orpheum Circuit. In the list which Mr. Beck confirmed are over thirty foreign numbers. To William Passpart, the Orpheum's European representative, Mr. Beck sent authority to close contracts with The Blessings, "Cadets de Cascogne," singing novelty now at the Berlin Wintergarten; Chaissino, the shadowgraphist; De Biere; Dolesch and Tillhauser, street singers, now at the Alhambra, London; Four Franklins, aerial, at the Apollo, Berlin; Ines and Faki, eccentric vocalists; Londe and Tilly, equilibrists; Peppo's Museum, a juvenile feature, for two years at the Circus Shu- man, Vienna; The Saytons, in the "Alliga- tor scene," on Moss & Stoll tour for sev- eral seasons; Vindobona's Musical Comed- ians; Tony Wilson, Helloise and The Am- aros Sisters. II. B. Marinelli's various agencies abroad closed with the following for the Orpheum time: London—Nate Liepsig; , James Stuart, the eccentric pianist; Tom Davis Trio; Leo Grassis, new musical novelty in which illusions play an important part; The Four Harveys, and the original firigo- lati "Flying Ballet." Paris—Four Baltus, The Seven Querolos, and Carl Nobel. Berlin—Paul Sandor, Francini Olloms, and The Tchernoff's Troupe. LOUIS WESLYN. Ionia Weslyn. the sketch and song writer, will hereafter make his headquarters in New York. hating resigned his position as assistant manager and press agent at the tirand, Indianapolis (An- derson and Ziegler Circuit), In order to give all his attention In the future to the preparation of vaudeville material. Mr. Weslyn is the author of a halt dozen acts now running in vaudeville and many special song numbers. Ilia most sue- eessful sketch la "Two Men and a Bottle," pre- sented hy Mr. and Mrs. Howard TrueHdell, and now in its second season, and his biggest hits this year in the way of song numhers are the novelty ho ig, "The Hoy Who Stuttered and the (Jlrl Who Lisped," sung hy William Koek nnd Matlde Fulton, and the military song. "Sain- land," which has proved to he the hlg song hit of John and Biuma Hay's musical farce, "King Casey." Three new sketches hy Weslyn ire anon to be produced in New York — "Names Don't Count," a farce to he played \>y Mr. and Mrs. Trnesdell and Company: "The Buffoon," a cotnedj which has already been successfully nit.l out in ^ Montreal hy Emll Iloeh and Company, and a one act play, as yet unnamed, to !>■• given a I indaorne produc- tion by Nick Long, 'Tdnlene Cotton and Company. Although Just thirty ><;ti^ old, Mr. VYealja has had ai u nisiially varied career, ill ' ,is filled almost every position In w >>• i >.. .<•■- ..i»rk, from imllce reporter to drama fie and music editor, hav- ing started in new--; In San Francisco Ml "The Chronicle* lie hus been n ranchman In California, a ■ ..u 'ofrespondent in Paris, the press representnttvc of Hie Kiltie* Band dur- ing Its tour of i, ■,! Mritalu, a vaudeville artist, and for the In "• ° >-"> '• assistant manager of a vaudcv ! •• ♦':«-ji«n\