Variety (June 1908)

TEN CENTS VOL. XL, No. 1. JUNE 13, 1908. PRICE TEN CENTS. THE ARTISTS' "INVESTMENT FUND" PLAN IS MATURING. Scheme Involves an Independent Booking Agent and the Ba]pdlng Together of the Smaller \f Circuits in the East. The plans of the "Investment Fund", promoted by vaudeville artists are rapidly maturing, according to a statement by one of the principals this week. The scheme is most comprehensive in its scope, as outlined, and the procedure will be, on information furnished, to gather in the small circuits of the East ns a nucleus for n beginning. With this groundwork, an independent booking agency will be organized with an office on Broadway, and a general invitation is- sued to all vaudeville managers to come in under the banner on the promise of im- munity from weekly payment for the fur- nishing of bills, and the strict policy of n commission rate of five per cent, only to be cfiarged. The scheme includes a guarantee (<> managers allied with other booking agen- cies that their profits ■ shall not be less than those during the season of '06-'07, the past season being eliminated in the calculation through the possible poor showing the smaller managers booking with the larger agencies made. Three houses, it is stated, have now been secured by lease or on a percentage basis to be operated by the "Investment Fund," and many more are in process of negotiation and under consideration. The artists who comprise the sinew of the vaudevillians protective organization have issued a statement to artists with a minimum percentage of profit agreed to, this amount and all other guarantees of the Fund to be backed up by deposits of the capital stock. The formation of the Fund is going forward, and its corporate title, with other details, will, when complete, be made public. in London by the "Adriatic" over two weeks ago, while the other day it was said that Miss Dressier was still in New York, and would not leave for the other side for some time yet. The person privileged to see Miss Dress- ier in person off the stage further stated tiiat when Miss Dressier returns to Lon- don, she will have for company an organ- ization gathered by her to produce in a London theatre musical comedy pieces fol- lowing along the type of "girl show" aet forth in the Weber Music Hall. A revue has been written by Edgar Smith, with Maurice Levi as the musical composer, for the first entertainment. The name of the theatre in London at Miss Dressler's disposal is a dark secret. ALICE LLOYD HITS CHICAGO HARD. Chicago, June 11. Alice Lloyd will be retained as the head liner of the Majestic bill uext week, a position she is at present occupying, having opened on Monday. It is the first time Miss Lloyd has played here. Sin; has been the proverbial 'knockout," and could eaeily feature the Majestic shows for a month to come. The local press proclaims her perforra- ence aj daintily artistic and refined, dif- ferent from the othor Uoyds seen. On June 22, Mis3 Lloyd commences a icturn engagement at Shea's, BufTalo, her sceond appearance in liisor.town within six v eeks. WHERE'S MARIE DRESSLER? From London came this week a report that Marie Dressier had safely srrived SMALL HOUSES WILL RESUME. Chicago, June 11. Most of the small vaudeville theatres in the intermediate towns of the middle west are closed for the summer and sched- uled to reopen early in August. The re- port that a number of these theatres will jiot resume in the fall is unf/iif. BOOKS AMERICANS Of EUROPE. (Special Cable t* Variety/) London, June 10. It has just been learned that since William Morris arrived over here he has engaged the following American acts, at present on this aide, for the Morris Cir- cuit next season: Mian Hose, Williams and Tucker, Caryl Wilbur and Chaa. T. A Id rich. No information can be obtained as to the European acts Mr. Morris has con- tracted for an American appearance. MORRIS' NEW LONDON MANAGER. (Special Cable to Vabiety.) London, June 10. The tandon ofT.ce of William Morris, Inc., recently opened, will have as its permanent manager, Paul Murray, the late private secretary to Oswald Stoll, of the Moss-Stoll Tour. Nothing has been announced regarding tlte probable stay lierc of Hugo Morris, who came over ahead of his brother and head of the Morris Circuit, William. The belief is that Hugo will return home in time to assume charge of some depart- ment in the Morris office, New York, be- fore the season opens. Mr. Murray has done the booking for the Coliseum and Hippodrome. At the Morris office no significance was attached to the appointment of Mr. Mur- ray as the London manager, it was said tuat his knowledge and acquaintance ac- counted for the appointment. The sup position of any possible understanding be- tween Mr. Stoll and Mr. Morris through which the former's secretary became the letter's business representative was not entertained, it was added in reply to a query. Llwellyn Johns, who at one time held a confidential relation to Oswald Stoll, returned to London last Saturday. For the past year, Mr. Johns has Ixun the Moss-Stoll representative in New York. AMERICAN ACTS IN LONDON. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 9. Six American acts opened at the Coli- seum on Monday. Of the sextet "That" Quartet scored the biggest hit, although given a poor position on the program. It is the opinion that Williams and Tucker, who also opened there, have too much slang for the English. At the Tivoli, Eddie Clark and his "Winning Widows 1 ' seem to have divided the critical impressions. Some say the act won't do, while others like it very much. DOUBLES GRACE HAZARD'S SALAk*. (8p«cl*l Gable to VABIETY.) London. June 11. Grace Hazard, "Five Feet of Comic Opera," has postponed her trip to study vocal cultivation in Germany, and has accepted an engagement at the Pavilion, Glasgow (Scotland), at double the salary Miss Hazard came over here for. The Glasgow engagement commences next Monday (June 15). NEW ACT BIG SUCCESS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 9. A new act presented by Hayman and Franklin at the Pavilion yesterday was an immense success. Hayman and Frank- lin are highly popular on this side, where the Hebrew characterization of Mr. Hay- man's established the team some time ago. MORRIS ON WAY HOME. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 9. William Morris will sail for home to morrow (Wednesday) on the "Carmania." It is due to arrive in New York about June 10. MISS KEIM WITH SKETCH? This is the closing week of the stock engagement which Adelaide Keim heads at the Metropolis in the llronx, and Jules Ruby, the agent, is soliciting Miss Keim to play over the Keith Proctor summer time in a sketch. Mr. Ruby is hopeful.