Variety (June 1908)

VARIETY WILLIAMS CLOSING DATES. It was decided this week that the sum- mer run of vaudeville at the Colonial, New York, should end on June 28; the other Percy G. Williams theatre (Orpheum, Brooklyn), now open, will wind up its supplementary season June 27, the Sunday night performance there having been dis- continued, commencing last Sunday. The Alhambra will plod along through the hot spell for all summer, or awhile longer at least. While it was expected the Orpheum would remain open continuously, the in- roads made by Coney Island and the beaches, immediately adjacent to Brook- lyn proper, caused too great a loss of patronage. A "TRIPLE SOMEftSAULTER." The "double somersaulting" automobile has been gone one better by Charles Morak, proprietor of the first, who at Revere 'Beach, Boston, is attempting to teach the machine to turn over three times in the air, while a young woman is seated within. The idea of a "triple" was presented to Morak while the "double" exhibited at Syracuse last season. Accidentally, at a performance there, the machine did two and one-half turns, suggesting that a third complete revolution would be a question of the springs only. The "double somer- saulter" is at present with the Ringling Hros.'s Circus. PASTOR'S PLAYING PICTURES. A regulation picture show, with illus- trated songs as a side divertisemcnt, took the stage of the Tony^astor Theatre this week. The "picture show" runs one hour and fifteen minutes. Monday afternoon there was a light attendance, a condition which prevailed at the other four picture houses along the block between Broad- way and Third Avenue. Keith's Union Square had a trifle the best of the patron- age, seconded by the Unique, a real pic- ture place, and the Dewey ranking third. Pastor's is scheduled to resume with vaudeville on August 3, next, if nothing intervenes. The "nothing" may perhaps be the removal by Mr. Pastor of his name to a larger theatre in the uptown district, either around the Forty-second Street cor- ner, the Circle section, or Harlem. At present that idea is not entertained, ac- cording to the statement made by Harry S. Sanderson, the manager of Pastors, but from other sources the report is given that the movement is possible. Mr. San- derson admitted a proposition looking towards the more northern part of town would not be rejected without considera- tion. The object of pictures in Pastor's is to give the vaudeville "regulars" a vacation from the amusement, and to further crowd the picture industry on East 14th Street until the survival of the fittest follows. The Pastor picture regime is a joint venture of Mr. Pastor's and the American Vitagraph Co., the former supplying the house while the latter furnishes the reels. Admission to the orchestra is ten cents. DOUBLE AERIAL ACCIDENT. Montreal, June 11. Two members of the newly imported aerial act called Les Trois Silvestos are lying in a dangerous condition in a Mont- real hospital, the result of a peculiar ac- cident, which happened during their per- formance at Sohmer Park, that city. One of their feats involves a "teeth" performance. The woman hanging from a high trapeze holds the man, hanging from a second trapeze, supported by a "teeth" hold. The pair then swing out over the heads of the audience. On last Saturday afternoon, while the act was in progress, the pressure of the woman's teeth on the leather flap in her mouth was so strong that at the end of the swing, where the strain is greatest, her jawbones on both sides broke, aud the man was thrown into the audience. He struck upon his face, doubling backward. The injured man was rushed to the hos- pital, but his entire body seems to have been paralyzed and the physicians are completely puzzled. The woman managed to hold her position on the trapeze until aid came. She will recover, but fears are entertained for her partner. The act was brought over here by the Park .Booking Circuit Co., to which it was under contract for twenty-one weeks. The engagement at Sohmer Park was their first in this country. Frank Coombs, of Coombs snd Stone, has arranged to spend his summer in Atlan- tic City. He will appear as cornet soloist on the Steel Pier. Paul. Mrs. Paul. Marion. 4 MORTONS' FAMILY. Sam. Kat«. Clara. Mr. Clara. (Frank Sheen). Joieph. Martha. MOZART DENIES REPORTS. Lancaster, Pa., June 11. Edward Mozart, president and general manager of the Mozart Circuit, denied this week the reports afloat regarding future booking connection; also the rumor that he had accepted the form of the United Booking Offices contract for use in his en- gagements with artists. Mr. Mozart said: "I will not commit myself regarding these matters, excepting to say I have entered into no written agreement with any one. I prefer to re- main as I am, independent. I have .had interviews with the different people re- ferred to in the reports (White Rats and United), but that is §11. "Two or three propositions to purchase the Mozart Circuit outright or stock in the company have been received, but none has been given our favorable considera- tion. "Concerning our affiliation with a west- ern circuit, just want to say that while we are friendly with all the people in the west, we have 'ticd-up' with no one. The Mozart Circuit will do no booking until the latter part of August, when thirty weeks will be offered, inclusive of houses playing two and three,shows daily. Some of our present theatres will be remodeled, and the seating capacity of those playing 'twice daily' will be from 1,400 to 1,600." Behind tne talk centering about the Mozart Circuit for the past two weeks seems to lie a struggle.between the White Hats organization and the United Book- ing Offices to have the Pennsylvania man- ager accept tne contract form adopted by each. It has been variously reported at dif- ferent times that Mr. Mozart had agreed to use one or the other. From his. re- marks above, nothing seems to have been cYiinitely settled upon. The only purpose of the United in seek- ing to have Mozart adopt its form of con- tract would be on the face to forestall the acceptance of tne White Rats' agree- i.-.ent m order that that contract form might not obtain a foothold. It is reported that it will require $300,000 to purchase the Mozart Circuit. Houses in Wheeling. W. Va.; Newcastle nnd Erie, Fa., have been token over by , the Mozart Circuit. The Mozart theatres will elose for vaudeville next week, and "talking" moving pictures wilt be installed for the remainder of the summer. Tn many of the towns where Mozart holds forth as tlie vaudeville purveyor, the Circuit will operate a "picture house" as well to forestall opposition from out- side sources in that branch. Erie, Pa., June 11. Manager Surken, of the Alpha, returned this week from New York whore ho made arrangements to have his house booked in eoniicction with the string for which Mo- yart furnishes attractions. Ft will open in August. The above in a reproduction of the front exterior of Mr. and Hn. (Kitty) Sara Morton's home at 200 5th Strut. Ihtn.lt, Mich., with the entire Morton family grouped. Joseph, Marlon and Martha arc huddUig Morton* who have not yet attempted to look over the glare or footlights. I\iul and Clara Morton each married about one year ago, and the added attraction!* are H|>eelfleally mentioned In the descriptive tinmen. The hit of the hill, however, is Sam Morton's pipe. ' It's a happy bunch, mid Detroit knows It. No charitable affnlr there Is complete without the M u-lona, alwnya ready vmIiimIocih when at home. SMALL HOUSE FOR MORRIS. Easton, Pa., June 11. The report is about here that next sea- son the Bijou will be a stand in The Mor- ris Circuit. It is now in the midst of a summer run of moving pictures under the management of Charles Pilger. Ti.e house is not a very large one, but it could easily l»e made a pn^rpietui^eiiteiprise with a good grade oi vaudeville.