Variety (June 1908)

VARIETY ARTISTS' FORUM Ceaflae fmr tatters to ISO wertfe «a4 t» ImM la strict c— IMmci, If •Id* ef m e4 writer last be algae* ana win Montreal, June 10. Editor Vabiett: What's all this talk you have let in lately about the expose magicians? Messrs. Houdini, Goldin et al seem to have lost sight entirely of the real idea of those expose act;;. I always thought that they were comedy acts and I don't remember ever having seen one of them expose any real trick. I have a pretty fair memory too. Goldin and the rest of the bunch shouldn't be alarmed. If they keep their acts up to the standard they will be all right. And by the way, I once saw Goldin him- self expose a trick at the Cardiff Empire (Wales). It was at the old Empire that burned about nine years ago. He exposed that gold-fish catching trick. And hasn't Houdini written a book that is advertised and is said to contain "full explanations of all you want to know about magic?" Honestly, they make* me tired, and so do you when you let them take up good space to air their petty grievances. If you are short of matter, print the roster of the Ginsberg Indian Medicine Company, or something else interesting. Mike Jonas. "23 Seconds From Broadway," 156 West 44th Street, New York City, June 8. Editor Variety: Have you noticed my catch-line, both on the above and in electric lights in front of my hotel and restaurant at that ad- dress? I'm Joe Adams, modest, polite, neat, a hospitable boniface who hates to talk about himself, but circumstances compel me to rush into print, and all be- cause I'm located in a business way "23 Seconds From Broadway." Now conies the story: Some years ago when I was the proprietor of a hotel in Washington, the people walking up and down the street read "228% Miles From Broadway." My address then was 417 Eleventh Street, and my telephone num- ber 2300-J. The, total of each amounted to "23," and in consequence when I left Washington, locating as aV^ve, I again put out the "Broadway" STgn, using my lucky number, "2&." Dost grasp? Dost! Right then, to con- tinue. In the days of Washington was even before the days of George Ai. Cohan, and Georgia will admit my "228%" sign blazed lo the world before he hit upon "45 Miles From Broadway" as a title, so that unavoidable point is passed. Since I have been catering to the New York multitude, every restaurant able to get hold of an all-night license has described its situation either in so many seconds or minutes from Broadway, with my sign as an example. For, be it known, 1 am the original originator of original originations. But when Variety, a variety paper and addressing itself to a profession of which I am a past member, and of whose staff no one at some time or other has failed to "hang me up," deliberately prints an advertisement of "The St. Kilda," a fur- nished-room apartment house at 163 West 34th Street, with that same line "23 Seconds From Broadway" in it, I'm sore. I'm even more, I'm mad, so is Charlie, my brother (you know my brotner), and the whole bunch in the restaurant. We have been waiting weekly for some one to take out that line, but it's still there. I don't know whether "The St. Kilda" is that long away from the Big Alley, but can't it be stopped? I don't control electricity or I would shut off some of the other signs around here, but can't you stop that infringment on my trade-mark which is appearing in Vabiett? Who is "St. Kilda," any way ? Is that a street in Arabia, or what? Go on now, be a good boy, and help out a nice little fellow with curly hair and a dandy smile. Please' do, and if it comes off you can go as far as you lite on your signature the next time you drop in. Joe Adams. New York, June 9. Kditor Vabiett: When engaging for • i^una" Park, Buf- falo artists should protect themselves at the signing of the contract by stipulating whether six or seven days of actual work shall constitute one week. No Sunday performances are allowed in Buffalo. Myself and two other acts lost one day's salary each at "Luna" i'ark, Buffalo. We opened May 27 for ten days in all. Upon receiving salary, one day's pay was de- ducted, Manager MacBroom, of the park, claiming there were seven working days in his weeks, and so tuere were, for we got "trimmed," and surely know. J. Lamont. (Lamont's Cockatoos.) Paragould, Ark., June 3. Editor Vabiett : While working at the Majestic, Mont- gomery, Ala., week of May 18, Enialy Lackaye and I went on a little outing to Oak Park, and while there I wrote the following: We went for an outing one day; It was In the middle of May. We took the street car, To Oak Park, not far. Away from care and society And just to read VARIETY. Emaly says, "Isn't It delightful here?" I Haid. "Yes, but what's the time, dear?" For we mustn't forget We've a matinee yet Which we would not dare miss, You can bet." "It's not over two; It cannot be more. And our matinee isn't 'til four. We are at the Majestic A theatre of fame Which well deserves Its good theatrical name. We had a nice w*M»k here; Hope to return next year, nut I muHt say In all propriety, There's nothing I love Like reading VARIETY. Now, if you think this worthy of being published, would be more than pleased. I suppose the metre is wrong, but never mind. Crystal Bell. [We don't mind, Crystal; we have even done worse ourselves, but keep it up, Crys.; if you can turn out the above after a street car ride, send us a sample sometime while on a Pullman.—Ed.] ABEL CO. LOSES CONTRACT. The contract made between the New York "World" and "Sun," under which the 'Geo. Abel Electric Transfer Company was to have made the local deliveries of the paper for three years at a we?kly price of $755, was terminated last Saturday night. At the offices oi the Abel Company on Wednesday it was stated the ending of the contract had been a voluntary action on the part of Mr. Abel. An explanation was given that the wear and tear on the auto- trucks, as driven by the newspapers' drivers, became a too expensive item to profitably continue. Mr. Abel was absent from his place of business when a Vabiett representative called. He was attending"^ meeting of a committee of stockholder^ at the Hotel York, where ways and means were being discussed for the continuance of the busi- ness. The Knox Manufacturing Company, which supplied the-Augl Comply with its automobiles, is reported to be much inter- ested in the financial condition of the Transfer Company. LEVY DEFENDS STAGE HEBREW. Denver, June 11. The Denver "Times" gave one whole page, while Bert Levy played at the Or- pheum last week, to the artist's defense of stage Hebrew. The Hebrew impersonator in vaudeville has been causing considerable discussion along the Orpheum Circuit late- ly. Mr. Levy's argument and illustrations in the "Times" were so sensibly placed that they will probably do much to quiet a fool- ish discussion. Mr. Levy's citation of a young Hebrew on the Bast Side, New York, who through the impersonation of his parents' manners and customs, lifted his family from poverty to affluence, to their' great delight, was a forcible example. The parents had sat be- side a push cart for fifteen years eking out a bare living until the son jumped into fame and fortune. SYNDICATE BEHIND WASHINGTON HOUSE. Washington, June 11. The syndicate in charge of the arrange- ments for tne erection of the Auditorium on H Street, in Washington, as reported in Variety last week, has made applica- tion to the Secretary of State of Virginia for a corporate charter. The company is to be capitalized at $500,000 and known as "The Auditorium Amusement Co." The ollieers are announced as follows: Samuel Ross (Barber & Ross), president; Edmund K. Fox (A. F. Fox Co.), treas- urer, and Win. F. Thomas, secretary and manager. It is stated that plans for the theatre have been submitted by W. M. McEl- fatrick, of New York, and have been ac- cepted. The stock will be subscribed for almost exclusively by Washingtonians, and the directors will be persons of local standing and influence. At the Morris office this week it was Haid the new Washington Auditorium, re- ferred to above, was unknown, and Will- iam Morris, Inc., not interested. The Morris Washington house will be located on New York Avenue in the Capital, as previously announced, it was stated. WEIS TEXAN CIRCUIT. Chicago, June 11. Dave A. Weis is building $35,000 thea- tres in Cialveston, Houston and San An- tonio, Tex., for vaudeville. The opening date of each is set for August 29. The booking has been turned over to Sam Du Vries, who, in addition to the recently acquired nine theatres in Texas, will book about thirty consecutive weeks in the southern territory next season. Mrs. Harry Houdini has re i red from the stage. Mrs. Houdini formerly assisted her husband in his public work. A "Directograph" has been placed upon the telephone transmitters in the United Office. It is a contrivance which carries any souud however slight, and a whispered telephone conversation may be carried on through it. MONTGOMERY ON VARIETY By W. J. (BILLIK) MONTGOMERY. (Montgomery and Moore.) Morrison's, Rockaway, opens for the regular summer season June 22; closing September 27. V A R I E T Y AKIKTY 1m our puptr. It It* also n word, ulttire Ih the name of a naughty bird. AUIKTY set the trap and the little bird "fell." etiture to 8ay "We all laughed like—the dickens."' nd now the "hunting expedition" Is over, II the birdie has to do Ih get under rover, s the cat <ii'ii;lit the rnoiiM- then we all laughed loud, nd now all that's lacking la a long black throiid. epent Ih a thing that Home can do. epcat Is a thing sometimes pulled, too. egardlng thcui both wondtr which 'twill be: ememher, time reveals—Juat wilt, we'll sec. n Justice to VARIETY, It must be said, t'.n a very fair paper, tbanka to Uh Kd. t r< nstg some tin en; sometimes it don't; t hasn't got me yet; hope it won't. arli direction you travel—east, west, or any other— very newsstand has it feature I with Its handsome green cover. njoy it each week? Well, I should my yes. mice ni>self mvay from It. well hardly, I guess. iiken all In all, It'a a mighty gr-od thing hat we've such a champion not afraid to bring he ieal tru'hs and facts to our notice and gaze, is a mighty good spirit VARIETY displays. oungstcr It Ih, but It's growing older. ap, It does not, but keeps getting b«»lde»\ e all know In your hearts that VARIETY'S the thli.g, elllng as you do when its criticisms atlng.