Variety (July 1908)

TEN CENTS VOL. XI., NO. 4. JULY 4, 1908. PRICE TEN CENTS. SULLIVAN-CONSIDINE RUMORED BOOKING THROUGH MORRIS i - — - - — — Reports Believed to Be Well Founded. No Confirmation Obtainable, Nor Information Given. Deal Thought to Be in Process of Closing. Rumors for a week past have been strongly pointing to the William Morris office acting as the booking agent for the Sullivan-Cbnsidine Circuit. The stories have been spread by vaudeville artists who have sought engagements on the Western time. Acts have been reported as having se- cured Siillivan-Considine dates through application at the Morris office for time, while other artists say they have been informed at the S.-C. New York branch if contracts were given, they would have to come through the Morris office. At the office of the William Morris agency Mr. Morris declined to go into the reports at all. Neither a denial or a con- firmation could be obtained. The rumors are believed to be well grounded. Tt is only the absence of John W. Oonsidine from New York at present preventing the acceptance of the report finally. From information had, Mr. Con- sidine will be in New York shortly. The conditions surrounding the Sullivan- Considine Circuit in relation to its book- ings are peculiar at present. Since the Western States Managers' Association placed its Eastern agency in the office of Pat Gasey, there have been prevalent re- ports of Gbnsidine's dissatisfaction with the Orpheum Circuit, with which he is al- lied through the present list of four the- atres to be booked by the Orpheum in the northwest. When the agreement between the Sul- livan-Considine and the Orpheum was executed, it was said that S.-C. limited themselves not to charge over an admis- sion of thirty cents in any other house operated by it, and not booked through the Orpheum Circuit. This transaction was entered into to avoid a conflict be- tween the S.-C. and the Orpheum, the lat- ter threatening to invade the S.-C. terri- tory. Considine also planned to outgeneral the Western States, which includes the Pan- tages houses in the northwest, that chain seeming to loom up strongly then. The deal with the Orpheum closed, Con- sidine was greatly surprised some time after to learn that the Western States had placed its bookings with the Casey Agency, generally reputed to be in high favor with both the eastern and western end of the United Booking Offices. The common presumption arising out of the Western States-Casey arrangement was that the Western States and the Pantages houses would be "protected" while the Casey office booked. This deal was cred- ited to Martin Beck and Morris Meyer- feld, Jr., the heads of the Orpheum Cir- cuit. Reaching New York in haste when the first intimation of the pending transac- tion with his opposition was given out, Considine arrived after the agreement had been signed. It was reported he was furious. A report at once spread that the S.-C. Circuit would seek the Morris office. It was also reported that Beck's efforts to soothe Considine and lead him to believe the W. S.-Casey move had been a stra- getic one, for the best interests of all con- cerned had failed, and Considine left New York "hopping mad." It is thought that either the Morris of- fice will place acts on the Sullivan-Consi- dine Circuit, or become the general book- ing offices for it. There are from ten to fifteen weeks on the Western circuit capable of playing acts up to $400 weekly. BACK TO OLD PRICES. Chicago, July 1. The Olympic has reverted to its former scale of admission. The best orchestra seats are now 50 cents, with 75 cents for the bexes. Of late front seats on the lower floor have been 35 cents. Eight acts and two shows daily art given at the regular "con- tinuous" prices. "THAT" QUARTET SEPARATES. With the return home of Sylvester, Jones, Pringle and Morrell, who compose ''That" Quartet, the story printed in Variety two weeks ago of a split in the organization was confirmed. Frank Morrell, the counter-tenor of the four, has signed with Cohan & Harris' Minstrels for the coming season. The engagement scheduled for Ham- merstein's Roof, July 13, has been placed back for a week or so to allow of re- hearsals for the new act. European time offered the act, which was not satisfactory to all of the mem- bers, is said to have caused the division. Morrell was anxious to remain on the other side. The trio, Sylvester, Pringle and Jones, will continuue the act under the same title "That*' Quartette, having added this week been well known in association with min- in place of Morrel, Billy Redman, who has strel organizations. ROSE COGHLAN IN LEGITIMATE. Chicago, July 1. It is reported here Rose Coghlan will abandon vaudeville for next season, at least, having decided to return to the legi- timate as a member of John Drew's com- pany. ELKS BUILDING THEATRE. Chicago, July 1. The Santa Fe Lodge, No. 460, of Elks propose to build a theatre at Santa Fe, N. Mex., according to the reports of the committee appointed, and the plans have been submitted. The structure will cost $50,000. Work will begin immediately. $100,000 HOUSE IN MINNEAPOLIS. Chicago, July 1. The "Miles," Minneapolis, owned and operated by C. H. Miles, part owner of the Majestic, St. Paul, will be opened to the public in November. The new theatre, devoted exclusively to vaudeville, will occupy the premises at 7th Street and Nicollet Avenue. The building will have three stories and cost about $100,000. The seating capacity will be 1,500. TWO HITS IN LONDON. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, July 1. Charlotte Parry in "The Comstock Mys- tery," and Milt Wood, the dancer, opened in London Monday at the Oxford. Each was a decided hit. A LITTLE BRONX HOUSE. Up at the corner of Wendover and Park Avenues, Borough of the Bronx, there is a sign on a newly erected building, read- ing "The Dream of the Bronx Realised." It then goes on to say that, commencing Aug. 1, the "Bronx Theatre," which the building is called, will give vaudeville shows, with a dash of moving pictures— not the reverse. Arthur Jacobs and Louis Malvin will be the managers. The band-box has a seating capacity of 600. Four acts will be played weekly. HIGH LICENSE BILL. New Orleans, July 1. A bill has been introduced in the State Legislature by one Samson, providing that vaudeville theatres situated in towns of over 25,000 inhabitants be taxed $5,000 yearly. The bill has been approved by the Ways and Means Committee. QUIT OHIO CIRCUIT. Cohan & Harris are reported to have disposed of their interests in the Ohio Circuit, a chain of about 100 one-night stands in the Middle West. The holdings were taken up, according to the same statement, by a syndicate composed of Nixon & Zimmerman, M. Reis and Julius Cahn. ARTISTIC NUDENESS. London, June 23. "My idea is that the clothing should conform as nearly as posHible to the char- acter I am interpreting," observed Maud Allan, the "Salome" dancer. For that rea- son Miss Allan declines to wear tights when dancing. Miss Allan also says a woman can truly love but twice; the "fir.st low," and the love of maturity.