Variety (August 1908)

VARIETY DEWEY AMD GOTHAM IN WHEEL. Although the Empire Circuit Executive Committee hat left the traveling man- agers of the Western Burlesque Wheel en- tirety in the dark as to what arrange- ment has been made to play the Dewey and Gotham theatres in New York next season, there seems to be a strong feeling that burlesque will hold forth in the two Sullivan-Kraus establishments. From another source it is clearly indi- cated that the Empire directors have en- tered into an arrangement with William Fox, the moving picture man who acquired the leases on the Dewey and Gotham, by which a rental somewhat in excess of that paid by Fox to Sullivan & Kraus will give the burlesque people control of the two stands. As a side light upon the transaction it is pointed out that the introduction of Pastor's Theatre and the Gayety in Ho- boken into the Eastern Wheel by Dave Kraus, may have had something to do with the Fox-Sullivan-Kraus deal. Neither house could have been taken into the Western Wheel. Pastor's was in direct opposition to the Dewey so long as that played Western burlesque shows, the two establishments being within a stone's throw of each other. The West- ern could not have taken in the Hoboken theatre because Thomas W. Dinkins, man- ager of the Bon Ton in Jersey City has an exclusive franchise which c^era all of Hudson County, N. J., in which Hoboken is located. Once the Dewey was eliminated from the Western Wheel, even if only tempo- rarily, the two Dave Kraus stands became highly desirable for the opposition. Western managers are going ahead on the supposition that they will play both the New York houses. One, who is sched- uled to open the season at the Gotham, last week sent his program matter, bill- ing and property plots to the Harlem place by registered mail. The package was ac- cepted and receipted for, and this inci- dent is taken as further proof that the Sullivan-Kraus houses have been saved for the Empire Circuit. Another indication that the Westerners have provided for the future in New York is the fact that the Executive Committee- men, who were in session in New York for several days just after the transfer to Fox was recorded, have left the city and seem to be giving the matter no further thought. Col. Whallen of Louisville is in Europe, and even Harry Martel has not been at his desk for ten days or more. "THE UNMASKING" FOR BURLESQUE. John Jermon will put in "The Unmask- ing" as a special feature of next week's show at the Gayety, Philadelphia, where summer stock burlesque is holding forth. This is the sketch played last season by Edwards Davis. It is an intensely dram- atic piece and its use next week is de- signed by Mr. Jermon to test its avail- ability for burlesque. If the audiences at the Gayety like it next week, Mr. Jermon will sign the act as a feature for Jacobs & Jermon's "The Golden Crook" Com- pany, playing the Eastern Wheel time the coming season. The company includes six people. FIRST BURLESQUE OPENING. Altoona, Pa., July 30. The first burlesque show to commence the season of '08-'09 opened here last night. It was Williams' "Imperials." Much interest seemed to be centered by the company in Joe Adams, who appeared in the pieces, Adams having also staged the show. For a premiere, everything passed <?? very smoothly, and the "Imperials" pleased Altoona, although this is a city not well versed in burlesque entertain- ment. On Saturday the Williams troupe plays Pittsburg, and will continue on the road until it takes its regular place in the Western Wheel route when the official season opens. HAYES STICKS WITH REEVES. "The Mardi Gras Beauties," the Al Reeves and Wm. S. Campbell Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel show, will go out this season with Edmund Hayes at the head, after all. Mr. Reeves had notified Mr. Hayes the contract entered into could not be carried out owing to notice received by Reeves from J. Bolton Winpenny of Philadelphia, claiming Hayes' services for a term of years. Upon Hayes presenting to Reeves' sat- isfaction evidence that Winpenny could not hold bim, the "Wise Guy" was told to go ahead and complete the show he had started. Reeves has heard nothing further from Winpenny, but arrangements have been made to anticipate any action the Phila- delphia Western Wheel manager may in- stitute. May Ward and her "Dresden Dolls" play at Sheedy's, Newport, next week. Miss Ward will continue in vaudeville with her "girl act. fc ASKS FOR FAIR TREATMENT. Cincinnati, July 30. The Cincinnati papers have taken up the issue raised in Louisville over the pro- posed new Gayety Theatre to be operated by the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. Since the site was announced, and* be- fore, antagonism to the project developed in Louisville, and was said to have been incited by some person or persons connect- ed with the Western Wheel, which plays the Buckingham, John H. Whallen's thea- tre, in the same city. Ostensibly R. K. Hynicka of Cincinnati has been the prime mover in the new Louisville theatre, and a case of intercity jealousy has been made out, but the source of the annoyances goes deeper than this. Mr. Hynicka said* this week the Gayety would cost $125,000 and conform with the regulations of Louisville in every respect. "All we ask for is fair treatment," said Mr. Hynicka. CURTIN'S EXCITING VACATION. Beaumont, Tex., July 30. James H. Curtin, the New York the- atrical manager, who has been spending a vacation in Texas, his native State, leaves to-morrow for home. Mr. Curtin is a popular Texan, and while here, as a reminder of the good old times have not been forgotten, the peace- ful citizens killed four negroes under the impression one of the quartet must have been the man they were after. The outrage of a white girl by a col- ored man started the trouble, and Mr. Curtin witnessed the manhunt. ALAS! Sad days have fallen upon Coney Island since the burlesque companies began to rehearse for the coming tour. All sum- mer emissaries of the burleBque man- agers have been busy signing up the best of the chorus girls playing the beach music halls, and last week the proprietors of these places were shocked and pained •to-oOC their girls deserting in droves to be- gin rehearsal for Wheel shows. In one place alone the ranks were re- duced from forty to about half that num- ber. The quality of the squad was re- duced by a much larger proportion. Even the girls still left have begun to give notice of their intention to flit, for the small music halls in Hoboken, Paterson and Newark are about to start up for the winter and the girls are anxious to get themselves placed for the season. The only comfort the music hall pro- prietors have is that their comedians are standing by the ship. The comedians al- ways do. They draw as much as $25 a week and their winter jobs ordinarily are not so remunerative. It's different with the girls, who by their economies! habits and a commission arrangement with the bar make good salaries. A music hall proprietor is authority for the statement that Coney Island chorus girls have been known to get close upon $150 for a week's work, but you can not always believe what you hear at "The Island." "DUCKLINGS," HEUCK-FENNESSY SHOW. The new Western Burlesque Wheel or- ganization named "The Ducklings," which will feature Louie Dacre the coming sea- son, is the property of the Heuck Opera Company and James E. Fennessy. According to report the title first se- lected was "The Louie Dacre Burlesquers." This was objected to by the powers of the Empire Circuit, when the present designation was decided upon. Whatever merit the production may possess will pass to the credit of Miss Dacre, who is putting forth all her energy into having "The Ducklings" termed "one of the best." The show opens its regular season at Pittsburg Aug. 24, playing a preliminary season of a couple of weeks at Indian- apolis and Cincinnati. Blamphin and Hehr have engaged with Jacobs & Jermon (Eastern Wheel). MRS. CHARLEY HARRIS. Wife of the comedian, and their twin daughter^ FARCO and DAKOTA. The twins are fifteen month* of age. The a hove photo of Mra. Harris and nor children wan taken on the stoop of the HARRIS VILLA. The huHband and father Is at present touring the western vaudeville circuits in his specialty, "The Inspector and the Gibson Girl." He has been eitreinely successful In his humorous effort! throughout that territory. STILL ANOTHER ROUTE SHEET. The Empire Circuit contributed another complication to their routing puzzle this week by promulgating a route sheet con- taining the time for the whole season, a voluminous document in blue print form measuring 33 by 27 inches. It gives a complete schedule from Au- gust 24 to 'June 7, a total of forty-two kIiows and as many week stands. A short time ago the first six weeks' allotments were given. The new route corresponds to this. The Dewey, Gotham and Circle (former- ly Sullivan & Kraus), Bridgeport (Miner estate), which will not be completed by the time the tour opens, and the Casino in Brooklyn, which will not be finished for some months, are all listed. The availability of the first three is a matter of mystery and the other two will not be able to play at the opening of the season. To balance this there are four shows listed the existence of which is ques- tioned by many Western managers. They are "The Broilers," "The Ramblers," "20th Century Girls" and "Rialto Rounders." The latter two belong to the Krauses, and it is said the Eastern Wheel will play the Kraus shows. The questionable houses are bunched within four weeks or so. The real hard- ship will fall upon the managers who drew openings for New York, in which most of this time is included. Later on two of the houses which now represent "lay offs" will be open, so the shows which open in the West will have an op- portunity to play them by the time they come around to those points on the Wheel. It is significant that Mortimer M. Thiese's "Strollers" has drawn a position which just at this time looks unenviable. It opens at the Dewey (according to the schedule), goes from there to the Casino. Brooklyn (not yet completed), then to Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, then to the Circle (availability in doubt), and after a whole week in Jacob's, Paterson, comes to the Gotham, New York (the future of which is still cloudy). Week of September 28 "The Strollers" goes into the London, the first stand which promises a profit. The other shows scheduled for early engagements on this questionable time are "The Broilers" (of which nothing is known) and the "Ramblers" (in a similar position). If, as is suspected, none of these or- ganizations has a real identity, the Wheel could lie closed up four or five weeks if the questionable stands mentioned do not eventuate. Burlesque managers of experience firmly declare that the route sheet as distributed this week cannot be seriously considered. To extend a burlesque season into the second week of June they characterize as madness. The regular tours last season ended about the middle of May and it is admitted on all sides there were not half a dozen shows in both Wheels which could show a profit for the last few weeks, al- though everybody worked under reduced salaries. In a number of the printed reports it has been made to appear that Pastor's Theatre is under lease to Sullivan & Kraus. This is a misapprehension. It i« Dave Kraus, a son of George Kraus, who holds the lease on the Tammany Hall property to be used next season by the Eastern Burlesque Wheel.