Variety (August 1908)

VARIETY $10,000 WEEK AT FIFTH AVENUE. It was predicted early in the week mound the Fifth Avenue Theatre that when the receipts shall have been totaled to- morrow (Sunday) night it would be found that at least $10,000 had passed through the gate. The seating capacity of the Fifth Avenue for one week is $9,500. The difference will represent the people who have "stood up" the past days to see Eva Tanguay and La Sylphe, the features of the bill, although Miss Tanguay's name occupies both sides of the large electric sign stretcHing over Broadway. The billing of herself in and about a theatre is one 0/ the conditions a man- ager assumes when signing a contract for Miss Tanguay's appearance. The double event at the Fifth Avenue has attracted crowds and the speculators. On Monday afternoon the police were called to preserve order on the sidewalk, a horde of the scalpers having dropped on the scene. At the 'evening show there were fourteen speculators on the sidewalk, with but one officer in sight. Manager R. E. Irwin had the crowd well in hand, and the speculators formed in a perfect line without, none encroach- ing upon the passageway to the entrance or upon the lobby. Loney Haskell, billed to appear, did not do so, although his name was pro- grammed. Merrill and Ward, a bicycle act, closed the show, having been en- gaged at a late moment, and after Bedini and Arthur, according to report, had de- clined to fit in the final position. On Wednesday an electric display of "La Sylphe" and "Salome" was placed just beneath the coping of the entrance of the Fifth' Avenue, and beneath the huge sign carrying Tanguay's name. On Wednesday nlso the total receipts for the day were $1,!)00. The box office sus- pended business at 8 P. M. for the evening l>erforniance. The show this week at the Fifth Avenue is probably the cheapest in the salary list yet given there. It does not cost over $2,400. LA SYLPHE IN A TANGLE. Unless the tangle made by La Sylphe, the "Salome" dancer, signing a contract to appear under the management of Jos. M. Gaites is smoothed out, legal proceedings will follow any attempt on the part of the dancer to perform under other auspices than their own, is the statement from Weber & Rush, who hold an agreement calling for La Slyphe's services for ten weeks from Sept. 7. Gaites announced on Thursday he had engaged La Sylphe for $750 weekly, and she would probably travel with his "Fol- lies of 1907." The contract entered into abroad between Ed Rush and La Sylphe over a year ago guaranteed the dancing girl $200 a week. Weber & Rush claim that having en- gaged the girl at a hazard when she was unknown, they are receiving shabby treat- ment under the present circumstances. The matter will be presented to The Managers' Association, of which all the managers involved are members. Weber & Rush had partially agreed with the United Booking Offices that La Sylphe might continue in vaudeville dur- ing the term of her contract with them. The firm will now insist her contract with them be carried out, and La Sylphe appear as an extra feature in their bur- lesque shows unless an adjustment of the differences is arrived at. ALL ABOUT "8ALOMB M TANGUAY'S "SALOME." Something different in the line of "Sa- lome" dancers is looked forward to on Monday when Eva Tanguay will make her initial bow at Percy G. Williams' Al- hambra as a Salomer. One of Miss Tanguay's innovations will be the costume worn, if a strip of cloth may be described as a costume. There will be little else in the way of clothing, excepting an expensive flimsy covering, surrounding Miss Tanguay's form while on the stage, it is reported. The same report says Mr. Williams was requested by the eccentric comedienne to place a large fountain in the centre of the stage into which she could cast the head of St. John, the Baptist. Miss Tanguay's idea was to double up the en- tire routine of "Salome" dances by doing the remorseful portion as a finale, she jumping in the fountain after the head for a climax. This version of a damp "Salome" is not expected to develop, but the lively Eva is expected 0 to "pull something good." Mr. Williams has placed Miss Tanguay under contract for twelve weeks, with an option on her services for the remainder of a year at a weekly salary of $1,500. The exclusive direction of her engage- ments under the contract will be by Mr. Williams, who will hold Miss Tanguay as an attraction at his several houses suf- ficiently long to practically guarantee the singing dancer a long New York City vaudeville run. The agreement goes into effect Aug. 3. The Alhambra will probably be the pro- fessional abiding place of Miss Tanguay for the month. ENGLISH BURLESQUE "SALOME." London, July 22. Wherever you go nowadays, a burlesque of the "Salome" dance is a part of the show. Among the many Will Evans, who vis- ited New York once, has about the fun- niest. HAMMERSTEIN'S BIGGEST EVER. Either the Rogers Brothers or William Hummerstcin must give the record figures in money for Hammerstein's biggest week at the box office, which occurred with the swfen days ending last Sunday. No figures are given out by the man- agement, but it is understood the vague manner of arriving at the cash gross is through the statement that the money pouring into the Hammerstein 1m>x office exceeded by $3,100 the record of the house held up to that time by the Rogers Broth- ers, who made the high mark while ap- pearing there. Gertrude Hoffmann in her "Salome" dance has smashed several Hammerstein records to smithereens, the reeeipt.s on Wednesday being the largest in the history of the house. WHERE'S MILLIE DE LEON? What's the matter with Millie Do Leon? Millie can go some where a "cooch" dancer is needed, and to think of the "Salomers" around town, without Millie in the bunch, is making the burlesque houses turn green under their paint. MAY NOT SEE MAUD ALLAN. New Yorkers may not see Maud Allan in the "Salome." Advices from London say her drawing powers at the Palace re- main so strong the directors of that es- tablishment will prevail upon Alfred Butt, the Palace and Miss Allan's manager, to continue her there indefinitely, or at least, until such time as the craze shall have become a dead issue on this side. It is said however that Miss Allan is not dependent upon the "Salome," al- though that dance has brought her into prominence. The life of "Salome" over here by ex- perts is given ten more weeks before it will become as great a bore as the "Merry Widow" waltz. With the opening of the burlesque sea- son there will probably be one or more "Salome" dancers attached to each show, eighty in all, and whoever may be able to "shake a foot" will "Salome." Julian Mitchell remarked the other night he could take Elphye Snowden, now in "The Follies of 1908," and in two weeks turn her out as the best "Salomer" of them all. ISADORA DUNCAN'S DANCES. An announcement was given out this week by Charles Frohman, who has Isa- dora Duncan under contract to appear over here, that the dancer will arrive in New York Sept. 1. Miss Duncan will give an evening's per- formance in some New Broadway play- house, continually dancing with but one intermission of fifteen minutes. STILL THEY COME. Talk about the "Salome" craze becom- ing epidemic! Down at Huber's Museum, on East 14th street, they are offering as a "unique special attraction" Vera Alcore "in her original conception" of the "Salome dance." The bills in front of the museum indicate that Miss Alcore's "Salome" is all to the Maud Allan. "DE SL0AMEY DANCE." By JOHN B. IIY.MER. (HymtT and Kent.) If yo'nc K<>t a little act An' yo' can't Kit any time, Don't go an' luy do blame On Mistah ItiiHh or SI me. Tho" 'wny yo' cIoYk —wear a Hinlle, Head hlHt'ry an' den take a chance; Git a piece uv okeeter tmr An' go do de Sloamey dunce. If yo'ae doln' iniitatdiMiia An' can't git no raise In pay, Don't run aroim' a klckln' ImltaslniiiM Ik |>unh nay. Lock yo* wardrobe In de trunk; I/carn a wiggle an' a prance, (tit 11 piece of«Hkeeter bar An' go do de Sloamey dance. Unknown acta what ain't got In I'nin't ifced to fret an' worry— .Tcs' Hay ,4 tdie dancea negleejay"; You'll git time In a hurry, ('.it a John de Baptist head; Say y<>'«e Jos' arrived friiin France; (Jit a piece uv Hkceter bar An' go do de Sloamey dance. I seed a lady do dat dance I wuz kinder dlsapp'lnled. She didn't weali much cloVs at all An' ahe tdio'ly wiijs loose J'lnted. Hey say It h classic I don't know, But fruin all dat I can see Dat thing dry call de Sloamey dance ].ooks like old Mooch a-kooch to me. Since Lily Ivena underwent an opera- t inn for the removal of an obstacle in 1 lie nose, she lias found to her surprise that her voice has a range of more than a whole note higher. BURLESQUE IN DEMAND. Bedini and Arthur who burlesque the "Salome* 7 dance are in as great a de- mand nowadays as the dancers them- selves. This week the act is at the Fifth Ave- nue; by special arrangement Bedini and Arthur play at the Alhambra next week burlesquing the "Salome" of Eva Tan- guay's. Following the Alhambra engage- ment they go to Hammerstein's for two weeks, where Gertrude Hoffmann is the "Salomer." An offer has been made to Bedini and Arthur to remain in vaudeville bur- lesquing acts only, at a large increase of salary. They are engaged with Sam A. Scribner for the coming season. PERTINA. The picture occupying the center oval of the title page this week and the one below are of Pertina, popularly known in Europe as "The Queen of Toe and Eccen- tric Dancers." For the past season Pertina has been in the West appearing at the Orpheum theatres, having been engaged for that circuit by Martin Beck when the latter was on the other side a year ago. Pertina is a toe dancer, and this, com- bined with her contortional powers, raised her to a high plane of popularity on the Continent and in Great Britain. Having reached the limit of Alexander Genee's tuition as a ballet dancer, Per- tina concluded the career of a premier was not to her liking, although possessed of a full knowledge of the ballet demands. The press throughout the West where she appeared received Pertina cordially, proclaiming her the leader of all toe and contortional dancers who have played in that section of the country. Next week at the Keith-Proctor 125th Street Theatre Pertina appears in the metropolis for the first time. Her most recent engagements in the East have been at Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Boston. It is a matter of deliberation by the dancer just now whether she shall essay the "Salome," being peculiarly fitted by nature and training for the much talked of dance. Although Pertina denies it, she was credited abroad with having the most perfect figure of any dancer ever seen there.