Variety (August 1908)

10 VARIETY PARIS NOTES BY EDWARD 0. KENDREW. ftib Paris, July 20. Some time ago Mr. Clemenceau, Minister of the Interior, took steps to abolish the system-vf collecting*which many small cafe concerts, especially in garrison towns, re- sorted to as a means of "increasing" ar- tists' salaries. The facts of this traffic were brought before him by the Union des Artistes Lyriques (01 Una du Fau- bourg .St. Martin, Paris), the syndicate of variety people in France. If reports are true the Union certainly did good work the day they took up this question. The girls were compelled to walk round the hall after they had finished a turn on the trestle (the compliment would be too apparent to call it a stage), and collected from the audience with a winning smile, and even a kiss at times. To the majority of the singenTtKIs' praxt'fce"was~very ois 7 " tasteful, but where the shoe pinched the most was that the net proceeds did not go to the artists. A large proportion had to be paid over for commissions, lodging ex- penses and other extortions, the contract generally stipulating that the artist must live on the premises, at the hotel or restau- rant kept by the owner of the concert hall. The result was that this class of performer became degraded, and earned a somewhat doubtful reputation. The reputable ele-' ment felt the position keenly, and as their talent or other reasons would never permit them to attain the larger establishments (where salaries are somewhat better) they petitioned the Government through the newly formed Union to stop this collection in public halls altogether. This was done by a special circular issued to the police by Mr. Clemenceau, but as many delinquencies were reported to the Union a delegation again waited on the Minister of the In- terior recently to plead for a stricter en- forcement by local authorities. A formal promise of more rigid action has been ob- tained, and there the vital subject remains at present. But the Union has a fight on hand. Ar- rayed against it is another syndicate called the Solidarity who prefer the quete or busking system of living. This latter, of course, is bolstered up by the directors of small provincial halls, who are called in France, "Marchands de l'eau chaude." The amusing term needs explanation. In the smaller establishments the price of admis- sion (invariably ten cents in the provinces) includes a cup of coffee or a glass of beer, and as most of the mixed audience take the former, the proprietors of these small sing-songB have become known in the pro- fession as "hot water merchants." The artists in France are slowly becom- ing organised, especially by the Union, but as there are few in the real sense of the word, they cannot attain such a powerful organization as the White Rats did in the United States, the Loge in Germany, or the Federation in Great Britain. The question of affiliation with the English and German societies is, however, on the tapis—and has been for the past six months. The great object of the Union is to provide for a rainy day—which is certainly needed in a country where the salaries are small and the calling much overcrowded. Member- ship is more a means of securing sick pay than solidarity. The French variety ar- tist is a poor man on the whole, a veri- table grasshopper, and albeit a few earn large salaries, the majority would ulti- mately not be above entering the admir- able old actors' "Home," a few miles from Paris, if there were only room enough for more. Unfortunately the applicants are too numerous. The late Paulus even re- fused to enter, when the offer was made, because he knew too well there were many comrades in a worse plight than himself. EAGLE MORRIS* EMBLEM. The American eagle with the red, white and blue is the emblem or trade mark of the Morris Circuit fur next season. The poster to head all the paper to he used has been lithographed. It is an eagle holding in its talons a streamer on which is boldly printed the name of the theatre. The American is the first to be placed upon it. The background is stars in a bed of green, surrounded by a red, white and blue border. The signs reads "William Morris, Inc., Lessee and Manager." With this situation so vividly illus- trated, some well known artists are now undertaking a holiday tour of the fashion- able places by the sea-shore, in the worthy cause of charity. They are traveling around like gypsies with a portable stage and singing whe rever money may be picked up, the entire profits ~to be ftevbteof to the foundation of a suitable institution in France solely for aged and incapaci- tated variety people. In an interview I had yesterday with Victor de Cottens and H. B. Marinelli, I learned that they have already engaged Ida and Lulu Valey and Ned Nye for the Olympia, which should reopen on Sept. 1st. Nye will appear in a variety turn as a dancer and burlesque artist. Mr. Mari- nelli has retired as chairman from the Moulin Rouge (on account of his many other professional duties), but still re- tains his interest in that hall. The Nouveau Circque closed on July 19 to reopen August 29. As a special attraction to the sporting element of the gay city, the management of the Seals has decided to add a series of boxing matches to the variety program of this popular hall, commencing July 29. What with wrestling, boxing and moving pictures the artist is being slowly elim- inated—but I can safely predict that it will only be for a time, and the clever or humorous act will stand forth stronger than ever. WHITE RATS' ITEMS. The address it wanted at the headquarters of Dwlght Aztell (Axtell and J. Heine) and Kelly and Reno. Members are requested to send In for their registered number as a means of Identification. The reinstatement fee has been Increased to $15. No tickets for the outing at Ulmer Park on August 0 will be sold after August 4. The by-laws and constitution are now on sale. Trice ten cents; postage two cents extra. LYRIC, WATERTOWN, FOR SALE. Watertown, N. Y., July 30. A notice signed by the receiver has been tacked up on the front doors of the Lyric offering the house for sale. The theatre, fixtures and an unexpired lease will be put up at public auction August 5, if a private purchaser does not appear meanwhile. James Collins, formerly stage manager f the Novelty, Brooklyn, is actinp in the same capacity at the Brighton Beach Music Hall this sumnmr. HENRI FRENCH OUT OF DANGER. San Francisco, July 30. Henri French has passed the danger point of his illness which has confined him to the Macnut Hospital in San Fran- cisco for the past five weeks. Mr. French's illness has left him no bulky bank account, and there has been some talk of a local benefit, but the re- turns in this city would be unsatisfactory. 'ftrtacr"fe:a. suggested New-York may at tend to it. "The World's Entertainers" under the management of Fred Hallen left for Hono- lulu July 25, French was to have been a member of the company. LOST HIS JOB TO MARRY. Philadelphia, July 30. This town is becoming popular as a cen ter for theatrical marriages. This week furnished another with a few extra ro- mantic fixtures. The bride is Minnie M. Chamberlain, known theatrically as Rose Revel, a member of the chorus in "The Naked Truth." The groom is James White, one of the "Six Musical Cuttys." The young people met in New York about a year ago, but White went abroad with the Cuttys. Longing for his sweet- heart, White blew false notes through the tuba until the other Cuttys finally closed their engagement, and White em- barked on the first steamer back to Amor ica. He arrived in New York last Wednes- day, and when Miss Revel received a wire to meet her brother at the railroad station on Monday she went there, finding her lover from over the sea. Magistrate Mackin tied the knot. White will remain with the Cuttys for a while and his wife will continue with the vaudeville sketch. Miss Revel is an English girl and came to America as a member of the AlexandrofT Troupe of Russian dancers. ONE ACT PARK ATTRACTION. Chicago, July 30. A new attraction at "White City" is a prize ring playlet entitled "His Last Match," with Eddie Q. Gray and Company under the management of Nate Lewis. They have a new building for themselves. The show has opened a six weeks' en- gagement. It is billed heavily and largo business is reported. The act will go into vaudeville in the Fall. COL. WHALLEN ABROAD. Chicago, July 30. Col. John Whallen, of Whallen i Mar- tell, is touring Europe, accompanied by his daughters. He will return in the Fall. MTJRDOCK AND BECK IN CHICAGO. Chicago, July 30. Martin Beck, John J. Murdock and Frank Vincent arrived in Chicago Tues- day night in Mr. Beck's auto, having left New York last Saturday. They came to attend a meeting to be held Saturday. Messrs. Beck, Murdock and Vincent, joined by M. Myerfeld, Jr., the president of the Orpheum Circuit, will leave Chi- cago to-morrow, returning to New York by train, where the managers will attend the general conference called of all the theatrical interests to discuss the con- templated merger. The meeting will take place in New York on Tuesday, Aug. 4. TWO YEARS IN THE EAST. A contract for two years of playing, with no stop west of Cleveland, was is- sued through Pat Casey this week by the United Offices to Fiddler and Shelton, a colored act from the West, who played in the East for the first time at Proctor's, Newark, last week. RAY COX IN "AUTO FIENDS." When "The Auto Fiends" play the Fifth Avenue next week Ray Cox will be the leading figure in the vaudeville act. Dur- ing the present week the production has been thoroughly overhauled by Pat Rooney, who claims it will be practically a new number for the Broadway house. "Auto Fiends" made its apearance two weeks ago at Proctor's, Newark, following that engagement with one at Brighton Beach, after which it was found neces- sary to repair the act. LUBELSKI'S NOVELTY OPENS. Oakland, July 30. The Novelty opened last Monday night under the management of Tony Lubelski, who installed in his new theatre the con- tingent brought on from New York in a melange of musical comedy. STEGER HAS NEW SKETCH. Returning from a long Western trip over the Orpheum Circuit, where Mr. Steger presented his own playlet, "The Fifth Commandment," the author-actor- singer stated this week that upon the completion of prearranged time in the East with his first vaudeville piece, ex- tending into the coming spring almost, he would produce a second strong sentimen- tal bit of writing, with an elaborate scenic embellishment. The forthcoming sketch called "Those That Trespass Against IV has been culled by Mr. Steger from the strong situations of two foreign plays, and the adaptation lias been made by Ruth Comfort Mitchell of San Francisco. Mr. Steger, who continues in vaudeville under the direction of Messrs E. F. Albee and Martin Beck, plays at Brighton Beach during the month, commencing his regular fall season on Labor Day in New York. NICK NORTON LOCATED. The Feiber-Shea Company has engaged Nick Norton, the former HydeA Behman manager. Mr. Norton will have charge of the firm's house at New Brunswick, N. J., which opens Sept. 7. Tobey Claude will open at Shea's, Buf- falo, soon. Rock and Fulton are due at Hammer- stein's August 17.