Variety (September 1908)

TEN CE NTS VOL. XL, NO. 13. SEPTEMBER 5, 1908. PRICE TEN CENTS. ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENTS IS EXPECTED BY NEXT WEEK Strong Grounds for Believing William Morris and the I. B. O. Will Be One within the Next Seven Days. Many reports have been circulated dur- ing the week now ending that William Morris and the Independent Booking Of- fees had combined. These rumors have been taken up by the New York dailies, which built articles upon the street stories and such meagre information as could be officially obtained. William Morris, Harry Mount Cord, for the White Rats, and Edward Mozart, gen- eral manager of the I. B. O., all gave the same answer to a Variety representative when questioned about the merger this week. It was: "I neither affirm nor deny." The stereotyped reply of each led to the conclusion that an understanding had been reached by the parties interested, and further investigation strengthened this be- lief. It may safely be assumed that the ac- tion delaying the formal amalgamation of the Morris office and the I. B. O. has been caused through the absence of Morris' at- torney, Geo. M. Leventritt. Mr. Leven- tritt, who has been in Europe, returns to New York to-day (Saturday). According to what is accepted as authen- tic information, the present plan is to have Mr. Leventritt pass upon whatever instruments arc to be executed before the two independent booking agencies come under the William Morris name. This will probably take place the middle of next week if nothing untoward inter* feres with the present contemplated ar- rangement. With the bookings of the I. B. O. in the Morris office, Mr. Morris will have a large amount of small time to place. His own rapidly accumulating list of smaller thea- tres will be increased materially by the I. B. O.'s bookings. Of the present theatres booked by the I. B. 0., there are eleven houses which can afford to pay $260 weekly for a head- line attraction. A majority of these could afford $300. The weekly cost of shows in the eleven runs from $600 to $900. MOZART IN BINGHAMTON. Binghamton, N. Y., Sept. 3. The Bijou theatre in this city, with a capacity of 1,000, has been secured by Edward Mozart, and will play three shows daily, commencing Sept. 14, booked through the Independent Booking Office of New York. Mr. Mozart is the general manager of that agency. The Bijou will be in opposition to The Armory, which has played vaudeville here for the past two seasons under the direc- tion of Weber & Rush. The Armorv is booked through the United Booking Offices. Prices of admission at the Bijou will be 10 20-30. NIBLO SOON RETURNING. A letter received this week at the White Rats' headquarters from "Big Chief" Fred Niblo, dated from Warsaw, Russia, stated Mr. Niblo would arrive in New York on Sept. 20. Mr. Niblo expressed pleasure at the progress the Rats were making, and said were he needed before his date of arrival the trip on the other side would be short- ened so he could reach New York earlier. VAUDEVILLE ON BIG PIER. Atlantic City, Sept. 3. Captain John L. Young, of the new mill- ion dollar pier, has arranged to build a stage on the front hall on the pier and will present vaudeville there this winter at 10 cents to all parts of the house. He intends giving four acts and mov- ing pictures for this price of admission. This will give Atlantic City three vaude- ville theatres. The other two are Young's Pier and Savoy Theatre, the variety pol- icy to commence in the latter part of October. ORGANIZATION COMPLETED. The final meeting of the theatrical com- bination was to have been held yesterday (Friday) when the organization should have been completed. A. L. Erlanger was slated to be the president, and the Board of Directors, composed of one member from each in- terest represented in the association, were expected to be Lee Shubert, John Havlin (Stair & Havlin), A. L. Erlanger (Klaw & Erlanger and Charles Frohman), Sam A. Scribner or L. Lawrence Weber (Eastern Wheel), Herman Fehr (Western Wheel"), Martin Beck, Percy G. Williams (vaude- ville, East and West). The incorporation of the scheme will be looked after by Levi Mayer, K. & E.'s Chicago attorney. The plan of operation will be modeled upon that adopted by the Associated Press, supposed to be imperv- ious to the laws affecting "Trusts." Each member is granted a franchise for privilege. DISCOVERS SINGER IN SLUMS. (Special Cable to Variety. j London, Sept. 3. While a slumming party was going through the Whitechapel district yester day they heard a boy named Mirsky Oynt sing. Alice Lloyd, Tom Mc Naught on, Hugo Morris and Paul Murray were in the party. The remarkable qualities of the youngster's voice fascinated the expedi- tion. Messrs. Morris and Murrav im- mediately engaged him for vaudeville, and he will go over to the States for the Morris Circuit shortly. ORCHESTRA IN ONE INSTRUMENT. A band of musical Guatemalian Indians, who have been exhibiting at "White City," New Orleans, have in their posses- sion what is named "The Miramba," an instrument resembling the xylophone in construction. The half-dozen members of the little tribe play it at the same time the instru- ment sending forth sounds like a harp, piano, flute, 'cello and violin, all simul- taneous! v. Levy Sl Lykens are bringing the act by boat from New Orleans. The agents ex- pect to place the number around New York. MORRIS "BROADWAY"; MUSIC HALL. The Broadway Theatre will be a music hall commencing with September, 1009, and Harry Lauder will be the star attraction there, both being under the direction of William Morris, Inc., is a statement made by William. Morris this week. The time engaged by Mr. Lauder for pantomime in England next season has been released, and during that period the great Scotch comedian will play in New York for Morris. No details relative to the lease of the Broadway could be furnished by Mr. Mor- ris. He said: "Just say the Broadway Theatre will be a music hall next seasoa under the management of William Morris, Inc." FINAL AFFILIATION MEETING. The final meeting between the White Rats and Comedy Club is scheduled for to- morrow (Sunday) at one o'clock, when the Board of Directors of the Rata will visit the Comedy Club, then in its regular weekly session. The scheme of affiliation between the two societies will be finally gone over. The plans contemplate an understanding, without consolidation. MISS HOFFMANN'S MIXED DATES. This week a long contract was executed Ix'twecn Gertrude Hoffmann and the Sbu- ImtIs under which the "Salome" dancer is to he starred in a production for 25 weeks of this reason, commencing September 28. Contracts already entered into by Miss Hoffmann's manager, Maurice Gest, call for her appearance at the Palace, London, for four weeks commencing October 2tJ, replacing in that thea're Maud Allen, who is supposed to have been booked for a New York appearance dating from that time as a buffer to the expected popularity of Harry Lauder in the Morris houses. William Hatnmerxteiu wants Miss Hoff- mann to extend her engagement in his theatre, where she U» now playine, until November 15. Alfred Butt, manager of th« l'alace, I/ondon. declined by cahle \U\.< week to re- lease Miss Hoffmann. Mr. (ie*t. who \\'i; . (use io be Miss Hoffmann's iikihh. r \,,«>n the Shubert con- tract taking etY^ :. is n«»w in the whirl of straightening out the tangle.