Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY GIVES UP KRAUS FIGHT. Contrary to expectations the Empire Circuit Company (Western Burlesque Wheel) did not push its injunction pro- ceedings against Sullivan & Kraus, when the case came up last Friday morning (August 28) in the United States Court. Instead its counsel agreed to the with- drawal of the suit by which they hoped to regain possession of the Dewey and Gotham theatres. It now seems that William Fox will be left in undisturbed possession of the two houses, the Empire people having agreed not to bring another injunction suit. Their plans are kept secret, but in all probability they will take the form of an action for damages. When the case was called Rankin D. Jones addressed a statement to Judge Lacombe in which he stated his side had been unable to secure the defendants' af- fidavits and did not immediately care to go on with the suit. The Empire Circuit held a contract with Sullivan & Kraus, he stated, which had eight years to run and the points involved in the suit were so complicated and the issues so important, he was unwilling to proceed without proper preparation. He therefore asked that the matter be stricken off the calen- dar. . This removes the two theatres from any possibility of being disturbed for nearly a year, for it will take that long be- fore a new action can be brought before the court. House, Grossman ft Vorhaus appeared for Sullivan ft Kraus, and Mr. Jones for the Empire Circuit Company. William Fox was also represented by counsel. A member of the Empire Circuit Ex- ecutive Committee this week denied that his company had any idea of giving up its efforts to secure possession of the two theatres. He said that already the Em- pire lawyers had a plan by which the mat- ter would be reopened very shortly and intimated that the campaign would bear fruit within a short time. Just what the plans were he could not say. In an interview with a Variety repre- sentative this week this manager inti- mated that the West is considering the proposition of building theatres of its own both in 14th Street and 126th Street where the Dewey and Gotham are lo- cated. "It is a matter of complete indifference," said he, "which way the case goes, whether for or against us. If the courts decide that we may play the Sullivan- Kraus houses, well and good. But if they remain closed to us, the elimination of a disturbing factor in the Empire Company will be ample compensation, and we will supply substitute houses for our com- panies. "Of this you may be sure. If the Em- pire Company thinks that the business warrants it new theatres will be built on Fourteenth Street and 125th Street." BEHMAIf SHOWS NEW EQUIPMENT. Scenery and costuming will be the new equipment to be placed in "The Behman Show" before the season has far advanced. This was decided upon early in the week by Jack Singer, the manager, after con- sultation with members of the Colum- bia Amusement Co. (Eastern Burlesque Wheel). It is said $2,000 will be invested in the show. "COOCHERS" vs. "SALOMERS." Chicago, Sept. 3. The burlesque league season has started; "Salome" and "Cooch" are battling for the pennant. The struggle atwixt the Cubs and the Giants will be like unto lottoes alongside the terpsichorean fracas. "Cooch" won the first game when a burlesque organization signed a "coocher" with a .447 batting average as an added feature; but "Salome" came back with both bare feet and one acephalous head, dividing honors in the bill. F,or a while all the "coochers" were put out of the game by the Chicago author- ities, but you can't keep a good wiggle down. One show gets a "coocher" and the rest must follow suit to get the crowds; and there you are. Last season the various managers agreed to expunge the naughty twist. One broke the covenant and the entire agreement crumbled as if by magic. The "coochers" are recruited from the choruses. Dot tie Dimples togs up a la odalisque, assuming a nom de plumage— like "The Girl in Black" or 'The Woman in Gamboge," et cetera. But all the tints in the spectrum have been used up, so it listens like a deluge of new name, mucn Arabian, viz.: "La Flora," "Looloota," "Squeegina," and so forth. One manager has named his "coocher" after a cigar; another after a popular cigarette. As New York breeds "Salomers," so is Chicago the center of the "cooch" industry. It would be nice if a new dance craze could be invented so as to make it a three cornered fight. OPPENHEIMER RUNS STOCK BUR- LESQUE. Chicago, Sept. 3. Jos. Oppenheimer, formerly manager of the "Fay Foster" Company, has secured the lease on the Orpheum. Davenport, la., and will install stock burlesque. He plans to organize a chain of houses with the same policy. WILLIAMS SHOW AFTER ELECTION. Chicago, Sept. 3. Sim Williams, who was here with "The Imperials" last week stated that imme- diately following the election his firm will launch a big musical show over the Klaw & Erlanger time, which is being held open. It will open at the Nixon, Pittsburg. The show is called "The Runaway Prin- C(SB." CHARLIE BURKHARDT MARRIES. Chicago, Sept. 3. Chas. J. Burkhardt, featured with "The Travelers," and Hazel Corrine Frank,. a belle in South Side society circles, were, married Friday, Aug. 28, in Chicago, Rev. Dr. Levy officiating at the ceremony. A reception was tendered the groom and bride on the Empire Theatre stage Friday night. Mr. Burkhardt was presented with a loving cup by the members of the com- pany. TWO "REILLY ft WOODS." There are tw-j burlesque shows on the road this year playing under the "Reilly & Woods" billing. One is a "No. 2" or- ganization playing one and three night stands under the management of BSIIy Vale. The other is Jacobs & Jenfctn'* "Greater New York Stars." KRAUS' SHOWS ROUTED. The two Kraus' burlesque shows "Rialto Rounders" and "20th Century Girls" have been routed on the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. The first is to go on tour in the Eastern when Montreal opens, set down for Oct. 5, while the "20th" will enter upon the road trip when Louisville is added to the Eastern Circuit, about Nov. 15. The withdrawal of the action-against Sullivan & Kraus by the Empire Circuit Co. in the United States District Court last week cleared the path for these moves. LIEUT. MINER MAY RETIRE. A report is current that Lieut. H. Clay Miner, executor of the Miner estate, may retire from personal connection with the burlesque properties in which the estate is interested. Mr. Miner has served for several years as a member of the Empire Circuit Execu- tive Committee. He would not comment on the report. HOUDINI'S SUCCESSOR JUMPING. Newark, Sept. 3. The Marvelous Leonard, with the "Yankee Doodle Girls" at the Empire, jumped off the Jackson Street Bridge this week, heavily manacled. A large crowd collected, and the local papers give the feat much space. Leonard is the successor over here to Harry Houdini in the latter's handcuff act. He seems to be following closely the methods successfully adopted by Houdini for publicity. EARLY BIG RECEIPTS. Remarkable figures for burlesque re- ceipts thus early in the season were en- tered for last week by Bob Manchester's "Cracker Jacks," which played to $8,125 at the Star, Brooklyn, and Fred Irwin's show at the Gayety, Pittsburg, which drew in $7,000 to the box office. JUST A COINCIDENCE. Boston, Sept. 3. At the Howard this week are Jeanette Dupre, playing as the headliner of the theatre's own vaudeville show, and W. B. Watson's "Cosy Corner Girls." It is purely a coincidence. Miss Dupre is not with the show and states she does not intend to enter burlesque this season. Divorce proceedings are pending between Mr. Watson and Miss Dupre. "PETE" CLARK DECLARES. Albany, Sept. 3. "Pete" Clark declared himself to a news- paper man here this week by saying his "Runaway Girls" was not a "burlesque show," but a "first class comic opera." And the newspaper agreed with Clark in its review. That really sums up the burlesque situation in Albany this week. It "Pete" is happy, there's nothing to worry about* and "Pete" is happy. PEARL AND MEAD SPLIT. Atlantic City, Sept. 3. Tony Pearl and ex-jockey Tommy Mead have decided to part company. After last week, when they played at Young's Pier, Pearl decided that the act would not go. He has a new partner in view. He is an Italian also. NEW PIECE FOR HAYES. Philadelphia, Sept. 3. Edmund Hayes was haled into court a second time on Saturday, Aug; 28, when J. Bolten Winpenny endeavored to have Hayes held for contempt of court for producing a portion of the "Wise Guy" after an injunction had been issued against him. Winpenny claimed that the table scene used by Hayes in the "Mardi Gras Beauties' and other portions of the bur- lesque belonged to the "Wise Guy" sketch, but Hayes furnished witnesses which satis- fied the court that there was nothing in the show to hold Hayes for contempt, and he was discharged. Hayes finished out the week here, and the show left for Newark, minus several chorus girls, who were let out. While here Hayes arranged with Joe Mitchell (Mitchell and Quinn) for a two-act piece, the book of which was read to Hayes. It has a character similar to the "Wise Guy," but is in no way like the original piece. Mitchell is at work on it now, and will probably turn in over to Hayes in a week or two. The "Jolly Girls" show which Win- penny has in the Western Wheel has not been formed yet, Winpenny having felt sure of defeating Hayes in court and compelling him to go with the "Jolly Girla." The court enjoined Hayes from using the sketch, but made no ruling on his services. ARRESTS "COOCHER" SECOND TIME. Chicago, Sept. 3. Again through the activity of "The Tribune" Chooceeta, the "coocher," has been pinched. This time it was at the Empire. "The Tribune" claims it "went after" "Chooceeta," and the paper also claims it caused the Trocadero to "clean up." The "Troc." was the place where the "coocher" was nailed the last time. If the "Tribune" "cleaned up" the "Troc." it can do almost anything. Bail was given for the "cooch" dancer. Probablv if a "Salomer" is ever seen here by the police it will be imprisonment for life with perhaps hanging included. HEAT CAUSED SLUMP. Just as the theatres were finishing an unusually successful season in the middle West this week, a hot wave descended and the box office receipts went a-glimmering. In St. Louis, from a cool spell the weather suddenly became oppressive and in Louis- ville it is said the temperature reached 102 degrees. The burlesque shows West were the larg- est losers. They were in the midst of successful runs when the heat came along. ANOTHER MUSIC HALL SUIT. Gus Hill served Jack Singer with papers in an injunction suit Saturday night at the Murray Hill Theatre, alleging that an .art used as the third scene in the bur- lesque of "The Behman Show" is an in- fringement of his exclusive rights to Fred Karno's "A Night in an English Music Hall," which he holds from the English producer. This is the third or fourth suit of the kind Hill has brought, one against Camp- bell & Drew having been settled out of court only recently.