Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY HAVE SECRET AGREEMENT. The united meeting of the Board of Directors of the White Rats and the Com- edy Club as a whole, occuring last Sun- ■ fag ■"ft J** latje r's club rooms, will result •^ji i. «■-* '■■'"IT** m :atii mm MMXMMhMMtaa^ in a conference between the Kats Ldrecl- ors and the Comedy Club's Board of Got- ernors. A secret agreement will be drawn up and executed" by the two societies, bind- ing each to the other's support under certain conditions. There will be other provisions in the agreement, the contents of which will not be divulged. "AMERICAN IDEA" OPENS. Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 10. "The American Idea," Geo. Cohan's latest contribution to the stage, had its premiere and to a crowded house Monday at the Star Theatre. The idea is that of an "Irishman" and "Dutchman" in a foreign country after a husband for the daughters, who in the end marries the son. Al Reeves and Trixie Friganza have good parts. "The American Idea" is scheduled to play the Hollis Street Theatre, Boston, three weeks, coming to the New York Theatre October 5 for its Broadway premiere. CONTRACT DECLARED INEQUITABLE. In the Supreme Court this week Judge Bischoff decided that a contract made be- tween the Shuberts and Jos. Coyne, the comedian, was inequitable, as it called upon the Shuberts to pay salary to Coyne only when the latter was actually work- ing. Other conditions of the contract were also considered inequitable. The Shuberts asked for a restraining or- der to prevent Coyne playing for Charles Frohman, under whose management he now is in "The Mollusc." The applica- tion was denied. WHISKEY THE STRONGER. Jamestown, N. Y., Sept. 10. Prof. Ranger, a hypnotist, advertised he would bury a subject Labor Day, and not dig him up for five days. Two hours after the fellow was buried he came out of the influence and began to twist and squirm. Horror-stricken, the hypnotist sum- moned men who hastily dug up the sub- ject. It was found that he had been un- der the influence of whiskey, stronger than hypnotism. The burial was aban- doned. It may have been a clever adver- tising dodge. "SALOME" DENOUNCED. Toledo, Sept. 10. "Following the announcement that a "Sa- lome" dance would be presented at the Empire (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) here, a prominent Catholic society wrote the management denouncing it as immoral and sacrilegious. The local manager, Harry Winter, replied he felt capable of managing his theatre and intended to give its patrons all ad- vertised. The church people were highly incensed and the Empire was denounced in mission hall and from pulpit. Two shows have already played the house since the opening, Fred Irwin's "Majesties" and Rice & Barton's "Rose Hill." Both have featured "Salome" and both have played to excellent business. HEAVYWEIGHT JUGGLER INJURED. Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 10. On Tuesday at the Family Theatre (Mozart Circuit) while Sevilla, the for- eign juggler of heavy weights, was per- turely. Sevilla, who is malting his first American apeparance, had his hand over the mouth of the cannon at the moment. His two middle fingers and the palm of his hand wero torn to pieces. At the local hospital shortly afterwards the surgeons amputated the fingers, but doubtfully hope to save the hand. Tet- anus (lockjaw) is feared. Sevilla was to have opened at Fore- paugh's, Philadelphia, next Monday. TWO MORE BOYCOTTED. Late information received this week says the International Artisten Loge of Germany has added two more halls to the six already boycotted by the Loge. Thev are the Stadhalle, Krefeld, and Wallahalla, Wiesbaden r *~-- a —— -— DISPUTE OVER "GLOBES," "Dangerous Globes" have been the legal topic of the week. Dr. Clark's "The Haz- ardous Globe" is playing at 126th Street. Over at the Empire, Brooklyn, as a spe- cial attraction, Ce-Dora's "Golden Globe," poxg^Tg^iii aar — taw! * a. ■ * w m * ^%» ^waVg V tJ^-m ETHEL LEVEY PLAYING ABROAD. It is probable that Ethel Levey will not return to this country for six months or more. She made her European d£but at the Kursaal, Lucerne, Switzerland, recently and the Continental managers have made bids for her services. One of the first con- tracts to be signed for the American com- edienne by the Marinelli Paris office was tor a month in the Bouffe, Moscow, Russia, I-eginning Dec. 8. The intervening time is being filled. SURATT IN A "DIRECTOIRE." A new act has been arranged by Wil- liam Gould for himself and Valeska Suratt when they appear as a team at Hammer- stein's for two weeks during November. The piece will play twenty-five minutes. It includes six scenes, requiring six sets of scenery. In one Miss Suratt will ap- pear in a "Directoire" gown, with a spe- cially written song for the occasion by Mr. Gould. There will be ten people on the stage, nine "supers" and one assistant who will be carried in the act. Several novelties have been prepared for the new Gould and Suratt number, which is expected to enjoy a run at Mr. Ham- mer stein's theatre. Up to the date of that engagement, the pair may accept bookings placed by their agents, Lykens & Levy, for the former offering. MARIE LOFTUS COMING. Along about December Marie Loftus, the English music hall favorite, will sail for New York to become oue of the attrac- tions for the Morris Circuit. It is several years since Miss Loftus appeared here, when she became quite the vogue. William Morris booked the sing- ing comedienne last week. MARY ANDERSON MONDAY. Louisville, Sept. 10. The Mary Anderson opens with vaude- ville Monday after a summer season of moving pictures. The initial bill is made up of Arthur Dunn and Marie Glazier, the headliners, and several other vaudeville acts, together with an assortment of mov- ing pictures. Maurice Levi has composed a new march, named and dedicated to "Beatrice. » UNIVERSAL "OPEN TIME." A prominent manager in New York is at work upon a plan to have a uniform "open time" sheet which may be in uni- versal use. It will replace the present custom of sending in the open time on personal let- ter-heads, very often not preserved. Oft- times correspondence contained on the same sheet is lost in this manner. towns, and of no great importance. It is also reported that a high person- age in Germany is attempting to bring about an understanding between the Ger- man managers and artists, the impres- sion obtaining that the form of contract by the managers' association there will not settle the trouble. The managers may hold out until losses and inconvenience through the artists' boycott stand will force them to capitulate. FRANK JONES BACK HOME. On Sunday Frank Jones, booking rep- resentative for Percy G. Williams, arrived in New York two weeks before he was ex- pected, Mr. Jones having gone abroad some time ago to secure a much needed rest On Monday morning he was at his desk in Mr. Williams' offices, making up the bills as of yore. Looking strong and healthy, Mr. Jones said he had enjoyed his trip, visiting the larger cities on the other side, but not- ing little for importation with the excep- tion of a few acts which might be seen over here at the Williams houses during the season. DECISION BY BLANCHE WALSH. A decision should have been given by this time determining whether Blanche Walsh shall appear in vaudeville. Miss Walsh burned the candles all week reading three sketches submitted to her. If one of the trio comes out to her lik- ing, Miss Walsh will communicate with Jenie Jacobs, her representative, when an engagement of two shows daily for a full week will follow. HAL GODFREY RETURNS. On Tuesday last Hal Godfrey returned to New York. On Aug. 24, while playing his sketch in a London hall, Mr. Godfrey was compelled to leave the stage and the- atre for the week. It was reported by cable at the time he had fainted from a hemmorrhage. It was the bursting of a blood vessel in the bronchial tubes which caused hi* retirement, stated Mr. Godfrey upon landing. He will visit his parents (Fil- son and Erroll) in Chicago for about six weeks, when contracts which have been placed for Mr. Godfrey over here by Jenie Jacobs will be taken up. RATS RAISING DUES. At the weekly meeting of the White Rats on Tuesday, it was moved that the yearly dues of members be increased to $10. The motion will be placed before six consecutive meetings according to the constitution before it can be enforced, if then approved. Applicants initiated up to that time have the benefit of the present rate of $6. The initiation fee is $25. "AMATEUR NIGHTS" ANNOUNCED. Chicago, September 10. The schedule of "Amateur Nights" Is out. Empire, Thursdays; Euson's and Folly, Fridays. field, is making its first American appear- ance. Dr. Clark claims the Ce-Dora act is an infringement; the Ce-Dora claims Dr. Clark is uauig its "Globe," and so on. The Doctor threatened injunction pro- ceedings. E. D. Miner, manager of Miner's "Amer- icans," which is playing at the Empire, received a notification from a firm of law- yers that the "Golden Globe" was an in- fringement. Mr. Miner notified Jenie Jacobs, agent for Ce-Dora that he would require $1,000 in cash as indemnity in the event of the special attraction failing to play the week out. The amount was placed with Mr. Miner. Results in the legal line have been looked for daily. "The Golden Globe" is booked over the United time. R. A. ROBERTS IN '09. The reappearance of R. A. Roberts, the English protean actor is set down for October, 190~. ben he will play for the Morris Circuit, Mr. Roberts being the sec- ond of next season's bookings for the vau- deville "opposition." Mr. Roberts, who established himself permanently over here as an artist and a lightning changer of the first rank, left about a year ago, having made two trips to America up to that time. KID McCOY ALMOST SURE. It's nearly certain Kid McCoy, perhaps the most popular ex-champion pugilist of to-day excepting always John L., will play in vaudeville. McCoy consulted Aaron Hoffman this week on the sketch subject. The Kid has promised himself and others several times he would attempt vaudeville, but it never came off. Thus the "nearly certain." In vaudeville McCoy would prove a big card. He is about the largest thing in popularity who walks the streets. Even the traffic policemen allow him to violate the rules of the road in his automobile. One cau never achieve more positive favor. SUNDAY CONCERTS IN PASTOR'S. The late and much lamented Tony Pas- tor decried the Sunday performance in his playhouse while he lived. His single rea- son was that as he had never given a con- cert when Sunday performances were not permitted, he did not care to make a new rule in his advancing years. With the passing of "Pastor's," however, to its present management, The David Kraus Amusement Co., the new policy of burlesque which now prevails there will in- clude Sunday shows commencing to-mor- row (Sept. 13), booked through the Wil- liam Morris office. NO COMBINATION ANNOUNCED. No announcement had been given out up to Thursday regarding the expected forthcoming combination of the Morris Circuit and the Independent Booking Of- fice. The fact of William Morris having been busily engrossed during the week with his theatres is thought to have de- layed the final action.