Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY EASTERNERS' WESTERN JUNKET. The members of the Columbia Amuse- ment Company Executive Committee will start on a tour of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel next Monday, taking in the West- ern territory. They visited Washington and Baltimore this week. The party which, it is declared, is in the nature of an "inspection committee," is composed of J. Herbert Mack, L. Lawrence Weber and General Manager Sam A. Scribner. The belief among burlesque men is that the tour is intended as a method of in- specting all the new shows previous to their reaching New York. Business in some cases in the West has not been up to expectations and the heads of the cir- cuit believe that mediocre shows are re- sponsible, in the face of the immensely improved Western Wheel organization with which they come into opposition. During the tour it is probable that several companies of whom adverse re- ports SiteVd been received in the New York headquarters will be ordered to im- prove. The trio will be away for three weeks or more. The .first stop of the party was at Phila- delphia, where, it is rumored, a change will be made in the management of the Casino, now presided over by Elias & Koenig. The firm holds the lease for the Casino, as well as the Walnut in Phila- delphia, but the Columbia Amusement Company, it is understood, is desirous of having some one at the Casino's helm with a thorough knowledge of burlesque. HARRY BRYANT REORGANIZING. The Harry Bryant Show (Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel) is reorganizing in Newark this week. The company which played at the Murray Hill two weeks ago is giving the regular performances, while rehearsals are going on by a partly new cast every morning. The reorganized show will have a new production. COMPLAINT AGAINST "ROSE HILL." A protest has been lodged with the Eastern Burlesque officials against the condition of the "Rose Hill Folly" Com- pany, George Rice's show. When the company reached the Gayety, Columbus, last week, it had but 10 chorus girls. The local manager investigated and al- though members of the company declared that many choristers had remained in Pittsburg owing to illness, the local man- ager stated that he could find wardrobe equipment for ten only. The matter was discussed at a meet- ing of the Columbia Amusement Com- pany heads in the New York headquarters Monday night. EMPIRE, H0B0KEN, OPENS. The Empire Theatre, Hoboken, opened Monday night as a regular stand in the Eastern Burlesque Wheel, with "The Behman Show" as the attraction. The house was crowded. Members of the Columbia Amusement Company Execu- tive Committee attended the opening in a body. The mayor of Hoboken was the principal speaker. The Empire has a seating capacity of 1,600 and the shows will play it follow- ing Newark, coming from the Hoboken week into Hurtlg & Seamon's Harlem Music Hall. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS. The Columbia Amusement Company Executive Committee was in session Mon- day night in the headquarters of that concern in New York. Only routine matters were gone over, it was said. Rudolph Hynicka, Sam A. Scribner, L. Lawrence Weber, J. Herbert Black, Charles Barton, Jules Hurtig and Charles Waldron were present. JESS BURN'S BIG SHOW. Chicago, Sept. 17. Jess Burns, while in the city last week with his "Casino Girls" signed contracts for the production next year in the East- ern Burlesque Wheel houses (Columbia Amusement Co.) of a big musical produc- tion entitled "The Fantastic World." It is a "revue," but there will be no rep- resentations of stage favorites. The show, it is stated, will have a plot built upon original ideas, with nine changes in scenes. The program will show eighteen principal parts; there will be twenty-five girls in the chorus. The name "Casino Girls" will probably be dropped and the show known as "The Fantastic World." The show will be equipped, organized and rehearsed in Chi- cago next summer. EMPIRE CO. YS. SULLIYAN-KRAUS. The Empire Circuit Company's attor- neys have made known their plans for carrying on the fight against the desert- ing firm of Sullivan-Kraus. Some time before the middle of October they will apply to the United States Courts for the appointment of a commission to take testimony. This commission will exnmine wit- nesses and otherwise inquire into the case and will then submit its report, including the testimony to Judge Lacombe. This report will contain no recommendations by the examiners as in hearings before a referee, but upon the evidence the court will make its ruling as to whether an injunction shall issue to prevent the play- ing of anything but Western Burlesque in the Dewey and Gotham Theatres in New York. Lawyers declare that there is small prospect that a decision will be arrived at before the close of the current season. The Empire people declare that they hold a contract with Kraus to book the two theatres until 1016. The Empire Circuit Company must make application for a commission or secure an extension of time before the middle of October or the entire case lapses. WORK AND OWER. »t • !L tr 2 ly ,n ,ntrodu ctl°n '• now required for WORK and OWER. who are known from one end of the United States to another, having trawled with the ORPHEUM ROAD SHOW last season, and re- Cng "«£L 06 '' 09 ' " n nnnmial distinction with this standard organisation of MARTIN BBCK'S. WORK and OWRR are foreigners, harlng a most laughable and skilful acrobatic number. Their initial appearance In America would hare discounted « great many. The act, however, having confidence in Its ability, persevered until now they are recognised as an established vaudeville laugh-making number The engagements oo this side made by WORK and OWER are directed and arranged through the booking agency of ALBERT SUTHERLAND. Next week (Sept. 21) WORK and OWER play at the COLONIAL, where the Road Show opens Its season "Doc" Steiner needed a shave so badly on last Monday you could notice it. "Daughters of America" with the Countess Von Hatzfeldt featured, met an early "and untimely season's end at Macon, Ga., last Saturday when a benefit for the company was given. It is the third "combination" show to close of record in the brief season thus far. "The Gibson Girl Review," with six young women and two principals, under the management of Bissing & Solman, open the season on Oct. 5. Special set- tings and elaborate lighting effects will be two of the features. The Casey Agencv will book the act. ATTACHED SHOW. Harry R. Pierce, who was generally understood to have been interested in "Uncle Sam's Belles," a new Western Burlesque show, is no longer with that organization. It became known this week that Isa- dora Bock, a Baltimore merchant, who is the owner of the "Belles" franchise from the Empire Circuit Company and who employed Pierce as manager for the show, discharged him very soon after the opening of the season. The sequel happened in Jersey City last Saturday night, when Pierce brought an attachment suit and tried to hold up the «?enery and costumes of the "Belles." It is declared that Pierce instructed the sheriff not to serve his attachment war- rant until the scenery had been loaded upon trucks and started toward the rail- road depot, apparently hoping by this means to force an immediate settlement for a claim of $800. Thomas W. Dinkins, manager of the Bon Ton Theatre in Jersey City, has many friends among the local officials, and in a roundabout way he learned of the proposed attachment proceedings Saturday afternoon. When the sheriff came around to serve his warrants Mr. Dinkins was on hand to offer a bond. Through this the show left Jersey City on time and is playing this week its regular engagement in Wilkes-Barre. The Empire Circuit Company received an application from Pierce, who had managed various shows last summer, for a Western Wheel franchise. The Execu- tive Committee agreed that Pierce might take out a show if he could show the Company sufficient resources to pay the weekly royalties. Pierce then secured backing from Bock, but when the fran- chise was to be made out the latter insisted that inasmuch as his money was invested the agreements and contracts should be made out in his name. Pierce was then made manager of the show. Bock declares that Pierce has no claim against him. When he (Bock) gave Pierce notice of dismissal he says he paid the latter two weeks' salary according to the terms of the contract in operation between owner and manager of the show. Following Pierce's dismissal Bob Mills was made manager and now holds that position. NEW TRIAL OF SPARROW CASE. Just ire Ward in the United States Court has rendered his decision on the application of the Sparrow Company, of Montreal, to have its suit against various members of the old Traveling Managers' Association reopened. In his decision he sets aside the judgment of six cents awarded to the plaintiffs by a jury some months ago. This means that the whole matter will be re-opened and the half-dozen or more defendants named in the original action will be called upon to defend a new dam- age suit for $100,000. The case, according to custom, will receive a preferred posi- tion on the United States Court calendar and will in all probability come up for trial during October or November of this year. The application of the Sparrow people was made on the ground that the dam- ages awarded in the first decision were inadequate.