Variety (September 1908)

10 VARIETY ARTISTS' FORUM ^-^a-^BsaMBBaaiaBr^w^lBBBBSSJBSBBSaWBBSBBS* Confine your letters te ISO words and write on ono side ol paper only. Anonymous coonBuaJcntloas wU rot bo printed. Nente of writer must be signed and wsi Le held In strict confidence, If desired. New York City, Sept. 12. Editor Variety: In review of "Vanity Fair" (to-day's issue) you state wrongly in saying Miss Ani Hill leads a number in tights. She appears in the very same costume worn by the late Bessie Bonehill, jewelled knick- erbockers. I agree that she enters to sing a num ber before being introduced, but we are young yet, only a few days old, and that has now been eliminated as we have since seen the fault. The review did not do us justice, but if our show should be reviewed again, you will find the details mentioned all uAed "tip. The review read badly for a big com- pany which is really "The Around the Clock" show, one of the best farce come- dies ever put on. Harry Hill, Manager "Vanity Fair." Birmingham, Ala. Editor Vabirt: I note in Vabiett a letter from Dr. Cotret and Rego accusing us of stealing their act. I wish to contradict that. Being an A No. 1 musician, I am thor- oughly capable of writing my own med- leys, which I have always done, and can prove that the one we are using is totally different to theirs. Nor have we ever used their medley. I would ask the profession not to heed this team. This is their cheap way of advertising. We are responsible and work absolutely our own original matter. When we steal other people's material we cordially invite criticism and would never have the nerve to contradict doing so. To protect our rights I have answered this letter, but shall not bother further. B. Cutting. (The Cuttings.) Scran ton, Pa., Sept. 13. Editor Variety: Regarding review of Miner's "Ameri- cans" would like to make a correction in justice to Mr. Chas. Baker, stage manager. The notice states that Harry Ferguson staged, or put on, the numbers with the show. Mr. Ferguson composed the music; Mr. Baker put the numbers on, also staged the production. Teddy Simmons, Mgr. New York, Sept. 12. Editor Variety: In reference to "The Stampede," re- ferred to as produced in the Fire Show Theatre Building, where general admin sion price is 25 cents, would state that house is in no way known as a moving- picture 5-and 10-cent place. The play was written by C. L. Hagen and produced under his personal direc- tion, u ho I t'saffcnVd to let the impression prevail that" the effects are produced by moving pictures until he demonstrates otherwise. To remove any impression that "The Stampede" is a moving picture or a story • told by means of moving pictures, will say that ther* are sixty-two people em- ployed in the giving of this performance, among them many well-known actors. Claude L. Hagen. Editor Variety: Reading, Pa., Sept. 14. More trouble for Johnnie Rellly. Mr. William Wiggans, manager of Cook's Opera House, Rochester, has purchased a "Folding Go-Cart." Will he use it! Well, you should have seen the smile on Will's face when telling about it. The only act on the bill he could see was "The Kid Act." Lucky Will; lucky Burt Green. They're both good. What does Johnnie Reilly say now. Barry and Wolford. MUSICIAN BECOMES MANAGES. Erie, Pa., Sept. 17. A. H. Knoll r the cornet player and band leader, has completed plans for the establishment of a vaudeville theatre here. The Vulcan Construction Company of St. Louis will probably receive the building contract. Mr. Knoll promises that the theatre will be ready for opening in September, 1900. The site is on 18th Street, between State and Beach. Capacity will be 1,600, with popular prices. The building will contain business offices and a lodge room beside the auditorium. The estimated cost is between $50,000 and $60,000. Application has been made for a United Booking Office franchise. STREATOR TURNS OUT FOR EVANS. Chicago, Sept. 17. Streator, 111., is a small town on the Burlington road. It is also the home of George Evans, among the first settlers. The dwellers of that town heard that George was playing in Chicago with a big minstrel show. They are now in the city, and according to Fred LeRoy, editor of the Streator Independent Times, Evans will be busy all this week enter- taining his home folk. A special train brought the big crowd to see Evans as they never saw him at home. BIG BENEFIT AT HIP.' To-morrow (Sunday) night at the New York Hippodrome, a monster benefit for the Metropolitan Turf Benevolent Asso- ciation will be given. The program has* been gotten together by Paul Durand, of H. H. Feiber's office. It will be composed of Maurice Levi's Band, Nat Wills, Musical Cutty's, "Eight Gems," Sandor's Animals, The Kellinos, Avon Comedy Four, The Poncherrys, Four Riegos and the Kiersten-Mariettas. Max F. Schmidt will conduct the orchestra. Sing Fong Lee, the Chinese violin vir- tuoso, gave a trial performance at the Fifth Avenue last Sunday. He is being booked for the United time through Alf T. Wilton. j*ve* jtOrworth's MA*m* Up in Frankfort, New York State, there is a young woman just clean bug over Jack Norworth and his "laughing smile." The other day Mr. Norworth received a four-page missive from the girl, who had so much to say when she commenced, and wrote so closely together, the entire back page was wasted. Starting by asking Mr. Norworth to pardon the liberty of writing him, she ingenuously asks for information about placing a few songs written, then grows mushy, and, as a sample of her lyrical endeavors, inserted the following: "Cause you're the 'Honey Boy' so sweet That I'd give so much to meet. And If you'll only say you'll atray Up tbls Valley aome fine day, I'll take you out to my wigwam, Brown, And snow you the slghta of a Western town; And I'll be your 'Arrah Wanna' If yon will but ■«y You will swiftly apeed up on the Lackawanna, And out ou the plains of dear Arlsona, With you for my sweetheart, and I your Anona. We'll be happy forever In that Western clime. With Jack, my 'Honey Boy' near me, sweetheart mine." The poem builder requests ~ Mr. Nor- worth not to think she is crazy, but Jack did not have much time to think. On his own statement as he was about to grab a "Phoebe Snow Special" for Frankfort, Mrs. Norworth (Norah Baynes) stuck a pin through Frankfort on the map. WANTS $s£oo RENT. Chicago, Sept. 17. The Davis Churchill Circuit, operating vaudeville theatres, is being sued by R. O. Chappell, manager of the vaudeville house in Galcsburg, 111. for $2,800, said to be back rent due the owners of the property. Mr. Chsppell claims he secured a long lease of the theatre for the vaudeville managers and had to advance $5,000 to secure the desired term. After the negotiations were completed, it is stated, the Davis-Churchill people did not care to take up the long lease. The theatre is now under the management of Mr. Chappell. LITIGANTS COMPROMISE. No legal action was taken in the matter at issue between Aaron Hoffman and Alex. Can* in the matter of the use of 'The End of the World" in vaudeville, the sketch played at the Lincoln Square last week. Aaron Hoffman and Carr were in con- ference in the former's office this week, mid it was stated that within a few days tin* controversy would be patched up. ROBINSON, THE BUSY MAN. Pesides taking care of the booking de- partment formerly entrusted to Jiile Del- mar, M. E. Robinson, the former manager of the Fifty-eighth Street Theatre, will continue to handle all the fair bookings of the United Booking Offices. About the first of the year he will have issued a big catalogue and unless a successor is ap- pointed will handle both the fair and the old Dclmar bookings alone. TOM U1LLEN. The shore floral piece, a harp. 5 feet 6 Inches In height, was presented to TOM GILLBN ("FINNI- OAN'S FRIEND"), at bin opening performance at the GRAND THEATRE. SACRAMENTO, Cal., Sunday. August 23, by BILLY HANI.ON a*d JOE RYAN, of that city. OILMAN'S success In the west has been maryeloua considering that this Is his second tour o?er the 8ULLJVAN-C0N8IDINB CIRCUIT within a year. NEW GARDEN, PRODUCING HOUSE. Chicago, Sept. 17. The new Garden Theatre, formerlv Brooke's Casino, Wabash Avenue and Hubbard Court, will open Oct. 1 with a musical comedy stock company. The building has been entirely remodeled, about $25,000 having been expended. Thomas J. Nonan, the lessee, intends making the Garden a producing house. The first piece to be launched is the work of two Chicago writers, Peters and At- tridge.