Variety (November 1908)

VARIETY "NO. a" COMPANY STRANDED. Columbus, 0., Nov. 5. Deep trouble has fallen upon the "Reilly & Woods Big Show/' * "No. 2* organiza- tion which has been playing one-night stands while the original outfit was en- gaged as the main feature of the "Greater New York Stars" (Eastern Burlesque Wheel), under the management of Jacobs & Jermon. Pat Reilly is the leader of the Wheel company. The "No. 2" outfit is stranded here this week after making a courageous struggle for a livelihood. At Circlerille, O., the company left behind a hotel bill for $26.10, secured only by W. J. Yaill's "I. O. U." Upon arrival here their trunks were seised by a constable. Mr. Yaill is now in Terre Haute, Ind., making arrange- ments for the appearance of the company at the Coliseum there. As the company was about to leave Columbus, the legal difficulties having been overcome, everybody was at the depot except Charles F. Leonard, one of the comedians, who refused to go further, declaring that he would not be concerned in an inferior p e rf o rm ance. He and Mr. Higgins, the producer, declared they would cancel all future dates rather than appear with a reduced show. It is reported that Manager Barnes, of Terre Haute, the next stand, may take the company in hand and continue the tour with it, the early record for the season having been a good one. Meanwhile, however, Leonard has left and will play the smaller vaudeville time in this vicinity. Flossie Davenport has joined one of Weber ft Rush's companies. When the Reilly piece arrived here the roster was: Arthur G. Guidling, musical director; Louis Bowman, carpenter; Hig- gins and Phillips, Phillips and Lang, Chas. F. Leonard, Geo. Rusching, May Coster- man, Dottie Stafford, Eva Day, Ruth Blair, Grace McFadden, Agnes Madison, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Yaill, Robt. Russell, Marian Holland, Edna Buckley, Yandean Sisters and Flossie Davenport. MIRIS FOR AN EVENING. The Morris Circuit is contemplating a tour on the road of Fatima Miris, the Italian girl, as an entire evening's en- tertainment by herself. Time in the legitimate houses will be placed Miss Miris will probably play the three-night and week stands. Abroad the young woman, who plays whole pieces, assuming the characters and making rapid changes for each has been accustomed to this particular line of amusement. Her sister, Emilia Frassi- nesi, the violiniste, will be her sole stage accompanist on tour. Miss Miris is in her first season here. She opened at the Lincoln Square, was "laid off" for a week to "fix up" her act, and at present (holding over) on the American bill is opening the show at a salary reported to be $1,200 weekly. FROM NEW YORK TO CINCINNATI. When "The Folies of 1908" close at the Grand Opera House, New York, to-night (Saturday) the company will "jump" to Cincinnati, where the piece opens next Monday. A special train will take the troupe and equipment. LATEST ORPHEUM BOOKINGS. The latest bookings for the Orpheum Circuit, including both foreign and domes- tic acts as given out this week are Dun- lap, McCormick and Co., Salt Lake City, Nov. 23; Willy Pantzer and Co., '10; Charlene and Charlene (reappearance), Sept. 27, '10; Hathaway and Siegel, Des Moines, Dec. 6; P. H. Boggis' "Living Post-Card Album" or "A-Ba-Be," now playing (Casey); Billy Yan, Omaha, Nov. 28; Herbert Bert Lennon, now play- ing; Ernest Yan Pelt and Co. in "A Deal of 'Change," booked in Los Angeles, open- ing at Portland, Ore., Nov. 8; Delmore and Lee replacing Grassi's Monkeys (Grass "laying off" through an injury), Memphis, Nov. 8; Augusta Glose, now playing; Ollie Young and Bro., Majestic, Chicago, Feb. 7; Three Donalds, foreign, ring, Memphis, March 15; Sisters Gasch (reappearance), March 7; Bertie Fowler, Denver, Nov. 15. NEW BURLESQUE IDEA. Over in Philadelphia the fertile mind of the Gayety's (Eastern) manager has evolved a brand new scheme for TPHc«^g talk and attracting attention. The bright idea is a contest of married and single men to see which can button the waist of a chorus girl in least time. The chorus girls will be used for the purpose. They will stand about the stage and candidates will be invited from the audience. The single men will have the first trial. Then the married men will take the stage. This will be done for the first time next week at the Gayety. "Plants" may have to be placed in the audience until the idea is tried out. But ain't it a screaming scorcher of an "idea"? TO BUILD IN JAMESTOWN. Jamestown, N. Y., Nov. 5. Plans are complete and work has be- gun on the new vaudeville theatre which is being built by the Bailey interests on their lot on East Third Street, directly op posite the City Hall. It is understood that it will be a part of the National Vaudeville Association and play popular- priced acts. This place has several pic- ture houses but its only vaudeville here- tofore has been at the Celoron Theatre during the summer season. TO MODIFY LAW. Chicago, 111., Nov. 5. With the assistance of the National Association of Theatrical Producing Man- agers, theatre managers in this State are organizing an attempt to have modified the child labor laws in their relation to stage children. This statute prevents the ap- pearance of children under the age of 10. Many attractions are compelled to keep out of Illinois because of this restriction. The managers will make an appeal for relief to the State legislature at Spring- field this winter. OLYMPIC'S OPENING BILL. Chicago, Nov. 5. The opening program of the Olympic, when it commences its career as a music hall under the direction of John J. Mux- dock, will be made up of "The Eight Palace Girls," De Dio, Dick Crolius and Co. in "Shorty," Charles and Fannie Van, Hy- man Meyer, Kirksmith Sisters, Mnrlo Trio, Mabel Maitland and pictures. The first performance takes place Nov. 8. MORRIS LOOKING ABOUT. Chicago, Nov. 5. It is rumored that William Morris of New York is looking about here for a house to play vaudeville in this season. Two or three within "the loop" are said to be under his consideration. It is authentically reported Morris was offered a Chicago theatre for two weeks if he would play Harry Lauder as the fea- ture attraction in it during that time. Morris turned the offer down. William Morris would furnish no in- formation regarding the above despatch. He said a number of theatres East and West had been offered, and were being considered, but nothing had been closed which would allow of publication at present. RUBY; HE KNOWS. The "Jules Ruby" now appearing in the West as a portrayer of a role in a sketch is claimed by "our own" Jules Ruby to be none other than "props" in the theatres where the piece appears. "Our Own" Jules says he booked the sketch, and for the "dummy" character, his name was taken, but not in vain, however, for.is not "Our Own" Jules se- curing some free advertising—and Heavens knows there is no agent duck- ing free advertising T 0'ROURKE SUING MORRIS. A suit for eight weeks' salary has been commenced by Eugene O'Rourke against William Morris, Inc., Mr. O'Rourke alleg- ing the non-fulfilment by the Independent circuit of his contract calling for that un- expired time. O'Rourke opened with Morris in "Par- lor A," the sketch he is known in vaude- ville by. After concluding an engage- ment at the Lincoln Square Theatre, the second week under the agreement, the Morris office furnished the act no further assignments. Mr. O'Rourke in the sketch opens No- vember 8 at Pantages', Spokane, for a trip over the Pantages Circuit. CHANGES IN "CITY SPORTS." Montreal, Nov. 5. Phil Sheridan's "City Sports" is play- ing at the Princess this week, opening with the olio and closing with the bur- lesque, the first part having been tem- porarily dropped. A new opening piece will be staged for Albany where the "City Sports" play next week. Max Reynolds, Andy Rice, Tim Hoaly and a "sister" act have been engaged to join the show then. MURPHY SETTLES FOR $1,000. Geo. P. Murphy, the comedian, has had his claim against Campbell & Drew, the Western Burlesque Wheel managers, adjusted by the payment of $1,000 in cash by the managers. A season's contract was issued to Mur- phy by the firm. He was not assigned to a show and placed his action with the White Rats. Denis F. O'Brien, of New York, and 8. L. Lowenthal, of Chicago, the attor- neys for the organization and acting for it, secured the settlement. BURLESQUE "LAY-OFF" FILLED. With the elimination of Harry and Sim Williams' "Ideals" from the Western Bur- lesque Wheel tonight, the "lay-off" week which has existed between the Empire, Williamsburg, and the Bowery, New York, is closed up. Several shows have been disturbed in their running order by this shift, "Follies of-the-Day," coming back to the Bowery for a second time within a month. "Follies-of-the-Dey" followed the "Ideals" and now goes into the place in the Wheel formerly occupied by the Williams' organization. ORGANIZE SOON. Maurice Kraus, manager of the Olympic, New York (Eastern Burlesque Wheel), will shortly begin rehearsals for "The 20th Century Maids," a former Empire Circuit show, now in the opposition camp. The organization will open late this month. The Krauses now have only the "Rialto Rounders" playing on the Eastern Wheel. KRAUS DENIES REPORTS. The report relating to a possible change in the playing of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel shows in the Dave Kraus theatres (Olympic, New York and Gayety, Ho boken) is denied by Mr. Kraus, who aw serfs that business is entirely agreeable to him at his present locations. Mr. Kraus added for information that as a matter of fact the Olympic (formerly Pastor's) could play to more than the Dewey ever did, or in money, $5,000 weekly. ALBERT WAIXERSTADT. MB. WALLEB8TEDT Is playing In Tauderllle this seaaon. He Is the baritone of "THE TUB- CANT TROUBADOUBR," one of CHARLES LOVRNBERO'B act, and alio acta aa Mr. Loren- berg'i bqalocaa repreeentatlTe with the number. A FEW FIGURES. Milwaukee, Nov. 5. Somebody on the staff of the Sentinel has figured it out that this week's bill at the Majestic represents a cost of $l.tt<> per minute while the show is in progress. This computation is based on a total cost of $3,400 for the eight acts, which work- out at about $100 per hour. Each per formance, according to Manager James A Higler, represents an outlay of $260. Fred Oilman, a new character impel sonator, opened Monday. Ed S. Keller i directing his tour.