Variety (November 1908)

TEN OH NTS VOL. XII., NO. 10. NOVEMBER 14, 1908. PRICE TEN CENTS. PANTAQES ABSORBS WESTERN STAT ES VAUDE VILLE LIST Has Controlling Interest In All the Houses. Chain to be Known Hereafter as "Pantages' Western States Circuit. 99 Will Build Others. San Francisco, Nov. 12. The entire list of houses formerly booked as the' Western States Managers' ^sociation, which was presided over by E. Ed. Ackerman, has passed into the control of Alexander Pantages, of the Pantages Circuit. The new title is "Pan- tages Western States Circuit." All houses may be renamed "Pantages'." The Pantages Western States Circuit now consists of the following: The Pan- tages Theatres in Portland, Seattle, Spo- kane, Tacoma, Victoria, Bellingham and Vancouver; Empire (Pantages), Wigwam, Lyceum, People's, and Crystal, San Fran- cisco; Novelty, Oakland, Idora Park, Oak- land; Grand, Reno; Empire, Los Angeles; Empire, San Jose; Empire at Ft. Collins, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Earl, Pueblo; and the Crystal Theatres at Topeka, St. Joe, Trinidad, Boulder and Denver. At the Wigwam only a portion of the acts used there are booked from the Pan- tages time. The People's is now building. Idora Park is a summer resort. The Nov- elty, Oakland, is a Tony Lubelski house; the Empire, Los Angeles, is managed by one Banks, but the others are under the entire control of Pantages and will be booked along with his original seven in the Northwest. There are about twelve weeks in all capable of playing the acts of large salary which are sent out here through Louis Pincus, the Eastern representative for Pantages. Pincus books through the Pat Casey Agency in New York. It is reported in San Francisco that Pantages' rumored intention to build in Eastern cities like St. Paul, Minneapolis and perhaps Chicago, will be given a fresh impetus now. Melvin Winstock, Pantages' confidential adviser and attorney, is still in this city. Mr. Pantages has returned home. The personnel of the former Western States staff remains about the same. No ehange of importance is in contemplation, according to the present understanding. The reason commonly accepted for Pan- tages taking over the circuit is that he looked forward to an Orpheum Circuit- Suuivan-Oonsidine combination. Pantages is reported to have said he hoped this would develop, as it would be easier for two circuits to oppose each other than to have a triangular fight on. S.-C. OPENS NEW HOUSE. San Francisco, Nov. 12. The Washington Square, the latest addi- tion to the California end of the Sullivan- Cinsidine Circuit, opened Nov. 8. It is a Class A theatre, with a seating capacity of 1,200, and represents an in- vestment of $100,000. Zeck Abrams, also interested in the National, has assumed the management. The theatre is easily the peer of any of the popular priced houses here; the stage having a proscenium opening 35 x 20 feet. HITE AND DONLIN IN PICTURES. S*. Joe, Mo., Nov. 12. At the Lyric this week there is a "talk- ing" moving picture of Mabel Hite and Mike Donlin in "Stealing Home," their present vaudeville piece. Henry E. Dixey in "David Gorrick" is also shown and "spoken" at the same house. GUS EDWARDS AS AN ACT. The next new act among the musical writers to appear in vaudeville (following the entry of Jerome and Schwartz on Nov. 30) will be Gus Edwards, the author-com- poser, manager, actor, publisher and producer. The Casey Agency has been authorized to procure time for Mr. Edwards, who may make his reappearance at Hammer- stein's along in February, perhaps before. Leo Edwards, Gus' brother, will probably be the accompanist. CHANGE AT FALL RIVER. Fall River, Nov. 12. A change of policy will occur at the Savoy (which has been playing vaude- ville placed by William Morris of New York) next Monday. The house will continue under the man- agement of Julius Cahn, but it will be under the direction of M. R. Sheedy, who will present continuous vaudeville and pic- tures from 1 to 11 P. M. Mr. Sheedy formerly operated the Bijou here, and is personally popular. PROCTOR IN C0H0ES. H. R. Jacobs' Cohoes Opera House at Cohoes, N. Y., was taken over by F. F. Proctor on Monday. Mr. Proctor will open it with a policy of moving pictures and vaudeville, commencing next Monday, at the usual prices of admission for this style of entertainment. It was reported in Variety a week or two ago that Mr. Proctor had in contem- plation the establishment of a "picture circuit" of twenty-five or more theatres. Cohoes and Plainfield, N. J. (which will be operated in partnership with Harry S Sanderson), are said to be the commence- ment of this Proctor chain. FITZSIMMONS SAILING. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fitzsimmons will sail Nov. 24 for the other side, where they have been placed by Paul Murray, manager of the Morris London branch, to open at Dublin on Dec. 7 as the first stop of a 20-weeks tour. SUNDAY SHOWS AT THE CIRCLE. Commencing to-morrow (Sunday) night, a concert will be given at the Circle, and will be continued on the same day each week during the remainder of the season if the ushers alone are not the audience. Pat Casey will book the Sunday shows. Alice Lloyd will be the feature of the first show. "FL0R0D0RA" GIRL HAS HUSBAND. Philadelphia, Nov. 12. It has just been made public that Francis Gurney Smith, a well-known club- man of this citv is the husband of Elaine Van Selover. a popular member of several large musical comedies, and said to be one of the "original" "Florodora" Sextet. The marriage took place last August. ENGLISH SITUATION UNCHANGED, (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Nov. 12. There has been no material change in the artists-agents or the general vaudeville situation over here. The artists and the agents each have moves one against this other, of more or less importance, but there is nothing happening as far as can be learned worthy of publication. LIKE GOTCH IN ENGLAND. (Special Gable to Variety.) London, Nov. 12. Frank Gotch, the champion wrestler of the world, opened over here at the New Cross Empire on Monday in his vaudeville sketch "All About A Bout." He was liked very much, both as a wrestler and actor. "IDEA" FOLLOWS "YANKEE PRINCE." Chicago, Nov. 12. The engagement of "The Yankee Prince" will conclude at the Colonial about Nov. 28 or Dec. 5. The Geo. M. Cohan piece has been a terrific hit here, lessening the business of every other theatre in Chi- cago during its long run. Succeeding it will be Mr. Cohan's other piece, "The American Idea," now at the New York Theatre. VICTORIA OPENS THE 30TH. The Lincoln Square Theatre most likely will be the house in which Vesta Victoria will make her American reappearance. That will occur Nov. 30. Miss Victoria sails from Liverpool to* day (Saturday) on the Lv&itania. Her o|M*ning stand has not been officially given out by the Morris office. MABEL BARRISON, SHUBERT STAR. A contract for two years with the Shu- lierts was signed on Tuesday by Mabel Harrison. 'Hie agreement calls for Miss Harrison to be starred in the forthcoming production of "The Blue Mouse," which will be first presented at Daly's on Thanksgiving. Next week will he the final one for Joe Howard and Miss I' u ri^mi in vaudeville together. Twcntv wrcks hooked for them have been cancelled. Mr. Howard will con- tinue in ihe Ti/'fh-s as a "single piano act."