Variety (November 1908)

VARIETY MAT TKT GRAND RAPIDS AGAIN. Chicago, Not. 12. The lease of the Grand Opera House, Grand Rapids, it is said, will expire about the first of the year, and it is a question whether the lessees will renew it. Vaudeville is holding forth there this season, supplied by the Western Vaude- ville Association. It is reported that a capitalist of Grand Rapids has an option on the house, and if he closes it may play burlesque. Those interested are of the opinion that Grand Rapids, with its drawing population of 160,000, is large enough to support burlesque of the better class. Smith's Opera House, Grand Rapids, had a stock burlesque company several years ago. One of the burlesque wheels tried to improve the situation with road shows, but withdrew after several weeks' trial. "TAnrr true," sats shayne. Philadelphia, Nov. 12. Eddie Shayne, of the Gayety (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) here, hastens to deny that he ever had any idea of arranging a waist-buttoning contest in his house. The mere suggestion of such a perform- ance makes him shudder, and he has a keen suspicion that Sam Dessauer started the report. Shayne put over a little ad- vertising scheme on Dessauer when the latter was in Philadelphia, and regards this as Dessauer*s delicate "come-back." In any event, Shayne says positively, "I would not permit such a stunt on my stage, much less promote it myself." It's a good idea, even if nobody did think of it. HEW PIECE FOR 'TADS AND FOLLIES" Kansas City, Nov. 12. 'Tads and Follies" is reorganising. A new piece will be put on at St. Louis next week. Shean and Williams, Edna Leslie and A. O. Knight join the show there. The Musical Bells leave Saturday. ANOTHER TRY AT MAJESTIC. It is reported the Shuberts are anxious to try out vaudeville on Sunday nights at the Majestic, Columbus Circle. Ted Marks lately gave up the house, after giving a performance for four consecutive Sun- days, as a hopeless proposition. The Shuberts, however, are said to be determined to make the attempt under their own management. KEEPING UP WITH THE PACE. Recognising the forward trend vaudeville is inclined to, George Felix, of Felix and Barry, has kept abreast of the proces- sion by increasing the former "three-act" to a "four-act" including Lydia Barry and two young girls, making of the num- ber a comedy-musical "sight" production. It is practically new and appearing at the Orpheum, Yonkers, this week, where the female majority of the quartet are displaying $2,600 worth of new costumes; also a brand new "Indian" dance, whilo the newcomer to the sketch is acting as accompanist on the piano to Miss Lydia's songs. Next week the act plays the Empire, Hoboken. "FA* FOSTER'S" STAGE MARRIAGE. Cleveland, Nov. 12. Last night at the Star Theatre, where the 'Tay Foster" show is appearing, Jack Symonds, the comedian of the company, married May me Pritt, a chorus girl in the show. Mrs. Symonds' home is Zanesville. WRESTLING EXTRA ATTRACTION. Toledo, Nov. 12. Harry Winter, manager of the Empire, Toledo, Nov. 12, has resumed the wrest- ling matches so popular last season in the burlesque house. The matches will take place on Friday nights after the regular show, and are expected to considerably augment the receipts. Last Friday Kid Harms and John Bil- leter wrestled for a purse of $260, and the house was sold out by Wednesday evening. COUPLE MARRY TWICE. Philadelphia, Nov. 12. While in Washington recently, Will H. Cohan and Helen Sanger, both with "The Rillickers," remarried, Miss Sanger having embraced the Hebrew religion. NEW GAYETY OPENS NOV. 2$. Boston, Nov. 12. "Hie contractors in charge of the work have said the new Gayety, Boston (the house which is to take the place of Geo. H. Bachellor's old Lyceum on the same site), will be ready to receive a burlesque com- pany Thanksgiving week. Accosdingly "The Trocaderos" (Eastern Burlesque Wheel) will inaugurate the new property. The house has a seating capacity of 1,800. Mr. Bachellor remains manager. THE LLOYDS RECEIVING ATTENTION. This has been a week of experience for the sisters Lloyd, Alice and Daisy. Wednes- day evening at Terrace Garden, where the B. P. O. E. (Elks), New York Lodge, were holding an entertainment, Alice was presented a diamond blazing deer's head on a gold emblem of the order in recog- nition of an every-ready willingness to contribute her services for charity. Miss Lloyd is the only woman to have been'honored by the Elks in this way. Harry Leonhardt made the presentation speech. Over 2,000 people were present at one of the "greatest" affairs in the his- tory of the B. P. O. E. Next week Alice plays the Maryland, Baltimore. While there she will "try out" a new song, "The Indescretions of Irene" by Geo. Arthurs and Orlando Powell, two English writers. Simply amazed is Daisy. On the same evening, she was at Sherry's where Paul Rainey was tendering a banquet to a small company assembled. Daisy sang, and there were other artists present who enter- Rainey was tending a banquet to a small has played over here. When through, they gave her real money for her services. That is the amazing part of it to Daisy. The others were case hardened, but over in Lunnon, don't you know, there is no such liberality with the purse strings. And all the money Daisy received for a few moments. My goodness, it does sound good to hear tell about it, more than ex- pected, she admits. TOO GOOD FOR "TROC." Chicago, Nov. 12. Irwin's "Majesties" will play a return engagement at the Star and Garter, week after next, changing houses with "The Dainty Dutchess," scheduled there. "The Duchess' will play at the Trooadero in- stead. The Irwin show will not be seen there this season. PLENTY OF GIRLS NOW. Following the instructions of the Em- pire Circuit Executive Committee that the show managers might reduce the number of choristers in their companies to six- teen, there has been a decided slump in the chorus girl market. Although many of the more successful organizations re- tain the original score in the chorus, half a dozen shows have taken advantage of the permission to reduce. WILL ELABORATE u JUST KIDS." Chicago, Nov. "12. Guy Rawson and Frances dare have in preparation a new version of "Just Kids" which they will produce next season. There will be from eight to ten "kids" and two or three principals besides them- selves in the act. Special scenery will be carried. Rawson and Clare are at present the stars of "The Bon Tons." A "SOCIAL" CHORUS. Chicago, Nov. 12. The chorus of "The New York Stars," an Eastern Burlesque Wheel show, have formed a social organization among them- selves. Jacobs A Jermon, the owners of the show, contributed $60 to start a fund. Bertha Hartman has been chosen presi- dent; Florence Miller secretary, and Marie Le Roy treasurer. DAVE LEWIS TURNS AGENT. It is "Dave Lewis, the agent," now. Mr. Lewis has given up acting for awhile, having taken offices on Broadway. In this suite the former actor will oper- ate on new agency lines, securing and supplying acts for and to moving picture houses in and outside of Greater New York. JIM DIAMOND TO BE FEATURED. Chicago, Nov. 12. Jim Diamond, now with "The Briga- diers," will be featured in a new two-act musical comedy over the Western Bur- lesque Wheel next season. The new vehicle is being written by Irving B. Lee. Hilding Anderson, musical director of the La Salle Theatre, will com- pose the score. REMICK BUYS SCHILLER CATALOG Jerome H. Remick A Co. have purchased the catalog of the Schiller Music Publish- ing Co., which recently opened operations in New York. The consideration has not been announced. Bert and Lottie Walton were obliged to cancel Utica this week through Miss Wal- ton's illness. They resume at Proctor's, Albany, Monday. William Jerome and Jean Schwartz have "framed up" their act for vaude- ville, to be first shown Nov. 30 at Ham- merstein's. Neither Billy nor Jean will breathe a word regarding what they are to uncover. HOLIDAY OPENING PROMISED. Members of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel promise that the Gayety, the new theatre in Louisville, Ky., which is to furnish burlesque opposition to Whallen Brothers' Buckingham (Western Wheel) in that city, will be in readiness for official opening by the Monday before Christmas. The building operations have progressed rapidly in spite of what the Eastern men call "obstructive methods" employed. On Tuesday of this week the completed roof was placed over the house. Eastern men are unanimous in their be- lief that the place will be ready for oc- cupancy at the scheduled time, but there seems to be some doubt on the part of outsiders of the ability to complete the job on time. Meanwhile workmen are busy on night and day shift to get the place ready. MACK BUYS IN. Boston, Nov. 12. "The Blue Ribbon Girls" ar~* at The Palace (Eastern) this week and have as an extra attraction Hilda Carle and her Red Raven Cadets, who will continue for a time with the show. M. A. Shea, who operates the Hyde & Behman organization on a royalty basis, has sold part of his interest in it to J. Herbert Mack, the Columbia Amuse- ment Co. official. BOOKED WITH SHOWS. Dore and Wolford have been placed with "The City Sports"; Tierney and OTtell with the same show, and McCabe and Horton go with "The Jersey Lilies," the bookings having been made by Weber A Allen. HOOPER PRODUCING GENERALLY. After many seasons of turning out suc- cessful productions for Broadway man- agers in the musical comedy and light operatic branches, Lewis Hooper has es- sayed vaudeville as a general producer in the field. He has qualified for the "act- stage" through having been mainly instru- mental in the successful launching of the former Lasky & Rolfe and later Jesse Lasky many numbers, nearly all of which Mr. Hooper staged. Offices have been taken in the Knicker- bocker Theatre Building. VALESKA SURATT. A biography of the front page sub- ject this week would be superflous. Valeska Suratt is known from ocean to ocean wherever the oceans may be. The interest is centered in her ap- pearance for the next two weeks at Hnm- merstein's, where Miss Suratt and Will- iam Gould will present their latest vaude- ville pieces. It is a new and elaborate production, written and produced by Mr. Gould. In it Miss Suratt will have a dance as orig- inal as the title, "Cleopatra, with Egyp- tian Movements." In this number Miss Suratt will dance with a snake entwined about her. Mr. Gould has freshly written an in- troduction which provides the story for the several scenes following. The strength of Miss Suratt and Mr. Gould's drawing power is attested to by the Hammerstein management having issued a two weeks' contract sometime ago for the turn bo fore having seen it.