Variety (November 1908)

VARIETY MAT DROP SOUTHERN TIME. St. Louis, Not. 19. A report has gained currency here that with next season the Eastern Burlesquo Wheel will not play in the South. Just how this will be managed is not known. The informed burlesque people say the Columbia Amusement Go. (Eastern) is tied up through contracts with the Gayety, Birmingham, and Greenwall's, New Orleans, for a term of years. The object of the desertion of the Southern territory is to close up the open week between New Orleans and Kansas City. Birmingham is not considered im- portant as a stand. A few Eastern shows this season may play the open week in Memphis, but that town is not a regular stop. With the opening of the new Louisville house and the dropping of Atlanta from the Eastern list, this would eliminate all Southern houses from the Eastern sheets. Some sort of an arrangement will be made with Greenwall ft Weis, who operate the New Orleans theatre, if the deal goes through. MAT HOWARD'S MAIL OPENED. During the engagement of the "Wash- ington Society Girls" at the Bon Ton, Jersey City, last week, May Howard, one of the features of the show, caused the arrest of Lew Watson, brother of "Billy" Watson and manager of "The Washing- ton Society Girls." Miss Howard charged that Watson had opened her mail before it got to her hands and she had a federal warrant served upon him by a deputy United States mar- shal. The manager was examined by United States Marshal Beekman and held for hearing before the United States Commissioner in Newark, N. J. He gave bail in $300. ORDERING COSTUMES AHEAD. Last week Al. Reeves placed an order with Mme. Walters of 244 Fourth ave., New Tork, for all-new costumes, to be used in his two shows next season. The contract calls for delivery by May 1, and in consideration of the early placing, Mme Walters gave a reduction in the figure to Mr. Reeves under the regular ngure by from twenty-five to forty per cent. ATLANTA TO 00 OUT. Atlanta, Ga,, Nov. 10. It is semi-ofBcially stated that when the new Gayety Theatre, Louisville, on the Eastern Burlesque Wheel, opens, The Bijou (Jake Wells) in this city, playing the Eastern attractions since the com- mencement of the season, will close, bur- lesque not having caught on in Atlanta. QUICK JUMPING SHOW. Chicago, Nov. 10. Joseph Oppenhefaner, who disposed of the "Fay Foster" show to the Empire Cir- cuit early this season and who is now operating a stock burlesque house at Davenport, la., will organize a burlesque company for a tour of the "one-night" stands in the Middle West. QUARREL BROKE UP TOUR. It appears from stories which have reached this side with the arrival here of artists from London that the disband- ing of the "Happy Hooligan" show in England followed a disagreement between Walter Plimmer and Herbert Lloyd, who were jointly interested in the tour. One of the week's arrivals in New Tork was Joe Sullivan, who was the Irishman of the "Hooligan" show. He will join Barton & Wiswell's "McFadden's Flats" next week. Mr. Sullivan declared that Lloyd, al- though financially embarrassed by the failure of the venture, paid all his in- debtedness, even discounting some of his vaudeville contracts in order to make prompt payments. He is now working the halls in and about London. No in- formation as to Plimmer's movements after the "blow-up" are obtainable on this side. DIVORCE ACTION STARTED. Chicago, Nov. 10. Following the departure of M. J. O'Rourke and Frankie Green from "The Cracker Jacks," La Belle Marie (Mrs. O'Rourke), who remains with that or- ganisation, commenced an action for di- vorce. Miss Green is named as the co- respondent. Adolph Marks is attorney for the wife. The case will be tried during Christmas week. NEW SHOW ON SUNDATS. For the first time since the opening of the Empire Theatre (Western Burlesque Wheel), in Williamsburg, last Sunday's vaudeville show did not include any of the olio acts which worked in the show occupying the house during the week pre- ceding. —It was found that the presence of regu- lar olio acts that belonged to the organ- isation just finishing the week detracted from interest, most of the local theatre- goers having seen the burlesque perform- ance. Each week an entirely new show is now booked for the Sunday bill. HOUSE WITH x,aoo CAPACITT. Chicago, Nov. 10. W. H. Cannon, owner of the Globe, Mil- waukee, will build a vaudeville house at Walnut and Fond du Lac Avenues in that city, with a seating capacity of 1,200. "THE STRANGER" SKETCH TITLE. Chicago, Nov. 10. Goldwin Patton will be at the head of a new dramatic sketch by Oliver White, entitled 'The Stranger." J. Porter White, who is playing "The Visitor" in vaudeville, will manage the act. TO PREVENT PRINTING OF LYRICS. On Wednesday there was argued in the Supreme Court of New York the applica- tion of Harry B. Smith, the lyricist, for an injunction to restrain Jos. W. Stem & Co. from printing the lyrics of "The Golden Butterfly" apart from the music of the same piece, and also to prevent any ef- forts of that publishing firm from inter- fering with Jerome N. Remick ft Co. in using the lyrics with the publication of the Victor Herbert score of the musical comedy. TRYING FOR THANKSGIVING. Plainfleld, N. J., Nov. 10. The new Proctor-Sanderson Theatre here may open by Thanksgiving. Harry S. Sanderson, who owns it with F. F. Proctor, is bending all his energies to have the first performance on that day. BURLESQUE PROSPERING. Despite reports of poor show business in some parts of the country, it is declared that the burlesque houses are doing a larger gross business than for a corre- sponding period last year. Two of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel houses in Philadelphia show an increase of business for the first twelve weeks of this season over the corresponding figures for 1007 aggregating $6,000. The Wash- ington (D. C.) Gayety is $5,000 ahead up to this time over the 1007 business up to Nov. 0 of both years. In Williamsburg, where the New Empire has come into more or less close competition with the old- established Gayety, both Wheels are doing large business. CLEANING UP ON OATHS. Toronto, Nov. 10. The police of Toronto are going the limit in "cleaning up" the shows playing L*rc. The actors visiting the town don't even have a bad thought now since the order went out on Monday to cut all swear words out of dialog on the stage. "The Straight Road" show at the Grand received the swearing instructions, and the other theatres probably got theirs as well. There's a lot of material which will have to be rewritten for Toronto. L. LAWRENCE WEBER ILL. An attack of appendicitis confined L. Lawrence Weber to his home all this week. A serious aspect was avoided by careful attention. Mr. Weber may return to the offices of Weber ft Rush on Monday. LTDIA THOMPSON DIES. News of the death of Lydia Thompson at her home, Westminster Mansions, near London, came over the cable on Wed- nesday. Lydia Thompson was known as "The Burlesque Queen" years ago, and famous in both countries. Her "British Blondes" (among whom were Pauline Markham) became popular on this side. Her daughter is Zeffie Tilbury, the wife of L. F. Woodthorpe, stage manager for Nat Goodwin. SHEEDY RUNNING SAVOT. Fall River, Mass., Nov. 10. The Savoy opened Monday with vaude- ville and pictures under the management of M. R. Sheedy, this making the eighth house on Mr. Sheedy's string. About five acts weekly will be used, booked through Woods ft Gallagher, the New York agents. MORRIS SIGNS "HONORA." "Honora," with Francesca Redding and Co., has been signed by the Morris Cir- cuit for five weeks commencing Nov. 23, with an option for five more. HARRY COOPER IN BANKRUPTCY. A petition in bankruptcy was filed this week by Harry Cooper, with liabilities placed at $6,000 and no assets. The petition is of Cooper's alone, and does not affect the publishing concern (a corporation) he is connected with. Mr. Cooper says that since entering the music publishing business rival firms with claims against him personally pressed for their money, obliging him to take the step, PRIZE WALTZING, SPECIAL ATTRAC- TION. Cincinnati, Nov. 10. To-morrow (Friday) night at the Peo pie's there will be a prise waltzing con- test on the stage, the contestants taken from applicants in the audience. This will probably become a weekly feature at the People's. It was announced from the stage last Sunday. Mr. Mcln- tyre, the press representative for the house, is responsible. PROF. SPECHT FRACTURES SKULL. New Orleans, Nov. 10. Prof. William Specht, the musical di- rector at Greenwall's, is in the hospital with a fractured skull. Monday evening while attempting to board a car, the Professor slipped and fell. His condition is serious. LEE GOES WITH WILLIAMS. In some manner unknown Henry Lee has B&ured a release from his contract to play the Morris Circuit, and will ap- pear Nov. 30 at Percy G. Williams' Colonial. The transaction was completed on Thursday. Everyone concerned seems satisfied. Mr. Lee had booked five weeks with the Morris office. LEVY'S FACE MASSEUR. Jack Levy wants to introduce facial massage into vaudeville. He has selected for experiment a masseur who has been widely advertised at her own expense. Mr. Levy believes a few remarks on how to keep the face clean without using water would be quite apropos, but al- though Levy is laughed at for the idea, he is persisting. GRACE HAZARD. The above Is Grace Haiard aa a 8cotcb lassie, playing the bagpipes, Miss Haiard's latest novelty Introduced Into "Five Feet of Comic Opera," tbe vaudeville number of Miss Hssard's origination which hss msde the American girl famous on both continents. While In Scotlsnd last summer Miss Hsssrd ordered a half-aised set of bsg-plpes. Upon her return to London, ahe waa taught by Pipe-Major Henry Forsytbe, tbe piper to the Prince of Wales. Since returning home Miss Hassrd haa unceas- ingly Improved her plsylng, having had but a short course of Instruction abroad. She had no intention of presenting the novelty until next sea- son, but at the earneat solicitation of William Morris (with whom she Is booked In vaudeville) Miss Hassrd consented to add the number to her act, and Is the first woman on the American stage to play tbe bagpipes. The selection In use Is "The Merry Miller," from "Bob Boy," tbe opers by Reginald De Koven. Other than the novelty of tbe playing Itself. Miss Haaard Introduces the pipes and costumes In sn entirely new and unique manner.