Variety (November 1908)

VARIETY CUT OFF TRANSPORTATION ON ORPHEU M EAST O F MISSOURI Martin Beck Announces Discontinuance of the Custom After Dec. 1. West of Omaha Present Con- ditions Will Prevail. Simplification of Details Reason Given. At the New York office of the Orpheum Circuit this week the following statement was issued: To avoid, in the future, the frequent misunderstandings caused by artists themselves and to simplify the bookings and business details of the Orpheum Circuit, Martin Beck, the general man- ager, has decided to re-adjust the trans- portation clause in all contracts, and, on and after Dec. 1, no transportation, railroad fares or baggage excess will be paid by that company east of the Missouri River and common points. In an advertisement placed by the Or- pheum Circuit with the trade papers this week, Mr. Beck says : Particular attention Is called to the fact that on and after the date mentioned no railroad fares or transportation of any kind will be included in contracts made with artists for the following named theatres: Orpheum, Kansas City; Orpheum, Omaha; Orpheum, Memphis; Orpheum, New Orleans; Orpheum, Minneapolis: Orpheum, St. Paul; Or- pheum, Sioux City, and Majestic, Des Moines. The advertisement gives notice that here- after railroad fares will be paid as be- fore to all Orpheums west of the Missouri, but that this hereafter "applies only to persons actively engaged in the acts upou the stage." Excess charges for baggage will be allowed only upon scenery and animals used in the productions. This transportation ruling by Mr. Beck leaves the following houses only under the category of "free railroad fares": Orpheum, Denver; Orpheum, Salt Lake City; Orpheum, Butte; Orpheum, Spo- kane; Orpheum, Seattle; Orpheum, Port- land; Orpheum, San Francisco; Orpheum, Oakland, and Orpheum, Los Angeles. It was stated at the Orpheum offices that the institution of free transportation on the Orpheum Circuit had its origin years ago, when the circuit had but one or two theatres. In those days artists were furnished with their railroad fare to forestall a possible embarassment which might prevent the purchase of the expen- sive round trip ticket, and also to ensure the act a positive return journey. With the addition of the many Orpheums which now exist, and the artists' apparent mis- understanding of the transportation clause, together with several instances of imposi- tion practiced, it was said that the or- der had been promulgated to abolish the custom in the Middle West, as the jumps there at present are no greater than in the East, where the artist has always set- tled for his own fare. In the statement issued through the Orpheum's Press Department, it said Mr. Beck after investigation had discovered many cases where acts booked had im- posed upon the Circuit through carrying people not engaged in the act; also in the matter of excess baggage. Late last sea- son, it recites, an enormous excess- was claimed by a male quartet whose only wardrobe consisted of street suits. Upon inquiry, Mr. Beck learned the heavy trunks the Orpheum Circuit was obliged, under its contract, to transport to the Pacific Coast and back contained sheet music which these vocalists were singing and placing with local department stores en route. Another artiste booked obtained fare for a personal maid, discharging her after reached a Western point, when a refund on the extra ticket was requested. The statement continues: "Mr. Beck de- clares that while he was supplying fares in the Middle West, artists seemed to hold him responsible for all their booking in any of that territory. One artist wired him recently, "We jump from Chattanooga to Columbus. Where do we get fares?" Neither of the towns mentioned is on the Orpheum Circuit. Mr. Beck says in his statement that while the move may be considered radical, it will place the east and west for the artist upon an equal footing as regards transportation and work out to the mutual advantage of artist and manager. For convenience and to aid all artists, it is announced that a Transportation Bu- reau of Information will be established in connection with the Orpheum headquarters in the St. James Building. An official well versed in the rates and mileage of the Middle West takes charge. He will inform all applicants precisely and correctly con- cerning railroad rates and distances before contracts are signed. WOULDN'T FOLLOW LULA M'CONNELL. Although billed for the Alhambra The- atre this week "The Submarine" did not appear on Monday, and the gruesome piece is supposed to have finally "blown up," as far as vaudeville over here is concerned. In place of the sketch McConnell and Simpson were engaged by Percy O. Will- iams. When Miss McConnell and Mr. Simpson presented themselves for rehear- sal, Mable Hite, who, with Mike Donlin, headlines the Alhambra bill this week, notified Mr. Williams she refused to per- mit McConnell and Simpson to play on the same program with her. Miss Hite claimed that Miss McConnell appearing before would injure her (Hite's) performance later on. Consequently Mr. Williams displaced McConnell and Simp- son, filling up the gap with Griff, the English comedy juggler. This is the second instance since Hite and Donlin's joint appearance in vaude- ville during the past three weeks where they have objected to an act preceding them on the program. The first was that of Francesca Redding in "Honorah" at Hammerstein's. Miss Redding and her sketch retired. The recurrence caused a number of remarks that Miss Hite is apparently losing confidence in herself and thereby bringing loss to others, neither of the acts which have been obliged to "lay off" through her having filled in the week being in conflict. "POLI AND ALONZO" BILLED. "Poli and Alonzo" appeared this week on a one-sheet of the Lincoln Square Theatre. Someone must have informed P. Alonzo, who is the general booking man- ager for the S. Z. Poli Circuit. Leastwise on Wednesday Mr. Alonzo called up the Morris office and notified Hugo Morris neither he nor Mr. Poli would appear. "Now, you know, Mr. Hugo," said Alonzo, "you promised me when I signed the contract that our names would be in just as large type as anybody else's on the bill, even though we didn't head- line, and you promised to get out special paper for us. I think the way you are treating us is just rotten, and unless you live up to the contract we won't go on."' Mr. Morris assured Mr. Alonzo it was an oversight, and would be rectified at once, with a special eight-sheet; also a lithograph and "snipes." Alonzo said he would consult with Poli and if his partner didn't make any kick over what was being handed to them, they would play the date, "but the way you have used us," added Alonzo, "is enough to make an act throw up all this eastern stuff and hike to the tanks." MAY BOLEY RETURNS. May Boley, who cancelled her vaude- ville time and retired from the stage temporarily upon the sudden death of her fiance, has been routed to open on the Orpheum Circuit at Memphis, Jan. 17. She will work out to the Pacific Coast, and may take a long engagement as a member of the stock company at the Princess in San Francisco. OWES ACTS $3,000. The management of the vaudeville theatres in Parkersburg, W. Va., and Zanesville, O., which recently defaulted in payment of salaries to artists, owes about $3,000 to the acts which played there. The claims have been placed with the White Rats. One Emanuel Sachs, of Sachs & Vogel, a mercantile firm on the lower East Side of New York, is alleged to be the principal, dealing through his agents, Keith & Elkeles. A bankruptcy petition by Sachs to evade liability is threatened, or may have been filed. There are several claims arising out of the closing of the houses, which Denis F. O'Brien, attorney for the Rats, is investigating. These include the alleged unlawful conversion of moneys, embezzle- ment, and violation of the Labor Law. WHITE PLAINS HOUSE OPENS. White Plains, Nov. 25. Newell's Theatre, under the management of Stainach & Newell, opened Monday evening to capacity attendance, the house holding 1,500, with seating accommoda- tion for 1,250. Prices run up to fifty cents. The first week's program holds Hutchin- son and Bainbridge, Richards and Mont- rose, Morton-Jewell Troupe, Famous Hanlons and Co., "The Orphan's Christ- mas Eve," and The Piottis. John S. Egan is orchestral conductor. DRESS UP MAUDE ODELL. On Tuesday evening at-fne Lincoln Square, Maude Odell, an English girl, who has been presenting a back view of her- self au natural waa dressed up a little by the management. Previous to that time, Miss Odell had been covered with but a slight breeze. The police are reported to have caught the back view, and wondering why Maude waa cheating on the other half, ordered the girl to "cover up." She did, some. NO VAUDEVILLE AT LYRIC. Fort Wayne, Ind., Nov. 25. On the eve of his departure for the cast to arrange for bringing vaudeville to play at the Lyric Theatre, Manager Louis Balfe received a telegram calling him to Chicago to consider a proposition for put- ting in a dramatic stock company. As a result he has decided to adopt the proposition. The new stock company will give its first play on Thanksgiving Day, and will continue all season. SATIRE OLYMPICS FIRST PIECE. Chicago, Nov. 26. The first tabloid musical comedy to be presented at the Olympie Music Hall (in about three weeks) will be a satirical comedy entitled "A Little Daughter of the Rich," written by Irving B. Lee. The scene is laid in a large local dry goods store. The chorus rehearsals com* menced this week. The principals will be drilled next week. Moat of the music was written by Franz Lehar, composer of "The Merry Widow." DAISY LLOYD GOING HOME. On Wednesday, next, Daisy Lloyd, the English singer, returns to London to take up an engagement in pantomime over there. This week Miss Lloyd is playing at the Academy of Music, Montreal, in the Mor- ris show placed there. Offers of a return engagement in America next aeason have been received by the young woman, who has met with a large degree of success over the Morris Circuit since her first appearance. The father of The Great Lafayette died Sunday at Baden-Baden, Germany. WHOLE BILL SUES MANAGER. Pittsburg, Nov. 25. All the acts which appeared at the Star Theatre, Du Bois, Pa., last week have sued the management for unpaid salary. BOTHWELL BROWNE. DANISn CHARACTER PANTOMIMIST. Now playing UNITED time. Booked solid until JUNE, 1000. In "WINNING A GIBSON WIDOW."