Variety (January 1909)

V A-R I»T Y LEGITIMATE CIRCUIT BECOMES WHITE RA T VAUDEV ILLE CHAIN I. B. A,'* Chicago Office Pla:ing Variety Shows in Pelter & Smultzer's Dramatic Houses From Denver to Salt Lake. Chicago, Jan. 14. The Independent Booking Agency of Chicago, directed by Fred M. Barnes, baa concluded arrangements to place vaude- ville on the chain of legitimate theatres operated from Denver to Salt Lake City by Pelter A Smultser. Fred Smultser of the firm was in Chi- cago on Tuesday, when the paper* w«ie signed. On Jan. 26 the I. B. A. starts to place programs for the^Curtis Street Theatre, Denver, which Then begins a variety ca- reer. The expectation here is that the Inde- pendent Booking Agency is arranging for a large circuit in the west, taking in those already signed. The Grand Opera House, Salt Lake City, one of Pelton & Smultzer's houses, opens Jan. 25, and will be booked by Barnes along with the Curtis Street, Denver. The regular dramatic circuit of Peter Smultzer's has been incorporated as an independent vaudeville association, with headquarters in Denver. Mr. Barnes will also be the booking representative at that point. Mr. Smultzer says the dramatic busi- ness in the west has been killed, and other houses will be forced to adopt the vaudeville policy, that being the most profitable at present west of Chicago. By September next the present offices and circuits the White Rats is interested in expect to have a vaudeville circuit, reaching from the Missouri to the Coast, consisting mainly of converted dramatic houses* Wednesday night William Morris, Harry Mountford, Fred Barnes, Tim Cronin, Ren Shields and E. F. Rogers conversed for several hours at the Col- lege Inn. Mr. Mountford remains here until Saturday. CIRCUS AT HIPPODROME. Cleveland, Jan. 14. The Hippodrome \s planning a big cir- cus spectacle for April and is advertising for circus acts with open time during that month. The Ohio metropolis has taken kindly to big spectacleo in the past and it is the intention to make the house a pro- ducing center for big acts which may play vaudeville time during the winter and circus time during the summer. It is probable that for the April spec- tacle the Hippodrome will be turned into a big circus lot, metaphorically speaking. The beautiful lobby will be filled with trick acts of all kinds. The stage and its entrances are so equipped as to permit of & parade of unlimited extent. The big t?,nk under the apron makes all sorts of aquatic spectacles possible. The prosce- nium is seventy-two feet wide. The stage is large enough to permit a regular two- ring circus to work easily. TRIXIE FIGURING AHEAD. Philadelphia, Jan. 14. "The American Idea" will close about May 1, and Trixie Friganza, featured in it, is proposing to herself to play vaude- ville during the month of May. Trixie wants some money for her time in the varieties, and she is going to write Pat Casey to get both for her. WANTED TO PLACE DUSE. A. Braff of Sherek A Braff, the London vaudeville agents, returned to his home last Saturday, having made but a short stay upon this side. Mr. Braff came over here to submit some large foreign numbers to William Morris, and also to place Eleanora Duse, the Italian actress, for a legitimate en- gagement. Mr. Braff is not reported to have been successful. PERMIT FOR CIRCUS BUILDING. The Winter Circus destined for New York, and which is to be located between 50th and 57th street on the west side,' is said to have progressed so far as to have had inspectors from the Building Depart- ment pass upon the proposed changes for the building to be leased. Edgar Wulff, the circus man, is promot- ing the scheme, founded upon the in- door circuses abroad. Mr. Wulff is now in Berlin. He will return with the 16 Schumann horses from the Circus Schu- mann. The animals go with the Barnum- Bailey show. The New York Winter CSrcus can not well become active before next season. From three to five months' work will be necessary for alterations. BLANCHE RING A WEEK LATER. The reappearance of Blanche Ring in vaudeville will happen Feb. 1. Percy G'. Williams holds Miss Ring's signature to a contract calling for her bow on Jan. 25 at the Colonial. The comedienne expected to have this week to herself with a fresh start on the variety stage, but the reversal of Joe Weber's decision to close, extending his show's life two weeks, obliged Miss Ring (to accommodate Mr. Weber) asking Mr. Williams to postpone her opening one week. This was done, and though Weber again thinks it over with a result that his com- pany shall remain together longer, Miss Ring, it is said, will surely make her vaudeville bow with the new month. KOHLMAR QUITS LA SALLE. Chicago, Jan. 14. After three years with the La Salle Theatre musical stock company, Lee Kohl- mar, the German comedian, has resigned, and will enter vaudeville. He leaves the La Salle in two weeks. WANTS DAMAGES FOR IMITATING. Through her attorney^ Nathan Burkan, Irene Fratfklin has commenced an action against Belle Blanche, demanding $5,000 in damages under the copyright laws for the imitation Miss Blanche is alleged to have offered, upon, the vaudeville stage of Miss Franklin singing "Redhead." The papers in the action state that Leo-Feist, who publishes the number,-duly copyrighted it, and notice was thereafter given to Miss Blanche' to cease using the song under the guise of an imitation of Miss Franklin or in any* other manner. Gus Dreyer will appear for Miss Blanche when the case comes' up for trial. The defense may attempt to prove that Miss Blanche was not imitating Miss Franklin, and that the song used after notice was received may have resembled"Redhead" in melody, but not in lyrics. Newspapers, please take notice; no men- tion of the Franklin-Blanche case will be complete without the mention of Jack Levy's name. Mr. Levy is agent for Miss Blanche. If there is to be any free adver- tising handed out, the agent declares him- self in. BECK LEAVING TO-DAY, Martin Beck is due to leave New York to-day (Saturday) for his trip over the Orpheum Circuit. Accompanying him may be Pat Casey and Mark A. Lueacher. It is not a positive certainty Mr. Casey will be able to accept the invitation for the journey. The resident managers along the line of the Orpheum Circuit have been apprised of Mr. Beck's forthcoming visit, with the date, and each has been informed to gather tne amateurs of the city for that time to play before the General Manager, with possible booking in vaudeville as a reward for success. SULLIVAN-KILRAIN GOING WEST. Louis Pincus has engaged John L. Sul- livan and Jake Kilrain to tour over the Pantagea' Circuit for eight weeks, giving their boxing exhibition. The heavyweight fighters will open at Spokane Jan. 31. They are now a special attraction with a burlesque company. John L. appeared alone in the Northwest some years ago. MOULAN AND BERRI BACK. Chicago, Jan. 14. At the Olympic next week Frank Mou- Ian and Lillian Berri will return to vaude- ville in their act. They came out here to play in "The Winning Miss" at the Gar- den, but William Morris closed the door to that piece when he leased the theatre for his Chicago American Music Hall. At the Olympic next week also, the new skit, "Frenzied Follies," will replace "A Little Daughter of the Rich." "INCOGNITO" AN ACT. At the American, Chicago, on Monday, William Morris will spring "Incognito," a young woman who will appear upon the stage, masqued. She is claimed to be the same girl who did this veiled thing at the Alhambra, London, last summer, wearing a half-mask to the bridge of her nose. The identity of the mysterious singer was not revealed during the engagement. K.-P.'S PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT. V ' v . Cleveland, Jan. 14. The Hippodrome la this city will be the location of the new Production Depart- ment of the Keith-Proctor Circuit, with William J. Wilson in charge. Mr. Wil- son was the first stage manager of the Hip, and put on the pieces at the place which were so favorably commented upon during the reign of Max Fae^kenhauer. All the large numbers ^designed for vaudeville and use by the Keith-Proctor interests will be equipped and' fitted out in the Hippodrome under the supervision of Mr. Wilson. There is every facility in the large structure for the turning out of productions. MRS. SPOONER TO STAY. VaudeviUe will have Mrs. Mary Gibbs Spooner, the mother of all the Spooners, for a while if M. 81 Benthaxn arranges a route pretty quick. Mrs. Spooner will continue to play "Aunt Qynthy's Homestead," the rural sketch shown for a week by her at Keeney's, Brooklyn, a short time ago. SAVOY CHANGES HANDS. The Savoy, Atlantic City, has passed from the direction of Comstock & Gest into the hands of Wesley & Pincus, the vaudeville agents, who have taken it on a long lease. Commencing Feb. 1 the new managers will play two shows daily at the house, giving a program of six vaudeville acts, changing the bill each Thursday and Monday. The "split week" will be divided with the Family, Chester, Pa., booked in con- junction. The Savoy prices will be 10-20-30, and it is planned to give a high-grade show. The Atlantic City opposition will be at Young's Pier, where a vaudeville program has been offered weekly for a long time, with the top orchestra admission placed at 70 cents. Harry A. Bailey will be the next mana- ger of the Savoy. NO HEADLINER IN HEAVEN. Gracious Rose Stahl, with "The Chorus Lady" and her company, will show London the piece on Easter Monday at the Duke of York Theatre. Miss Stahl will close her season at Trentoln, the actress' home tewn. Writing to Jenie Jacobs this week in acknowledgment of a holiday token of remembrance, Miss Stahl said, "I'd rather have silk and fine soft linen next to my skin than be a headliner in Heaven. So when Martin Beck gets an Orpheum up there, he must remember that." Upon hearing this repeated, one of the group around the St. James Building said, "Martin Beck in Heaven I That shows what a wholesome-minded person Rose Stahl is. Martin Beck in Heaven! What nn elegant pipe for a double column head." ALBEE BACK SOON. Word has reached the United Booking Offices that E. F. Albee's condition has im- proved so rapidly the doctors have prom- ised his release from the Albany hospital, where he has been confined eince Election night, within three weeks. It is possible that by Feb. 10 the Gen- eral Manager of the United will be able to call at the offices.