Variety (January 1909)

VARIETY MARTIN BECK AND PAT CASEY RACING TO THE NORTHWEST Reports AH Along the Way They Have Big Wan* Ahead. Speculation Kile In New York Over the "Western Trip." Spokane, Jan. 21. There is an undercurrent of excitement in theatrical walks in town for Martin Beck, General Manager of the Orpheum Circuit, and Pat Casey, the big New York agent, are coming to Spokane together. They are expected next Sunday. Mr. Beck is interested in the Orpheum, this city, operated by the Orpheum Cir- cuit and the Sullivan-Oonsidine Circuit jointly. Mr. Casey is the eastern repre- sentative of the Pantages' Circuit. Alex Pantages is in Spokane, and there is a report he has received a wire to meet Messrs. Beck and Casey upon their ar- rival. There are various hazy rumors over the object of the visit. Chicago, Jan. 21. Martin Beck and Pat Casey arrived In Chicago on Sunday. They attended the opening of the American Musie Hall on Monday night, leaving immediately after- wards for Minneapolis. They were in St. Paul on Tuesday, and on Wednesday should have made Butte, Mont., according to schedule. Mr. Beck and Mr. Casey are headed direct for the northwest, expecting to be in Spokane next Sunday. Nothing could be gleaned from either while here as to the object of the long trip, but the fact of Morris opening in Chicago, with the Pantages' Circuit (for which Casey books in the east) free to allign itself with anyone gives rise to sev- eral conjectures. Minneapolis, Jan. 21. While Martin Beck and Pat Casey were in town, the Minneapolis Tribune got word of a story that they were on their way west to form a big combine, and the Tribune printed it. Notwithstanding all the excitement in vaudeville during the past week, the at- tention of the show people was given to the possibilities of the western tour Pat Casey is making in the company of Mar- tin Beck. More curiosity has been ex- pressed in New York for the past few days over this than any other matter. Had Mr. Beck started off on the trip alone, or without Casey, little attention more than the ordinary amount, might have been paid, although the present is not considered an opportune time for the General Manager of the Orpheum Circuit to look over his properties, when his pres- ence in New York or Chicago seems al- most imperative. The trip west with Mr. Beck, in connec- tion with the various rumors afloat lately regarding possible future booking arrange- ments and the announcement that of all the United agents, Casey has been the only one not to sign an application for the United certificate, has brought the wiseacres to the conclusion that there is "something doing" between Beck and Casey. The greatest surprise to the artist has been Casey's refusal to agree to "split commissions" with the United. Since Mr. Casey opened his agency, the report was common property that he was securing a preference over his competitors in the booking of acts through "splitting" his commission (five per cent.) with the man- agers. This report was so often repeated many believed it, but the stand of Mr. Casey in refusing to "split" under the new plan of the United Offices has brought about a reversal of opinion on this point. Casey is known to have the moral back- ing of Klaw & Erlanger in his agency business, and it is this influence, it is rumored, which has been of the greatest benefit to him in the rapid strides the Casey Agency has made as a booking of- fice. Mr. Casey has been said to take no important step without receiving the ad- vice of A. L. Erlanger. According to reports, the Pantages houses and Sullivan-Oonsidlne theatres, playing to the lesser prices in the same cities where the larger vaudeville houses are also located, have been doing more business than their higher priced com- petitors. This condition might have per- turbed the Orpheum's General Manager, and it is believed Mr. Beck has gone west with Mr. Casey in the hopes that through himself and his companion a combination may be effected of all the western time, large and small, whereby the business and the territory will be distributed in a man- ner to ensure a profit to all, without ex- pensive opposition. At the present time the Pantages' Circuit and Sullivan-Obnsi- dine are playing features on their bills costing as high as $700 weekly, and sell- ing their best seats at less than one-half the admission charged by the Orpheums. The vaudeville people who claim to have an insight into all the conditions of the business, east and west, surmise that it is Mr. Beck's intention to attempt to amal- gamate the western time, placing it with the Orpheum on a booking understanding, and establishing a large New York agency, with Casey at the head. This report has been persistently rumored for the past month, having first come from St. Louis when Messrs. Beck and Casey visited there about four weeks ago. It is said that Pantages, looked upon as one of the coming vaudeville men of the country, is in a position financially to accomplish anything he goes after. Mr. Pantages has stated he will extend his circuit to Chicago, giving him a string from the Coast. Were he to make a book- ing connection with William Morris from the Windy (Sty on, it would add several first-class weeks for a medium-priced act to the Morris time, taking the independent to the coast without an effort on his part. Intimate friends of Mr. Casey when sounded on his position point to the fact that he declined to sign the application demanded by the United Offices, and say this is sufficient proof that "Casey knew something." RBV1BB ROUTE. The Western Wheel burlesque route sheet will be partly revised next month. Where the changes are to occur has not yet been given out, but it is rumored that two or three new stands will be included m the new arrangement. One of these, according to information which comes to ▼amttt, will be Wheeling, W. Va., where a house just built by local capital will be turned over to the burlesque circuit. It was reported last week that Rankin D. Jones, general counsel for the Circuit, had all but closed contracts for two new houses, and #ne of these is Wheeling. The other is unknown. When the route sheet was given out at the opening of the season the managers were told that it would not be in force after Feb. 8, when, it was said, a new dis- tribution of shows and houses would be made. Accordingly the new schedule will be issued Feb. 8 and will take effect the week following (Feb. 15). Another change that went into effect recently was the elimination of the one- night-stand week in the west. Now the Western Burlesque Wheel shows spend three nights each in 6t. Joseph, Mb., and Des Moines, la., leaving three nights in both weeks open. This has the effect of making a (< lay off" week between Minne- apolis and Kansas City. The Empire shows will play Wheeling under a guarantee of $1,360 weekly se- cured by the owners of the new house. The building was put up originally on speculation, with the idea of turning it over under a sharing basis to the Colum- bia Amusement Co. (Eastern Burlesque Wheel). When the place was completed it was found impossible to fit it into the Eastern Wheel route sheet and for a time negotiations were on with the Shu- berts to use it as a first-class combination house. When this deal fell through on ac- count of the high guarantee demanded the property was offered to the Western, and accepted. SCRAMBLE FOR "TRANS-ATLANTICS." "Professional courtesy" passed them by, say Hurtig A, Seamon, while their "Trans- Atlantics" played at the Murray Hill The- atre last week. All the musical comedy sharpshooters in New York tried to pick off some one in the company, but none succeeded. The nearest anyone got, said a member of the firm this week, was to tell the chorus girls what show he represented—enough. HERRINGTON IN WILMINGTON. After a short try at stock burlesque in Harrisburg, Pa., Alf G. Herrington, the former Western Wheel manager, will shortly launch a new venture. He has taken over a lease of the Avenue Theatre, Wilmington (formerly a dramatic stock house under the name of the Lyceum), and proposes to devote it to a policy of dramatic stock. DISTRIBUTE DIVIDENDS. The distribution of the Empire Circuit's 25 per cent, annual dividend was finished this week, when each stockholder received cash representing 10 per cent, of his holdings. Together with the cash each stock- holder received stock certificates amount- ing to 15 per eent. This arrangement was made to avoid going into the money mar- ket for $100,000 to finance the building of the Casino, now being constructed in Brooklyn. Instead of disbursing the fif- teen per cent., it was placed at the dis- posal of the building committee and cer- tificates issued to the stockholders of the Empire in lieu of currency. TO REBUILD IN BALTIMORE. It is very probable that the Empire Cir- cuit Co. will rebuild its Baltimore house. A movement is on to make public improve- ments In Monumental Street which would make it necessary for the city to buy the present house. None of the Empire executives in New York this week would comment upon the report. "PLEASURE CLUB" FOR GIRLS. Chicago, Jan. 21. Owners of concert halls on the west side have organised a social club for the purpose of holding dances and other func- tions. A charter has been granted and the organization is known as "The West Side Chorus Girls' Pleasure Club." John P. Collins, who conducts a saloon and "theatre" opposite the Star and Gar- ter, is president. His bartender is secre- tary. The purpose is "to raise funds to es- tablish a permanent reserve for the 'under- paid' chorus girls, in the event of death or distress." Only girls are eligible to mem- bership, besides the three officers. In case of sickness the chorus girls (members) will draw $7 a week. Many of the proposed members are em- ployed at the different concert halls and moving picture theatres. The membership so far is limited, but the "president" says a big number will be enrolled soon. "THE GIRL IN BLUE" WORKING. Chicago, Jan. 21. Millie De Leon, "The Girl in Blue," is playing this week as an extra attraction at the Trocadero. Miss De Leon is giving a censored dance, and not throwing away any garters. She is the first "coocher" to appear in Chicago for some time, and from the re- ports from New York, the eastern metrop- olis has it all over Chicago now for turn- ing out the "wiggles." In New York City they call it "art," so 'tis said, and 'tis also said that the "art" down there consists in keeping away from the police. WATSON TAKES A RECORD. Chicago, Jan. 21. Billy Watson opened to the biggest Sun- day so far recorded at the Folly Theatre this season. The house was packed at both perfo r mances. Watson drew $6,421 to the box office at the Standard Theatre, St. Louis, last week, without an added attraction. Several big shows in that town were in opposition. GAYLOR SUCCEEDS KNOWLES. Chicago, Jan. 21. ' Harry Knowles is no longer the western representative of the White Rats at Chi- cago, he having been succeeded by Bobby Cay lor, whose residence is in this city. J The change was decided on during tine visit here of Harry Mountford. No n*»* son has been assigned.