Variety (March 1909)

TEN CENTS VOL. XIV., NO. 1. MARCH 13, 1909. PRICE TEN CENTS. DECLARES HIMSELF OPPOSED TO TEN PER CENT. COMMISSION Martin Beck Reported to Have So Stated This Week to Agents. Fearful It Will Prove Ruina- tion of Vaudeville. It was reported one day thia week after ml agent or two had Interviewed Mar- tit Beck in the general offices of the Or- pbeum Circuit, that Mr. Beck had declared himself as unalterably opposed to a ten per cent, commission charge to acts or to any booking charge exceeding five per cent. The language used by Mr. Beck in mak- ing this declaration is said to have been very forceful, and to have covered the com- mission subject thoroughly. When asked by a Vabiety representative to give the substance of his remarks for publication, the Orpheum's general mana- ger declined, but said that before very long he would probably issue a statement giving his views in full upon the vaudeville con- ditions as they exist at present, and the probable future of the entertainment from the present outlook. One of the agents who had been present when Mr. Beck spoke, said one of Mr. Beck's remarks was to the effect that "the ten per cent." if persisted in, "would prove the ruination of vaudeville." On Tuesday at Albany Assemblyman Voss of New Tork introduced a bill calling for the regulation of employment agencies, and limiting the commission to be charged on theatrical contracts to five per cent. The measure also provides for the super- vision of the agents, and the submission of contracts issued when called upon, besides requiring a bond which may be collected upon. The Voss bill is aimed to correct many loopholes existing in the present Act un- der which the New York Commissioner of Licenses exercises authority over theatri- cal agents. Last Sunday at the Berkeley Lyceum, a mass meeting was held when the proposed Voss measure and its objects were spoken of. Assemblyman Voss made a speech, as did many others from labor and theatrical societies. Fred Nlblo, president of the White Rats, presided. Harry Mountford acted as secretary. ENJOINING AN IMITATOR. Yesterday in the United States Circuit Court before Judge Wood, argument came up in the application for an injunction against Belle Blanche to restrain that imi- tator from further presenting in public an imitation of Irene Franklin singing "Red Head, Red Head, Gingerbread Head." Miss Franklin and Burt Green, the writer and composer of the number, are the applicants. Nathan Burkan pleaded for them in court. Augustus Dreyer ap- peared for Miss Blanche. A contention of the defense made on technical grounds haa been that the holder of the copyright, a music publisher, did not join in the application, the suit having been commenced in the U. S. Court under the provisions of the copy- right law. NO VAUDEVILLE FOR EVANS. Somewhat weak, although fully recov ered from his recent operation for ap- pendicitis, Geo. "Honey Boy" Evans re- turned to the lead of the Cohan & Har- ris' Minstrels last Monday evening. During the week Mr. Evans was asked to name his figure for a vaudeville en- gagement following the close of the min- strel show, but replied he would not con- sider it for this season. It is said he could obtain $1,500 or $2,000 weekly to again become a variety monologist. 2,000 CAPACITY ON ROOF. The plans for the remodeling of the American Roof Garden this summer will •iivo a seating capacity above the Ameri- can Music Hall of 2,000 people. The in- terior of the roof will resemble that of the Morris American Music Hall, Chicago. The now roof gnrden will extend over the theatre and also the Eighth Avenue side, nim y iy has yet been fixed upon. DOlfLHf SIGNS. Mike Donlin is removed as a baseball possibility irrevocably. This week he turned over to his agent, M. S. Bentham, signed contracts calling for the services of Hite and Donlin on the Orpheum Cir- cuit for twelve consecutive weeks, com- mencing April 12. These contracts have been held off pend- ing an argument between Donlin and President Brush, of the New York Base- ball Club, over terms. Donlin rep r esen t ed to the magnate that his earnings in vaudeville were much larger than on the diamond, and aaked for $8,000 for the sea- son with the Giants. Brush refused to be moved from his tender of $6,000, the same as the player's salary last year. After a deadlock of several weeks, with no concessions on either side, Mike signed the vaudeville contracts. Meanwhile Mabel Hite, according to Bentham's state- ment, received an offer of three years' contract from Flo Ziegfeld. Upon Mike's determination to stick to the twice daily, Mrs. Mike passed up the musical comedy proposition. Hite and Donlin also received an offer of $1,500 for 15 weeks from the Morris offices for next season. The offer was un- derstood to be conditional on Mike Don: lin playing ball this summer. "MOULIN ROUGE" IN CUBA? Havana, Cuba, March 0. The papers here have announced that "The Queen of the Moulin Rouge" will have a presentation in this city shortly. John T. Hall is reported to be the pro- moter of the enterprise. CONSIDINE ON WAY EAST. Seattle, March 11. John W. Considine, the director gen- eral of the S*ulli van-Considine Circuit, left hert on Tuesday for New York. $2,500 FOR ALICE LLOYD. The Morris Circuit has offered Alice Lloyd $2,500 weekly for thirty weeks next season. Miss Lloyd has been in receipt of $1,500 each week this season while playing on the United time. Efforts are being made to induce the English girl to forego her legitimate tour for a vaudeville engagement during 'OO-'IO, but it is not likely she will do so. M IN NEW YORK" CLOSES. Philadelphia, March 12. "In New York" closed suddenly at the Walnut Street Opera House last night as the curtain was about to rise for the evening performance. Business has not been any too good and there was some arrears in salaries. Two or three of the principals secured a portion of the back pay due at different timea within the past ten days by re- fusing to go on unless an immediate pay- J meat was forthcoming each time. Last night there was a general strike. The management offered the company 55 per cent, of the box office receipts if they would give a show. A couple of the women principals and the entire chorus objected to the percentage plan. The curtain remained down and the house will close for the present. The produc- tion was said to have been put on by Frank Howe, manager of the theatre. LEASES uS.sE HOUSES. Toledo, March 11. The United States Amusement Oa* a cor- poration formed recently in which the Toledo Film Exchange is interested, hat leased eleven Stair & Havlin theatres for the remainder of this season and the summer. Vaudeville and pictures will be lb* poliey in each. Among them are Heuek's Opera House, Cincinnati; Academy of Music, Buffalo; and theatres fat Cleveland and Detroit. KELLERMAN AT AMERICAN. 'Taper" has been gotten out by the Morris office announcing the appearance at the American Music Hall, New York, on March 22, of Annette Kellerman. Tims will be her first showing In a Morris house. The Morris contract called for her first appearance April 5. It was said this week that B. F. Keith had served papers on Miss Kellerman and would contest her right to appear under other than his management. This could not be verified. EXPECT SOME BOOKING CHANGES. Chicago, March 11. Martin Beck is expected in Chicago to- day to attend the meeting of the directors of the Western Vaudeville Association.