Variety (March 1909)

VARIETY TWO IMPORTANT MANAGERS REPORTED GIVING ULTIMATUM Messrs. Moore & Wiggins Said to Have Declared They Would Leave United Booking Offices Unless Demands Were Granted, Supposedly unknown to any one except- ing hie partner and a few intimates, James H. Moore met in secret on Tuesday, aooording to report, M. Shea and Harry Dayis, all important managers in the United Booking Offices, and a conference was held. The result could not be ob- tained. It has been said for the past few days that there has been friction between Moore & Wiggins (managers of Oook's Opera House, Rochester, and The Temple, Detroit) and the United through Mr. Moore's demand that Hurtig & Seamon, another United firm, either withdraw ▼auderille from the National Theatre, Rochester, or the United stop booking the Hurtig & Seamon vaudeville theatre in Dayton, O. The National changed its policy on March 1, securing the acts since played there direct. Hurtig & Seamon are credit- ed with the management of that house. Moore & Wiggins have Oook's in ths same city with vaudeville, and have started to build a larger playhouse for the vaudeville goers of Rochester, which will open in September, when they contemplate placing a cheaper brand of variety entertainment in their present establishment. The open- ing of the National with small vaude- ville win hurt Oook's as a future proposi- tion from any point of view, according to Moore A Wiggins. They demanded of the United that Hur- tig & Seamon be told to stop the vaude- ville at the National, and if they did not, that the United should withdraw its fran- chise to the firm for Dayton, where Hurtig ft Seamon have played United bookings for two seasons. According to the story, the inattention given to the demands of Moore ft Wig- gins brought them to the point when they issued an ultimatum that unless the steps asked for were taken they would leave the United offices, taking their two houses with them. The connection the conference with Mr. Shea (Buffalo and Toronto), Mr. Davis (Pittsburg) and Mr. Moore had to do with the Rochester situation is only surmised by those not in possession of all the details. CARLE'S SUMMER SHOW. Chicago, March 11. The company which will present Richard Osrle's "A Boy and a Girl" at the Whit- ney, commencing March 20, for a spring and summer run, includes Lee Kohlmar, Toby Lyons, Eddie Garvie, Robert Bar- baretti, Felix Fantus, I lion Bergere, Jeanne Fowler, Georgia Harvey, Harriet Standing and George E. Mack. The production is being made under the direction of Chas. Marks. Gus Sohlke will stage it. her appearance not appearing on the "paper." It is said Miss Tilley will re- ceive $3,000 weekly from Percy G. Williams. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing the releases from English en- gagements. Her husband, Walter De Freoe, accomplished it. AL SUTHERLAND SAILS. Called suddenly to London on matters of bookings, Al Sutherland, the agent, skipped aboard the Laeifewfe on Wednes- day. He will remain abroad just about long enough to complete his business matters, returning to New York in about three UHITED'S BOSTON BRANCH. The United Booking Offices has estab- lished a branch office on Washington Street, Boston. W. H. Walsh, formerly house manager for the Hudson, Union Hill, N. J., at the Hub establishment, will care for the bookings of minor theatres through New England supplied by the United. MORRIS' BIO MUSIC HALL. This week William Morris stated that next season he would have in New York City a complete music hall on the Conti- nental European style, and similar in in- terior design to the American Music Hall, Chicago. A feature of the establishment, said Mr. Morris, would be an orchestra of 30 pieces. Meals would be served at all hours, and could be eaten while watching the performance. The plans will provide for private din- ing rooms, having glass windows through which the show may be watched. The Independent manager declined to mention the location, although admitting it had been selected. It is safe to say that the new music hall will be in the neighborhood of Columbus Circle. NAME CHANGE IN BOSTON. Boston, March 11. It is quite likely that the name of the Orpheum Musio Hall will be hyphenated into the Orpheum-American Music Hall, and the "Orpheum" slowly decreased in size on the billing until it is finally dropped. $3,ooo FOR VESTA TILLEY. Vesta Tilley is mysteriously billed around New York, the time and place of THEATRE BURNED. Marlboro, Mass., March 11. The Opera House here burned to the ground last week. Defective electric wire insulation is said to have caused the, blaze. The house had a capacity of about 1,200. It was built in 1882 by Francis W. Riley. Lately it has been playing vaudeville. PANTAGES' TWO BOOKING POINTS. Chicago, March 11. Hereafter all the acts playing the Pan- tages Circuit in the northwest and coast will be booked by Louis Pincus through the Pat Casey Agency in New York, and Ed. Lang in Chicago. Mr. Pantages will engage only on special occasions. In a circular letter issued by Mr. Pan- tages, notice to that' effect is given, ex- cepting the mention that he will handle booking himself. The two new houses, Empire, Los An- geles, and Pantages', Stockton, Cat, are included in the booking arrangement. Louis Pincus of the Casey Agency has been the general booking representative for the Pantages theatres for some time. The middle west office here, managed by Ed. Lang, will supply such acts as are available in this section. PROPOSE MINING CIRCUIT. Butte, Mont., March 11. The Empire Amusement Co., of this city, through its manager, L. M. Quinn, has announced intention to build four theatres, all playing vaudeville. Attrac- tions are to be supplied by the Western States Vaudeville Association. Mr. Quinn has left for Seattle to arrange booking, details with Alex. Pantages. Before his departure Mr. Quinn de- clared that a building had been acquired on Main Street for a theatre. Others are to be in Anaconda, Mont., and Idaho and Utah. The addition of the local house will give Butte four theatres devoted exclu- sively to vaudeville—Orpheum, Family (Sullivan-Considine) and Empire. Mr. Quinn is manager of the last named. SINGER NEGOTIATING FOR ANOTHER. Chicago, March 11. Mbrt H. Singer is negotiating for the Morrison property, Clark Street near Mad- ison. This is the site recently spoken of as the future location for an Eastern Burlesque Wheel house. It is said that Mr. Singer is after the location in the event the lease for the La Salle is not renewed. It is reported that through outside interference the rental of the La Salle -will be increased to $60,000 yearly. Singer says he holds an option for a five-year longer term on the La Salle. MRS. HEWLETT'S SKETCH. The wife of Maurice Hewlett, the noted whip, will appear at Proctor's, Elizabeth, N. J., on March 15 in a sketch named "A Savage Encounter." The preliminary announcement of Mrs. Hewlett's vaudeville plunge was made some time ago. The week in Elizabeth will be in the nature of a "try out." Proctor's over there gives a "picture show." Mrs. Hew- lett was a member of Henry Irving's com- pany on the other side, and has appeared over the Moss-Stoll Tour in England. RETURN FOR "LAND OF NOD." Chicago, March 11. "The Land of Nod" will return to the Chicago Opera House shortly for a run of ten weeks or longer. It played at the same theatre two years ago. The re- vival will bring also some of the original cast. S.-C.'s $i75fOOO HOUSE. Seattle, March 11. The new Majestic, to be opened during July by Sullivan-Considine, will have cost $175,000 when completed. Its seating ca- pacity is 1,700. The location is corner Second and Spring Streets. The new Orpheum is to be on the corner of Third and Madison Streets. It will open in October. Shannon's has been sold and renamed Lyceum. DOESN'T WANT VAUDEVILLE. London, March 3. George Foster has received a letter from Charles Wyndham wherein it is stated that the actor will accept $9,000 a week for musio hall engagements. It is not known whether Mr. Wyndham will allow an option for more than one week at a larger salary if he should "make good." ROSES FOR "JOHN'S HEAD." St. Louis, March 11. Gertrude Hoffman and "The Mimic World" are playing a return engagement at the Garriok. It looked at first as though the police would interfere with Miss Hoffman's act, as was done in Kansas City last week. But Sunday a committee from head- quarters let the act go on with the single change of a bunch of roses instead of John's head in the "Salome" dance. Otherwise the dances and the rest of the show are as seen before. UNDERWRITERS CLOSE HOUSE. The converted church at Union Hill, N. J., opened by J. B. Morris and Joseph Shea with pictures and vaudeville on March 1, was ordered closed by inspectors for the fire underwriters on Wednesday afternoon. It had been opposing the Hud- son since opened. THE GREAT RICHARDS. Toe above pone la that of THE GREAT RICH- ARDS who Is booked by tbe UNITED BOOKING OFFICE exclusively, and Is this week playing a retain date at CHASE'S THEATRE, WASHING- TON, D. O. Tbe act la described aa "a forgeoas combtaa- tlon of art and color," and moat be saaa to be