Variety (March 1909)

VARIETY TO RENEW FRANCHISE* Travelling manager! of the Eaatern Bur- lesque Wheel have received notice that at the expiration of this season their pres- ent franchises will be voided, and that next season a new franchise will be issued in each case. Although contracts with tfo. Columbia Amusement Co. have nomi- nalljhtoMWMwtwdifcUtt y«ft» >• year, those managers who affiliated themselves with the younger of the burlesque concerns op- erated to all intents and purposes under a perpetual franchise. Although there seems to be no solid foundation for the belief, some of the man- agers have expressed the opinion that the Eastern Wheel will be reduced next sea- son by the elimination of certain fran- chised members whose holdings of stock in the parent company (Columbia) has been allowed to drop below a fixed amount. In other quarters the opinion has been hazarded that the directors of the Colum- bia are aiming at some individual or firm who disposes of stock to outsiders. PLUCKY FLORENCE BENNETT. At the Olympic, New York (formerly Pastor's), this week, Florence Bennett, one of the principals in Fred Irwin's "Big Show," is playing her role with one arm in a sling, so covered up that hardly any- one in the audience surmises the fact. During the engagement of the show in Boston, Miss Bennett, in hurrying down stairs to reach the stage, slipped, falling and striking upon her left arm, breaking it just above the wrist. The plucky young woman continued during the show, and has played every performance since. WILLIE COHAN THROUGH. "The Rollickers" are playing this week without Will H. Cohan, who was the prin- cipal comedian in it. Willie has had sev- eral tiffs during the season with R. E. Patten, the show's manager, and on Sat- urday afternoon at Montreal Mr. Cohan was informed he was through. Returning to New York, William noti- fied M. M. Thiese, the owner of the com- pany, that he had ben canceled in viola- tion of his contract, that containing no "notice" clause, and that Mr. Cohan would sue for the remainder of the sea- son's salary. DEPENDS UPON "ALASKAN'S" SUC- CESS. Chicago, March 18. The success of John Cort's "Alaskan" at the Great Northern, where the show opens April 10, will tell the story whether Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day" will follow it into Chicago's only downtown popular priced house on the Stair & Hav* lin time. If the Gerard show takes possession of the theatre, it will be on May 23 with a brand new equipment. SMALL HOUSE BILLING BIG. Philadelphia, March 18. The Standard, a small combination house, is billing its features very big in the Sunday papers. This week it an- nounced as the feature "Blanche Ring" in type so large that "By the Cameraphone" beneath could scarcely be seen. Among the acts listed were "Gallagher and Mundorf" and "Smith and Hennessy." Jules Ruby books the Standard. TWO "WATSONS'" WAR ON. Baltimore, March 18, War to the knife has been declared be- tween the opposition burlesque houses in this city, and the name of "Billy Wat- son" is the cause of it all. Some weeks ago the management of the Monumental (Western) billed the town with the an- tt mnce m eirt that "feifry Watson, ^tbe tfne *nft tort?," ami hb'eempanry'would'tyend a gala week at the house/ commencing March 15. The Gayety (Eastern) took notice and remembered that the "Girls from Happy- land" and Billy Watson were to appear at the Gayety the same time. The come- dians are not the same, but the name of "Watson" has become somewhat of a trade mark in burlesque, so Manager Ballauf, of the Gayety, ordered bills an- nouncing that Billy Watson would be his exclusive guest. A wail went up from the Monumental when these posters ap- peared, and from that theatre promptly went out advertising matter in English, Yiddish and German, proclaiming their Billy Watson "the one and only origi- nal." They also published their Billy Ws pedigree, showing him to be the posses- sor of the troublous name for the last twenty-seven years. This is the second time that the con- flicting comedians have met this season, once before in St. Louis, Mo. When the respective companies arrived in this city Sunday they were prepared for battle. Usually visiting burlesque companies put up at the same hotels and intermingle wjth one another. Not so the backers of the two Watsons. The clan spirit had been deep rooted in their hearts. They held completely aloof from each other. Manager Monty Jacobs, of the Monu- mental, waxes warm in his denunciation of the tactics employed by the Gayety. Billy B. Watson, he says, has been an at- traction at his theatre for many, many years, and the action taken by the Gay- ety's management shows how much they fear the attraction. Manager Ballauf, of the Gayety, does not care to talk, but challenges the Monu- mental to publish their net receipts at the end of the week. The war has, however, brought sheckels into the coffers of both theatres, and standing room only has been the rule at each house throughout the week so far. LYTELL NATURE FAKING AGAIN. Billy Lytell a short time ago entered the field of animal training by writing a sketch for Adgie's Lions. Now he has gone an- other step in nature faking. He is man- eging Hill & Manchester's "Happy Hooli- gan and his Mule Maud." The show is playing the Amphion, Brooklyn, this week, New York's first opportunity to see it. Those who ventured over to the Baby Borough to witness the performance de- clare that Lytell has gone further limits of nature faking. "Maud" isn't a mule at ail, despite the feature billing. Tt is a 'prop" animal hurriedly constructed out of half a giraffe and half a camel, rescued from a musical spectacle now in a New York storage warehouse. EASTERNERS ABOLISH DRAWINGS. There will be no drawings for opening stands on the Eastern Burlesque Wheel this season. Instead each show will take a place in the Wheel a certain number of weeks in advance of this season's position and continue through the tour from that point. This course is set in an effort to equalise p refe ^tm ? 1 drawingt; 'Under the cJ4*jMem it was jpoasibm^or one* mana- ger to draw preferred places year after year if the lucky number happened to fall his way. The Western Wheel partially offset this chance by arranging to pool all trans- portation charges to the opening stands and dividing the total pro rata. Even the pool scheme failed to make up to the un- lucky manager who started his season in the dull period as against a rival more fortunate. The new plan, it is claimed, will equalise the old haphazard method on the theory that every few years will bring the advantageous place around to each manager in turn. It is probable that none of the mana- gers will be able to know their opening stands until just before the tour starts. Some time in June or July the Eastern Executive Committee will decide and an- nounce the number of weeks that the Wheel will be moved up. Hie change in drawing method was an- nounced to the managers this week In a circular letter with strict injunctions that it was to remain secret. The letter was couched in terms which aroused the ire of some of the managers to which it was ad- dressed. One paragraph of the communica- tion said "The Columbia Amusement Com- pany seems to be well provided for in respect to 'inside reporters,'- who make known to outsiders all the moves of the organisa- tion. If we want the movements of the company to be made public we will an- nounce it ourselves. Dont tell this to all the world/' The indignation of several of the mana- gers led them immediately to give these facts to Variety. THEATRE BILL PASSES. Louisville, Ky., March 18. Nothing remains to make *he new law under which the new Hynicka burlesque theatre (Gayety) may be completed, ef- fective, but the signature of the Mayor. The measure has passed the upper and lower local legislative bodies. BRONX BURLESQUE HOUSE. A syndicate of Empire Circuit mana- gers, prominent among whom are the Miner Estate and Jamc* J. Butler, presi- dent of the Empire Co. this week took title to a plot of ground at the corner of Brooks Avenue and 156th Street. As an- nounced a few days ago, this will be the site of a new theatre, playing Western Wheel burlesque shows. The promoters hope to have the theatre ready for opening by September. The cost of the property is not made public. Mort Sharp has dispersed his "Dusky Belles" and will play in vaudeville in a 'two-act" with Miss Montgomery, first name withheld. SUNDAY SHOWS IN EVANSVILE. Evansville, Ind., March 18. The first dramatic performance on Sun- day in two years did a tremendous busi- ness here March 14. "Mrs. Temple's Tele- gram" was the attraction at the Wells' Bijou. Applicants for admittance were turned away afternoon and night. DIFFERENT VIEWS ON "POOLS." Chicago, March 18. While it is reported hare that the West- ern Burlesque Wheel will dissolve its "pooling* scheme which has existed dur- ing this season among about twenty Western shows, it is said that the East- ern Wheel contemplates organising a "pool" among its attractions for the coming season. LEAYITT MAY RETIRE. Chicago, March 18. It is reported that Abe Leavitt, man- ager of the oldest burlesque-titled troupe, "Rents-Santley," may retire from the bur- lesque field next season, either leasing his show or title, or quitting altogether. Mr. Leavitt's retirement, if it occura, it is said will be caused by the proposed increase for franchises in the Eastern Wneel, whereby a traveling manager must cither pay to the Eastern people a per- centage of profits in addition to $100 weekly, now charged for the privilege of the Eastern franchise, or in lieu of profit percentage, $26 additional each week. The new arrangement may also be the basis for the renewal of franchises for next season, the latest order issued by the Eastern, as reported here. SHEEDY IN SPRINGFIELD. Springfield, Mass., March 18. The local papers have announced that M. R. Sheedy will take control of the Gilmour Theatre shortly, introducing vaudeville and pictures there. Theatre goers are wondering what will become of the Eaatern Wheel burlesque shows. They now play at the Gilmour and no other house is available in Springfield. If the change eventuates the burlesque shows will have made three changes. They first played what is now Poli's. Then they moved to the Nelson, and from there to the Gilmour. Vaudeville followed the burlesque policy in each case. Hayes and Johnson returned to New York this week. They and Pat Casey held converse in two separate rooms. VERY. FAR AWAY. A anapshot tsken by BBBT T. WATBON of a party eo route from Auckland to Wellington (New Zealand). It to composed of member* of J. C. WILLIAMSON'S MUSICAL COMBDT STOCK CO. Mr. Watson la the stage msnager. CHARLES LODBB la holding VARIETY. Next to Mr. Loder to hla wife. Jnat behind Is JOHNNY FORD. The yelled young woman 1h MISS GOODWIN, the leading lady of the com pany, and beside her to ALF MOULTON, tbe mualcal director. Messrs. Loder, Ford, Moulton and Mm. Loder are Americana.