Variety (April 1909)

TEN CM NTS VOL. XIV., NO. 7. APRIL 24, 1909. PRICE TEN CENTS. — t ■■ i i K. & E. AND BELASCO FRIENDLY AGAIN T O THE BOO KING POINT Repdrt That Differences Have Been Patched Up, and 44 Syndicate" Routes Laid Out for Belasco Shows. The Shuberts' Latest Plan. Klaw & Erlanger and David Belasco are again on friendly business terms accord- ing to a reliable informant who says that though no contracts may yet have been signed between the parties, a truce has been declared and that routes for several of the Belasco productions over "The Syndicate" time are now in Klaw & Er- langer's offices. Mare Klaw is said to have been instru- mental in bringing about peace. The com- mencement was shortly before A. L. Er- langer left on his last trip to Europe. The final understanding was reached with Mr. Erl anger away. Strained relations have existed for a number of years, forcing Belasco to ally himself with such "Independents" as have been without 'The Syndicate" pale. The Belasco stars and attractions have played under many unusual and peculiar condi- tions during the fight. Belasco has two New York theatres in which his own shows occupy the greater part if not all of each season. Though accounted friendly to the Shuberts, a Belasco show in New York out- side the Belasco houses has generally ap- peared at the Academy of Music at popu- lar prices, giving to the Shuberts no more value or benefit from the independent pro- ducer than the moral effect of his name in association with theirs. The many reported "Interviews" of late concerning a newspaper "break" between the Shuberts and "Hie Syndicate" have amounted to naught in the simmering- down process. What the Shuberts are doing, accord- ing to understanding, is to have the best legal minds attainable pore over the fif- teen-year contract which Lee Shubert en- tered into with Klaw & Erlanger two years ago. That agreement provided the Shuberts could not play any attraction for over one dollar admission in their own houses outside New York City. This block in the path of the Shuberts expanding and the inability of the shows to obtain an opening on the Klaw & Er- langer direct time may be the principal reasons why the Shuberts have been busily engaged of late in collecting a circuit of bouses of their own over the country. The story of the eminent legal talent attempting to find flaws in the fifteen-year agreement is said to be with the object of having a big capitalized corporation take over the numberless small corporations under which style the Shuberts operate both their theatres and productions. If the Shuberts are counseled that this plan may be followed without a prohibi- tive liability possibly incurred through suit, it is said, they will feel free in their future theatrical course of action. It is also said that were Klaw ft Er- langer to direct that an open-door policy in the booking of shows prevail with the Shuberts, the latter might rest more con- tent. It is also claimed the purpose of the Shuberts' manipulations for the past year has been to place themselves in a position to command the respect through power of the other side. The Shuberts are reputed to be worth about $1,000,000 in cash and real estate, in addition to blocks of stock in the sev- eral corporations controlling their shows. 23 WEEKS AT $1,000 PES. London, April 13. Starting September 27 next in some New York City house, Arthur Prince, the ven- triloquist, will commence a tour of twenty- three weeks in the States over the United time at $1,000 weekly. The Marinelli office in this city did the booking through Marinelli's New York branch. VICTOR MOORE WON'T PLAY. It has been settled Victor Moore will not play in vaudeville for William Morris. Mr. Moore may go over to London, appear- ing in his vaudeville sketch there with his wife, Miss Littlefleld. JACK JOHNSON REOPENS ALDWYCH. London, April 13. The Aldwych, in which Marie Dressier claims she lost $40,000 with the worst bunch of actors ever seen together in London, will reopen June 6 under the management of Seymour Hicks. Hicks, now playing in vaudeville, will present a large production, to be called "Sporting Life" or something similar. Jack Johnson, the colored champion pugi- list, has been engaged for four weeks to appear about six minutes in each show. The engagement of Johnson went through the H. B. Marinelli London office. There is a postponed engagement on the Gibbons time to be played by Johnson be- fore he can appear elsewhere, without Gibbons' consent. BICKEL AND WATSON OUT. Boston, April 22. Jack Norworth and Norah Bayes have re-signed with the Ziegfeld people, and will appear this summer on the New York Roof in "The Follies of 1909." Billie Reeves and Arthur Deagon, of the present cast, will also play in the show. Bickel and Watson, for two seasons with "The Follies," will leave the organization with the close of the present tour. SUMMER OPENING AT G. 0. H. Chicago, April 22. About August 1 the Harry Askin Co. will produce a new musical comedy at the Grand Opera House, this city. A. Baldwin Sloane will compose the music; David Hunt is to write the lyrics. John Young, a western comedian, will be featured in the as yet unnamed show. MAY DESOUSA HOMEWARD BOUND. May DeSousa, the American musical comedy girl who has been under the man- agement of George Ed ward es in London, will return to this side during May for the first time in several years. May has written William L. Lykens, agreeing to look over the vaudeville possi- bilities here, and if the prospect is good to seek engagements in the varieties. She will go back to London after a stay of some months to take a part in a new Edwardes production. May has been playing a little vaudeville on the Continent. TWO ENGLISH OPENINGS. (Special Cable to VABUTY.) London, April 22. At the Empire, London, on Monday, Oscar Loraine, the impersonator of famous musicians, opened, and dtfL quite well. The appearance of Willie Zimmermann in a somewhat similar offering at the Empire a few weeks ago did not help Mr. Loraine any. At the Brixton Empire on the same day, Gallager and Bannon in 'The Battle of Too Soon" were a scream. LIQUIDATORS AT HIPPODROME? (Special Cable to VARIETY.) Paris, April 22. It is reported here that liquidators have been appointed to take charge of the af- fairs of the Paris Hippodrome. AND NOW CORSE PAYTON, Corse Payton, the 170-pound Brooklyn champion actor, is sure enough going into vaudeville. Corse has signified his will- ingness to do a version of "Lend Mb Five Shillings" in thirty minutes. Bill Lyker* declared he would be charmed to book Corse and Co., who will appear at Atlan- tic Cty May 17. RECORD PRICE FOR PROVINCES. London, April 18. The record price for a vaudeville turn in the English provinces will be paid by the Moss-Stoll Tour to Seymour Hicks and Zena Dare. That couple are to receive $2,000 weekly for eleven weeks while outside London, playing one Moss-Stoll provincial hall weekly. The engagement was made through A. Wolheim, in charge of the Marinelli office here. MOVING PICTURE AS ALIBI. Cleveland, April 22. An advance impression had got abroad in Cleveland that 'The Blue Mouse," a Shubert comedy now running in New York, was unusually salacious. Before it appeared at the Colonial here this week, the crusading element was plotting to censor it. But the Shuberts brat them by one jump. On Saturday evening they invited the city officials to a moving picture house, and there the whole n'uy was run off on the animated sheet.