Variety (June 1909)

TEN CENTS VOL. XIV., NO. 13. JUNE 5, 1909. PRICE TEN CENTS. SMALL TIME FORMING UNION WITH WHITE RATS AGENCY Over 50 Houses Joining the Independent Booking Office. Details in Process of Settlement. Small Time Opposition. Cash Bonds to Guarantee 44 Play or Pay" White Rats Contracts. Over fifty of the smaller vaudeville theatres have combined to book their shows under the banner of the White Rats of America as represented by the Inde- pendent Booking Office in New York, the corporation formed by the artists' society when an interest was taken by the order in the Mozart Circuit. In the new combination are (besides Mozart) Fciber, Shea & Coutant, with seven weeks; M. R. Sheedy, eleven weeks, and John .1. Quigley, a Boston agent, who claims to have over twenty-five houses to book for in New England. The Mozart Circuit has about twelve houses, giving the chain a total of over fifty theatres to commence with. Some Of these houses play shows but three days a week, chang- ing the bill twice. The net time to be offered will be forty weeks as the list now stands. Each circuit joining will use the White Kat form of contract. This was agreed to at a meeting at the White Rats' rooms on Tuesday last, when all the circuits, with attorneys, were represented. At the meeting it was agreed that a cash bond of $2,500, it is said, be de- posited with a trust company, obliging under penalty of forfeiture that each cir- cuit play or pay its contracts. For the artists, the Rats pledged itself to see that each member contracting to play did so, and upon default the order would reim- burse the manager for the amount of sal- ary contracted for, with any additional expenses incurred, dealing with the artist afterwards for his dereliction. The filing of the bonds and other pre- liminaries will require al>out ten more days. When the matters have l>een satis- faetorily arranged, a large oflico will l>e rented. Each circuit can make that its headquarters, or be represented in it. The present Board of Directors of the Independent Booking Office will be en- larged to permit a member of each circuit joining it. The Board will select an office manager or general director of the office, with power left to each circuit to book its own shows. There has been a provisional agreement signed by all the circuits in the combine. It requires but the signature of the White lists to make it binding. Harry Mountford, secretary of the Rats' lit.; 1 rd of Directors, said this week regard- ing the proposed amalgamation: "This is not a combination in opposition to any one or any booking office. We ask only that managers assure us they are trust- worthy by filing a bond, and then using our form of contract. The Independent looking Office will oppose no circuit, and has no fight on with any. We ask only that the artist be secured in his dealings with the manager." There has been quite some excitement among the "small time*' all week. It has In-en claimed that the Metropolitan Vaude- ville Exchange, of which Joe Wood is manager, with an office in the Long Acre Building, is in reality a branch of the United Booking Offices, and that Mr. Wood is under contract to the United at a salary of cither $7,500 or $10,000 yearly. It was also said that Woofl was threaten- ing small acts if they played for any other small time than his own they would be blacklisted in the United offices. The threat of blacklist was made to Carita, a toe dancer, who has been on the Feil>cr, Shea & Coutant Circuit, and is hooked to play their house at Bayonnc next week. On Wednesday Miss Carita said that Wood told her if she played Bayonnc next week she need expect no time from the (Continued on pagv 11.) "WHITE CITY" QUITS. New Orleans, June 3. "W'hite City" closed down here Tues- day night. W. H. Labb, who assumed the management, accumulated $12,000 in debts. When the power company sent in its bill for lighting, he could not meet it and service was discontinued. Without light the place had to clone it h doors. Monday night the show was given by candle light. Fifty small candles decorated the stage. Labb leased the property from the Standard Operating Co., of Philadelphia, the owners. The latter concern will seek to have the debts settled and may resume the management by the middle of the month. It is said the receipts paid ope- rating expenses and the successful hand- ling of the proposition is merely a matter of capital. Vaudeville was booked into the park tleatre by William Morris. The acts have been transferred to Blaney's Lyric Theatre to allow the artists to get their salaries. The Dove of Peace has hovered not over Blaney's Lyric, a temple of weepodrama. The "ghost" did not walk when the last week's work was done, in fact the ceme- tery habitue didn't even crawl, and the actors were peeved, perplexed and put out. They swore loathsome, cantankerous swears upon the heads of Charles E. Hlaney and his house manager, Mr. Mc- Stea. William Bel fort, a juvenile, made so bold as to invade the local Mgr.'s sanctum to demand pelf. He received various and sundry bruises. Belfort then Marat honed over to Newspaper How and told all he knew. With some "padding" it consumed a column. McStea was charged with malicious mauling in attempt to defraud. At the preliminary trial salaries were spoken of. Ii seems that principals received from forty to sixty dollars per week, and the "rank and vile" from live to ten dollars a week. The case was continued. TWO ACTS OPEN IN LONDON. (Special Cable to Variety.) Ivondon, June '.i. Two American acts opened here Moii- dav. Alexander and Scott at the Coliseum did quite well, while Lyons and Parks, a youthful team appearing at the Tivoli, did very good. MORRIS AND BARASSFORD? (Special Cable to Vabiety.) London, June 3. There was a very secret meeting or conference held between William Morris, Thomas Barassford, of the Barassford Tour, and The Great Lafayette yesterday morning. It was too early really, for show people, especially in London, but the trio were noticed. It tends to confirm the rumor about before Morris reached here that there might be some affiliation between his American circuit and Barassford's English tour. The Great Lafayette is believed to have been instrumental in bringing the two managers together. Lafayette is very strong with Barassford. PITOU-O'HARA DEAL OFF. Augustus Pitou will not star Fiske O'Hara next season after all. Mr. Pitou is the manager of Chauncey Olcott, who is in the same Irish romantic singing class that Mr. O'Hara is. Mr. Olcott, according to the reports, thinks one of a kind is enough for any single manager. Pitou agreed with him, 'tis said, and still has Olcott under his management. MAASE LEAVES MARINELLI. (Special Cable to Vakikty.) Berlin, June 2. I.co Manse, formerly the Berlin repre- sentative in charge of the II. B. Marinelli office here, left that position yesterday and started an agency of his own at 57 Unter Den Linden. COUPLE OF THOU. FOR MILLER. A couple of thou, or so for each week for a quartet of them will bring Henry Miller back to the variety stage. It's just a matter now of the salary, the managers and the time if the latter can be brought to light by M. S. Bent ham for immediate engagements. GIRLS FOR JACK GARDNER. Some girls a'i«| . lin-k t:. •Miner will com- pose a v;iinlevil!'- ihhmI.it •Imihil' the sum nier. |»l.i\in^ on (In- i ""I- or at the Ijcaclic*. |•«■ 11•.11•— ii l»"lli places. •'11 r ^nl.r I'niire" was t lie last piece to have Mr. Gardner in the cast.