Variety (July 1909)

VARIETY SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION OF WHI TE RATS A T CHICAGO Public Meeting at Colonial Theatre to Big House and Hot Speeches. ARTISTS' FORUM Chicago, July 1. The second annual convention of the White Rats took place at the Colonial Friday night. The theatre was loaned by George W. Lederer. It was nearly midnight when Chairman Junie McCree announced the first speaker. The meeting was extensively advertised and the house held a large, enthusiastic and interested crowd, much larger than last year. Father Shannon spoke first. He recited the necessities of affiliating the theatre with the church. Timothy Cronin, president of the Act- ors' Political League, urged the auditors to organize politically, the same as in New York. He said in part: "About twenty-five years ago Louis Aldrich, who has since passed away, went to Washing- ton in behalf of the actors, and there met the political rulers, among them Congress- men who shook him by the hand and gave every promise of support. When he urged political recognition for the actor, a Congressman said he couldn't do any- thing for the actors because an actor does not vote. Speaking of the Voss bill, Mr. Cronin said: "We made the people who fought the Voss bill spend $25,000. The opponents sent agents to the Senate and Assembly* but the bill was passed unani- mously." The latter part of Cronin's speech was fiery: "We must have an equitable contract," he yelled; "we must have it. We had to suffer defeat to get an equitable contract, but we will spend every dollar the White Rats has in order to get it. We tried to fight them, but they got us—took our money. But the United Booking Offices and others suf- fered." Judge Dunne, western counsel for the Rats, advised his hearers to prepare for legal protection, such as arranging bonds in case of litigation with managers or others. Denis F. O'Brien, attorney for the or- ganization, followed Mr. Dunne, and dis- cussed the validity of contracts and book- ing agents. Referring to agents, he said: "We are dealing with associations, not in- dividuals; therefore you need protection. The agency business should be regulated by legislation, the same as employment agencies. They should be responsible ami reliable in every way. The Legislature passed a law providing that contracts is- sued by agents be equitable." Mr. O'Brien said there was a general disposition to pirate and infringe on other people's prop- erty. He urged owners of plays and sketches to copyright their property un- der the new copyright law, in effect July 1. The last speaker was Harry Mount ford, secretary of the Board of Directors. Mr. Mountford gave a summary outline of the present vaudeville situation, and caused more excitement than all the other speakers combined. He proved the most forcible and astounded the spectators with some of his remarks, which were chiefly confined to the workings of agencies and their allies. He started in by saying there were many blacklisted actors: "It is true," he cried, "there are blacklisted actors among you. If they had had a few blacklisted actors the Olympio might have been playing vaudeville to-day." Mount- ford read from a pamphlet issued by the United Booking Offices in which the artist is given to understand that they (U. B. O.) control all the big theatres, and can offer acts unlimited time. "The United Book- ing Offices say they are an agency. The office is not conducted by agents. It is a clearing house of vaudeville managers." In a letter which he said was writ- ten in June, 1007, by the United to the White Rats, an equitable contract was promised. "The promise was not kept. Why ? The actor can't reach the manager and the manager can't reach the- actor. Managers are not all good. Some actors are the same. The United stands ready to get money not coming to them." Pro- ducing a letter Mr. Mountford said calmly: "I will tell you what the agents think of you. This letter is from an agent to George Greenwood, another agent in Atlanta, Ga. It says 'Get all the acts you can. Pick out what you want. To hell with the actors; take care of your houses.'" Mountford said he had the original letter to prove the assertion. "One fool actor," he continued, "wanted work. He dared work a week in Cincin- nati for the opposition, and because he did not give them some of his money he received a telegram saying after date he would not get work for two years. An- other example: An act in the east was given three weeks to show the agents what he had. While playing the first week in Baltimore he was told the other two were off. He refused to finish the week unless the contract for the remaining two was fulfilled. He received a telegram bearing the information that if he did not finish the week he would not be able to play in America any more. The United put theatres on paper that have burned. I know of an act of three people receiving $80 that had to give up 20 per cent, after it had signed for 5 per cent. Another act came to Chicago to play for the Associa- tion. The regular 5 per cent, was paid to the Association, while another was turned over in an envelope to another agent. The same act was held up again in Bos- ton, five weeks after the Chicago engage- ment." Mr. Mountford did not lose an oppor- tunity in gaining his points. He made his auditors hear him. He said his ene- mies were trying to injure him by ma- liciously attacking his attitude. "The worst thing they can say about me is that I was born in England. If I am an Englishman it was an accident. I have the American spirit. I am for independ- ence. The vaudeville associations do not like me. If I were representing their in- terests instead of the White Rats, why would they be so anxious to get me out? They say I am an agitator. They call us agitators. If we draw swords England's (Continued on page 12.) letters f 180 words and write Aaaayssaas eesatMakatssae wM tat be prist held Id strict coafloaacs. If Ni ■Ids af m at only, aiust bo Letters to bo aabhabei la this ootaaw sraot bo written oxoloatvoly to VAEHTT. lottots will not bo stinted. The writer who eopUonteo a letter to the roraa, either heft It appears hero, will not bo penalties' the pririlogo of It scats. Battle Creek, Mich., June 28. Editor Variety : Regarding the letter from Claudius and Scarlet relating to the fine imposed upon the act while on my circuit, I desire to say that that is correct, and in addition, make the following plain statement of the fact: Mr. Claudius* contract called for twelve minutes and he only did four, leav- ing the stage and refusing to do the bal- ance of his act. He talked loud enough from the stage to create comment in the theatre. Would not have fined him at all (as I do not believe in fines) had there been any other method to have reached him. I believe you could do lots to har- monize the conditions in smaller towns of my kind if you would write an editorial for the vaudeville artist who plays the smaller time and considers it not worthy of his best efforts. I can name and bring posi- tive proof that quite a few first-class acts have played the Michigan time at about the same salary that they receive in the larger houses, using none of their better wardrobe and sometimes going so far as to play an inferior act under the same title, taking one that makes the work much lighter, feeling there is no one to find them out, or would "kick" about it. I am trying to run my business in a business-like manner and keep out of petty quarrels, but I cannot sit still and let everybody rub it into me. W. 8. Butterfiel*. Mount Olive, 111., June 26. Editor Variety: We wish to warn all acts of The Air- dome, Edwardsville, 111., managed by A. Gillespie. His wife compels artists to stop with her, ami if you don't, they start to pick your act for a mark. Of all the imitation piano players, there is one in Edwardsville. After the first show, wo sent the stage boy who draws the curtain in full view of the audience, to go out and send Mr. Gillespie back as we were going to quit. He would not come back all evening, and we had to work, the next morning being Sunday, as this was a two-day stand, Mrs. Gillespie at the breakfast table started to boost the piano player, etc., and 'finally we could not stand it any longer, and went to our room, packed our trunk and quit, receiving our money for the day's work, after Mr. G. trying to coax us to finish out the engagement. Keep clear of Ed- wardsville. Beecher, Maye and Ethel. Editor Variety : Cincinnati, June 26. Owing to the fact that during the past year two women have been using the title of "Mile. Dolores," I am compelled to re- assume the above name which I have not been using for the past year. My husband J. Francis Hofmann, desired me to use his name for a while. For 20 years I worked patiently and very hard to gain a recogni- tion in the professional world, and I have never been cancelled or closed in any house for incompetency, yet these women who are using this title have. I have re- ceived this information from reliable people. I was born in Boise City, Idaho, in 1880 and was christened "Dolores" by my peo- ple of the Cherokee tribe and which name I have always used since my eighth year. These women are at least eight or nine years my junior. I therefore announce that the original, the first and only, Mile, or Madmoiselle Dolores is still in existence. Although I am compelled to protect myself from would-be "actressessess" and "piratessess," I am more than sorry that the profession has come to such a pass that there is no alternative left for me. "One Who Is," not Has Been. Mile. Dolores. (Hofmann and Dolores.) CHANGES IN THE "FOLLIES." Changes have been going on in "The Follies of 1909" on the New York Roof for the past couple of weeks, and more are in prospect. Norah Bayes and Jack Norworth did not appear for the performance Thursday evening. No reason was assigned. Lillian Lorraine assumed Miss Baye's songs in addition to her own allotment of num- bers. Harry Pilcer, who joined the piece on Wednesday, played Mr. Norworth's role. Tom Almond, the "kangaroo" dancer, has been dancing one minute and a half in the "Jungle Scene," since Monday. Charles Robinson was stated to appear last night, with new comedy material for the show. Ou Monday next Annabelle Whitford will substitute a "Brinkley Bathing Girl" for the displaced "Christy" type she first appeared in. There is also said to be a naughty and somewhat risque Spanish dance in process of preparation, which may be introduced for the first time Mon- day evening. "CITY SPORTS," NEW SHOW. Phil Sheridan's "CSty Sports'* will vir- tually be a new show on the Eastern Wheel next season. Fresh pieces have been written for the production by Jack lUirnett, who will manage the company during '09 '10. Mr. Sheridan will probably go out with it for the first few weeks. Brooklvn, June 30. Kditor Variety : In reviewing our act last week, Dash mentioned a resemblance of a small por- tion to Frederick Hawley's "Bandit." Kindly state that that dramatic "bit" was written and staged by Mr. Sabine. We were unaware of the similarity, not having seen Mr. Hawley nor the "IJuihlit." Mlh: \ cm. (Mile. Vera and Clin*. Sabine.) John T. Kearney will build a one-story picture place at 1338 L Street, N. W., Washington. Plans have been filed.