Variety (September 1909)

VARIETY COLUMBUS MAKES THIRTEEN. On Sept. 13 there will be just thirteen houses open on the Morris Circuit, unless some others fall in the independent line before that date. This week James V. Howell, of the Co- lonial, Columbus, reached New York, ar- ranging with William Moms the first high grade bill for his theatre. James K. Hackett will headline it, reappearing for one week only in vaudeville. In Columbus the Colonial will oppose Keith's. Mr. Howell is not positive whether he will continue vaudeville as a permanent attraction in his theatre, and will be guided probably by the returns. Programs for the first two weeks com- mencing Labor Day have been settled upon. Ten acts will be played weekly. NELLIE McCOY OPENS MONDAY. On Labor Day at Proctor's, Newark, Nellie McCoy, once of the McCoy Sisters, will appear as a single act, in songs and character changes. M. S. Bentham has the vaudeville direc- tion of Miss McCoy. Her sister is the famous "Yama" girl. SOME "BALLOON DOGS." When Herman's "Balloon Dogs" open at Chase's, Washington, Sept. 27, the audi- ences will see the animals in balloon baskets suspended from the flies. If the reports are correct, the dogs turn somer- saults from basket to basket. It is a foreign act, appearing in the States for the first time, booked through the Marinelli agency. TWO GIRLS CHANGE PLACES. Billie Seaton and Maurice Wood changed places this week. Miss Seaton left the Morris Circuit for "The Midnight Sons," and Miss Wood left the show for the circuit. Billie opened last Monday night at the Broadway Theatre, with all new ward- robe, appearing in the "Music Hall" scene, impersonating Eva Tanguay. Maurice opens Monday at the American. "SCHOOLROOM'S" NEW RULES. Now that all the former rules relating to the conduct of agents in the "school- room" of the United Booking Offices have been trampled upon, new regulations are slowly being placed in effect, pushing the agents back gradually into the small en- closure at the rear of the room. The most important reason for the movement of exclusion and expulsion is said to be the claim of Sam Hodgdon that he hasn't room to book with so many commission men near. The agents say that upon the first busy day in the United all the rules will once more be overlooked in the rush for acts. A FREE GALLERY. San Francisco, Sept. 2. The New Chutes Theatre will open about Dec. 15, and will be a "Class A" structure throughout. The dimensions are 70 by 120 feet. Stage depth 25 feet, width 70 feet, opening 32 feet. Seating capac- ity 1,000 downstairs, and 300 in the gallery. Price 10 cents below, gallery free. Two performances nightly and matinee. NEW HALL FOR PARIS. (Special Cable to Vabirt,) Paris, f&fc>t. 1. The former director of the Moulin Rouge, Aumont, has purchased the prop- erty at 23 Boulevard Clichy, and will build a music hall, according to the an- nouncement made by him today. Buller Student's Ballroom in the Latin Quartier will inaugurate vaudeville dur- ing November. A lease has been given Crawford, the American skating rink promoter, of the Hippodrome, which will be added to the string being gathered by him. The Alcazar closed yesterday. TORONTO'S FIRST MORRIS BILL. Toronto, Sept. 2. The Majestic, completely redecorated and rejuvenated inside and out opens Labor Day under William Morris* man- agement, with Maude Odell as the head- liner. Others will be: Herbert Lloyd, Yoscarys, Scott and Wnaley, and Bosan- quet. The local management will be en- trusted to C. E. Macmillan, who formerly managed the Academy, Montreal. ALL'S WELL WITH WILTON. Alf T. Wilton, the agent, still lives. For a while late last week he was not sure that he would see the sun rise again. He had been receiving threatening tele- grams. Each one of the series read: "You have only three more days to live," or two days or one day, as the series ran along daily. When the last day of the few the letter writer had given him to enjoy life arrived Wilton came to his office as usual, but he was nervous and anxious all day until came the final dispatch: It read: "You will die today unless you book good time for me," and it was signed, "Musical Irving, address care J. J. Quigley, Boston." Wilton heaved a sigh of relief and went out' after another glass of buttermilk. BIG TENOR HELD UP. Frank Morrell is working at Hammer- stein's this week and living at the Albany. Tnesday night Mr. Morrell dressed himself very carefully, after appearing in black- face. The dressing process was a slow one, making the hour about 3 a. m. when Frank drew close to his hotel. As he did so a nice young man said, "I remember you," and attempted to greet him by a shake of his scarf pin. Mr. Morrell couldn't recollect just who the fellow was and so slipped one over. The young man said it hurt, whereupon several of the clan gathered. Frank saved his scarf pin and his money, but he had to punch three or four of them to do it. Now there is a vendetta against Morrell and he dresses more quickly after each show. SHUBERTS LOSE CURTIS. Denver, Sept. 2. Commencing Labor Day a stock com- pany will re-enter the Curtis, where the Shuberts attractions will no longer appear. No reason is assigned for the change in policy, though poor business is one of the causes attributed. "Girls" and "Going Some," lately at the house, did but fairly, if even that. CHANCE FOR MME. DISS DEBARS. 0*Delia Diss DeBarr, with over fifty summers and winters behind her at least, and after having interviewed some of the wealthiest people in the country who en- joyed her "occult science" recitations and demonstrations, will appear at Hammer- stein's next week as the feature of the bill, offering a lecture for her portion of the performance. The long-time leader in the Veiled Prophet class accepted the opportunity at $1,000 or so a week to inform a curious public how she has been maligned by the press for many years. Edw. S. Keller engaged O'Delia for Hammerstein's and has her contract for a week with an option for more to follow if she "turns the trick," which in vaude- ville is "to draw more than her salary." When the Diss DeBarr appears at Ham- merstein's on Monday the stage will be a replica of her "reception room" at the 33d Street address. Beside her will be Donald Livingston Mackay, who will per- haps act as announcer. He is the son of Dr. W. O. Mackay, the author. 'DOLLAR PRINCESS" A SUCCESS. Atlantic City, Sept. 2. Charles Frohman presented the last of his three openings for the month at the Apollo Monday night. It is "The Dollar Princess," a brilliant musical comedy, book by Willner & Grunbaum, and music by Leo Fall. Before a fashionable audience the piece scored an immediate success. The show gave all round satisfaction. That means much, as the initial performance required three hours and forty minutes, with brief entre acts. Several musical numbers are very pret- ty. "Inspection," a dreamy humming "la la" song, sung by Donald Brian and Valli Valli, will soon be sung*and whis- tled everywhere. . NORTH POLE IN VAUDEVILLE. Dr. "Pole" Cook, landing on top of the earth, has been the softest thing for the vaudeville managers since Keith and Mor- ris fought over Annette Kellermann. Before the Herald had had time to re- write Dr. Cook's cable, Mark Luescher, acting for Martin Beck, who was in Paris at the time, framed it up that the pole discoverer would lecture over the United States under the guidance of Martin. Through his wonderful powers of repres- sion Mark allowed Martin to sail for America instead of verifying Cook's dis- covery. Percy G. Williams, who is a great be- liever in money, had Charles Bornhaupt charge up $80 worth of cables for an offer of $4,000 a week, Dr. Cook to play the Williams and Hammerstein time ex- clusively. The Morris office got on the job right away. The only condition Morris made was that Dr. Cook should bring the pole with him, and open on the American Roof next summer. Doc Steiner said he knew it all the time, and Maurice Boom offered a week in Chester, Pa. Percy L. Waters claims to have the only bona fide moving pictures of Dr. Cook in the act of looking the Pole over. PATSY GRAFTS OFF $47- It was a good week at Morrison's, end- ing Sunday night last. Annette Keller- mann found she was $47 short on the pay account. Patsy Morrison, of Rockaway Beach and the United Booking Offices, has the change safely tucked away in the sands on the beach. While Patsy doesn't care for a little thing like $47, still that buys many a ham sandwich in the winter at Rockaway, although it doesn't get much in the regu- lar season. Last Friday afternoon Miss Kellermann thought she would cut the "Diablo" playing out of her act. Patsy says he told the swimmer not to do it. But she did. Patsy knew she did. He felt wounded. Patsy felt so badly that by Sunday night he was sure nothing but $47 could soothe his feelings. James R. Sullivan, manager for Miss Kellermann, thought of his contract. It is with B. F. Keith, not Patsy. Mr. Sulli- van notified E. F. Albee, Mr. Keith's man- ager, that he had been trimmed for $47 at Rockaway, and for Mr. Albee to get busy with his checkbook. There was noth- ing for Mr. Albee to do but to dig down. It is not at all impiobable that Mr. Albee will sue Patsy for the money. Whether Albee does or not, Pat Casey is going to, and for $75, which Casey says a year ago he gave to Eva Tay- lor, who played "Chums" at Rockaway Beach at a cut of $50 on her regular salary. Casey booked the act. All the contracts were regular and of record in the United, but when pay day came around Patsy slipped Miss Taylor all her money, excepting $76, which made the cut $125 in all. The actress told her agent, and her agent (Casey) gave her a check for $75. Then the agent told Patsy, and Patsy said it would be all right, he would send his own check to make good. Every time after when Patsy met Casey he smiled as though the joke was still fresh. When Casey heard about Miss Keller- mann it reminded him of the $75. An at- torney was at once instructed to go after Patsy for that amount. The two accounts would amount to but $122. Patsy says that this is the best season he has ever had. Even with the opposition against him, Patsy claims he has increased the box office receipts 35 per cent, over last year. A 35 per cent, increase must be over $122. Tom Barry and Co. in "Nlek Carter," open Labor Day on the United time. POOR UNDERDRESSING. Mike Morris, the acrobat of Morris and Morris, is the second victim of a dog bite around the corner of 42d street and Seventh avenue. Percy C. Williams was the other. Sunday evening Morris went walking past the Hammerstein curb through the usual crowd when a pedigreed English bull, belonging to J. Harry Allen, broke from his leash and grabbed him by the leg. Morris had been having trouble with a bruise on the leg, and the end of a bandage hung down below his trouser hem. After taking a small section away from the acrobat's limb, the pup found the bandage. As he pulled it out Morris did a highly artistic spin across Seventh Avenue. The thing that saved him was his hat falling off, distracting the. attention oX the dog.