Variety (November 1909)

VARIETY ARTI STS* FO RUM Coaas* your letters to 1M words and write oa eae atle «f paper only. Anonymous oommanleatiou will aot be printed. Varna of writer most bo signed aad win bo hold la itrlot eonideaee. If desired. Letters to bo published Id this ooluma moot bo written exolusively to VARIETY. DnpUeated lattsrs will aot bo prlatod. Tho writer who duplicates a Utter to tho Forum, oithor boforo or after It appear* here, will aot be permitted the privilege of it stein. Chicago, Nov. 2. Editor Vaboett: I have read in the "Forum" the letter from Morris Wainstock, manager of Scribner'a "Oh You Woman" Co., com- plaining that 1 used his title in connection with my own show during our engage- ment in Milwaukee. He appears vexed that I did this. Here are the facts: For 28 years the theatre-going public has known me as Billy Watson, "The Billy Watson/' "The Only Billy Watson/' "The Original Billy Watson/' in fact the public has used a number of other ad- jectives wiQi it. In recent years there has come into the show business a young man named Herman Wolford, who has found it a very good idea to try and at- tract audiences to the theatres he plays Gu the Eastern Burlesque Wheel, by using my name, and thus deceiving even my own friends. About five weeks ago this Wol- ford party was playing in Toronto against me and they got out a lot of adver- tising matter dwelling on my name. This convinced me that my name must be a good drawing card since they insist upon using ii. After finding it impossible to shame Wolford out of billing himself in such a way that he tries to fool the public, I decided to fight the opposition with their own weapons. When I played Milwaukee "Oh, You Woman" played against me and 1 headed Djy printing matter for that week only "Oh, You Woman, with Billy Watson's Beef Trust." Now then comes a yelp from "Oh You Wainstock," who manages the show owued by the high cockalorum of the Eastern Wheel, Sam A. Scribner. Since they don't like my action, I don't like theirs, and if Mr. Scribner, who is such a big smoke in the Eastern will stop shows on his circuit from using my title. 1 will respect theirs, as I have everybody else's for 28 years. How about this Mr. Scribner? If this isn't stopped two can play at the same game. You started it, now you finish it. Billy Watson. « Philadelphia,' itor Variety: A few words for the Philadelphia critic {Qeo. M. Young) in Variety Oct. 30. He says the Von Serley Sisters' dance may pass through, but the singing never! Well, this act is passing through already the third season. Everybody was sitting with patience through the act, and oh, wonder!! everybody was pleased, and oh, greatest wonder!!! people went to the^ managers and said: "The prettiest and cleanest sister act we ever saw." Now, an example: No matter how pretty a picture if you do not give it the frame it cannot be attractive as it should be. Just the same with acts on the stage. In that Philadelphia theatre they did not give us anything at all; no •cenery, no light effects (have our own); didn't permit us to use our stage setting, even didn't put our trunks in the dressing room. Nobody says where it is. And fancy, they gave us cat music. A few persons sitting in the front directly do a laughing business; just plenty to put a S. A, D. act on the bum. And a hor- rible stage, too. All this because they want to quit the agency. But we think they ought to find a polite way to get the satisfaction. Otherwise this was our first bad notice, and our consolation is that Variety has given us better criticisms in the past time. Von Serley Sisters. (Your faithful little readers.) St. Louis, Oct. 30 Lditor Variety: We wish to call attention to the condi- tion of affairs in St. Louis in some of the small theatres. When an act is booked at some of these houses it is never sure of working. For instance, we were booked at Carrie- gen's Theatre, 17th and Market Streets, opening matinee Oct. 24. After the first show, the manager sent back word to the "dressing room" (a little angle be- land the piano) that our salary was be- yond his limit, and if we wanted to finish the week, we would have to cut $10. We refused, and bad to quit We went to the agent, Oscar Dane, who could do nothing, but gave us four nights at the Savoy. Reporting there Wednes- day, we were told by the manager that he knew nothing about us. Harris and Harris. Jackson, Miss., Oct. 30. Editor Variety: We just had called to our notice that we have attracted the attention of the or- der of "Choosers." There is a team playing the picture houses around Chicago calling themselves "Berry and Berry," hoping to obtain work on our reputation. We are playing only for the Orpheum Circuit and Western Vaudeville Associa- tion in the west. Berry is my family name, and the title, Berry and Berry has been used by my family for over thirty-five years. Myself and wife have used the title for past six years, and played all the big houses in the country. It seems as if it were time the different artists' societies took measures to drive this thieving business out of our profession. Frank and Pauline Berry (The Original Berry and Berry). Sydney, Australia, Sept. 25. Editor Variety: I have received a great many answers to my first advertisement in Variety, all of which cost me six cents each, the fine over here when a letter is short of postage. The postage on a letter directed to Aus- tralia from America is five cents. Acts over there seem to think it is two. Martin 0. Brmnan. CANCELED IN MONTANA. Butte, Nov. 4. Maxine Wells, ventriloquist, had her troubles at Anaconda, Mont., last week. She was booked at the Family Oct. 24, but after the first performance was closed by the manager, 11. 1. Itaub, who claimed the act did not suit him. It is alleged that Miss Wells was ex- ceedingly angry and struck liaub on the ear with her nst, also swung her handbag against his nose. The manager made a hasty exit. Miss Wells has commenced a suit for $50 and attorney fees, alleging breach of contract. The newspapers gave much publicity to the affair during the ex- citement, and Miss Wells sent a state- ment to the Butte papers in which she said : "in the first place 1 was not chased. Busi- ness was poor aud after I was through with my work, Uaub asked me to cut my salary, which I refused to do. Let me add that it is positively criminal the way they treat single girl acts up in this country, but not being a newsomer I know how to handle them. It is discouraging to have to work for lumber-jacks, farmers, barbers, etc., who call themselves managers. Again 1 say, back to the barber shop with your lather and tips." JEFFRIES' ONE WEEK. The star attraction at the Plaza, New York, next week will be James J. Jeffries, the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, who is matched to fight Jack Johnson on or before July 1, 1010. At the American last Monday night, following an outburst of applause and en- thusiasm, when George Fuller Qolden in- troduced Jeffries, who modestly sat in the rear of a stage box, Mr. Golden stated on behalf of the management that Mr. Jef- fries had consented to appear for one week only "out of compliment to William Mor- ris, as Mr. Jeffries will not accept any other theatrical engagements to avoid misconstruction of his action in signing to meet Johnson." Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries had watched the entire American show, Jeffries taking pains, apparently, that no one in the audi- ence should see him. When Mr. Golden appeared later on the program Jeffries started to move still further back. "Don't go, Jim," said Golden; "I'll be through in a few minutes." Those in the front of the orchestra who hod caught a glimpse of Jeffries commenced to applaud. The re- mainder of the house did not know the cause. Stepping to the footlights Mr. Golden said: "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Jeffries are in the stage box." Immediately there was a riot of noise. Jeffries could never had a more hearty re- ception. He appeared at the rail of the box and bowed. But the audience would not quiet, applauding until he was obliged to walk around the rear of the orchestra for entrance to the stage, the applause keepiqg^up with ft roar until tjje .champion stood besides his introducer. The installation of Jeffries as the head- line at the Plaza will change the route of Arthur Prince who was to have held over at the house for a second week. Mr. Prince goes to the Majestic, Toronto, in- stead. Eltinge, the other present joint feature there, will move to the Fulton, Brooklyn. A SELF-MADE MANAGES TO HIS BOOKING AGENT By J. A. MURPHY. (XUBFKY AND WXLLAED.) (The alitb of ■ series by Mr. Murphy, detail- ing the hypothetical reports and trials of a "small time" manager.) East Cranberry, Ohio, Nov. 2. Dear Mike: I was fooled some in the top notcher you sent me for this week. Your direc- tions said it was a unique European per- formance, so I put it on my bills as a troupe of performing Uniques from Europe. I thought it was some kind of a Turkish affair, as I remember reading in a geography once that them Turk fellers have uniques to work around the place, but come to find out it was a couple of German jugglers. They can't read or talk much in American language so they didn't find no fault with the way they was advertised. They made a rumpus about that baled hay, which is still in the men's room and it is kind of unhandy, for they have a whole raft of umbrellas and lamps and skillets and silver con- traptions to toss up and ketch, but 1 guess they can put up with it for a week. JJuggan and Dunlaney didn't do nothin' worth payin' for as I can see, and they are a couple of scalawags besides. I have wrote them down on my bad list. The Blouth Sisters, female trombone blowers, made a lot of noise. They semed to work pretty hard, but they look right hearty and I guess they can stand it. Limbo, the Bender, is right supple, but he ought not to get L. K. just for himself. Well night before last I noticed that everybody in the troop kind of perked up and looked slicker than common. They all seemed so spry and willin' that I thought I would go back and see if any one had been bringing in liquor. I sniffed around some and they all seemed sober enough, but they kept squintin' out through the holes in the curtains at some one in front. I asked my curtain puller if anybody had relations in the audience. He said No, but Jo Paige Smith, the New York agent, was in the middle of the fourth row. I peeked out through out of the side flaps at the fellow they showed me and his name wasn't Smith at all, it was the feller that hands out books at our Carnegie library and his name is Jergensen. They was all actin' so good I didn't say nothin' about it, but it gives me an idea, so last night I went back and told them all that you was in front and had come to look at the show. Well, one of the women says what is that fresh mutt doin' here. Another one says cheap skate, and one of the men says to hell with him. Then all through the show they kept puttin' in sayins such as "Take it up with Mike," and "Make it ten less," and "Do this for me, and you won't lose nothin* by it." This looks to me as if you didn't have influence to send me the kind of troops I ought to have, and I been thinkin' so right-ftteng, ) am^oin' to wxtfe to that Jo Paige Smith feller and see if he can't send me fcomcthin' besides Brother Syl- vester acters. Don't shut ofT any troops you have got booked in, you can do that at the last minute if I make a dicker with this man Smith. When are them ele- phants comin' and where is Millie Lanude now? Also Guppy and Fogg? Adam Sower guy,