Variety (January 1910)

TEN CENTS VOL. XVII., NO. 4. JANUARY 1, 1910. PRICE TEN CENTS. $200,000 PAID BY DE FRECE FOR THE BARRASFORD CIRCUIT Takes Possession Jan. 1. Six Barrasford Houses in Opposition to Stoll, with Whom De Frece Books. * (Special Cable to Vabistt.) London, Dec. 27. The sale of the Barrasford Circuit to Walter De Frece has gone through. The consideration is $200,000. De Frece takes possession Jan. 1. There are six Barras- ford houses playing in opposition to the Stoll tour. Dr Frece and Stoll book from one agency. This leaves a puzzling situ- ation. It is said that the Hippodromes at Brighton and Leeds are not included in the transfer. These halls are owned by Barrasford's own companies, while the others of the circuit, taken over by De Frece, are booked only by him. At the present moment there is nothing known whether Barrasford's Alhambras in Paris and Brussels are included in the sale, though the Brussels house was aban- doned for Barrasford's vaudeville some months ago. It is presumed that neither is in. The Barrasford Tour includes Hippo- dromes at Sheffield, Birmingham, Liver- pool, Brighton and Leeds; King's Theatre, Soutfcsea; Pavilion, New Castle - on -Tyne; Alhambras, Brussels and Paris. Barras- ford lost Nottingham about a month ago. That Mr. Stoll has not given up the hope of a combination of all vaudeville interests over here is generally under- stood, and the big director is believed to be allowing the "combine" matter to rest until next summer, when it will be pushed through. In view of that the perplexing theory whether De Frece will leave or re- main with Stoll is uppermost all over. The Barrasford Circuit has been on the market, but quietly, for some time. It has been reported often that different in- terests, some represented by local agents, were negotiating for it. Those in New York acquainted with the English circuits and conditions, said this week when informed of the import of the cable that the purchase by De Frece of the Barrasford houses was an indirect move by Oswald Stoll himself. One thought it might follow that Stoll would take over the entire De Frece Circuit after a time, including the Barrasford houses, thereby gaining control of the present op- position in the six towns. About a years ago Stoll and De Frece joined their bookings, De Frece moving to the Stoll headquarters. When Mr. De Frece was last in New York (with his wife, Vesta TiUey) he stated to friends his circuit would prob- ably be disposed of in time to Stoll and remarked he had a standing offer for it. English people in New York say $200,000 is a very reasonable figure for the Barras- ford houses. It has been the English circuit where William Morris has been placing most of his American bookings. HARLAN GOING IN "ONE." As a single act in "one," Otis Harlan will continue on over his United time, re- appearing about Jan. 10. The same book- ings placed by M. S. Bentham will hold good, it is said. Mr. Harlan played the Fifth Avenue last week in "An Accommodating Stranger," a sketch, employing several people besides himself. SPOONERS BACK AT BIJOU. A "big one" was put over by Corse Pay ton late last week when he engaged Mrs. and Edna May Spooner to return to the home of their first outburst of popu- larity, the Bijou, Brooklyn, which Payton now manages. They will appear there shortly after the first of the year. The Bijou some seasons ago held a stock company, where Mrs. Spooner, Cecil and Edna May just tore thingB up in the affections of the local in- habitants. Afterwards they passed over to the management of Charles E. Blaney who made the deal with Payton. REORGANIZING MORRIS OFFICE. With Edward L. Bloom in general charge of the Morris theatres, as reported in the second edition of Variety last week, a reorganization of the office and agency will likely follow. Mr. Bloom assumed his newest position Thursday. This week William Morris said that with Mr. Bloom taking the direction of the theatres and many details off his hands, he will devote more time to the agency portion of the business. It is expected that the Morris office will commence under the new order of affairs to give more attention to the "small time" and the securing of bookings. The change of base by Bloom from the general managership of the Cahn Circuit of legitimate theatres to the Morris head- quarters was the centre of all theatrical talk during the week. The guesses on the whys and wherefores have been many. The versions of the Bloom addition to the Morris staff were in the majority that Mr. Bloom really represents a financial interest in the Morris Circuit. Another popular story is that Julius Cahn has several theatres on his circuit that are not imitating a mint. These, it is said, may go over to vaudeville, and with everything else Mr. Ploom will be a nice little fellow to have around in behalf of the converted Cahn houses. All the talk is called "rubbish" by Messrs. Morris and Bloom. Mr. Morris also said this week thst it was not true that "Little Tim" Sullivan who died last Wednesday had invested $150,000 in his circuit. Mr. Morris did not deny that "Little Tim" had been financially con- rerned in the success of the Morris houses, but denied Hie amount named by reports. Some stories set the sum at $250,000. The deceased was interested with Felix Isman in many theatrical enterprises. Hen Forrester succeeds Mr. Bloom on the (Vim Circuit. Forrester some time ago was connected with the M. Reis chain. Of late he has been managing his own shows. HUNTLEY WRIGHT IN THE HALLS. London, Dec. 22. Huntley Wright, the musical comedy comedian with a big reputation, will soon be seen for the first time in the London halls. BALLET REPLACING REVUE. (Special Gable to Vaurt.) Puis, Dec. 28. The revue at the Olympla will be with- drawn in January, and the London Al- hambra ballet, "Psyche," goes on in its place. There will be vaudeville also. LONDON PANTOS SUCCESSFUL. (Special Cable to Vajuett.) London, Dec. 28. The special Christmas productions at the Lyceum, Drury Lane and Hippo- drome are each reported successful, in- cluding the exhibit of 70 polar bears at the Hippodrome. ADVERTISING "FEED SHOWS." Chicago, Dec. 29. The shows which Murray Blee runs at the Boston Oyster House are now boomed on the programmes of the high-class theatres, giving the names of the acts. BREAKS «3-YEAR SLATE. Managers of traveling attractions are still finding the business in the one-night- ors the worst ever. It is cited as an evidence of exception- ally bad business that this season is the first time in twenty-five years that 'The Devil's Auction" has been forced to close. In times past, regardless of what closed or prospered, Ghas. H. Yale's show always clung to the rails. Hie week before Christmas settled things for the "Auc- tion." A peculiar coincidence of the past fortnight is the report that a troupe in Virginia with forty-eight people played to $48. "GODDESS"* SUCCESSOR NAMED. Chicago, Dec. 28. The piece to succeed "The Goddess of Liberty" at the Princess, about the middle of January, if nothing goes amiss, has been named "The Belle of Bald Head Row." GERTIE HOFFMANN'S NEW ACT. Atlantic City, Dec. 29. Gertrude Hoffmann opens at Young's Pier, Monday, in a new act. If successful, it will be offered for further time. BOOKS "CONSUL aND." "Consul 2nd," another Bostock "monk," opens Jan. 10 at Flint, Mich., placed by Pat Qwey. This is Casey's first "chimp."