Variety (February 1910)

TEN CENTS d VOL. XVII., NO. 10. FEBRUARY 12, 1910. PRICE TEN CENTS. ii MERGER MEETINGS " KEEP UP, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED One New York Meeting so Far on Wednesday. Lots of Talk and Rumors. On Wednesday a "merger meeting" was held in New York City. Present were Martin Beck, William Morris, Morris Meyerfeld, Jr., Felix Isman and John Considine. They talked as they had talked before (excepting Isman) in San Francisco. That's the sum and total of all the wild and foolish reports on vaudeville doings since Monday, including the newspaper interviews, given out for effect only, and having no real bearing on the matters at issue. The present vaudeville situation stands now as it did three months ago, and last week, as reported each time in Variety. There is apt to be an amalgamation of vaudeville interests including the Or- pheum, Morris and the United, or the Or- pheum and Morris only, if terms can be made and agreed upon. That is the point of contest, terms, and terms will be the stickler. Up to Wednesday neither side had pre- sented any proposition in seriousness, and on Wednesday more general talk than any decisive speech looking towards an under- standing was forthcoming. Each side is waiting for the other to offer something that looks tangible, when I*.counter proposals will be made, if the first ^recessary item makes an appearance. lifter that there must be more meetings :ind wranglings. The meetings so far have brought but two things to light: that the Orpheum people want Morris to leave the west, and that Morris is not adverse to a favor- able proposal, provided he holds his name and houses intact. How this can be done under the circumstances is something that will need more than one meeting now, as past events have proven. It is probably the biggest tangle theatrical people among themselves have ever attempted to un- ravel. Beck claims indifference and Morris • 'aims independence, for public mention. Beck must rid himself of Morris in the west to escape future "big shows" which opposi- tion would bring to that territory. Morris in all his negotiations must consider the people behind him, and that Morris will not "throw" any of his backers is a moral certainly. Beck and Meyerfeld must con- sider their present agreement with the United Booking Offices, as well as consider what opposition the United managers will place against the Orpheum taking part in any deal they object to, and the after effects if the United stays out. After all the whys and wherefores, it may be that a hundred of the most astute showmen and lawyers could not frame up an agreement satisfactory to all, and the "merger" thing may fall naturally. The only real unwoven knot in the en- tre skein seems to be that there is some bookng scheme on between the Orpheum and Sullivan-Considine Circuits. John W. Considine, when he arrived in New York on Tuesday morning, did not deny this to a Variety representative, but stated that nothing would develop from his present visit to New York. Mr. Con- sidine also said he would not leave for Europe this month, but would next May. Monday was the day Considine was due. He reached town a day late, and so the "merger meeting" as originally sched- uled while all the parties were in Frisco. The importance of Mr. Considine in these negotiations has impressed his home city, Seattle, quite strongly. A local paper there in which it is said Considine is in- terested "panned" Morris to a turn after the Frisco affairs were all over, while another local daily, under a full length picture of Considine labeled him "King of Vaudeville." On Tuesdav at about the hour when the high sun hits the Long Acre Building, someone said ho knew that E. F. Albee and Sain Hodgson (United's routing agent) had resigned. Before the sun had a chance to leave its high perch, everybody (Continued on page 8.) EXPECTS TO SIGN REJANE. The Paris office of the Marinelli agency is hopeful of signing up Mme. Rejane, the famous French actress, for a London visit to Oswald Stoll's Coliseum. The contract may have passed ere thu>. At the New York office of the Marinelli agency, Charles Bornhaupt said he thought there would be no difficulty now that Rejane had appeared at Marinelli's Olympia there last Sunday for the Paris Flood Benefit. Mr. Bornhaupt on Monday sent out by mail an account of the benefit to the trade papers, giving the amount of the receipts as 9,000 francs. A couple of enterprising trade papers, including one daily, used the information as a special cable received from Paris (that's the way Bornhaupt received it). A PRESENT FOR THE BOYS. Philadelphia, Feb. 9. Title was acquired last week by J. Fred Zimmerman for the theatre site recently purchased by him on Market Street west of 52d. The ground contains a lot 60 feet in Market Street, with a depth of 250. It was purchased by Mr. Zimmerman for about $50,000. A theatre to cost $200,000 will be erected on the site. It will have a seating capac- ity of 2,400 and will be devoted to the better class of vaudeville. Ground will be broken in a few weeks and the intention is to have the house open by next Septem- ber. When it is completed it will be deeded by Mr. Zimmerman to his sons, J. Fred. Zimmerman, Jr., and Frank G. Zimmerman. MISS HOPPER AS "BALLOON GIRL." A story came out on Wednesday that tin* Morris office was seeking to engage Edna Wallace Hopper to become "The 1'alloon Girl" in the act of that name now «i( (ho American in its first New York week. EMMA CARUS IN "DUTCH" ROLE. 'The Motor Girl" is being made ready by the Shuberts for another tour of their houses. The chorus started rehearsals last Monday at the Lyric. Emma Carus has been engaged to play the "Dutch Girl" with the new company. COMING OVER FOR "ELBKTRA." (Special Cable to Vabxrt.) Paris, Feb. 9. Odette Valery, who first went to America to do the "Salome" dance in "Salome," is leaving for New York to create a dance in the opera of "Elektra" for Oscar Ham- merstein at the Manhattan Opera House. 6R0SSMITH ENGAGED FOR REVUE. (Special Cable to Vabhttt.) Paris, Feb. 9. Geo. Grossmith, Jr., has been engaged for the Revue which goes on at the Folies Bergere in March. "Ghantecler" was at last produced. The latest Ros- tand work was* enthusiastically received although the contrary had been antici- pated. SKATING BOOM CONTINUES. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Feb. 9. The fever for roller skating further spread Monday night when Parkinson opened his new rink. American athletes may watch out for three champion Turkish wrestlers who are going over there to perform. HOMAft'S AVIATION MEET. Atlantic City, Feb. 9. An aviation meet is being promoted by Geo. Homans, the New York agent, who has been resting here by the seaside for some weeks. The meet is to take place in June. $150,000 will have to be subscribed. Fifty thousand dollars has been agreed to by hotel men interested. The meet is expected to come off. Mr. Homans says that in comparison to the demands made by aviators to fly, vaudeville acts are pikers. He expects to return to New York about March 1, and resume his book- ing business. ATLANTIC CITY FOR ANNABELLE. The new act in which Annabelle Whit- t'ord is to make her debut is to be shown by her at Young's Pier, Atlantic City, next week. No information regarding the number has escaped excepting that there will be a novelty finish; also a pianist, If the absence of this important personage in the turn does not hold back the pre miere.