Variety (February 1910)

8 VARIETY COMMISSIONER WONDERS WHY CONFERENCE WAS CALLED Actors' Union Which Sponsors State Bill Was Not Sum- moned to Conference and White Rats Did Not Appear. The Theatrical Agents' Board of Trade held a meeting at the Gilsey House last Sunday night, with President James J. Armstrong in the chair. The meeting was especially called to formulate a plan of action against a bill which has been introduced in Albany which bears directly on the question of theatrical agents' commissions. In the lower house it was introduced by Assem- blyman Green, of Brooklyn, and in the Senate by Mr. Wagner, of New York. The provision most directly affecting the agency outlook will put a stop to the practice of entertainment being furnished by booking agent for a lump sum, the act being subsequently hired at a total salary list, which generally leaves a com- fortable balance in the agent's hands. The new law will prohibit any agent charging more than 5 per cent., whereas in "club booking" the agent has made a practice of charging 10 per cent, on such bookings independent of the hold-over. This "inspection" feature is another point which the booking agents will strenuously combat. The bill has been read twice and re- ferred to the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. When it again comes out of com- mittee it will be up for final passage. When the subject of the "Agency Bill" first came up, several agents who may or may not be members of "The Theatrical Agents' Board of Trade" but who place acts in United Booking offices houses, were called upon to settle an assessment of $100 laid against them by some one "higher up" to help defray the expense of "watching" hostile legislation at Albany this winter. TOM WATERS. One of the f«-w MUSICAL COMKDY STAHS to •Dter the vaudeville miik*. him! not only make good but score one of tbc M^K'st Hlnglo bits In vaudeville. MR. WATERS la a comedian <>r mrc conception and one of our best little pluultits. One or two of the assessed agents looked upon the call for funds from their coffers as an imposition, while others said it was "cheap under the circumstances." The feature of the Wagner Bill which ostensibly will remove the present "split" the "United agents" now endure by pro- viding that there shall be no more than 5 per cent, charged by any licensed agent is the one the "outside" agents look upon as favorable to their future interests. This yearly charge may be made paya- ble monthly, quarterly or otherwise, and be based upon the previous year's book- ings by an agent through the United. In this cumulative manner it would closely approach an actual "split" of the "second five" on the agent's busiriess for the cur- rent year. Harry Mountford made an appointment with License Commissioner Robinson for an interview Wednesday at 2 p. m., act- ing, it is presumed, on behalf of the White Rats. Previous to the appointed hour, Mountford telephones he was too ill to at- tend, and the conference was therefore postponed until today (Friday) at the same hour. At the Commissioner's office it was not known for what purpose the interview was to be held, but it was thought that it was called to ascertain Commissioner Robinson's attitude on the legislation in Albany. An interesting side light on the pro- posed conference shows that while the bill is ostensibly an Actors' Union measure, Harry De Veaux, president of the Union, was not notified that it was to be held. MERGER MEETING. (Continued from page 3.) within ten block of the United offices had Mr. Albee on a vacation for his health, John J. Murdock, general manager, and the "blacklist" abolished. Nothing so simple has occurred in the annals of "street stories." The rumor was run down by actual time in twelve minutes. The last man to be tackled said he could not remember who told it to him. Two hours afterwards Mr. Albee was still on the job and innocent of the reports, leaving the Long Acre Building at 4.St), remarking on the way down in the elevator to Joe Welch, ".Joe, when do you open for us?" (Welch is sin "opposition act" and on the "blacklist" «c\eml times). The foolish report of the resignation found many ready believers, some liking the story so well they hugged it. ANNETTE FINALLY RESIGNS. Chicago, Feb. 9. After five years of continuous service in the Morris office here, Annette Graff has resigned. She has latterly been offi cially designated as private secretary to James C. Matthews, the office manager. Miss Craff commenced her duties for Morris when Jesse Lanky was in charge of the branch out here. BALL PARKS LEASED FOR "HIPS." The first definite list of baseball parks which will be used for the purpose of hippodrome performances embraces the lease which have been made by the Ameri- can Hippodrome Co., of which T. A. Morris is the active spirit. The Eastern League parks at Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Newark will be conducted by that corporation dur- ing June, July and August, giving acts of a suitable character from five to ten weeks on that time. This is the "Hip" circuit working in- dependently of the chain to be booked by John P. Harris, of Pittsburg, through the United Booking offices, and to operate in the ball parks of the more prominent big leagues. In the larger summer "Hip" proposition, practically under the management of John P. Harris, of Pittsburg, Mr. Harris has the show rights for the New York Polo Grounds over the coming summer; also at St. Elmo Park, Boston, while the Na- tional League parks at Philadelphia, Cin- cinnati, St. Louis and Chicago have also been secured. In nearly all of these cities Mr. Harris has been elected to the directorate of the local club in order that the "Hip" deal might be put through. SCHLESINGER LEAVES BLANEY. Morris S. Schlesinger, for nearly seven years past actively connected with the Chas. E. Blaney Amusement Co. in an executive capacity and in the management of the various Blaney theatres, severed his connection with that concern on the first of the present month. The slump in the popular price field of theatricals may have suggested to Mr. Schlesinger a look around for something else. At present he is figuring on interesting himself with a vaudeville booking agency. His well-known executive ability, coupled with the experience he had in vaudeville prior to connecting himself with the Bla- ney concern, should make him valuable in the booking capacity. Until he has defi- nitely decided, Mr. Schlesinger is making his office in the Blaney suite, Long Acre Building. WANT BENNETT? It was reported about this week that the United Booking offices had made an offer for the services in its booking de- partment to Charles W. Bennett, who lately returned from Havana, Cuba. It was also reported that the Morris people were engaged in long distance negotiations toward the same end. On Monday Mr. Bennett returned from Havana, where he found the climate so injurious following his recent severe ill- ncss that the manager came back to re • iiperate. Mr. Bennett said he must con- sider his health just now above every- thing else. SIX WEEKS WIND UP. Chicago, Feb. 9. After six weeks of vaudeville, the Peo- ple's has concluded to quit, and will re- turn to stock on Monday. Poor business is believed to be the reason for the shift. The Sullivan-Consi- dine Chicago branch has been attending to the vaudeville bookings. HAWKS "ADVANCE" FOR LAND. Wells Hawks is now deeply immersed in the troubles of a real advance agent; cut trunks, expense accounts and itiner- aries have the call. He is in advance of a "land show," something new in enter- tainments. The boomers of Long Beach are presenting the advantages of their proposition to residents of sufrounding cities and towns through the medium of a magic lantern and moving picture show. Senator Reynolds delivers the lecture and Hawks hires the hall, does the press work and makes the advance arrange- ments after the manner of a regular troupe. The "show" is playing Newark Pfy this week. J> BENEFIT FOR BILLY CARTER. At the age of 78, Billy Carter, the minstrel, is to have a benefit, his condi- tion having brought several friends to prevail upon Mr. Carter's daughter, Jose- phine, to permit that this attention might be shown her father. The affair will occur on March 7 at Ebling's Casino, 155th Street and St. Ann Avenue, New York. The tickets are fifty cents each. Miss Carter, at 41 West 28th street, New York, has charge of the affair. "STRENGTHENERS" TO OPERA CO. Montreal, Feb. 9. The Four Musical Cates finish two weeks at the Theatre National Francaise, Saturday, Feb. 12, where they have been appearing as a "strengthener" with the French Opera Company which is having a run at that house. POSITION DID NOT SUIT. Chicago, Feb. 9. Williams and Tucker are not at the Majestic this week. They refused to ap- pear, the position on the bill assigned them not having pleased the couple. McConnell and Simpson moved over from the Haymarket to fill up the void, and the Bradlee Martin Co. got a job at the Haymarket to stop the gap there. > MEREDITH SISTERS. A headline act now playing the south. Hare been a tremendous success with several new costume changes.