Variety (March 1910)

TEN CENTS VOL. XVII., NO. 13. MARCH 5, 1910. PRICE TEN CENTS. BECK AND MORRIS SHIPMATES WITH LAUDER FOR COMPANY The Two Big Managers Sail for England On Same Boat, Morris Deciding Rather Percipltately to See His Star Home. The Mauretania on Wednesday carried Martin Beck and William Morris Europe- ward. The decision to sail by each of the managers had been sudden, Mr. Beck first making up his mind to leave. That was on Monday. From all reports Morris de- termined on the trip about six hours be- fore the boat was scheduled to leave its dock, which was 9 a. m. Before leaving Mr. Beck said he was obliged to go to London to close the final matters in the Beck-Butt alliance on for- eign halls, and expected to return to New York on the next trij> the Mauretania made to this side, giving him about four days in England. A letter of credit from Lacard Brothers, the New York bankers of the Orpheum Circuit, was taken over by Mr. Beck. It is said the letter of credit called for from $250,000 to $600,000, and is believed to certainly have been for over $100,000. The object of Mr. Morris' visit is not known. One version "on the street" was that Morris sailed on the same boat with Beck as that ship carried Harry Lauder, the Morris star, and with Beck aboard, the Morris Circuit did not care to risk a loss. It has been stated by Morris that I^auder is under contract to him for the next five years. The trip by Morris may have been the outcome of some negotiations started in London by Geo. M. Leventritt, the attor- ney for the Circuit, who returned from England last Saturday. It has also been said that Beck called up Morris at his home about 2:30 Wed- nesday morning, asking Morris if he didn't want to see London about this time. There have been vague rumors during the week that the "merger" conferences between the Beck and Morris sides were not shut oft* as abruptly and completely as the parties were inclined to lead every- one to believe. It has been said that the Orpheum and Morris circuits have a secret agreement or understanding which may develop in time, or at least the parties reached the point when negotiations may be conveniently proceeded with. Accompanying Mr. Beck was Mark A. Luescher, the general press r epr es en tative of the Orpheum Circuit. Mr. Beck's transportation ticket on the boat called for himself and Pat Casey. Due to the Hoffa case coming up on Wednesday, an old "Advanced Vaudeville" suit for $8,000, which it was necessary to dispose of in order that the Klaw & Erlanger United States Amusement Co. could be dissolved, Mr. Casey was unable to leave. ENGAGES AMELIA. Amelia Summerville has been engaged to support Valeska Suratt in the forth- coming Al H. Woods musical piece, to be called "The Woman with the Whooping Cough." The piece opens March 28 at Atlantic City. Pat Casey booked Miss Summerville. CHANGE OF STABS, Chicago, March 2. May Boley will replace Adele Ritchie as the feature of "The Girl in the Taxi" at the Oort, Chicago, a week from Monday (March 14). Miss Ritchie receWed her "notice" last Saturday night. CHARLES J. STINE IS MARRIED. Mrs. Mary Hilburn Daub announces the marriage of her daughter, Helen Barbers, to Chas. J. Stine, Feb. 24, in East Elm- hurst, L. I. The newlyweds will be "at home" after May 15 in Corona, East Elm- hurst. BEATS RECORD BY $400. The record of the Colonial, New York, established by Elsie Janis, was broken last week by Gertrude Hoffmann, who shoved the high notch at the box office up $400. FOREIGN AGENTS' STAND. The foreign agents booking in New York placing their acts on both sides of the ocean and through the United Booking Offices on this side, when vaude- ville is to be played, were up in arms this week on account of the almost-ultimatum delivered to them by the United's general manager in regard to bookings for for- eign consumption any act on the "black- list." While the ultimatum was not made positive, it came so close that the agents interested decided for themselves what future course should be pursued if this direction of the United should become an absolute order. It has been customary for the foreign bookers to place whatever American acts they can on the other side, without con- sidering what circuits the acts played over here. One foreign agent said this week that if the United persisted in re- fusing permission to book "blacklisted" acts abroad, it would oblige him to aban- don all loyalty to the United, securing time wherever he could for his turns. This stand of the agents is said to be caused by the small quantity of American acts placed for the other side, along with the difficulty of securing quick action in the United Offices on importations. Charles Bornhaupt, New York manager for the Marinelli agency, agreed with his brother agent on the remarks above. Mr. Bornhaupt said "If this should be true, it would be impossible for us to stop taking 'blacklist' acts though we gave up all bookings for the United Booking Offices and their associates. It's only the foreign agents who can understand the situation over here, but we shall surely remain in- dependent. We must book where we please, for we have office expenses which go on daily whether we book or not. "The Marinelli office books more for circuses in America with no trouble at all than with vaudeville. In fact, one circus for a season will net us more profit in bookings than the business with tho United for a year. With the United we are forced to great expense through con tinual cabling about an act." While Mr. Bornhaupt would not admit it, he was asked if he had cabled H. B. Marinelli in Paris regarding the "request" of the United; also if the proposed book- ing offices to be established by the Martin Beck-Alfred Butt combination abroad had any bearing on the attitude of his office. SUCCESSES IN PARIS. (Special Cable to Vabhtt.) Paris, March 2. Geo. Grossmith opened splendidly last night at the Folies Bergere. A rumor about the Bergere is to change hands is denounced as idiotic by Manager Bannel. At the Alhambra yesterday Vardon, Perry and Wilber were very successful on their first appearance in Paris. The FVank Gregory Troupe also did well. RESIGNATION CAUSES SURPRISE. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, March 2. The resignation of Allen Young, for years Oswald St oil's assistant, caused great surprise this week. Llewellyn Johns, who reached here the other day from New York, has taken the position formerly held by Young, which may ex- plain Johns' sudden recall. 8ince return- ing to London Messrs. Stoll and Johns have been conferring closely. It is ex- pected that Johns outlined the American situation fully for the benefit of his chief. Somers & Warner, the agents, deny there is any chance of a dissolution of the firm as has been rumored. JOHN L. A KNOCKOUT. (Special Cable to Vabiett.) London, March 2. The great John L. Sullivan lived up to his reputation as a knocker-out upon appearing at the Royal, Dublin. He re- ceived a tremendous reception. MARIE LLOYD IN ITALY. (Special Guide to Vardett.) London, March 2. Marie Lloyd is in Italy, having gone there, it is said, to escape being in Lon- don when her husband, Alec Hurley, filed 0 suit for divorce. Tho action was com- menced last week. CoHrtip for some time now has asso- ciated Miss Lloyd's name with that of a jockey named Dillon. STALLED IN BLIZZARD. Seattle, Wash., March 2. All trains are snowbound in the moun- tains and acts leaving Spokane Saturday failed to open Monday. The Orpheuni was dark Monday and Tuesday matinee. Art- ists arrived at 6 o'clock Tuesday and opened in the evening although worn out.