Variety (June 1910)

VARIETY BOTH BURLESQUE WHEELS ACTIVE PLANNIN G FOR '10-11 Western Directors in Annual Conference and East- erners in Executive Session. James J. Butler, president; James E. Fennessy, secretary; John Whallen, direc- tor, of the Empire Cfrcuit Go., (Western Burlesque wheel), have been in New York nearly all this week and several confer- ences have been held as preliminaries to the a nnual meeting to be held, between now and the middle of June in Cincinnati. At that time the date for the annual draw- ings will be decided. The date will likely be earlier this sea- • son than last. In 1909 the Empire mana- gers were forced to go over to Jersey to do their drawings, owing to a provision of the New York State law which made such a procedure in the nature of an illegal lottery. The new phase of the matter last year made consultation with the law- yers necessary and delayed the drawings. This year, it is belkved there will be no such postponement, the circuit managers having learned the proper procedure. When the Cincinnati meeting comes off, it is believed that two most important deals will be considered. One is the elim- ination of Albany and Troy as Western Wheel stands. This engagement has been unsatisfactory and it is believed that the directors have devised a scheme to obviate it in the tour. What the plan is nobody outside the directors seems to know just at this time. It is also said that the Wheel will at- tempt to make new terms for the playing of Montreal, trying to bring about a change of house from the Theatre Royal to the* Franeaise. The season past has not been entirely satisfactory at the Royal, some of the shows playing to considerably under $2,000. Even with a gross taking cf $2£00, the visiting shows came out with a small loss on the week—amounting to about $160. The traveling managers de- clare that the shows originally played at the Franeaise which has a larger seating capacity and better stage and since it is under the same management (Sparrow Amusement Co.) the transfer should not be a matter of great inconvenience to the owners and would certainly be an advan- tage to the traveling shows. What will develop on these two points at the Cin- cinnati meeting is awaited With a good deal of interest by the Western mana- gers. During their presence in New York Messrs. Butler, Fennessy and Whallen met the road managers in the Empire head- quarters and heard from them their ideas for the advancement of the Wheel. Mr. Butler was accompanied by his 15-year-old son, who was taken ill and delayed the departure for the west of both Butler and Fennessy. The latter was anxious to leave. He is still under the care of his physician, following his severe accident in Cincinnati some months ago and his en- forced absence from home was a good deal of a hardship on him. The charter members of the Columbia Amusement Co. banqueted at the Hotel Gayety, Mr. Shayne moving elsewhere on the circuit. Astor Wednesday evening. The roll con- tains nineteen names and, strangely enough, includes two managers now al- lied with the Western Wheel, the oppo- sition. They are Harry Martell and Frank B. Oarr. Of course neither was present at the Wednesday evening affair. The reception started just before 8 o'clock. It was noted that since the founding of the concern two of its members have passed away. They are George Rice and Harry Morris. The annual stockholders' meeting was scheduled to be held at the Columbia Theatre Building today (Friday). One of the directors said that routine matters would occupy the session. LEADING WOMAN QUIETLY MARRIED Philadelphia, June 1. May Florine Lindon, who has been fill- ing the principal role with "The College Girls" burlesque company the past season, was married on Saturday last to Franklin J. Moore, the son of a very wealthy resi- dent of this city. Miss Lindon left "The College Girls" on Saturday, Florence Mills replacing her and the former slipped off quietly to Camden where the ceremony was performed. The wedding caused a sensation as Moore comes from a very well known family high in society. Moore did not notify his fond parent, declaring that he expected a row when the secret became known. This is a re- turn date for both in the marriage line. Several years ago Moore ran away with Mabel Courtney, who was with a musical comedy company, but a divorce came later. He has been very attentive to Miss Lindon all season, following "The College Girls" to several towns. Miss Lindon, whose real name is Lutz. hails originally from Lancaster, Pa. Her former husband, Albert Wilder, is said to be a stage manager in the employ of the Shuberts. There is a daughter, aged 13, as a result of the first union. Miss Lin- don's mother was an author and wrote under the name of "Saragen." Miss Lin- don was formerly with the Boston ians and also prima donna with Nat Wills in "A Son of Rest." She has signed a contract to appear with "The Merry Whirl" in New York for next season. SCRIBNER A DADDIE. Sam A. Scribner's home at 38th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, was vis- ited by the stork Monday. It was a girl. The event overshadowed all other de- velopments in the burlesque situation of the week. ECKHART, GAYETY MANAGER. Johnny Eckhart, one time sporting promoter and fight referee, next season will manage the Gayety, controlled by the Columbia Amusement Co. Eckhart man- aged Richard Jose's "Silver Thread" this season. He succeeds Eddie Shayne at the they threaten you witu jail. BURLESQUE SHOW DISBANDS. Mortimer M. Thiese's "Wine, Woman and Song" Co., on the Western Burlesque Wheen, disbanded last week. There was some trouble about settling claims, salary and other things. One of the Empire Cir- cuit directors assumed the obligations. The amount involved was- in the neigh- borhood of $1,000. Mr. Thiese declares that he was not con- cerned In the management of the organisa- tion, his rights to it having passed to other Western managers. It is likely that the title, long a standard one in the Western Wheel will pass out of burlesque, being preserved by Mr. Thiese for his tours on the legitimate circuits. This week it was reported that manager Thiese's "Morning, Noon and Night" closed in Cleveland Saturday night, and Camp- bell Sl Drew of that town, also members of the Empire Circuit Co., advanced the mem- bers of the organization money to get them back to New York. Mr. Thiese de- nied that financial aid had been given by Campbell & Drew. Mr. Thiese is in New York. He has given up his offices in the Knickebrocker Theatre building and is located in the Gaiety Theatre building, 46th Street and Broadway. He said that he had not connected with the direction of "Wine, Woman and Song" tor some time past, that show being in the hands of other parties and having bor- rowed (with hiit' permission) the name for a few weeks around New York. Contradicting a report that he would not have a representation next season in the Western Wheel, Mr. Thiese declared he had had assurance that a franchise would be allotted him. This information came to him from a source which made it prac- tically official. The name "Wine, Woman and Song" would not be in the Western roster, he added. It is his intention to put a new show out under either the tttle "The Rol- lickers" or "The Strolling Players." The Bonita show closed Saturday night in Salt Lake, after a prosperous tour of twenty weeks. Most of the company went from that point to Seattle, there to start June 11 in musical stock for a season of twelve weeks, reorganizing to play in the west again for the season of 1910-11 with "Wine, Woman and Song." OH, YOU GEORGIE! Georgie made a squeal on the plea of a steal of a diamond ring he says he owns. Helen Watson is the gal who wanted to be swell with the sparkler that on her finger shone. Georgie came to York, made a lot of talk and got Helen pinched on his claim. She, of course, denies, and for the ring still sighs, saying for the sparkler she is not to blame. Back to Washington Helen, she must go, away from her burlesque show, foi Georgie Morris was on her trail. U. S. Commissioner Gilchrist had $225 as the price, and told Helen to return to Wash., or furnish bail. It's tough on a girl, whose head is in a whirl, to see a fellow with a ring, but it's tougher on the fellow, if he has a streak of yellow, to lose a stone and yell about the sting. So, girls, look out for Wash., and don't stand for any josh from the boys down at the Capital. They may hand you phony stuff, and that's certainly rough, but worst of all GORDON-NORTH CASE PENDING. It is understood that the meeting of the Columbia Amusement Co. directors to- day (Friday), will mark tne disposition of the Gordon & North controversy. It is widely believed; and with some sem- blance of official backing that the pro- ducing firm's three Eastern Wheel fran- chises will be declared forfeited on the ground of breach of contract. Cliff Gor- don and Bobby North declare that they have committed no breach in opening their "Merry Whirl" at the New York Theatre in opposition to the Columbia Theatre. Both sides take opposite viewpoints. It iu not beyond possibility that the whole matter will reach the courts. "The Merry Whirl" opened at the New York Monday evening to about $1,100, something under capacity and there was probably a sprinkling of paper in the house. The newspapers treated It rather roughly, an important daily going after the piece strong. The owners of the show were asked by a Vabiett representative as to the re- port that they had received and were con- sidering an offer to affiliate with the West- ern Wheel. They replied that no such negotiations were under way. If the show makes good at the New York it will probably receive a Klaw & Erlanger route, it being pretty well un- derstood that "the Syndicate" is desirous of getting productions. SIM'S SIGHT-SEEING SCHEME. Sim Williams and wife are in England now. Mr. Williams, a Western Burlesque Wheel manager, married the day before he sailed. At that time he confided to friends that he would remain abroad for six weeks, see all of Europe and not spend over $600. He expects to return to New York July 4. While Sim was positive that his figures were correct on the $600 basis, it is said that as a precautionary measure, he had stored away in an inside pocket, $3,600 more for emergencies. The marriage became known this week of Grace Celeste to Harry Emerson. The bride was formerly the wife of Mr. Will- iams. WEST TAKES EASTERN STAND. The Empire Circuit Co. (Western Bur- lesque Wheel) has made all arrangements to play the shows booked by it through its chain in the Apollo, Wheeling, Pa. The Apollo was played by the Eastern Wheel shows toward the end of hist season, staying there three days and split- ting the week with Columbus. The West- ern # people according to the present ar- rangement will play the stand a whole week. WORK GIRLS IN TWO SHOWS. Grasping the obligations of a "pro- ducer" quickly. William Morris, who is now head over heels in the forthcoming hour's performance of "Chanticlair" on the American Roof, has decided that if the musical piece "gets over," he will utilize the large chorus for another pro- duction act on the same program to ap- pear later in the evening. G. Molasso will build the second number. Sydney Grant and the Elite Musical Four have been added to the cast of "Chanticlair."