Variety (October 1910)

Vol. XX. No. 4. OCTOBER 1, 1910. PRICE TEN CENTS. IMPORTANT LICENSE HEARING NOW BEFORE COMMISSIONER Actors' Union and White Rats Protest Against Issuance of License to C. Wesley Fraser. Affidavits of White Rat Members Submitted in Fraser's Behalf An adjourned hearing in the case of the application for a vaudeville agent's license made by C. Wesley Fraser, is being held this (Saturday) morning in the chambers of the Com- missioner of Licenses, Herman Robin- son. There was a hearing last Tuesday which lasted six hours. Mr. Fraser was represented by Maurice Goodman, who is also attorney for the United Booking Offices. The Actor's Inter- national Union, principally responsible for the protest against the issuance of the Fraser license, was represented by its president, Harry De Veaux, while the White Rats' objections were voiced by Harry Mountford. The hearing was in two sessions, there being recess taken for luncheon. Mr. Mountford failed to reappear in the afternoon, b'it asked the Commis- sioner by telephone for an adjourn- ment of the hearing until this morn- ing, so that he might be enabled to secure a number of affidavits and place them in evidence in rebuttal of affida- vits secured by Mr. Goodman and ad- mitted Tuesday morning. During the hearing there were sev- eral slight clashes between those rep- resenting the opposite interests. One quite amusing occurred early when Mr. Goodman referred to Mr. De Veaux as a colleague of Mr. Mount- ford. To this expression Mr. De Veaux objected strenuously. It caused a general laugh in the trial room. The only "character evidence" upon which the White Rats base the pro- test against an issuance of a license to Fraser of a material nature that Mr. Mountford offered Tuesday was that Fraser had been charged with a trivial offense when a little b"v. six- teen years old. After this evidence was in, Mr. Fra- ser waB placed upon the stand by Mr. Goodman to testify in his own behalf, which he did in a very cred- itable manner. He stated that he was the scape-goat for a number of deeds that had been performed by another while the latter was the representa- tive in Npw York City of the National Bonking Office of Boston. Fraser was cross-examined by As- sistant Corporation Counsel Steinhart, Mr. DeVeaux and Mr. Mountford. The latter two put their questions to the witness through the city's attornev. Mr. DeVeaux questioned Fraser at length regarding the stock and stock- holders of the National Booking Of- fice, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. There were several skirmishes between Mr. Mountford and Mr. Goodman during this part of the proceedings, in regard to affidavits, later placed in evidence. Just before the ending of the morning session, Mr. Mountford stated that if the Commissioner would permit Mr. Goodman to read one of the affidavits which he was interested in, he would appreciate it very much, as it would be impossible for him to be present at the afternoon hearing. This request the Commissioner granted. Mr. Mountford after having access to the list of the affidavits asked that that of Boyd J. Gilmore be read. At this Mr. Goodman smiled and said that he recalled Gilmore's visit to his office particularly as the latter had worn a White Rat button. The affi- davit was to the effect that Fraser had always been very square in all his business dealings with Gilmore, who had worked in and about Bos- ton for some time for the National [Continued on Page 11.] ANOTHER "DEAL" ON. With everything else disposed of in the skeins of the vaudeville manip- ulations, another "deal" loomed up last Saturday when Martin Beck, E. F. Albee and William Morris were closeted together in the offices of the Orpheum Circuit. The conference lasted over an hour. Monday Mr. Albee left New York for the west. It is expected a renewal of conferences may occur when he re- turns. What the talk was about no one knows, though the presumption is since the United Booking Offices was represented by Albee, that the three men gathered for the purpose of talk- ing the general situation over "and seeing what could be done." As previously stated in Vahikty, there has been no written renewal of the existing agreement between the Keith and Bock sides. WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN. Chicago, Sept. 29. To rival the appearance of I.aura Jean Libbey at the American next week, Charles K. Kohl wants very much to secure Beatrice Fairfax, an- other newspaper sobber, to head the already well-filled show billed for the Majestic. It is reported Mr. K.ohl stands ready to pay Miss Fairfax $2,f>00 for the week. The Pat Casey office early in the week made an effort to obtain Miss Fliirfax, a special writer for the woman's department of the Evening Journal. Although all kinds of offers were made to her, it was said Miss Fairfax was ill and could not con- sider a stage offer. RUSSIAN ORCHESTRA ON TOUR. The Russian Orchestra, a London sensation during the past season while appearing at the Coliseum, Lon- don, will reach New York about the middle of November, starting upon a concert tour, under the direction of A. Dipple. CONDITIONS UNSATISFACTORY. (Special Cable to Varikty.) Paris, Sept. 29. Jack De Frece, brother of Walter De Frece, returned to London Monday, after unsuccessfully negotiating with M. Cailars for the purchase of the Ca- sino de Paris. M. Cailars made condi- tions which were unsatisfactory to Da Frece. The French manager says he will not dispose of the property after Sept. 30. The negotiations are held open until then, if De Frece decides upon a favorable answer. The Marigny, following its usual custom, will close Sept. 30. Oct. 1 at the Follies Bergere, Geo. Ali in an animal sketch, McBanns, the club jugglers, and Humpsty-Bumsty (a "copy act" of Rice and Prevost) will be among the turns on the new program. Hedge* Bros, and Jacobson, the "Western three act" at Hammerstein's for its first New York week, have been held over at the house. HILLY GOULD'S NEW ACT. William (Billy) Gould has arranged a new vaudeville turn, having dissolv- ed his partnership with Valeska N Sur- att. Mr. Gould will retain the act he and Miss Suratt have been appearing in, and will be assisted by Margaret Mudge, a handsome girl and a pupil of Garibaldi Arrlghi, of the Metro- politan Opera House for the past five years. Miss Mudge's voice has under- gone a thorough vocal cultivation. Mr. Gould and Miss Suratt did not receive sufficient offers of $2,500 weekly from the managers to satisfy themselves and the dissolution was agreed upon. 44 ASSIST A NCE, PLEASE!" Webster City, la., Sept. 29. At Burlington, la., last week, in his home town, Gilbert Wells, son of a Burlington millionaire, and heir to at least two immense fortunes, appeared at the Garrick theatre in a singing and dancing turn. The callow youth announces he will remain on the stage, despite the pro- tests of his relatives and friends. His family is well known all over Iowa. Show people hereabouts are annoy- ed because the young man adopted a stage career along the song and dance route. They say that with Wells' money a great future was assured him had he mixed in with producers, chorus girls, wine and lobsters.