Variety (October 1910)

VARIETY 100,000 SUNDAY CONCERT PATRONS IN NEW YORK CITY Manhattan and Bronx Contribute 100,000 in the Greater New York. Other Boroughs 60,000 Approximately 100,000 people per- colated through the doors of the the- atres In Manhattan and the Bronx Sunday to enjoy the Sunday concerts offered by the management. Such a conservative estimate proves beyond all doubt that the Gothamites appreciate entertainment on the Sab- bath day and an investigation by a Variktv representative last Sunday further shows that the Sunday con- certs are liberally patronized. Last Sunday was the first day for "concerts" this season, having a clear field in weather conditions, and no competition from sea-shore resorts. While later on the attendance in some of the houses will improve, the estimate of 100,000 is about the aver- age Sunday attendance on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge in Oreater New York. Across the East River, taking in Brooklyn and other places of amusement in the greater city, there must have been 60,000 more who contented themselves with a clean and wholesome entertainment on the Sabbath instead of investing any money in red liquor at forbid- den places. Neither at nor near any theatre among the many visited by the Varietv representative was a disturbance of any nature noted. In each the audi- ence was a quiet, orderly crowd, who came to be entertained. Many of the houses did a turnaway business; others had out the "S.R.O." sign, and some held almost capacity. Hammerstein's Victoria was filled to overflowing at night. The matinee business was big. The regular vau- deville bill was given with Gus Ed- wards' "Song Revue," White and Stu- art, and Ed. F. Reynard as the fea- tures. Many were unable to obtain seats and stood up during the per- formance. At the American Music Hall where Harry Von Tilzer and Wish Wynne were the principal art- ists, the house was sold out long bo- fore the curtain went up for the night entertainment and standing room was at a premium. A large number were turned away. The Columbia had fair business at the matinee, while at night few empty seats were noticeable. There was a decided increase in the business over the preceding Sunday. Feiber & Shea, who have leased the Grand Opera House from Cohan & Harris for Sunday concerts, were well pleased with the increase there over the previous Sunday, as well as at the Columbia, which the same firm has on Sundays. Business jumped at least one-third and fully 1,800 people saw the night bill, which embraced eight acts. H. C. Swift, who represents Cohan & Harris at the house, is con- fident that as the weather becomes colder that capacity business will pre- vail. Fourteenth street theatres, includ- ing the five cent places where only moving pictures and illustrated songs are offered, did remarkable business Sunday. Undoubtedly the largest audience in the city gathered at the Academy of Music for the night vau- deville show. Every nook and cranny was filled with humanity, and at least 3,400 people passed inside. The mati- nee audience was also big. "The Fu- turity Winner," Dan Burke and Five "Wonder Girls" and Gene Green of- fered the principal acts. The Olympic, which had Ben Welch, Frank McCormack & Co., Hawthorne and Burt, and the Camille Trio, as its feature acts, did excellent matinee business, while the house was sold out at night and many purchased stand- ing room to attend the vaudeville con- cert on the stage where burlesque holds forth on week days. The Dew- ey did capacity business at the night performances. The Unique, E. L. Weill, manager, did a rushing business afternoon and night. "Small Time" vaudeville and moving pictures were offered at both these places. •Keith -Proctor's Bijou Dream, which has a seating capacity of 1,100 and features light vaudeville and pictures, was crowded from the time it opened in the afternoon until the last film was run at night. John Buck, house manager, and his assistant, A. J. Schreiber, say that the business reaches the high water mark Satur- days and Sundays. Crystal Hall and the Comedy, in the same block, run- ning pictures and illustrated songs, were packed at every show. Manager A. A. Kauffman, of the Comedy, said business is always good as long as the weather permits the people to get out- doors. The Crystal Hall management claims Sunday's attendance was the largest recorded in three months. The seating capacity is 299, but at least a dozen shows are given on Sunday. The West Fourteenth street theatre, vaudeville and pictures, did standing room business at night. The Fair, a five cent picture place, seating 288 and having four reels of pictures, was fill- ed both afternoon and evening. The Fifth Avenue did fairly good business at the matinee, while specu- lators put standing room on sale at night. The sidewalk ticket merchants had the best seats at their mercy and many curbed their desire to enter rather than purchase. The speculators were bolder at the Fifth Avenue en- trance than any other house of enter- tainment visited by the Variety rep- resentative. At 8:45, when the show had gotten a good start, the specu- lators still had their seats. In the rear of the house the people stood in two rows. The break in the audience was noticeable. The Savoy filled everything but the aisles. Vaudeville and pictures com- prised the entertainment. Manager Gane, of the Manhattan, up to five Sunday afternoon, had 1,800 people pass through his theatre doors. Fully 1,200 more came at night. The seat- ing capacity was taxed to its limit, the bleacher-like balcony seats being fully occupied. Ted Marks, who has just assumed the management of Morris' Plaza, was pleased with the attendance at the first Sunday concert. The house "ads" fea- tured Edna Aug, but as a surprise William Morris had "Scrooge," the Charles Dickens' sketch, produced un- der the title of "A Christmas Carol," and it was appreciated by both mati- nee and night audiences. While no records were broken, the attendance was satisfactory for the first "Sunday" of the season at the Plaza. The matinee business at the Murray Hill almost equaled the night receipts, both houses being large, but not of capacity proportions. The gallery sec- tion was the best represented. Seven acts, including Sydney Deane and Co., and the "Two Pucks," were given with the pictures, and a phonographic de- scription of "the late unpleasantness" at Reno. At Columbus Circle and Lincoln Square the theatres did a thriving business. The Majestic, with a seat- ing capacity of 1,590, had standing room only for sale. C. E. Sewards, who represents the Loew interests, put on an extra act, Carolyn Dixon. Vau- deville and pictures were on the bill. The last Sunday show before "The Chocolate Soldier" supplants the vau- deville bill at the Circle, brought out a large attendance. The house was filled at night, six acts and five pic- ture reels furnishing diversion. The Shuberts are now in control of the Circle, which changes its policy Oct. 3 to legitimate attractions. It is un- derstood that Sunday vaudeville con- certs will be given at the Circle, start- ing Oct. 9. The house will be dark to-morrow (Oct. 2). The Lincoln Square theatre could not accommodate the people who ap- plied for admittance. Manager Chas. Ferguson wore an expansive smile. Six acts and six films were offered. The Colonial was sold out from pit to dome Sunday night, and the after- noon business touched the capacity mark. Valeska Suratt and Billy Gould were headlined. "Miner's in the Bronx" did an excel- lent Sunday business. It was the first concert of the season and the attend- ance, while not of record breaking numbers, was good at both shows. The seating capacity of this new Bronx home of burlesque is 1,806. Nine vau- deville acts and pictures were given. At the Alhambra, Gotham, Harlem Opera House, Hurtlg & Seamon's, West End, Keith-Proctor's 58th and 425th street, Metropolis, Star, Yorkville, Bronx, Nemo, the matinee and night returns were very big. MAJESTIC THEATRE, WACO, TEX. This Is oiip of a chain of manv theatres booked by the HODKINS L.YIUC VAUDEVILLE ASSOCIATION', from the principal office of the '-Ircult In the CHICAGO OPERA HOUSE MUILD- ING. CHICAGO. POX PROS, are properletors and managers of the house, which hns a seating capacity of about 1,100. Six acta are used, two shows being given every evening, with a Saturday matinee. AN EXCITING ELOPEMENT. Wheeling, W. Va., Sept. 29. With an irate father-in-law speed- ing toward them fully determined to stop the matrimonial alliance at any cost, Cortez Mercer Templeton, of Dil- la and Templeton, contortionists, and Myrna Ethelyn Gease, a Columbus (O.) girl, were married between shows in the greenroom of the Apollo Theatre, where the groom was playing. Papa Gease trailed the couple so closely they could not carry out their first plan of being married in Ohio, but continued to Wheeling, where an- other license was procured. Mr. (lease secured a West Virginia warraul, charging Templeton with perjury (his daughter's age being misrepresented) but the process server was outwitted. Templeton and his bride went to To- ledo to enjoy their honeymoon with- out interruption. When Templeton finished his act at Wheeling he slipp'-d his street clothes over his tights, the house lights were momentarily extinguished, when he and his wife "beat it" out. through the front way unknown to the officer in the rear.