Variety (October 1910)

VARIETY OBJECT TO "STRENGTHENER8." While whatever friction exists among certain Eastern Burlesque Wheel managers is being discreetly screened from public gaze, there is apt to be an off-shoot in the matter of Gus Hill and his "Midnight Maidens." While the show played Washington the week before last and Cleveland last week, it carried two extra attrac- tions, ordered into the performance, it is reported, without the knowledge or consent of Manager Hill. According to the regulations as un- derstood governing extra attractions on the Eastern Wheel, one-half the cost for one or more is to be borne by the house management. The re- port is that if this does not occur in the Hill matter, Mr. Hill is contemplat- ing proceedings to recover the differ- ence. r„ "The Midnight Maidens" was order- ed strengthened by the censor commit- tee of the Wheel during its recent trip. The opinion of the three men did not coincide with that of Hill's regarding his show, though Mr. Hill proceeded to carry out the instructions, engaging Mabelle Morgan, an English artist, to lead the company at a weekly salary of $160. A FRIENDLY PAIR. Boston, Sept. 29. Jack Johnson, the champion heavy- weight, is at the Columbia this week, and Sam Langford, who has chal- lenged him repeatedly for the title, is showing at the Howard Atheneum. These two husky duskies are as friend- ly as the Shuberts and K. & E. They are saying all sorts of sweet things about each other. Training to keep In condition is unnecessary, as the hammer swinging that they have been doing all week should keep them in shape. LIKES A MONEY MAKER. Chicago, Sept. 29. Millie De Leon, "The Girl In Blue," after having been the feature last week with "The Beauty Trust" at the Alhambra, is to again to assist "The Bon Tons" at the same house next week. Millie and "The Beauty Trust" at- tracted nearly $6,000 to the Alham- bra box office. The attendance at "The Behman Show" there this week will fall below that figure. Viewing the disparity between the statements of the business, Max Weber decided to have "The Girl In Blue" back. "The Bon Tons" belong to Weber & Rush. SHOWS FOR THE COUNTRY. William Jennings and James Con- uell are rehearsing a burlesque shew, "Manhattan Gaiety Girls," which will open during the early part of October in Salem, N. J. Jennings will handle the principal comedy role, Mabel Webb will be the prima donna. Captolia Snyder has been engaged as soubret. Colentia and her "Salome" dance will be featured. "The High Flyers" is the title of another show which Harry Kostar and Charles Cromwell will take out on the road next month, opening in Connecti- cut about Oct. 10. OVERLOOKED NOTHING. A certain burlesque manager who has never become noted for extrava- gance in the shows he has been con- nected with, called upon a music pub- lisher within the past week to return to him twenty-five cents weekly, while the show employed one of the pub- lisher's songs. The expense item was for pepper- mint lozengers, thrown to the audience during the number. Three trips a representative made to the publish- ing firm, demanding the first week's payment of the quarter. The publisher laughed each time, thinking it was a Joke of some sort, and not seeing the point. After the third trip, the man- ager called up on the phone, demand- ing to know why the amount had not been paid, and saying he would dis- continue the use of the song unless a settlement was made. When the publisher discovered the manager was in earnest, he Inquired why the show did not purchase the lozengers by wholesale, when the bill for the entire season would be $4. He offered to settle for that amount at once, but objected to doling out twen- ty-five cents weekly. The manager grew wrathful at this retort, and said he would yet see the publisher in the hands of a receiver. "That happens to all of you indepen- dent fellows," said the manager. "You will go on the bum." The matter may be left to arbitra- tion, since the manager says the song "has made good." The publisher claims that if the song is a hit in the show, it is worth at least twenty- five cents weekly to the manager for its retention. TAKING "DOPE" HOME. Chicago, Sept. 29. Herman Lieb in "Dope" will be the added attraction with Gus Hill's "In Gay New York" at the Star and Garter next week. The contracts were made in New York through Hyde & Behman Tuesday morning. A coincidence is that the drug store that furnished Jos. M. Patterson, au- thor of "Dope," with the theme of the traffic in "drug" is located within three blocks of the theatre. A REVEREND BOOSTER. Having been a member of a musical comedy company for one month the Rev. Dudley C. Fosher, the former pastor of the Ryder Memorial Uni- versalist Church in Chicago, says: "1 find the stage very human, moral and clean." The Rev. Fosher is at present on the road with "A Stubborn Cinderel- la" company, of which his wife is also a member. In an interview the rev- erend says that he has never witness- ed a single uncouth act or heard a vul- gar word while with the company. "The Btage does not need my feeble defense," he continued," but I am glad to know at first hand that the profes- sion needs no uplift. There is uplift for those who enter it. SUIT AND COUNTER-SUITS. A suit and counter-suits will shortly enmesh Fred Irwin and Coccia and Amato in the courts. Coccia and Amato have brought suit against the manager of "The Majesties" and "Big Show" for salary for three days it did not play at Detroit last season. That marked the closing of a thirty-week contract with "The Big Show." Mr. Irwin sets up as a defense that the act closed at Toledo, disregarding his request to complete its contract by appearing at Detroit, hereby laying themselves liable to damages for non- fullfllment Of the two counter claims to be in- terposed by Irwin, this will be one. Another is the amount of transporta- tion paid out by Irwin for the four or five members of the Coccia-Amato act during the thirty weeks, amounting to about $700. The contract did not provide for the manager to carry the little company over the railroads. Since the act insists upon pay for three days not played, which they were re- quested to play, according to Mr. Ir- win, his lawyer found the off-set when reading over the agreement. Last week four chorus girls were engaged by Mr. Irwin to join one of his companies up the state. He ad- vanced transportation to each, with other monies requested. Only one re- ported. CAN'T ADVERTISE SHOW. The Sunday vaudeville concerts at the Murray Hill for the season have been taken in charge by Weber & Al- len, the agents. "Sundays" opened there last week. Under the stipulation made by the agents with the United Booking offices, under which the Murray Hill may en- gage "United acts" for its Sunday shows, the house cannot bill the pro- gram. A similar understanding Is in effect with other New York theatres not regular vaudeville houses, but which offer Sunday concerts, containing acts booked through the United. There are other "Sunday" theatres in town, which book independently, and are engaging acts promiscuously. BIG COMPANY ON TOUR. The New York Hippodrome Com- pany, being organized to take the road, opening in Philadelphia Oct. 29, is holding rehearsals daily under the di- rection of R. H. Burnsides. The morning work is done at the Hippo- drome and the afternoon rehearsal is held at armory headquarters. The company will be the largest ever on tour. The spectacle to be presented will be "A Trip to Japan," "Pioneer Days" and "The Valley of Jewels," which were featured at the New York "Hip" last year. Among the principals, in addition to Marcelline, the clown, an- nounced for the newly formed organ- ization, are E. A. Clark, Nanette Flack and Harry Wardell. "Seven Days" ends its run of over a year at the Astor October 22. FORCING SETTLEMENT. The Columbia Amusement Co. drop- ped a heavy hand upon the "Rentz- Santley" internal squabble this week. At a meeting held when M. B. Leavitt and Jack Mason were present, it was decided between the Columbia com- pany and representatives of the show that a traveling manager shoulI be appointed for the burlesque com- pany, to protect everyone concerned of the Columbia company demand- ing representation to forestall any troubles which might interfere with the successful operation of the show over the Eastern route. The "Rentz-Santley" is rated as a good piece of property, and a probable mon- ey maker of some dimensions for this season. Abe Leavitt holds the Eastern Wheel franchise for the organization. He officially notified the Columbia com- pany Mr. Mason had the management of the production. The partners of Mason are not recognized officially by the Columbia people, though Messrs. Mason, Leavitt, C. M. Pope and Bobby Matthews, in person or by counsel, al- so agreed late last week to a tempo- rary manager until the affairs were adjusted. J. Gluck was appointed. He will either supersede himself under the new arrangement or another manager continue with the show. It is said that Mr. Pope's interest may be purchased, or the four part- ners continue, with Messrs. Pope and Matthews guaranteed a share of prof- its on the quarters of the show pur- chased by them from Mason. The Leavitts hold their one-half interest intact. HAD TO "LIFT A PLASTER." Chicago, Sept. 29. The management of "The Girl of My Dreams" was compelled to "lifl a plaster" which Trixie Friganzl's at- torneys slapped on the show before it could leave the Chicago Opera House for a trip to Minneapolis and St. Paul last Saturday night. Trixie alleges breach of contract with Joseph M. Gaites, who, with the Witmarks, backed and produced the Hyams and Mclntyre success. She claims damages in the amount of $6">0. REJOINS "THE PENNANT WIN- NERS." Chicago, 111., Sept. 21). After having been so ill that he was forced to retire from the cast of "The Pennant Winners" while they were playing in Cincinnati last week, Elmer Tenley recovered sufficiently to rejoin the company at the Empire Inst Sunday. The show used its own scenery i\\ the Empire here for the first time since the second week of the season. At that time the scenery was ruined by rain in making a haul from St. Louis to the Broadway, East St. Louis SAR RIVO THE NAPOLEON OF THE QUICK CHANGE ART. Next Week (Qct. 3), Family, Clinton, Iowa. I ALL FIVE FOR "SUNDAYS." At the Miner Western Burlesque Wheel theatres in New York City. with the Empire and Casino, Brook- lyn, (also Western houses) will piny vaudeville on Sundays hereati«r. hooked through Shea & Buckner.