Variety (November 1910)

VARIETY A MORRIS-LOEW COMBINATION WITH MARTIN BECK'WAY INSIDE That is the Latest, with a Loew Independent Circuit Possible, While Beck-Rhinock-Cox are Again Figuring to Bring Everybody in The latest move on the vaudeville checker-board is the talkfests between William Morris and Marcus Loew tending toward an amalgamation of the two circuits. The result of this would be, according to the tale, that William Morris would be at the head of a general booking office bearing his name, while the Loew faction would take the business direction of all the houses. The circuits might remain distinct as now, the Morris string becoming the head to the Loew "small time" kite, with the latter regrading several of his theatres to work an easy pas- sageway to the Morris "big time." It is said that Martin Beck has knowledge of all the conversations that transpire between Loew and Mor- ris. Mr. Beck denied that to a Variety representative this week, saying every- thing was moving easily, and that nothing was in the air. Mr. Beck also made a positive de- nial that he had returned to Morris Meyerfeld, Jr. (his business associate) the renewal of "the Duma" with the United. Mr. Meyerfeld was said to have signed,it before sending the pa- per on to his junior partner for his signature. The report that Beck had refused to renew the agreement with the United Booking Offices had been very strong among certain people who should know what is going on. The agreement expires Dec. 1, 1911. Mr. Beck declined to place his signa- ture to the renewal late last week ac- cording to the story. He emphatically denied it however. Mr. Beck was not asked whether he had had conferences with J. L. Rhl- nock and Geo. B. Cox through the re- vival of the former proposition to make a general consolidation in vaude- ville, which would force the United Booking Offices into it. That, how- ever, is strongly represented to be so, and that the conferences are of quite recent date, not any later in fact than Tuesday last. It is the same plan taken up some weeks ago and dropped; that of having the Morris, Loew and Orpheum Circuit together in an understanding, when the situa- tion would be placed before the United as one preferable to join rather than antagonize. The report will not down that Mr. Beck takes an interest in the Morris- Loew confab because of a desire to be placed where he could command a strategic position if a vaudeville up- heaval were Imminent There is no assurance that Beck would become part of a pact between Morris and Loew. It Is said though that what- ever results between the two first mentioned managers may come through the haze of present negotia- tions, Beck will be inside them some- where. A few people claim he will be away inside, too far hidden for even keen eyesight. A block just now reported is Mor- ris' stand upon his name. While Mor- ris is reported as favorable to the present scheme proposed, and satisfied that his sole directorship of vaudeville theatres shall not extend beyond the Americans, New York and Chicago, he will listen to no suggestion that would mean the banishment of his name be- hind that of a corporation or others. Although in former negotiations this same reason was ascribed to the failure of the parties to agree, the last conferences between Morris and Beck are said to have hinged over the final disposition to be made of certain liabilities William Morris, Western, Inc., had taken on, which were obliga- tions that Morris thought a merger should take care of. With the possible addition of a flock of Shubert disappointments on the one-night or "Open Door" circuit, Loew is leaning towards the "mag- nate" charm. Having Amelia Bing- ham headlining at his National Thea- tre this week, as many of the Shubert theatres outside the big cities as he may want (and probably not a few in the larger towns that he could have) Mr. Loew is seeing pictures of himself in days hence. While Loew as a manager is ex- tremely modest and altogether too honest in his opinion of things to re- main in the business long without changing his tune, there is small doubt that a vaudeville circuit of magni- tude shapes up before him. Of the sixty-five Shubert houses placed at his disposal, Loew will select those want- ed from reports which are now com- ing In, stating capacity, opposition, etc. With a fair circuit in and around Greater New York, the Lincoln Square to head, two big houses in Harlem, and the Orpheum, Boston, besides a Philadelphia theatre, Mr. Loew be- lieves he could play a first class chain of vaudeville without anyone's assist- ance, excepting that of the Shuberts. The engagement of Miss Bingham as the feature drawing card for the National seems the first step towards Loew increasing his shows and prices, something predicted would oc- cur upon his circuit before the season had passed. Miss Bingham agreed to play at the National for $1,000. His bill there is costing about $1,800 for the week. Other "big time" "Morris acts" have been looked over, notably "The Barnyard Romeo." Joe Welch and other features are spoken of, one " to be played at a time. This was the policy announced by PLAZA SWITCHES. A week from to-night will witness the last of the stock season at the Plaza Music Hall, which has been of- fering this form of entertainment since the first of this season with the Vale Stock Company as the at- traction. William Morris says he will place vaudeville of the "pop" variety be- ginning with Nov. 14. There will be two shows given daily with a bill of six or seven acts and pictures, the prices ranging from ten to a quarter. For Saturday and Sunday the show will be strengthened with the top- price fifty cents on those days. The Pulton, Brooklyn, may play "big" or "small time" vaudeville. This week it is playing "big time." Last week the managers of the theatre thought they would change to "small time" Nov. 14, but that evening busi- ness picked up. In the summer the Loew Circuit played "pop" in the house on percent- age. The house even to the present managers liked the idea of a weekly profit, though small. • If the Fulton takes the smaller shows on again William Morris will book them as he is now booking the larger shows. Marcus Loew said that he had offered Morris $20,000 yearly for three years, the term of his book- ing contract with the Fulton, but that Morris refused it. , By Thursday the Kolb & Dill man- agement of the Fulton had agreed that Nov. 14 should be the date for the cheaper form of vaudeville. On the same day in New York it was said that there was some doubt whether the Savoy, Baltimore, would continue with a vaudeville show after this week. • The Savoy is also booked through Morris. The general condi- tion of the show business over the country for the past few weeks had disheartened the financial sponsor for the Baltimore theater, according to report—and he had but one factory left. WEEK'S BIG NEWS Jack Levy sold a ring Monday. Loew before Percy G. Williams of- fered him $15 to stop talking about it, when Mr. Loew made $5 by offer- ing Williams $10 to discontinue pic- tures on the Alhambra Roof. The season being but two weeks from cold weather, Mr. Williams agreed. Now Morris is booking for one house in November what he thought he would book for two of the Loew theatres in September. In the general run of New York affairs vaudevilly, Felix Isnian seems to have dropped out. The American, New York, sees him seldom and the interest displayed by Mr. Isman for- merly in the Morris circuit appears to have been absorbed by others. Martin Beck starts west Nov. 10. It is said he will meet Mr. Meyerfeld in Chicago, when there will be more talk- lngs going on. A. E. Johnson, the foreign agent, will sail for the other side toward the end of the month. SUNDAYS ALL THROUGH. The tenancy of the Loew Circuit 1b Shubert theatres on Sundays only was a brief one. Loew has given up the Broadway and Herald Square. From now on only the West End, Majestic and Broadway, Brooklyn, will hoid Sunday concerts supplied by Loew, outside of his regular "pop" houses. Nor will any more Shubert theatres be "tried out," says Mr. Loew, who had a banquet tendered to him at the Knickerbocker Hotel last Sunday evening by the directorate of the Loew Consolidated Enterprises. It was a "big time" affair. Most everyone thought Lee Shubert was the donor, using the rent from the Broadway— but it's not so. Percy G. Williams prefaced his speech by saying "As I am the only Christian in the room.'' While at lunch Wednesday in the Astor, where the vaudeville mob con- gregate for the mid-day feed, Mr. Wil- liams in passing Mr. Loew accidentally spilled a pot of boiling hot water over the lattor's wrist. It was bound up amid Mr. Williams' profuse lamenta- tions. While friendly In all respects, Loew and Williams are competitors through having theaters in the same neighbor- hoods. Mr. Loew scouted the idea that Mr. Williams wanted him out of the way for a few days, nor did he think that Mr. Williams meant to have the water fall upon his right hand to prevent him signing contracts. Mr. Loew was quite sure the water spilling was accidental, even when re- minded of the day Mr. Williams was turned down for free admittance into Loew's 7th Avenue. That was shortly after Loew had opened his converted Harlem house. He had invited his neighborly man- ager "on the big time" to look the 7th Avenue over. Mr. Williams one afternoon walked up to the box office with his son, Victor, who said: "I am Mr. Williams and would, like to go in to see the house." "you Will have to sec the manager," said the box office man. Mr. Willams saw the manager, who asked, when informed of the identity of the visitor, where he was from. Feeling like he would if unwittingly holding six cards in a friendly game, Vic: said he was from the Alhambra. "What do you do over there?" asked the 7th Avenue's man- ager. "Oh, I am the scrub woman," said Vic, as he drew out the necessary coin for his fathers and his-own tick- ets. Though the Shuberts lose the coin which might be secured if enough peo- ple would enter their theaters on the Sabbath, Al Woods is taking a chance. Joe Wood has the bookings for the Sunday concerts at Woods' Garden. The shows commenced there last Sun- day. Eight acts and pictures are the program. Woods also books Woods' other houses, Court and Liberty, Brooklyn. (Although namesakes, the Woodses are no relatives. Joe se- cured the booking privileges without sentiment). There was nothing In the report this week that the Shuberts would have the Lincoln Square for their shows, said Mr. Lo<»w. His lease el that house has thirteen more years to run.