Variety (December 1910)

VARIETY FIRST U. B. O. HEARING. The first hearing in the case of the complaint against the United Booking Office, made by the White Rats, was heard in the office of the Commissioner of Licenses, Herman Robinson, Wed- nesday morning. The hearing was a short one, lasting about one hour, after which the case was adjourned until next Monday morning at 11 o'clock. Maurice Goodman and Philip M. Stern were present on behalf of the U. B. O., whilo Dennis F. O'Brien and M. L. Malevinsky represented the White Rats. At the hearing little more was done than the presenting of a brief and the offering of three motions by Mr. Goodman. He set forth that under the corporate powers granted the White Rats, it was "a soctftl organi- zation to further the material and artistic advancement of its members"; that the law regarding complaints made to the commissioner of UcenseB should be bo interpreted that only the party or parties aggrieved, their attorneys or agents could enter a com- plaint; that the White Rats was nei- ther agent nor attorney and therefore could not make the complaint; and that after the commissioner had in- vestigated the complaint properly pre- sented, it would be his duty if he found any evidence, to hold a hearing and determine whether or not the li- cense of the respondent should be forfeited. After Mr. Goodman presented his arguments, he asked that the Cor- poration Counsel of the City of New York give a ruling. This was ob- jected to by the attorneys for the complainant, who offered to amend the present complaint with names of the aggrieved parties doing business with the United Booking office. But Mr. Goodman stated that if that were done and the White Rats will remain as the complainant, he would still raise an objection. Messrs. O'Brien and Malevinsky said they would present a brief and orally argue the motions before the Commissioner on next Monday morn- ing. At -the present it seems as though those who have given the White Rats the alleged evidence on which the complaint has been based will have to come forward and furnish separate affidavits in each instance, stating the special grievance. Both parties agreed that the case should move with all possible speed and the Commissioner stated he would devote two days a week to it as soon as the ruling had been presented by the office of the corporation counsel. The commissioner said he was in fa- vor of the ruling being obtained for then his exact position under the law would be defined. It is believed that in the brief Mr. Goodman presented he cited as an instance the derision handed down in the case of the Sabbath Society against P. G. Williams, at the time the former tried to have the license of the Circle theatre revoked. In that case the courts decided the Sabbath Society (a* Corporation) was not a "person" with- in the meaning of the law. ALL MAY GO "22." There is a likelihood that all of the theatres now booked by the Will- lam Morris agency may adopt the "22- act" policy. It Is expected that the Fulton, Brooklyn, will shortly take a turn at the new style of vaudeville. The Plaza, one of Morris' own theatres, is nearly certain of it by Jan. 1, If the present shows continue to attract capacity business. The New Orleans American, an- other Morris house, is awaiting the decision of Dan Fischel of the Prin- cess, St. Louis. The latter theatre is a Mooris booking. Mr. Fischel is noting the attendance and receipts at the Cincinnati Orpheum, which Mor- ris took under his own management last Sunday, opening successfully on that day with the new regime. If the Plaza changes over (which may be done Christmas week—if at all) the "split week" now existing be- tween that house and the Fulton will probably be continued, through the theatres exchanging five acts weekly. The Plaza will not play less than fif- teen acts in all. Murray Fell, of the New York Mor- ris office, was the official represent- ative sent west to attend the openings of the new policy at Cincinnati and Chicago. ALL IN UNION JAN. 1. Both sides of the new amalgama- tion of the actors' Interests, Actors' Union and White Rats, have been rather reticent regarding the future of the dual organization. The charter for the new body was granted at the convention of the American Federation of Labor Ln St. Louis last week, and the delegates have returned to town, but do not care to give any expression of opinion in regard to the future, excepting gen- eralities. Under the charter the new organi- zation does not become active until the first of the year, unless the pres- ent plans of those Interested are changed. In the meantime the organ- izations will continue with the same offices and in much the same manner as heretofore. MORRIS 1 "TIN HORN." "The Tin Horn" is the title of a new dramatic playlet that is to open at the Orpheum, Cincinnati, on the Morris Circuit Dec. 12. It Is another of the dramatic offerings produced under the stage direction of Arnold Daly. In the playlet will be found Frank Campeau, who played Campus in "The Virginians." Others in the cast are Ernest Wilkes, Ruth Gates, George Lynch, William F. Scheller and George Hayes. ENGLISH ACT CANCELED. Chicago, Dec. 1. M. S. Bentham last week performed a ceremony very unusual on the Or- pheum Circuit. It Is an Orpheum rule that an agent booking an act must cancel it himself should the per- formance prove unsatisfactory. As a result, Herbert Clifton ended his American tour. Clifton came over from London, opened at the Majestic, Milwaukee, and played his second week at the Ma- jestic, Chicago. His performance was so unsatisfactory that he was moved up from fifth to third after his first show, and Bentham was at once noti- fied to "cancellate." BASEBALL PLAYER AT HOME. Cincinnati, Dec. 1. Dooin and McCool the two Philadel- phia ball players will appear at the Columbia next week. This is Dooin's home town. Harry Corson Clarke is back from Europe. MAKESHIFT STAGE CREW. The strike of the stage hands at the Fifth Avenue Theatre had not been settled by Thursday, although there had been a conference between the management and the officers of the Union Wednesday afternoon, but no definite agreement was arrived at. After the conference the men were quite confident the victory would rest on their banners. The strike started Monday morn- ing after the stage crew had decided to join the Union Sunday night. They "walked out." The house was with- out help back stage for the first per- formance Monday afternoon. A hurry call was sent out to the booking office. From its ranks a stage crew was drafted. Lester Mayne op- erated the switch-board, Johnny Mc- Carron acted as stage manager, direct- ing the efforts of the makeshift staff in the setting of the scenes. The crew was made up of actors on the bill and general house and office attaches. Of the actors some were members of the White Rats. Despite their labor union affiliation, they readily took hold and helped the management get the stage ready for the performance. At one time during the afternoon it was feared the musicians would go out in sympathy, and DeBundy, of the United's Family Department, was dis- patched to the theatre to be an hand to take charge of the piano and care for the musical end of the entertain- ment if required. His services were not called for. If a settlement is effected the house will become unionized, for the men request recognition of the union as well as the wage scale of that organi- zation. The strike also crippled the Keith- Proctor picture houses in New York. NEIL O'BRIEN IN "ONE." Neil O'Brien, the minstrel, is going into "one" for vaudeville, appearing with only a "straight" man to "feed" him. The first chance will be taken at Montreal Dec. 12, booked by Will- iam L. Lykens. Mr. O'Brien recentlv abandoned a vaudeville tour in ;i blackface coinedv sketch BEN NATIIAX <JOIX<; BACK. After a stay in New York of over a year. Hen Nathan, the English the- atrical man. is to sail hack home to day. Mr. Nathan is taking acro^ three sketches written by Victor Ji. Snialley, which he expects to proritm on the other side. "A.MATEl'K" IHMJS NOT WANTED Chicago. Dec. 1. A "small time" manager near hen in canceling an animal act last week. gave as the reason that he wanted no "aniiiteur" dogs in his show. ETHEL WHITESIDE ♦h. T*mnH° n iw y .. ¥. ,1S White ? ide « n d her "Picks*' opened for her first date on the United time ai the Temple, Detroit, and next week she plays Rochester for Manager Moore. Ilgh"effecu COONTOWN" entails a special scenic setting, elaborate costuming and VAUnEvilXB t AS30f5ATION 6a80n8 "^ *** ^^ playlnR ,n the mldd l e "Weet for the WESTERN l»EIM'V HASWELL A I E ATI Klv Chicago, Dec. I. At the Majestic some time this i.mnth will appear Percy Haswell in "Big Moments." Miss Haswell's turn will consist of snatches from well known plays. Don't forget your "copy" For VARIETY'S Aunlversary. Out l>ec. 10.