Variety (January 1911)

VARIETY WESTERN ADDS WEEK. Chicago, Jan. 6. It is understood that commencing Jan. b Western Wheel shows will play Krug's, Omaha, with St. Joe for a week, "splitting" the two towns. The Eastern Wheel is now intrenched i' 1 Omaha, at the Gayety, as a week stand. James H. Curtin, when seen about the Omaha deal, confirmed the report and said the Krug would open with a matinee performance tomorrow by "The Rector Girls," which would re- main there until Thursday morning when they would go to St. Joe to finish out the week at the Lyceum. By taking in Omaha, the Empire circuit fills in the open week between St. Paul and Kansas City and does away with the different companies playing one-night stands heretofore dated under their own dictation. The Krug is a Stair & Havlin house, which has played the high class legitimate attractions. NOW OWNS WHOLE SHOW. With the division of Weber & Rush, Edward F. Rush removed "The Bon Tons" as his own, while his partner, L. Lawrence Weber, drew down as a piece of Individual property "The Par- isian Widows." The third show oper- ated by the firm "The Dainty Duch- ess" was left as a partnership item. Last week Mr. Rush sold his one- half share In "The Duchess" to Mr. Weber. The consideration Is reported as $10,000. A law suit between the partners was also settled about the same time. GERARD AFTER THE CHAMP. Al Kaufman now has Barney Ger- ard as manager. Mr. Gerard will is- sue a challenge to Jack Johnson on behalf of Kaufman, for the heavy- weight title. This week Mr. Gerard also signed a denial of the report he might leave (with his "Follies of the Day") the Western Burlesque Wheel for the Eastern Circuit next season. Mr. Ger- ard says his relations with the West- ern Wheel officials have always been of the pleasant kind, and that they have never denied him any conces- sions asked for. SHOWS PRINCIPALS ENGAGED. Philadelphia, Jan. 6. The engagement of Klara Hendrlx of "The College Girls," and Harry Koler, principal comedian of "Queens of Jardln de Paris," has been announc- ed. Miss Hendrlx Is showing a huge diamond engagement ring to her en- vious friends. The marriage is to take place at the close of the season in New York. LOOKING FOR PRODUCERS. The newly formed L# Lawrence Web- er Co-Operative Circuit, which intends to have a string of forty houses nex f season, playing combinations produced under the direction of the book 1 up agency, has been sending for produc- ers the past few days, according to re- ports about. Several have been given details of the promotion and ofTered the oppor- tunity of placing a production upon the "Combination Wheel." DIVIDEND WEEK. This is dividend time for the Co- lumbia Amusement Co. (Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel) and its subsidiary com- panies. Yesterday in New York oc- curred the bi-yearly meeting of the Columbia, when a dividend was mark- ed down on the books. It would be ten per cent, the wise ones said, be- fore the meeting. Another will be declared at the end of the fiscal year next June, when the total amount of the dividends for the year in Colum- bia company will reach from twenty to thirty per cent Next week Is the first anniversary for the Columbia theatre, New York, the Broadway house of the Eastern Wheel. It is reported a dividend of ten per cent, for the year will be vot- ed on the capitalization, $400,000. CRITIC CORRECTS HIMSELF. Philadelphia, Jan. 5. In the review of the "Follies of New York and Paris" when It played the Casino, this city, Ada Ayers was given credit for carrying off the hon- ors among the women principals. This was a mistake, for the honors belonged to Nell Capron, the prima donna of the company, who led the principal numbers and sang the big song hit of the show with Saul Pow- der. Miss Capron Is prominent at all times, while Miss Ayers has little to do until the burlesque. The mistake was made by the re- viewer and did Miss Capron an in- justice. MISS BAKER'S BURNS BETTER. Marie Baker, who backed up against the switchboard in her stage costume when the "The Ginger Girls" played Detroit week of Aug. 28, and had her back severely burned, will rejoin the show In Philadelphia next week. Miss Baker has been in burlesque for several seasons. CHANGES IN "MAIDENS." Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 5. May Crawford and Gladys Sears left "The Midnight Maidens" after the en- gagement here last week. Crelgh- too Bros., McArthur Sisters. Elsie Del Roy and Ted Evans are others who have recently quitted the show. Lizzie B. Raymond, Dannie Sim- mons, Ned Norton and Jim Purvis Joined the company at Schenectady Monday. Violet Pearl la reported to be engaged also. MARRIAGE CELEBRATION. St. Louis, Jan. 5 "The Star and Garter Show" cele- brated the Incoming New Year at the Gayety by a staga wedding. Sadie Brown of the troupe, and Louis Bieler, the electrician of the company, were married during the performance of the show New Year's eve. SINGER SIGNS RTNALDO. Jack Ringer has engaged Rlnaldo. the violinist, for ten weeks with "The Serenaders," opening Jan. 31 at St. Louis. Rlnaldo Is returning to this side for that length of time Tie has been a very big hit abroad B A Myers was the agent. OUT WITH DENIALS. This was a busy week for theatrical papers and Western Burlesque Wheel managers. The papers had scouts out all week securing denials of the re- port printed in Variety last Saturday that the Western Wheel might lose some of its best shows, through the Eastern Wheel securing them for next season. It is said several denials were sign- ed, but one burlesque manager stated that probably before the signatures were appended to the contradictions, the Empire Circuit Co. (Western Wheel) had likely made new terms or promises to the managers in ques- tion, that being the customary bur- lesque way to hold the ranks Intact. It often happens that where there is a chance of a show "flopping over?^* the manager of it receives a higher * percentage of the gross for the next season. It was also reported during the week that A. M. Bruggemann had said the Eastern Wheel people would not have his Empire, Paterson, N. J. The Eastern Wheel officials stated they did not want it. The facts regarding that seem to be that when the Eastern folk were in doubt whether Hurtlg &. Seamon would continue with bur- lesque at the Metropolis, New York, Paterson was looked to as a tempo- rary stop gap for the open week the leaving of the Metropolis might cause. A DIFFERENT "FOLLIES." "The Follies of the Year" is the title of the organization the Metropo- lis Amusement Co. Is forming. The Theatrical Producing Managers noti- fied Morlmer Kaphan, of the Amuse- ment Co., that to name his show "The Follies of Day" would be an infringe- ment upon the title of a burlesque company. Mr. Kaphan replied the name first settled upon ended with "Year," not "Day," nor the year's numerals. AWAITING DECISION. No decision has been handed down in the suit for application for re- straining injunction against Elmer Tenley and the Whallen & Martell Amusement Company by Fred Irwin for using an alleged adaptation of his burlesque piece, "Frenchee." The court was expected to have made its ruling ere this, but the mat- ter was deferred until the passing of the holidays. Before another week has passed, it is thought the case will be settled one way or another. Mean- while Tenley and the Whallen & Mar- tell company continue to produce their second act of "The Pennant Winners" entitled "Harum Scarum." There has been an amicable settle- ment between Fred Irwin and L. L. Weber regarding the song "Paree," in which the former claimed was be- ing used by the Watson Sisters in the iatter's show, "Dainty Duchess," and was his original property, the sisters withdrawing It from their repertory. George C Davis* who has been quite 111 in the hospital, is out again. Tom Transfleld is again confined at his apartments, 2R6 West 38th street. HITS WESTERN MANAGERS. A well known Western Burlesque Wheel manager has forwarded the following letter to all associates on his Wheel: Philadelphia, Dec. 16. 1910. Gentlemen: I would respectfully call your attention to existing conditions in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Paul which I do not think is fair to the traveling manager. It is an established fact that with the cost of the big railroad jumps that few managers can break even in the northwest. Fighting the Eastern Wheel is hard enough but to have to contend with the wrestling matches managed by the same men who represent our houses, but who hold these matches in opposition houses and in direct opposition to the houses we play in is too much of a hardship. The wrestling draws packed houses, and is well known that wrestling matches pulled off in cities that we play in hurts the burlesque houses more than any other form of amusement, and to think that these same matches are directed by the men who handle the burlesque houses. It is a matter that ought to be looked into at once. This is not written in a spirit of spite or animosity, but for the benefit of all who have their money invest- ed. It is a matter of fact that it is really hard to find these managers about the theatre to attend to routine business that is requisite to give the shows. Yours respectfully, (Signed by the Manager.) MAY BUILD IN NEWARK. Newark, N. J., Jan. 5. It is said the Miner Estate, when obliged to leaves its present Empire, may go into a new theatre with the Western Burlesque Wheel shows. The new Bamberger store will swal- low up the site of the Empire. The Miners are reported negotiating for a plot of the Mullln estate, on Washing- ton street, south of Market. They are rumored also as after Proctor's Bijou Dream. BUYS THE COPYRIGHT. Werba & Luescher and Tom Mc- Naughton have concluded to purchase the copyright of "The Three Trees" recitation, now employed by Mr. Mc- Xaughton, differently from the origi- nal, in the firm's production "The Spring Maid" at the Liberty. The American copyright is held by Alfred Whelan, now in England. He will receive $240. Mr. Whelan secured from Mark Sheridan the material he copyrighted over here. There is talk of a "No. 2" "Spring Maid" company going on the road. The show played to over $14,- 000 at the Liberty last week, and to over $4,100 on Monday of this week (two shows). The advance sale has reached $40,000. The success of the production, which is complete from every angle, has brought its promoters, Louis F. Werba and Mark A. Luescher proposi- tions from some very big stars to be taken under their management.