Variety (February 1911)

Vol. XXI. No. 9. FEBRUARY 4, 1911. PRICE TEN CENTS F. F. PROCTOR DISAGREEING WITH KEITH, HIS PARTNER Report Says Proctor Believes $150,000 Profit in Three Years From K-P Not Enough. Affidavits Being Sought. Expected Court Proceedings All is not serenity within the Keith- Proctor corporation, according to well grounded information. The signs are that the differences between F. F. Proctor and B. F. Keith may shortly find their way into the courts. Representatives for Messrs. Keith and Proctor within the week have been skurrying around New York City in quest of affidavits, bearing upon the past and present relations and busi- ness of Keith & Proctor as a firm and Individually. ^/ The complainant appears to be F. F. Proctor, who three years ago threw his New York theatres in with B\ F. Keith. Six houses in New York and one in Jersey City were merged. It is reported that Mr. Proctor al- leges that since the formation of the corporation or the partnership, he has received but $150,000 as his share of the profits. Mr. Proctor, from re- ports, aeems to believe that he should have had more. Well known theatrical men have been approached this week on behalf of Mr. Keith for affidavits bearing upon the reputation B. F. Keith has held in the community for integrity and honest dealing. One affidavit was wanted for information to be supplied regarding the condition of business at the Fifth Avenue and the theatre's money making capacity, before it be- came a joint K-P property. The theatres operated by Keith & Proctor are the Fifth Avenue, 23d Street, 58th Street, 125th Street, Har- lem Opera House, Union Square and a theatre In Jersey City. Since the forming of tje firm, all the houses which were playing vaudeville or stock have been converted into the moving Picture policy, excepting the Fifth Avenue, which has clung to vaude- ville, it is said, for the purpose of per- mitting B. F. Keith to head his list of bookings with at least one New York theatre. Following the change to pic- tures, the K-P theatres gradually evo- luted Into a "pop" policy of combi- nation vaudeville and pictures. All the "picture houses" on the K-P cir- cuit have been looked upon as money- makers, especially the Harlem Opera House, which is said by showmen who are up in the picture end of the busi- ness, to have made at least between $40,000 and $60,000 annually since embarking upon that policy. Messrs. Proctor and Keith have other theatres of their own, each man- ager playing vaudeville, pictures, or vaudeville and pictures in his several houses. Mr. Proctor has been re- ported as markedly successful in his "small time" enterprises, and is now reputed to be in receipt of a very big income, much larger it is said than he enjoyed as a vaudeville manager only. Upon Joining forces with Keith three years ago, It was rumored that the Juncture relieved Mr. Proctor con- siderably at that time. One story is that Mr. Proctor may go Into court and ask for an account- ing; another is the dissolution of the corporation may be applied for, al- though Keith Is supposed to have "tied up" Proctor very strongly. VAUDEVILLE ONLY AT OLYMPIA. Paris, Jan. 24. After Feb. 14 vaudeville only, for at least a month, will be the program at the Olympia. Whether another revue will be staged upon the expira- tion of the month has not been settled upon. A SOAK BY PROXY. Boston, Feb. 1. The conservative Keith theatre pro- gram became the medium of a "soak" against William Morris, Inc., this week. Under the caption of "When Vaude- ville is a Losing Game," the program carried an article recently printed in a New York weekly dealing with the closing of the American, New Orleans. The article quoted attacked the Morris Circuit and its management of the New Orleans theatre. It Is probably employed by the Keith house here in an effort to produce what effect it can against any future invasion of Boston that William Morris or any other "op- position" may attempt through en- gaging local capital. Philadelphia, Feb. 1. In the "B. F. Keith Theatre News," the house press sheet, appears this week a complete extract from a New York weekly, which assailed William Morris, Inc., at the closing of the American, New Orleans. ASKING FOR RENT DUE. Des Moines, la.. Feb. 1. Suit for $2,000, alleged to be for unpaid rent, has been entered against the Shubert Theatrical Co. and the Shubert Booking Agency by the Audi- torium Co. of this city. The rent is alleged to have been due Jan. 1. The papers relate that the Auditor- ium was rented to the Shuberts at $4,- 000 yearly, payable semi-annually. GERMAN "SINGLE" COMING. Berlin, Jan. 23. Jean Paul, one of our best come- dians, sai's on the Kronprinz Wil- helm to open in America on the Or- pheum Circuit Feb. 20. MrlXTYISE AND HEATH "TKYOUT." Norfolk, Va., Fob. 1. Mclntyre nnd Heath will "try out" a now act at the Colonial, Friday Muht. v itli a view to presenting it on tli'- <M - pheuni Circuit next, season. It is entitled "Waiting at the Church." They propose to play three acts a wee 1< over the entir" western circuit next, year and to that end expect to ha\e nine different turns in readiness. ADMISSION UP FOR BIG ACT. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Feb. 1. "Sumurin," produced at the Coli- seum Monday, is an ambitious at- tempt. The production is great, al- though running too long. Success will depend largely upon the publicity given it. Business up to now has been big, but not capacity. Prices have been raised for the run of the production up to $2. HUNTLEY HAS A DANDY. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Feb. 1. G. P. Huntley, the popular musical comedy star, opened at the Tivoll Monday in a dandy comedy sketch, "Buying a Gun," and scored heavily. EVEN EXCHANGE IN PARIS. London, Jan. 24. It appears there will be an even exchange of houses between agencies over In Paris very soon. The report is that when the contemplated change of management occurs at the Olympia, Paris, that house will thereafter be booked through Sherek & Braff. In exchange Sherek & Braff will lose the bookings for the Folles Bergere, which H. B. Marlnelll will then take hold of. It is rumored that even now the Marlnelll agency Is looking for turns for the Bergere, although the deal through which M. Charles was to have taken up the lease of the Olympia has not yet been finally closed. H. B. Marlnelll does not surrender the Olympia until the summer. SIGNS ADELAIDE FOR PARIS. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Feb. f. Adelaide, the American toe dancer,, has been engaged to appear at one of the Parisian halls in the near fu- ture. It will he her first appearance here. Time or name of theatre not stated. The engagement of Adelaide for Paris will Include her dancing part- ner. .F. J. Hughes. It. is understood to he for two months at ;i very large salary. Adelaide and Mr Hughes are at. present with the ' K iiv Hid" show. ''..•• ..,.• M\ MKKsMini SISTKKM.