Variety (March 1911)

Vol. XXI. No. 13. MARCH 4, 1911. PRICE TEN CENTS RETIREMENT OF E. D. STAIR MEANS NE W POPU LAR CIRCUIT Messrs. Havlin & Nicholai, With Producers of Road Shows, Framing up the Chain to Succeed the Stair and Havlin Time. It is practically assured that there Is now in process of formation a new popular priced circuit, to be con- ducted on lines differing entirely from the old Stair & Havlin regime. E. D. Stair has been asked to join the new movement, and though he is said to approve of the plans outlined, Mr. Stair prefers to retire from active participation for no other reason than that he intends to devote the (re- mainder of his days to the enviable task of securing enjoyment. His partners, however, are desirous of carrying on the business. It is understood that John H. Havlin and George Nicolai are negotiating with 8tair to secure control of his interests In the circuit with a view to a general reorganization. If this is carried through to a successful issue several producing managers of travelling com- binations will be associated with Hav- lin and Nicolai, Stair only retaining holdings in a number of theatre properties. The plan which may be put into effect in time for the booking of shows next season, is based on the scheme in vogue with the two bur- lesque "wheels," with the exception that the theatres themselves will not be owned by the managers of the at- tractions. Shows will play forty weeks each season, lots to be drawn for the open- ing towns. The theatres are to be charged $25 weekly as booking fee, without percentage for booking to be charged. At the opening of each season the managers of houses will know just what attractions they will have and it is proposed to send out a variety of companies to include everything from musical comedy, extravaganza, melodrama, comic opera, down to the smaller line of shows carrying only a few people. The cities at present contemplated in the new layout are as follows: Jersey City. Kansas City. New York. Omaha and Des Brooklyn. Moines (3 nights Philadelphia. each.) Baltimore. Chicago 'Washington, (2 houses). Pittsburg. Milwaukee. Wheeling and Col- St. Paul. ambus (3 nights Minneapolis. each). Chicago Cincinnati. (third house). Dayton and In- Detroit. dianapolis (3 Toledo. nights each) Cleveland. Louisville. Buffalo. Nashville. Toronto. Chattanooga. Rochester and Knoxville. Syracuse (3 Atlanta. nights each). Birmingham. New York. Week of one-night Providence. stands. Boston. New Orleans. Newark. Memphis. Brooklyn. St. Louis. Philadelphia. It will be noted that there are to be but two houses in New York and two in Brooklyn, while Chicago is to con- tribute three theatres. To a business associate Mr. Stair said: "If I were a younger man I would go into the scheme heart and soul, but now it is my purpose to take it easy, having just enough in- terests to give me something to do whenever I feel so inclined. I am over fifty, have worked hard for many years, denying myself many of the good things of life and it is my intention to 'ease up.' "My home is in Detroit, and I con- sider it the finest city in the United States. I have a handsome home there with seven servants at my com- mand, an automobile, a steam yacht and almost everything that a reason- (Contlnued on page 6.) LOOKS SURE FOR K.-P. SPLIT. The litigation between F. F. Proc- tor and B. F. Keith is still pending in the New York and Maine courts. The hearing at Portland, Me., adjourned until March 1, was further postponed until the end of this week, when the hearing for the removal of the re- ceivers appointed by the Maine court for the Keith-Proctor corporation will be further argued. It appears to be accepted by the vaudeville fraternity that there will be a dissolution of the Keith-Proctor corporation. The Keith side of the argument is anxious to prevent a re- ceivership, and the great expense that will entail. Of the conditions made by Mr. Proctor in the negotiations for a peaceful understanding and the with- drawal of the actions, it is said that his demand that he be given equal command in the direction of the cor- poration's business affairs was turned down by the Keith people. It seems likely that Keith will give Proctor a five-year lease on the Fifth Avenue theatre, New York, and with this house, Mr. Proctor will take back from the corporation the theatres he placed with it: 23d street, 58th street and 125th street. Keith will have of the division the Union Square, Harlem Opera House and the Jersey City K.-P. theatre. While the Harlem Opera House Is a joint partnership theatre, it is said that Keith will secure it for his own through his willingness to pay a larger rent than Mr. Proctor considers the theatre worth. There is a doubt In some quarters whether the Proctor houses, if the dis- solution arrives, will remove them- selves from the United Hooking Offices. The friction in the K.-P. con- cern extends no further than the af- fairs of that corporation. The "wise" people? are divided in opinion over the future Proctor bookings. It is quite well known, however, that Mr. Proc- tor is talking to other managers, prin- cipally William Morris. The positions of Morris and Proctor just at present are peculiarly similar to their indi- vidual standing and relations with vaudeville. Mr. Proctor and Mr. Mor- ris have always been on extemely friendly terms. BOOKS MOSCOW PREMIERE. (Special Cable to Variett p ) London, March 1. The Alhambra, London, has entered an engagement for Katherlne Gelfer, from the Imperial Opera House, Mos- cow, where she is the prima ballerina. The Russian girl will appear in Lon- don with a male assistant. M. Gorsky, the ballet master of the Moscow Imperial, has been secured by the same hall's management to pro- duce the coronation ballet. WOLHEIM LEAVES MARCH 81. (Special Cable to Variett,) London, March 1. It has been settled that the resig- nation of A. Wolheim as manager of the London Marinelli office will go into effect March 31. Bert Howell, formerly local manager for William Morris, will succeed Mr. Wolheim. Fred Thorn, late of the Kingston Hippodrome, has been appointed to the charge of the Morris office. M. Rottenberg, the Sherek & Braff representative, who gave up the agen- cy's office in Berlin, is slated to pro- ceed to New York to represent the firm there. BESSIE CLAYTON IN LONDON. (Special Cable to Variett.) London, March 1. Bessie Clayton, the American dan- cer, will appear at the Alhambra, Lon- don, March 6. MUSICAL COMEDY AT HIPPO- DROME. (Special Cable to VAnir/rr.) London, March 1. A short musical comedy will be pro- duced at the London Hippodrome next season, for a run of eight weeks. The piece will be called "The Belle of London Town." Harry Vernon is writing the book; Franz Lehar will compose the music. "SPEC" ACT HIG HIT. (Special Cable to Vakiktv, ) London, March 1. Cartmell and Harris, an American singing-comedy-dancing act, who came over her on speculation (without bookings) opened at the Metropolitan Monday, scoring a big hit. Com In* Soon! MX KIICKSMITII SISTERS.