Variety (April 1911)

VARIETY ii INVOLUNTARY "BLACKLIST" RISING T HROUGH CONDITIONS Acts Playing in Opposition to United Booking Offices "Big Time" Liable to Be Barred. Franklin and Green Refused Permission to Appear at Atlantic City. An involuntary "blacklist" may manifest itself in the United Booking Offices. It will be brought about by acts which play "opposition" in towns where a "franchise" of the United is held. The first name chosen for the list seemed to be Irene Franklin, on Tues- day, when it was stated that Miss Franklin would appear as the feature attraction at the Savoy, Atlantic City, next week, in opposition to the Young's Pier theatre there, which holds the United's franchises. It was said that Miss Franklin had been notified that if she played the seaside engagement in the opposition theatre, no further United time could be secured by her. Wednesday morn- ing Miss Franklin was engaged to fea- ture the Colonial (New York) pro- gram next week. It was not a certainty Wednesday that Miss Franklin, and her partner, Burt Green, would appear at the Sa- voy, although Louis Wesley, their rep- resentative (and also the manager of the Savoy) stated the act would play his house. This week at the Savoy, Morris Gest's "Darling of Paris" is the fea- ture. Mr. Gest is one of the own- ers of the house. His act has played United time, and is now booked for the Orpheum Circuit. It was an un- settled question during the week whether the Orpheum Circuit would uphold the United In any new "black- list" that might receive a start. Just what constitutes "opposition" at present in the minds of the United managers, no one in the Offices seems to know. When the matter arises it is left to Sam Hodgdon to determine. Mr. Hodgdon is the general booker and router for the United. Several managers are active in lo- cating acts playing "small time" houses against them. One of these, Carl Lothrop, has demanded in an in- stance or so where he found acts ap- pearing at the Miles theatre, Detroit (in opposition to the Temple—booked by Lothrop) that the act be barred from other United time on the ground that it played an "opposition house." That stand was taken by Mr. Loth- rop, it was reported (before the "blacklist" was removed) in the case of the Bell Family, engaged and billed for Hammerstein's, New York. The act did not appear there. It was said at the time the cancellation came through Lothrop's protest. Another objector is the firm of Wilmer & Vincent. They are extreme- ly vigilant in watching the smaller time houses in towns where theatres of the firm are located. As far as can be learned, there has been no protest to date entered in the United Offices against any act for appearing in the "small time" theatres of the larger cities, like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chi- cago. This situation has been settled locally, it has appeared, with the resident manager in power to revise programs. At the United Offices a Variety, representative was Informed that the Savoy, Atlantic City, was considered in opposition to Young's Pier. At a meeting of the United man- agers Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Wesley went before them. He was asked to withdraw Miss Franklin from his pro- gram, but refused to do so. For some years Wesley has been the business representative for Franklin and Green. The Colonial booking of Miss Franklin by Percy G. Williams prob- ably induced Mr. Wesley to shift from the stand taken. Two former "Morris houses" (Ful- ton, Brooklyn, and Princess, St. Louis) are booking promiscuously. The other "Morris houses" still playing the bet- ter grade of shows (American, Chi- cago) is booked with the consent of the Orpheum Circuit, and through that office. A Variety; representative was in- formed this week that no objection had been entered by' any one against the policy pursued by the first named two theatres, nor the bookings placed in either. The Fulton is not far from Percy G. Williams' Orpheum, while the Princess has been considered a competing house with the Columbia, St. Louis (Orpheum Circuit bookings). It was said at the same time that the Fulton would likely change to a pic- ture policy within a short time, while an immediate change at the Princess is contemplated. William Morris is understood to have a twenty per cent, interest in the Fulton. The Princess is managed and solely directed by Dan Fishell. St. Louis, March 2 ( J. The Princess will switch from Wil- liam Morris, Inc., to Sulllvan-Considine vaudeville, Sunday, April 2, the part- ing of the ways with Dan S. Fishell having been reached early this week. The new bookings may be only for a month, as it is planned to close the season May 1. Nothing after has been settled upon. Plans to produce shows probably will go over till fall as the Fishell Amusement Co. will have its hands full with Chester Park, Cincinnati, and Delmar, St. Louis, this summer. Business at the Princess increased since the popular prices were inaugu- rated several weeks ago. MAY BE AT NEW THEATRE. Boston, March 29. The production of "Hippolytus," by Margaret Anglic, at the Tremont the- atre, last Friday afternoon, was voted a huge success. Several New York managers were present at the per- formance. It is reported that George Tyler, of Liebler & Co., had made arrangements with Miss Anglin for the production of the Julia Ward Howe play, with Mies Anglin in the role of "Phardra" at the New Theatre, in New York. The play was given for one per- formance and the proceeds are for the Julia Ward Howe Memorial Fund. FIXING "FIX-IT." Philadelphia, March 29. The Norworth-Bayes piece, "Little Miss Fix-It," now playing its second and final week at the Chestnut Street Opera House, is being fixed over for TROUBLES OF ITALIAN OPERA CO. New Orleans, March 29. The troubles of Raymond Sarnella's Italian Opera Company, stranded in this city, are to be aired in the Civil Court. Caesar Estrada, of Guayaquil, Ecuador, has filed a petition in which he represents that Raymond Samella not only refuses to comply with the terms of a contract which the petition- er entered into with him, but refuses to return $7,000 which Estrada ad- vanced him under the terms of the contract. In the light of which facts he prays for a judgment against Sar- nella in that amount, and asks for a writ of attachment commanding the civil sheriff to seize and attach the property of Samella. It Is shown in the petition that Es- trada entered into a contract with Sar- nella, Feb. 22, 1911, whereby Samella agreed, in Havana, to take his Italian troupe from the Cuban capital to the I ■*». CLARICE VANCE THE SOUTHERN SINGER Who opens at the Orpheum Theatre, Spokane, Sunday, April 2; 8eattle Orpheum, April 10; Portland Orpheum April 17; Orpheum Circuit, etc. the New York opening next week. A new character has been added to fill the role of the mythical "Billy," which Miss Bayes refers to all through the piece. J. A. Curtis opened in the part Monday night. May Btackley will replace Grace Field in the role of "Marjorle," and to add a bit of Broadway atmosphere, four show girls will replace those now playing the suffraggetts. The "atmos- phere" will be Alys Belga, Estelle Perry, Mona Triest and Vivian Rush- more. VICTORIA SHOW GOING ON. Montreal, March 29, Vesta Victoria made her first ap- pearance in Montreal Monday, and will remain for the week. So far the English singer and her show have drawn good business. Miss Victoria is booked through to the Coast. Miss Victoria will appear at the Princess, Toronto, all of next week. city of Guatemala to give performances at a fixed sum. This, in consideration of Estrada paying to Samella in ad- vance $4,000 in cash and $3,300 for railroad and steamship fares from Ha- vana to Guatemala. It was agreed that the troupe should leave Havana on the boat, March 7. 1911, but through the fault and negli- gence of Sarnella, the troupe missed the boat, and sailed to New Orleans preparatory to embarking for Guate- mala. Kstrada shows he advanced $ 3.7(H) to Sarnella and subsequently tendered the balance of $300. He has also paid in railroad and steamship fares $3,- 300. Estrada declares he is still de- sirous of having Sarnella carry out his agreement as he has a contract with the Guatemalan Government to pres- ent on opera troupe there not later than April 14, but that Sarnella re- fuses to live up to his contract. The Italians have been giving bene- fit performances at the French Opera House for living expenses. VAUDEVILLE TWICE-MONTHLY. March 30, the inmates at Wards Island had a vaudeville treat. Acts in New York gave the show. Vaudeville for the Inmates is to be a fortnightly event hereafter, under the direction of Domlnick Buckley, Charles Wilshin, Louis Pincus and Frank Jones. MANAGER MISSING. Cincinnati, March 29. Manager George E. Nixon, of the Sun theatre, has been missing since Sunday. He left the theatre that night. Foul play Is feared. Nixon had $100 with him when he disap- peared.