Variety (April 1911)

VARIETY ii S.-0. FIGHTING LEVEY. San Francisco, April 5. The Chicago representatives of the Sulllvan-Consldine Circuit have been sending a series of circular letters in and around Arizona trying to line up a number of houses in that territory in order to break the jumps from the California end of the circuit into the middle west. In the body of one of the letters the writer mentions that the Denver office has been sending two teams as far south at Alberquerque at a figure at least $25 less than charged by Bert Levey for the same class of talent. He further states that the Dallas branch of the S.-C. circuit is booking several houses in and around New Mexico, Intimating that were the Ari- zona managers willing to co-operate with the Dallas branch they might secure bills at a figure below that charged by Levey, who is at present booking in that territory. The writer also explains that owing to the large number of weeks offered by the S.-C. people they can secure better acts, etc., at a low figure. One of the letters reached a man- ager in Arizona last week. He for- warded it immediately to Levey. On the same day Levey received a tele- gram from T. O. Tuttle, the Dallas representative of the S.-C. people ask- ing for an immediate answer if he can depend on acts closing in Tucson for Levey so that Tuttle can open them at different points through the south. Tuttle added that he needed acts badly. Evidently Tuttle had not heard of the Chicago*S.-C. office's activity in his behalf. Needless to say, Levey who had pre- viously made arrangements with Tut- tle to send his acts along, decided to discontinue business with the Dallas office. POLTS NEW BIJOU. New Haven, April 6. S. Z. Poll returned to-day from Philadelphia where he held a confer- ence with Architect Westover over the rebuilding of the Bijou theatre In New Haven. The Bijou was destroyed by fire March 14. The plans as drawn mean a new house from the ground up, to be devoted to "pop" vaudeville, which prevailed at the theatre at the time it burned. "DRAWING ROOM PET" HERE. Mary Ambrose, an English girl, who was styled "The Pet of the Drawing Room" in London, will shortly make her American debut in vaudeville. Miss Ambrose is a violin protege of Rudolph Fitzner, of Vienna, with whom she studied for nine years. Jan Kubelik has pre- dicted a promising career for Miss Ambrose. ROLFE AND HIS BAND. Atlantic City, April B. On Young's Pier July 1, and for the remainder of the season B. A. Rolfe will lead a band of fifty pieces. Several soloists will be in the troupe, Including Mr. Rolfe, who will play under the spot light while the Pier is darkened for that purpose. AMENDING BUILDING CODE. An amendment to the building code was introduced to the Board of Aldermen of New York City on Tues- day. The resolution provides for re- stricting the seating capacity of all theatres in proportion to the size of the exits. For a balcony containing five hundred seats, stairways 26 feet wide would be required. It also prohibits the employment of wooden building materials in any portion of the auditorium. If the resolution is passed it would become almost impossible to erect a new playhouse In the metropolis. VICTORIA GOES TO LOEW. Baltimore, April 6. The Victoria will receive its book- ings from the Loew Circuit, New York, commencing with next week. The house plays eight acts to an average weekly salary roll of about $1,500. TRULY SHATTUCK. In "Alma. Where Do Tou Live?" THE SODINIS SEPARATED. Little Rock, Ark., April 5. Mrs. H. A. Sodinl has been granted an absolute divorce by Judge Ram- say at this city from Harry A. Sodinl, the middle west theatrical manager. Mr. Sodinl settled the alimony ques- tion by giving a lump sum. Mrs. Sodlni, under her stage name "Bernice" will return to the boards. "POP" COLISEUM OPENING. Philadelphia, April 5. The Coliseum, the latest addition to the big chain of houses playing "pop" vaudeville and pictures in this city, was opened Monday night with every one of the 1,200 seats filled. The theatre is situated at 60th and Market streets and was erected by the Coliseum Amusement Co. at a cost of $80,000. Marcus Benn is president of the company and will be the manager of the house. The Coliseum is a lire- proof building, with ample exits and appliances for the safety of the pa- trons. The admission is 10-20. The hous.- plays five acts, one show in the af- ternoon and two in the evening, split- ting the week. The bookings are fur- nished by Stein & Leonard of this city. Later, the manager said, mati- nees will be given only on Wednesday and Saturday. ON A WAGON TO FRISCO. Monday evening a tented wagon drew out of New York City, bound for Frisco. Besides the horse and cart were Mr. and Mrs. Dave McFad- den. McFadden will drive to San Fran- cisco. On the way he will boom the songs of the New York music publish- ers. NEW AUTO SENSATION. Paris, March 27. A French performer named Arnaud has just constructed a perilous* act with two motor cars, about to make its debut In Berlin. Two cars (Arnaud in one and a woman in the other) start down an inclined plank following each other, until they reach an open space. No. 1 car then springs in the air by the impetus, while No. 2 jumps the space on the level, passing under No. 1 and arriving on the other side of the plank first, thus reversing their positions for the remainder of the trip. "BIG TIME" IN PEORIA. Peoria, 111., April 5. The date for the opening of the New Orpheum theatre has been defi- nitely set for April 24. The house will play "big time" vaudeville, giv- ing two shows a day. The bookings will come through the Western Vaude- ville Managers' Association. NEW PRESIDENT OF COMPANY. Seattle, April 5. Following the retirement of Peter Geurtz from the People's Amusement Co., of Portland, F. A. Lacey becomes its personal representative here, and also manager of the Lyceum theatre. F. Smith has been appointed treas- urer of the company, and will have charge of the financial end of the Peo- ple's theatres in Seattle, Odeon, Alas- ka and Lyceum. ANNETTE WASN'T SORE. Atlanta, April 5. Annette Kellerman, "The Diving Venus," was arrested for speeding here and was fined $25. After an- nouncing the penalty the judge came off the bench and met the famous diver. Miss Kellerman told the judge she bore no malice against him but called the officer who arrested her "a silly ass." DISLIKE THE HOOKING WAY. Chicago, April 5. During the past week there have been indications pointing to a possible break in the friendly relations exist- ing over the booking agreement re- garding the American Music, Hall here. Recently the Music Hall has been playing "big" United acts that have been booked in by the Orpheum office in New York. Frauk Q. Doyle has an- nounced that he is the sole controller of the acts in the Music Hall and has been offering them to "small time" managers booking through his agency. While the association has not taken any direct steps in the matter it is understood that the case has been placed before Martin Heck in New York. HOWARD'S SHOW "PANNED." Chicago, April 5. Joe Howard's "Love and Politics" opened at the Cort Monday. The papers generally "panned" It. The Shuberts tried to stop its initial per- formance by injunction, claiming that Howard had a contract to open at the Princess here. Howard claims violation of contract by not advertising in advance one week. Hearing set for Friday. IT'S THIS WAY, IN EQUITY. Gus Dreyer Is attorney for Sharp and Montgomery, who have a claim against Frank Keeney for $50, salary alleged to be due. It seems that Sharp missed a performance at one of Kee- ney's houses and the manager fined him the amount above mentioned, the sum the team waa to have received for three days. About a year ago an act receiving $250 a week was fined $75 for miss- ing one performance on a contract calling for twelve performances for the week. The presiding Judge, in a lengthy decision, in a suit brought to recover, found for the plaintiffs in the sum of $75 sued for, and in addi- tion an amount equal to the salary they would have received had the sal- ary for one performance equalled said $75. The justice found that if the manager reckoned the services of the act at $75 a performance then, In equity, they were entitled to such an amount for the entire engagement. SUMMER VAUDEVILLE. Chicago, April 5. Legitimate houses are turning to vaudeville for the summer in great numbers. The Schwartz, at Waukegan, has now become the Schwartz-Or- pheum, and is handled by a company in which C. E. Bray, general manager of the W. V. M. A., is Interested. The Jefferson theatre, at Coffeyville, Kan- sas, the Elks theatre, at Parsons, and the Grand, at Fort Smith, Ark., are others which have tried to plan with Association bookings. The latter is booked through the Interstate office, and began the new policy this week. The Bijou, at Memphis, starts play- ing S.-C. vaudeville at summer prices, April 24, and announces that it will play the big S.-C. road shows next sea- Bon. The Grand theatre, San Antonio, Tex., begins playing S.-C. summer vaudeville April .'U, and it is an- nounced hen; that a new vaudeville house In that city will play the S.-C. vaudeville next season. PLANS FOR NEW IfOI'SE. Steel plans for the n<-w $100,000 theatre, which the Broadway and Ufith Street Realty Co. (William Fox, presi- dent; J. W. Loeb, secretary) will build at the northwest corner of Broadway and 9Gth street, are being compl to 1 by Architect Thomas W. Lr.mb. It will be a slag roof, terra coti.i li!<><\ affair. No contractors have '.< "n a»;- pounced. Mr. Lamb Is also |» r«■ | i.i ti n ; to tak" bids on the contract !'"' the «.'model- ing of Fox's Academy of Music, changes to consist of store front.-:, etc.