Variety (June 1911)

12 VARIETY FIGHTING OVER LOSSES. Chicago, May 31. Last Saturday night witnessed the ending of the "world-wide tour" of Vest a Victoria and her "all-star vaude- ville company" with the closing of a nine-day engagement at the Audi- torium in this city. According to report the tour of Miss Victoria was beset with obstacles from the very beginning. When the com- pany started on a tour of Eastern Canada the business did not warrant a continuance. The management de- cided that it would chance the playing of dates booked further westward. The dates in Winnipeg and other towns in Canada and the Northwestern sec- tion of the United States were played to money that showed a profit. But the trip back east through the states and ending with the Chicago engage- ment was played at a loss. r Those fathering the tour made ar- rangements with Miss Victoria where- by the English singing comedienne was to accept a salary of $1,000 weekly and also to share in the profits of the tour on a 50-50 basis. Col. "Bill" Thompson, manager of the tour and one of its promoters was to receive a salary of $100 per. In addition to the weekly stipend he was to share with the star to the extent of 50 per cent of the profits. When the Chicago engagement started at the Auditorium, the star had not drawn any salary, according to her own statement made privately, for at least three weeks. The show in the Windy City struck a period of inclement weather. It rained the opening day, and the downpour con- tinued for the second day. Then the weather took an abrupt turn and be-' came exceedingly hot. Business became so bad that the manager and promoter (who had con- tracted debts to the extent of some $3,000 for the Chicago engagement) went to the star, according to the al- legations of the latter, and stated that he was going to close after the per- formance Tuesday night, unless she agreed to accept the responsibility of all expenses incurred for the Chicago date. Miss Victoria, afraid of public opin- ion, and without advice from any of her friends, agreed to assume the ob- ligations. After a talk with advisers, however, the star reconsidered. Incidentally it is said, Thompson went into the Auditorium under a contract that gave the house the first $5,500 that came in, and to split 50-50; Thompson to furnish all news- paper, hotel and billboard advertising and the orchestra as well as the show. The house was to furnisn nothing but the attendants. Thompson has been served with papers calling for $25,000 damages for breach of contract, entered by Miss Victoria. Thompson alleges that Wednesday, when he notified the English star he could no longer continue in the ca- pacity of business manager, she in- structed Abe Halle who acted as treasurer to hold all money to pay the expenses of the local engagement amounting to $3,500. Thompson has placed his defense in the hands of S. A. flristow, a local fittorney. CORT'S SUMMER PIECE. Chicago, May 31. "The Prodigal Tar" Is the title of a musical play reported to be in course of preparation for a midsum- mer production at the Cort. Grace Kennlcott is to be casted for the lead- ing soprano role. G. E. McCune has in rehearsal a nautical operetta for production at the Cort, Chicago, June 18, Its present title is "On Larboard Watch," but this will probably be changed. The book and music are both by Fred. Miller, librettist of "Ship Ahoy." In the cast will be Arthur Donald- son, Dorothy Maynard, John L. Kear- ney, Madison Smith, W. J. McCarthy, Anna Hoffman, Julian Reed, Osborne Clemson. SHOWS NEXT WEEK. FIRE ASSN. RECOMMENDS. At a session of the National Fire Protection Association, held at the Waldorf Hotel the other day, a num- ber of Improvements in the conduct of theatres and other places of amuse- ment In New York were rcommend- ed. It is proposed that all places of amusement shall receive the joint ap- proval of the fire and building depart- ments; that all scenery be flreproofed, and no dressing rooms placed under the stage. Wherever standing room is permitted it is requested that three feet of floor space be provided for each person. For roof gardens it is recommended that all such places should be on top of fireproof build- ings and not over ninety feet from the street, with not over 750 persons*' to be accommodated at a perform- ance. Some of the other recommen- dations are: "No seat in a theatre gallery shall have more than four seats interven- ing between It and an aisle. "Actors' dressing rooms shall be placed in a separate section provided for that purpose, and no dressing room ceiling shall be less than three feet above the level of the street." 10-CENT GALLERIES. At a meeting of the Managers' As- sociation held recently, it was decid- ed that all the theatres booked through the Klaw & Erlanger offices, excepting in the very large cities, will reduce the price of gallery seats to ten cents. This was determined upon to offset the inroads made by the pop- ular priced vaudeville and moving pic- ture houses which have been injuring the attendance in the upper portions of the legitimate theatres. KITTY GORDON AT LIBERTY. All business relations between the Shuberts and Kitty Gordon are at end, according to a declaration by Miss Gordon, who says she is at liberty to accept any engagement. The ten-week agreement which held the English woman to the Shuberts has expired. During the summer, Miss Gordon may accept a few vaudeville engagements secured for her by Wil- liam L. Lykens or perhaps she will return to England for a visit. Mr. Lykens has also the placing of another former Shubert attraction, Grace Van Studdiford. NEW YORK. "A COUNTRY GIRL"—Herald Square (2d week). "AH A MAN THINKS" (John Maion)— Nasl- mova'i (ISth week). "EVERYWOMAN"—Lyric (15th week). "EXCUSE ME"—Gaiety (17th week). FOL1ES BERGERE-(7th week). "GET RICH QUICK WALLINOFORD—Co- han's (41st week). riNAFORE"—Casino (2d week). STOCK—Academy. STOCK (Corse Payton)—Grand O. H. <5th week). SPOONER STOCK—Metropolis (16th week). STOCK—West End («th week). "THE PINK LADY'—New Amsterdam (ISth "THE SPRING MAID'—Liberty (24th week). VARIETY—Winter Garden (12th week). "YOUTH"—Bijou (1st week). BILLS NEXT WEEK BOSTON "THE COMMUTERS'—Park (16th week). "THE RED ROSE" (Valeska Suratt)—Tremont (2d week). "THE KISS WALTZ"—Shubert (Sd week). "DR. DE LUXE" (Ralph Hers)—Colonial (3d week). 8AN FRANCISCO. MRS. DOT" (Blllle Burke)—Columbia. "REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY" (May Robson) —Savoy. STOCK (Florence Roberts)—Alcasar. TAKES DILLINGHAM SHOWN. B. C. Whitney has closed with Charles Dillingham to produce "The Girl In The Train," "The Echo," "The Candy Shop" and "The Fair Co-ed," next season. He is now engaging peo- ple for the four shows. Whitney's quarters are at the Detroit Opera House, Detroit. Mr. Whitney will open his road sea- son about the first of August. "The Girl in the Train" show goes to the western coast next season. NEW YORK LOOKS LIKE A SALK. The New York theatre property may be sold within the next ten days, as soon as arrangements for the rais- ing of a five-million dollar mortgage have been consummated. A syndicate of Wall street men has secured an option on the property with the intention of erecting a sev- enteen-story hotel. The property is held at three and a quarter million dollars by Klaw & Erlanger. About two millions will be put up in cash to complete the erection of the new structure. The only hitch to the put- ting through of the deal is the plac- ing of the big mortgage. No insur- ance company is willing to invest so large an amount In the venture, but it is practically settled that a com- bination of three insurance companies will make the loan. Should the scheme go through, immediate pos- session of the property will be given. This will dispose of one of the larg- est theatres in the metropolis. Since Klaw & Erlanger secured it several years ago, it has not made any money, but was held by them as a real estate investment, from which they will reap an enormous profit. They purchased it at auction for about a million and a quarter. Six or seven of the best known theatrical managers compose the corporation, which now owns the block. Klaw & Erlanger direct it. A detail of the sale of the New York has been a couple of dwellings between the New York and Hudson theatres. This space in the rear is wanted, but the owner of the houses placed a valuation of $250,000 upon them. He paid $38,000 for each house. NEW YORK. HAMMER8TEIN8 Truly Sbattuck Bert Levy Belle Baker Planopblend Min- strels" Three Keatons Marshall Montgom- ery Cycling Auroras Barnes A Crawford Four Bards "Boxing Kangaroo" Roberta' Cats and Dogs Pedersen Bros Delro Charlotte St. Elmo Ioleen Sisters Johnson A Walker FIFTH AVENUE Montgomery ft Moore Ryan ft Richfield "Cheyenne Days" Haviland ft Thorn- ton Aerial Smiths Rembrandt Exposition Four Lola HENDERSON'S Odlva Fox A Millershlp Sisters Morton ft Moore Donovan ft Arnold Four Soils Brothers Stewart ft Marshall Oil A Lillian Brown Lambert ft Williams Bell A Valentine BRIGHTON THEATRE Four Mortons Rooney ft Bent Wright ft Dietrich "Those French Girls" Snyder ft Buckley Dave Ferguson Strength Brothers Marcus A Oartelle COLONIAL Lillian Russell Jack Wilson Trio Julius Tannen Bell Family Ed Blondell ft Co Kalmar ft Brown Rossow Midgets Paul LaCroIx Sharp ft Wllks ALHAMBRA Andrew Mack Chas E Evans ft Co Frank Morrell McKay ft Cantwell Kirksmith Sisters Tom Linton A Jun- gle Girls Sue Smith Zeno, Jordan A Zeno La Toy Brothers ORPHEUM Henry Miller A Co Olive Briscoe Old Soldier Fiddlers Fields A Lewis Scott A Keane Temple Quartet Chns A Fannie Van Spissell Bros A Co Musical Splllers BOSTON. KEITHS Consul" Diamond & Nelson Sergeant Brennan Swor A Mack Kate Watson Adolpb Glose Leonard A Whitney Brent Hayes The DorlanB Pictures. PHILADELPHIA. KEITHS Mabel Fonda Troupe Musical Cralgs Warren, Lyons A Meyers Covington A Wilbur Victoria Four Wilfred Clarke A Co Conroy A Le Mai re Rlgoletto Brothers CHICAGO. MAJESTIC Trlxle Frlganza Wllmer "Spirit Paintings' Frank Tlnney "The Suspect" Ed F Reynard Bedlni A Arthur Ergottl's Llllputlans REOPENING IN NEW YORK. It has been definitely planned for Henrietta Crosman to open her season early next fall in New York, appear- ing in "The Peacock and the Ghost," which title may be changed to "The Children." Various titles are under consideration. Miss Crosman recently ended her season in repertoire, playing "The Pea- cock and the Ghost," at the close of the season. SECOND CHICAGO WINNER. Chicago, May 31. "Miss Nobody from Starland," closed Decoration Day in Kalamazoo, Mich. Ralph Riggs, who has been playing Ralph Herz's former part, and his wife, Catherine Witchie, the soubret, left for New York. , The show, next to "Madam Sherry," is the second biggest money-maker of the season for a Chicago production. About $40,000 net was cleaned up. The show Is controlled by the Singer Amusement Co., of Chicago. It re- opens July 12 at Winnipeg, and will later go to the Coast. Eddie Foy is routed to appear at the Majestic, Chicago, June 12. PLAYWRIGHT A RARRI. Hans Robert, last season with "Alma," will be an actor-manager next season. Mr. Roberts will pro- duce a play by Dr. Isaac Landmann. a rabbi of Philadelphia, written es- pecially for Edmund Breese. who will be starred in the piece. The play will first show in Phila- delphia at the Broad Street Theatre and then may come to New York for a run.