Variety (June 1911)

VARIETY SAM BERNARD RECEIVES OFFER OF $4,000 FOR A S INGLE WEEK The Second Instance of the German Comedian Having the Biggest Vaudeville Salary Tendered Him. Brighton Beach Music Hall the Place. The Brighton Beach Music Hall has extended an offer of $4,000 for Sam Bernard to appear there the week of July 31, all by his lonesome self. Mr. Bernard is deliberating. The date of the engagement may interfere with his proposed tour in "He Came From Milwaukee" next season. The Ger- man comedian has concluded to take up a Pacific Coast trip in hie last sea- son's success, and may first open around Aug. 1 at the Herald Square, New York, for two or three weeks. Though on the stage long enough to be termed "The King of the Old Timers," Mr. Bernard has never seen California. * The $4,000 salary offer places Sam Bernard once again as the act in vaudeville who can draw the largest salary ever paid a "single turn." For America it Is the highest price paid any act, possibly excepting Harry Lauder. No one knew Mr. Lauder's U. S. salary, nor how much of the amount Mr. Lauder received was necessary to pay for his releases while over here from English contracts. The last time Mr. Bernard became vaudeville's star green bet, was when Percy G. Williams gave the comedian $1,000 for a week's engagement at the Orpheum, Brooklyn, some years ago. This was then a fabulous amount. Much free advertising was secured by Messrs. Williams and Ber- nard from it. If the consent of the Shuberts to the Brighton Music Hall engagement can be obtained by Mr. Bernard, and other arrangements made which will permit his appear- ance the week called for, it is possi- ble he will accept the offer for the publicity and the credit that "$4,000 M carries with it. In a statement given out last week. Mr. Williams mentioned Sam Ber- nard's $1,000 salary in connection with remarks anent "Old Timers." The same interview quoted Mr. Williams as saying that in the "Old Days," sel- dom was a Hebrew found on a bill, while in this latter day, seldom is a program completed without Hebrews. Mr. Williams cited as illustrative of the "Old Time" shows, the program then appearing for him at the Colo- nial, all "Old Timers." with Will H. Fox on it. Possibly Mr. Williams may have overlooked or been unaware that Mr. Fox has been just as good a Hebrew all these years as he has been a prominent artist, and as well, the leader and originator in his line, (comedy piano playing). Among other Hebrew artists in the olden times were Billy Lester (Lester and Allen). Rogers Brothers. Weber and Fields. Weston Brothers. Wood (Wood and Shepard), Sain Bernard, Lottie Collins, and Dave Howard, of Howard and Thompson, the first "dou- ble Jew turn" ever on the variety stage. GEORGE ALEXANDER KNIGHTED. (Special cable to Variety,) London, June 21. George Alexander, manager, pro- ducer and actor, of the St. James theatre, has been knighted. Alex- ander is a London County Council- lor and municipal reformer. He has produced all of Pinero's successes. The St. James is the society theatre of London. A FILM "TRYOUT." Just about this time there should reach New York, from abroad, one Josefsson, an Iceland manager of a troupe of Icelanders, who present the famous "Glima," a sort of Jiu-Jitsu method of self-defense. The manager has left his troupe behind, but is bringing with him a long film, showing the entire act. This will be run off for the benefit of the New York vaudeville managers. If they vote in the affirmative, Mr. Josefsson will thereupon cable to his boys to come over. Charles Pou/chot will handle the turn for this side, acting as repre- sentative for Charles Bornhaupt, the international agent at Brussels. Mr. Bornhaupt discovered the act in Copenhagen. OLD LOUVRE OPENS. San Francisco, June 21. The Old Louvre Music Hall opened June 17 to capacity business. It is a pretty place, and a good show was presented, with Earl Taylor's new trio leading as applause winners. The Leonardi Trio, operatic singers, ran a close second. ♦THREE WEEKS** AS A SKETCH. Corse Pay ton will gather up mem- bers from his various stock companies, presenting vaudeville with "Corse Payton's Stock Company in 'Three Weeks,' " boiled down to thirty min- utes. The time will use up two full scenes of the show, never played in New York until Corse pulled it last week "in stock" at the Grand Opera House. Corse's "thirty - actors - for - thirty - cents" in the humid play drew In a lot of money to the till, so much that Corse says unless business takes a de- cided drop, he will stick his lease of the Grand out until Sept. 1, when it expires for the summer run. The "Three Weeks" sketch thing was evolved by William L. Lykens, the blond gentleman with the many col- ored shirts. ENGAGES VAUDEVILLE TURN. During the week Max Hart placed for a new production next season by Lew Fields, Cross and Josephine, who have been appearing in vaudeville. BLOSSOM SEELEY. ■■THE FRISCO OIKI..'- who in ail e a laatitiK miim-Mlon with "THE HEN I'KCKS" this b»;i»..m. wh.-iv aht> rtrat Int rodur.-d to liroad- way "THE TVHKEV TROT. rKXAS TUMMY." ftc. HlnsHom nptMis In vaudeville wt the Nvw lirlghtun thvatru next week. COLORED SHOW STOPPED. But one performance of the Hodges and Lauchmere colored troupe, num- bering twenty four people, was given at Coney Island. The show was or- ganized for the purpose of entertain- ing under canvas. Planting itself at Coney Island, the authorities noti- fied the management after the first performance that a vaudeville license would be necessary to continue at the beach. James J. Armstrong, who had ar- ranged for the Coney Island run, could not see the wisdom of deliver- ing $500 for a license, as required, so called the venture off. The company had rehearsed for a week. It may take the canvas and go out on the road. NEW ORPHEUM IN LOS ANGELES. Los Angeles, June 21. The new Orpheum theatre in this city opens Monday. Last week the seats for the first night were sold at auction, with the proceeds above the usual box office prices turned over to the Associated Charities. Next week's program is "A Little Stranger," Isabel D'Armond, Wynn and Jennings, Macart and Bradford, "Musikgirls," Bowers, Walters and Crooker. Henry Clive. July 9, the old (and present) Or- pheum, will be occupied by the Arm- strong Musical Comedy Company. It will be renamed the Lyceum. The Orpheum Circuit has heretofore had its theatre in this city under lease. The new Orpheum is the circuit's own property. Clarence Drown will man- age it, with about the same house staff as at present, Mr. Drown having been the manager of the Los Angeles Or- pheum for some time. Chicago, June 21. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Bray left Chi- cago last Wednesday for a three weeks' trip around California. While on the Coast Mr. Bray will attend the opening of the new Or- pheum, Los Angeles, (June 26), and will then journey to San Francisco. Portland, Seattle, returning to Chi- cago over the Northern Pacific, visit- ing Yellowstone Park on his way east. COAXING LEWIS AND RYAN. Tuesday M. 8. Bentham was coaxing Sam J. Ryan and Tom Lewis to re- unite. So Bentham said. Tuesday W. L. Lykens was await- ing in his office Tom Lewis, who was to appear in vaudeville in a sketch. So Lykens said. Each has an office in the Putnam Building, with one ceiling separating them. Neither seemed to know what the other was thinking about, but both were positive of that of what he said. So much can happen in one building, when agents who love each other as Messrs. Lykens and Bentham do, are trying to help one another along in their business. THE SPOONERS COME BACK. The Spooners (Edna May and Moth- er) are coming back to vaudeville. M. S. Bentham thinks he has the stock people booked for Morrison's, Rocka- way Beach, July 3. Patsy Morrison has actually "pencilled them in" for his seaside house. Patsy is still working on his open- ing program. He started last Janu- ary. Up to Wednesday at 2.45 p. m. Mr. Morrison had almost made up his mind about the first turn to go on the bill. It would be an easy matter for Patsy to bill his show, if, for some reason, acts didn't ask more than Patsy wants to pay. Mr. Morrison claims his house of- fers a better view of the ocean than any theatre in the world, and that he has arranged to have the running water in the pond changed hourly this season. That's some inducement, thinks Patsy, as he sits in Phil Nash's office day by day, looking over the same lists and sheets he looked over yesterday. Vaudeville is a great study for Patsy Morrison. Next summer there will be a new theatre down at the beach, and it will be called Morrison's, says Patsy. The present house is complaining about having worked overtime now for sev- eral years. Patsy talks gently to it. and even ordered the windows washed one day so the wall paper could look out and see the changes that have occurred; but that didn't satisfy the wall paper, which said it felt thirsty and might at least be washed over, just once, if only to fool the audience. PA NT AGES DUES O. K. On behalf of the Vaudeville Man- agers' Protective Association this week, a Varietv representative was in- formed that the printed wire in Variety last week fron. Senr.e, which doubted whether Alex mder I antagp* had bound himself as a mem her of the association, was in er* .»r. fo the rea- son that Mr Pantagrs w r good standing, with all dues •'■ aid up. PROTEAN "Pi \y K." 'A tabloid version Pinafore,'* with Kitty Mitchell investing the piece with a protean side : ■■;:-. i.e is now in rehearsal. Miss M.icheli will carry a company of eight*- -i; . Mostly chorus girls who will sing tW> i Ionises of the Gilbert & Sullivan ' " pera. The principal rol^ ^'l le taken by Miss Mitchell.