Variety (August 1911)

VAfctETY "SMALL TIME" BOOKINGS MAY BE GENER AL UND ERSTANDING United Booking Offices "Fam. Dept." and Loew-S-C Combination May Oct Together on Mutual Book- ing Proposition. W, V. M. A„ Pantages and Others to be Invited to Join. A Varibtx representative met no denial this week, either at the Loew Circuit or United Booking Offices, when asking at each if there Is not a prospect of the two large "small time" agencies reaching an under- standing regarding bookings and ter- ritory. At the Loew Agency it was said that some negotiations were afoot. The VARiBTf man was referred to toe United for any aetaiis tor publication. At tne United, the Variety repre- sentative was intormed that there was some likelihood of a com- mon unuerstanding being reacned between the United *s Family De- partment (small time branch) and Loew, but that there was nothing positive, nor would such a connection. If maae, alter the present statue of either agency. Inside lniormatlon says that Mar- cos Loew is promoting the scheme to bring all tne larger "small time" togetner in a booking and territorial unuerstanding. The tirst direct move was the combination of the Loew and 8ullivan-Oensidine Circuits last week, In a booking arrangement as reported in VA&wr. When Mr. Loew was asked if the booking amalgamation with S-C meant an "opposition sheet" of any kind for "small timers" outside the combina- tion, Mr. Loew made his reply em- phatic that it did not Questioned further whether an object of the com- bination by 8-C was the "blacklist- ing" of acts playing for Alexander Pantages, Mr. Loew said that there had not been one word of conversa- tion to that effect between himself and John W. Considine. The Loew Circuit, stated its head, would play any and all acts, regardless where they had previously appeared, except- ing the usual course of not booking an act Into a town where It had beiore played at an opposition theatre. Mr. Loew also said that there was no intent to "blacklist" any act work- ing for William Fox. It has become accepted among the "small time" managers and agents in New York that Messrs. Loew and Fox have reached a mutual understanding re- garding bookings, and "opposition" theatres. It is understood that the "small time" booking combination now be- ing promoted by Loew comprehends the inclusion of the Pantages Circuit, also the managers booking through . the Western Vaudeville Managers' As- sociation of Chicago, and the many "small time" circuits that large Chi- cago agency represents. Variety has been Informed that Mr. Loew believes this booking deal can be put through. He is also said to be of the opinion that such a general combination is, or will be, the salvation of the "small time." Chicago, Aug. 16. The American Music Hall will re- move with the Loew Circuit bookings to the Sullivan-Considine branch in this city, pursuant to the combina- tion made last week between the two circuits, for booking purposes. It may also be stated that if the Orpheum Circuit declines to furnish acts desired for the American, that house will advertise and play "big time" vaudeville, making up its bills as best it can. These may be in part the Sullivan- Considine Road Shows, which play the Empress here. The Empress is about five miles from the American. There is rumored to be a bare chance that upon the failure of Messrs. Marcus Loew and William Morris to agree with Martin Beck up- on the booking of the American, that Mr. Beck might take over the Ameri- can for himself, playing it as the second first class vaudeville house of Chicago. This latter move might be subject to the approval of Lyman B. Olcver, as general manager and rep- resentative of the Kohl & Castle in- terests, which include the Majestic, the present sole high grade vaudeville theatre here, and booked through the Orpheum Circuit (New York) head- quarters. John W. Considine left here Mon- day for Seattle. EVA MUDOE IN AUSTRALIA. (Special Cable to Vajuetiv) Sydney, Aug. 16. Eva Mudge, the American change artiste, opened here this week and registered an artistic hit. FOR THE LAUDER SHOW. Of the six or seven acts to be en- gaged by William Morris for the forth- coming Lauder tour, Trovato, Maude Tiffany and Emil Markel have been secured. Trovato is in possession of a con- tract by William Monris, Inc., for twenty-five weeks this season, at a salary of $500 per. The agreement was made last year, when the violin- ist "flopped" from the United Booking Offices to the Morris "opposition." Trovato appears at Hammerstein's next week, but under a contract inde- pendent of the Morris agreement. The Lauder tour is for seven weeks, and two days. The route lor the entire trip has been laid by the Morris office having the tour in charge, but it will not be made public until shortly before Mr. Lauder opens bis American season Oct. 9 at the Man- hattan Opera House. New York. THREE SHOWS PRO RATA. Chicago, Aug. 16. Three vaudeville shows weekly will be played this season at the Orpheum, Fargo, N. D., by acts traveling over the Orpheum Circuit. The shows will come the latter part of the week. One each will be given Thursday and' Friday night, with a Saturday mati- nee. How the Orpheum management expects to fill in the remainder of the week has not been announced. The house was a full stand on the Cir- cuit the latter part of last season. The Orpheus Amusement Co. (J. H. Garrett), which controls the Orpheum, Salt Lake, has the Fargo Orpheum. Orpheum acts will reach Fargo from Los Angeles. After closing there, they go to Salt Lake for the next engage- ment. The three shows will be paid (or -pro rata" of the act's weekly salary. K-l* DECISION RESERVED. Portland, Me., Aug. 16. Judge Bird reserved decision, after hearing argument last Thursday, iu the matter of the Fifth Avenue theatre (New York) lease In the Keith-Proc- tor case. Former Judge Morgan J. O'Brien and Howard R. Ives, with Maurice Goodman, argued for B. F. Keith. William F. S. Hart appeared for F. F. Proctor. Each side also was repre- sented by local attorneys. There is no forecasting when a de- cision will be handed down. It was proposed before the argu- ment that Judge Bird's decision be accepted as final, without appeal, but wan not acted upon. SPADONI SENDING OVER ACTS. An arrangement has been reached between M. S. Bentham, on this side and Paul Spadoni, the juggler, on the other. Through the understanding, Spadoni will act for Bentham abroad, sending o\er acts to America, that the New York agent can place for him. Two new foreign turns have been submitted by Spadoni for Bentham to book. V. M. P. A. MEETING. The meeting of the Vaudeville Man- agers' Protective Association, held Tuesday, developed nothing of import- ance, that was given out for publica- tion. Toledo, Aug. 16. The next meeting of the National Vaudeville Protective Association will be held in Wheeling, next February. While in session here the Associa- tion adopted a uniform form of con- tract for all members. The form was suggested by the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association ,of New York. The National Association is com- posed of many managers on the Gus Sun and other western circuits. It Is affiliated with the Western Vaudeville Association of Chicago. KAIL COLLISION FEATURE. One of the features promised by Fred. C. Whitney in his proposed American production of "The Whip" is a racehorse scene with power sup- plied by an electrical dynamo. A railroad collision is also planned. PALACE MANAGER LEAVING. (Special Cable to Variety;) London, Aug. 16. House Manager Pickering, of Alfred Butt's Palace, has tendered his resig- nation, to take effect In November. LILLIAN SHAW'S OFFERS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Aug. 16. The run of Lillian Shaw at the Pa- vilion has been prolonged. The Amer- ican comedienne was engaged for the hall for two weeks, with an option of two more. The Empire has made Miss Shaw an offer to appear in a revue. BOOKED YEAR AHEAD. (Special Cable to Variety.) Beattle and Babs, an act, have been engaged to appear in New York next July. A STAND-OFF. (Special Cable to Variety*) London, Aug. 16. Anna Chandler, the American singer was bitten by a dog in Dublin. The bite was cauterized and Miss Chandler came on to London. She is recovering, without being in any danger, and the dog is doing as well as can be ex- pected. AUSTRALIAN MIMIC DIES. (Special Cable to Variety,) Sydney, Aug. 16. Garden Wilson, a well known Au- stralian mimic, died yesterday, of tu- berculosis. THRILLING FINISH TAKES. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Aug. 16. The Aerial Smiths began an engage- ment at the Empire Monday night. The opening of their act was regarded as very conventional but they more than made up for the slow start by a sen- sational and thrilling finish. RATHSKELLER ACT CATCHES ON. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Aug. 16. Hedges Bros, and Jacobson seem to have caught on In good shape. They have Just booked ninety more weeks in this country and could probably re- main forever. ETHEL ROBINSON RESIGNS. Chicago, Aug. 16. Ethel KoMnson, who for a long time has looked after the park and fair de- partment of the Western Vaudeville Managers Association, severed her con- nections with the agency to-day. Miss Robinson's successor 1h yet to be appointed. CONFIRMS DUMONT'S NEXT HOME. Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Frank Dumont, the veteran min- strel manager, confirms the report that the old Museum building, Ninth and Arch streets, has been leased as the future home of Dumont's Min- strels, opening there Sept # 16. Negotiations for the Iris theatre in the Kensington district fell through. Al. Jnlson has a thirty-five weeks' "play or pay" contract with the Shu- btTts, commenting with the current week, but has not y«*t be«?n assigned to any production.