Variety (August 1911)

10 VARIETY seas CONDITION IN BOOKINGS SAME AS FO RMER YEARS Sam K. Hodgdon Says Bookings Are Normal. Hammer- stein's Opening Sept. 4 With "17," Finds Scarcity of "Women." The regular vaudeville season for '11-'12 will open at Hammerstein's, Sept. 4. Seventeen acts to the pro- gram will once again become the fixed l.olicy. The lengthy bills were dis- continued temporarily, with the en- csgement of Ruth St. Denis for the Roof this summer. In the first show for the all-down- stairs performances, William Hammor- steiu has so far engaged Carter De Haven, Bert Leslie and Co., Smith.a r «d Campbell, Bernard and Weston, Lyons and Yosco, Howard, Kauffman Broth- ers, "Boxing Kangaroo," "O'Brien- Havel and Co. In commenting upon the opening show Mr. Hammersteln said that the scarcity of "women" (single, double and "girl") acts is astonishing. None seem available for "big time" vaude- ville. Openings in the program, un- filled, are held vacant, pending the discovery of females who may be se- cured to give the first bill some shade in sex. The many musical comedy produc- tions proposed have drawn the great- er number of vaudeville women away from their usual field. New shows, or revivals, have also drafted an un- told quantity of desirable acts. These may return later, but, at present, their absence has much to do with the man- agerial complaint of shortage of ma- terial. Aug. 28, on Hammerstein's Roof will appear, for the first time in New York, Coccia and Amato's new pan- tomime. It has been named "The Apple of Paris." It may be the "ap- ple" that "The Darling of Paris," etc. At any rate that is the title of the new act while up in the air for the week. Sam Hodgdon, the general booking manager of the United Booking Of- fices, and perhaps the one man in America who always has the "feel" of the vaudeville supply, stated this week to a Variety representative, that while there seemed a scarcity of pro- ductions for the cpmlng season, the condition at present is little different to that of previous seasons at this time. Mr. Hodgdon said there would be plenty of acts available within a few weeks, and that there were sufficient in sight for current needs, although several reasons combine just now to make bookings seem slow. The United managers, however, added Mr. Hodg- don, had their bills fairly well filled in for the first few weeks of the sea- son. By that time, said he, some of the shows starting out would probably release n number of desirable turns. (While Mr. Hodgdon did not say that "shows starting out" would "come back," that is the general impression.) Not over the normal number of Knropean acts would be imported the coming season. Of the well known turns abroad, nearly all have been seen here, and what few of the smaller turns are to be brought over will not exceed in numbers the usual quality of foreign acts, said Mr. Hodgdon. In the Orpheum Offices headquart- ers, the bookers there are complain- ing of a shortage of acts. The pro- grams for the Orpheum theatres on the regular circuit are well booked. The shortage appears to exist in early programs at the middle western houses, booked by John J. Collins and Geo. Gottleib, under the direction of Martin Beck. Messrs. Collins and Gottlieb agreed that while there was no actual dearth, acts were postpon- ing their own bookings through plac- ing a valuation upou services that the house managers would nut agree to pay. The opening of the season would simplify the salary question, said the Orpheum booking men. Speaking of the absence of "women" for vaudeville programs, P. Alonzo, the boss booker of the Poll Circuit, thought the United managers might take a trip to Italy, where many could be secured. Mr. Alonzo return- ed last week from a vacation in taal country. While at Rome, he called at the Salone Margherita-Olympia, one of a vaudeville circuit of four theatres, operated by Marino & Co. On the bill, said Mr. Alonzo, were nine acts. Eight were females. The only man was Democrltos, in "pic- ture mysteries," which, mentioned Alonzo, constituted a "copy" of Bert Levy's American turn. The women were Les Fleurs, Lily Coquette, Les Dubary, Rita Dorla, Sorelle De Balsamo, Renee Phalene, Feodorowna and La Bella Oterita. After looking over the show and audience, Mr. Alonzo said that he commenced to appreciate the vaude- ville theatres and programs given in America. Rather than sit through another show in Rome, he would watch the entire performance at Poll's, Bridgeport, without offering a "kick," did P. Alonzo say. OFFERING TO BOOK REVUE. The "Hello Paris" revue, produced at the Folies Bergere Monday even- ing as New York's first midnight pro- duction, has been offered to the vaude- ville managers, to go upon the circuits at the expiration of its Folies run. Jesse L. Lasky and H. B. Harris, who own the show, have placed a sal- ary of $2,600 weekly for it, as given at the Folies, but in a much more con- densed form. Harry Pilcer, who scored the indi- vidual hit of the new Folies show, dis- located his shoul ler the opening per- formance while falling down some stairs during a dance. He has had one arm in a sling since. REFUSE "TRIAL SHOW." "The Chorus Lady," Rote Stahl's stepping stone to fame, may not be revived In its original sketch form, at announced. James Forbes, the author, had agreed to place Lottie Williams in the act, for vaudeville, if a reason- able quantity of booking was forth- coming, but the United Booking offices managers refuse to commit themselves before a trial performance. This Forbes absolutely refuses to consent to. Forbes is willing that in the event his revival of "The Chorus Lady" is not the success anticipated to surren- der the contracts. BIG SCENES FOR VAUDEVILLE. James Forbes 1b said to be about to launch two big scenes out of Broad- way successes in vaudeville for the coming season. He has commissioned the Pat Casey Agency to feel out the managers about giving them "The Poker Scene" from "The Travelling Salesman," and the last act out of "The Commuters." CALLIOPE-PARADE ADJUNCTS. Two mammoth circus calliopes have been purchased by C. D. Willard for his "Temple of Music" acts. These instruments, mounted on a gold- carved chariot and drawn by six Shetland ponies, will be displayed in daily parades to boom the musical acts. Each act carries forty-seven pieces of baggage and eight people, travel- ing on a special car. Both turns will play vaudeville. SELIGMAN-BRAMWELL DATE. Chicago, Aug. 16. The Majestic will feature for week Aug. 28, Minnie Seligman and Wil- liam Bramwell. They may remain in vaudeville throughout the season. M. S. Bentham, the New York agent, placed the Majestic booking. "MUMMING BIRDS*' COMING BACK. (Special Cable to Variety-,) London, Aug. 15. Billie Reeves will return to the States, with Karno's "Mumming Birds," opening in vaudeville over there Sept. 11. FLORENCE HESTON. 17-year-old leading lady with "Checkers." DAV1ES' VAUDEVILLE ARTICLE. Acton Davies will have to be more careful, or his reputation for knowing little about vaudeville will equal the one Alan Dale has. Mr. Davies is the dramatic critic on the Evening Sun, and some critic, but he was steered wrong on the vaudeville subject the other day. The result was that Wed- nesday evening, Mr. Davies had half of his column full of wrong dope on the "vaudeville situation." While Mr. Davies' remarks would have no especial bearing upon the pro- fession, a theatrical paper might re- print them, not knowing otherwise. In fact one day this week a sheet which believes it is theatrical, had almost as much misinformation about the Stoll- Gibbons combination in England as Mr. Davies published. That combination of London halls will not give more time than formerly to either English or American acts. Neither will it help to increase salaries of American turns. Nothing but in- tense opposition abroad will ever ac- complish that. The salary question is what drives so many American acts home, after making an English suc- cess. Oswald Stoll and the others over there don't believe in big money. The exceptions have been when they could not be avoided. Lately Stoll offered Belle Baker $160 weekly for an Eng- lish visit. That is one time in a hun- dred when he got nearer the proper price than the American managers do. Over here they pay Miss Baker $300— but she can't secure more engagements at that figure. The American vaudeville managers are not cutting salaries. They might have If the White Rats had not threat- ened to strike some time ago. That warned the managers not to give the Rats a good reason, when they had none at all. Regarding the feature numbers Mr. Davies mentions, any one who can present a new and big fea- ture to the managers with drawing powers in "name" can get the price. There are none such in sight at pres- ent. Feature acts of last season, which commanded big money through box office value will get the same fig- ure this season. In the article Mr. Davies printed, he quoted Franceses Redding, who brought out the point that if the Uni- ted Booking Offices places opposition theatres on an "opposition sheet," the names of those houses should be made public. While it Is a good point, from the actor's side, it depends upon the trade papers to publish that informa- tion as news. It is unlikely that the United would object. As no house will be declared opposition until a complaint has been lodged against it by the resident manager of a "United theatre" in the same town, an act would not be barred through playing there, unless appearing after the house had been declared "opposition." There are many American turns now holding out for next season's contracts, through making demands for increases of salary, ranging from $50 upward. That is a condition always existing be- fore the commencement of the vaude- ville year. The opening of the thea- tres will adjust it.