Variety (August 1911)

IO VARIETY DISCLAIMS KNOWLEDGE. Los Angeles, Aug. 23. The Sulllvan-Considlne representa- tives here disclaim all knowledge of the reported strike at Fresno, where the management of the "Sulllvan-Con- sidine theatre" one Cole Sailing, so called, forked over $32.50 to Agnes Burr upon the threat of Thomas C. Seward that unless the money was paid, Mr. Sailing's show would "walk out." Seward was reported in the Times, which first printed the story in its usual characteristic manner of handl- ing labor troubles, as having been afterward arrested upon the complaint of the manager, who alleged extor- tion. The outcome of the matter is not known in this city. The Times story said Miss Burr ap- peared at the "Sullivan-Considine theatre in Fresno some time ago. After the first show she was canceled, through her act not satisfying the management. Afterwards the White Rats Actors' Union is reported to have taken the matter up, securing a settlement through Seward, vice-presi- dent of the state Federation of Labor. SEGREGATION THE SOLUTION. Chicago, Aug. 23. The new Evanston theatre opened, with all the pomp and ceremony that goes with a grand opening, Monday evening. Alderman James Turnock in speaking for the Mayoi of Evanston, congratulated his constituents on their luck In having such a beautiful play- house, etc. The performance following the alderman's speech came off with- out a mishap. One of the novelties of the new house Is the "Jim Crow" section In the gallery, reserved for the colored race. There are a large number of negroes In Evanston. The manage- ment decided on the segregation plan as a final solution of the problem. TAKES HALF INTEREST. San Jose, Cal., Aug. 23. Ed. Redmond has purchased a one- half interest in the lease of the Jose theatre building, and will assume the management of the playhouse at the end of the current month. The thea- tre will open with "The Rose of the Rancho." APPLY FOR RECEIVER. Denver, Aug. 23. A petition has 'been filed in Little- ton, Arapahoe county, asking for the appointment of a receiver for The Tul- lerles. The minority stockholders claim that W. R. Gilpatrick, president and manager of the park, F. F. May- nard, secretary, J. D. Putnam, di- rector, and Jacob C. Jones, owner of the grounds, are trying to squeeze out the smaller stockholders. This is due to a notice served by Gilpatrick to the stockholders that he intends to protect himself, as Jones intends to foreclose a mortgage, due Aug. 31. The company leased thirty-five acres of ground from Jones upon which to construct the park. The lease was for five years. The company had an option to purchase the ground for $35,000 at the conclusion of the rental Deriod- LIVELY S-C OFFICE. Chicago, Aug. 23. Activity Is becoming manifestly ap- parent in vaudeville circles here. No- where is this more noticeable than in the local Sullivan-Considine offices, where increased and improved booking facilities have been provided. Despite several current rumors, the "big time" will be booked through the New York office as usual, and this will be increased this year by the addition of houses in Salt Lake City, Omaha, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans! The four first named are scheduled to commence the season early in September, the latter to open about the middle of the same month, while the Memphis house (at present under construction), will open, it Is expected, sometime in February. The Salt Lake City house will be known as the Empress. The Omaha, St. Joseph and St. Louis houses were for- merly devoted to Shubert road attrac- tions, and the New Orleans theatre in former years held the Klaw ft Erlan- ger attractions. The six new houses may be all called Empress. The Chicago, Cincinnati and Mil- waukee theatres will reopen Aug. 27. All houses on the "big time" will open by Labor day. The smaller or "pop" houses will be booked out of the Chicago office. While the list Is not complete the total num- ber of theatres subscribing to this service is approximated at half a hun- dred, all supposed to be running by Labor Day. Paul Goudron of the local S-C office has secured the Syndicate theater in Waterloo, and will book a two-a-day show there commencing Sept. 1. The house will be renamed Majestic. This is the first season of vaudeville for the house which has been playing trav- eling attractions. ROAD SHOW IN OCT. Edw. Blondell's Road Show, for vaudeville, will open for its season Oct. 9 at Poll's, Waterbury. It has been placed for six weeks over the Poll Circuit. A number of people are interested in the outcome of Mr. Blondell's venture, which may mark a new era in vaude- ville programs. He has received sev- eral propositions containing partner- ship plans, but Edward is awaiting re- sults, being somewhat of a gambler. (Several years ago Mr. Blondell lost $1.76 matching quarters, and has been looking for "hunk" ever since). In producing the show, Mr. Blondell says he will invest about $6,000. For- merly an actor and known as "The Lost Boy," Mr. Blondell says though he does blow the six, he will have left a remembrance of when he was a man- ager, and that will remove a big chunk of the bad account. But to see all that money going out, with nothing coming in, remarks the Blondell man, is the best weight re- ducer he has ever discovered. He recommends it to all stout persons with a bankroll. FAVORS HEBREW ACTS. Wild wood, N. J., Aug. 19. Editor Varibtt,: In this week's Varistt* I notice the west is frowning upon acts portraying the Hebrew character, and that the Orpheum Circuit will book none. I have heard this kind of talk be- fore, but thought It had died out. The writer is Interested in a vaude- ville theatro. I find the Hebrew comedian is appreciated more than any other type, especially by the Jew- ish element, and I do not believe the public wishes to bar the funniest char- acter on the stage. If an audience does not care for an act, It becomes apparent. I have never seen an audience in New York (where there are ten Hebrews to every one found in a western city), fail to show Its appreciation of a Hebrew comedian. Some old fossil who never goes to the theatre writes a letter objecting to the Hebrew, and some one is foolish enough to pay attention. I think that article in the last An- niversary Number of Varibtt, about Hebrews ("The Jew on the Stage") is the best thing you ever published, and I would be glad to see It repub- lished with this letter. I wish to take occasion to commend Variety on its stand in this matter, and also on its attitude toward "copy acts." Yours truly, Joseph R. Oinder. THREE IN ON COMMISSION. Paris, Aug. 16. Three agents are dividing the ten per cent, commission paid by Adelaide on her Folies Marlgny engagement. Marinelll Is taking 4% for delivering Adelaide's signature, Ercole gets Z% for having closed the negotiations, and Charles Bornhaupt is declared in for the other 3% through having re- commended the turn. SOFT FOR ELLIOTT. Montreal, Aug. 23. Elliott Foreman kept up his duties as governess to the "Eight Palace Girls," and accompanied them here. The act opened Monday at the Or- pheum. It will play a few weeks in the east. The girls are to travel with the Orpheum Road Show. KATZES LEAVES LYNN. Lynn, Mass., Aug. 23. Harry Katzes has leased the Audi- torium to Lindsay Morrison and Mit- chell Mark, who will establish a stock company in that house. By the deal Katzes will net about $3,000 annually. He will leave Lynn. B. F. Keith will run vaudeville at the Lynn theatre, a much larger house, doing business there under the name of the Lynn Amusement Co. Katzes will put out on the road a revival of "The Gingerbread Man," and some of the old shows controlled by F. C. Whitney, organizing to meet the requirements of the three days and one-week stands. Tory Cavallo, last season assistant treasurer at the Majestic, Utica, will act as assistant manager of the Or- pheum, in the same city, the coming season. Richard Thornton, playing leads with the Una Abell Brinker Co., in Newark, leaves this week to resume his engagement with Mrs. Leslie Car- ter. IRENE HAS NO BROTHER. In publishing that her relatives are limited to the mixed baseball nine, now at Irene Franklin's summer home "Greenheath," Chester Hill Park, Mt. Vernon, N. Y., Miss Franklin lets loose the inner troubles of a hard working $l,600-a-week stage star in the fol- lowing story, caused by the many at- tempted "touches" and "dates" that all theatrical successful beauties are subjected to, more or less. Still Miss Franklin lives at "Green- heath," "Chester Hill Park," "Mt. Vernon," and that must be some rec- ompense. The "Green" is to perpet- uate the name from ever fading of Burt Green, the great single handed composer and accompanist, husband of Miss Franklin, who is first choice In the betting through thinking of the title. What Miss Franklin said was: "I must first say that within the last four years I have had many rela- tives (imitation ones) thrust upon me. Up to the time of my obtaining a 'steady route' these dear ones had been conspicuous by their absence. In fact, while playing the Maurice Boom Cir- cuit of Parks for the very necessary sum of $26.00 per week, I was quite alone in the world—my only friends being a pair of lusty lungs that could be heard in most outdoor places of amusement. But in the last four years my family has grown amazingly. I have put up with Aunt Jill of Omaha, who begs me to come home and have my lurid stage past forgiven. I have not complained when Uncle Ike of Chi- cago called me an unnatural child and stated that he alone knew that I had left town with that Uncle Tom's Cabin Co. so many years ago. I have put up with my four sisters of St. Louis, whose father is a well known man about town and keeps a livery stable. But believe me the limit of human en- durance has been reached with Brother Abe. "Abe loves me. From all I can hear Abe is for little sister, morning, noon and night. He seems to be one of those jolly chaps who makes friends everywhere and always puts in a good word for little Irene, God bless her! From the number of letters that I have had about him from all parts of the country, Abe must be an abscond- ing bank cashier or a lightning rod in- spector. Much as it pains me the time has come to cast him off. If it were not for the girls—there, you see, it has slipped out! Every family has its dark secret, and the Amours of Abe Is ours. "So, through Variety I wish to In- form the Respectable Jewish Girl of St. Louis, The Landlady of Detroit, the young lady of New York, who wants to know where to send the things he left In her flat, and the chambermaid at the hotel at Brighton Beach (whom he hiarried, Oh, Abe!) that I have no brother, never did have one and after these glimpses of Abe's career, don't want one. "The only relatives I have are liv- ing with me in Mt. Vernon—nine of 'em, count 'em—and I hasten to tetT this so the twins may not be left on my front porch.