Variety (August 1911)

VARIETY 13 JONES, LINICK & SCHEFFER MAY JOIN LAR GE CHIC AGO AGENCY Possibility of a Connection Likely to Become Probability. Both Parties Acknowledge Negotiations Are On and Juncture Would Be Agreeable* Chicago, Aug. 23. Jones, Linick ft Scheffer may place their theatres with the Western Vau- deville Managers' Association, for booking purposes. In the event the firm does that, Frank Q. Doyle, who has been acting as the J. L. & S. agent, will probably go with them, or be taken care of in a manner satisfac- tory to him. Charles E. Bray, general manager of the W. V. M. A., and Mr. Linick of the firm, admit there has been some conversation leading to this re- sult. Each says that the juncture of the two would be an agreeable move, and each also believes the move has now become more of a probability than a possibility. While there would be several Jones, Linick & Scheffer houses to be given particular attention to, as pres- ent "opposition" to theatres booked by the W. V. A., this would not prove a serious obstacle. The J. L. ft S. agency was supposed to be linked to the Loew Circuit, un- til the latter combined with SulUvan- Consldine. The scarcity of material lor next season may have considerable to do with the three-firm joining the Association, if that should come about. October, probably earlier. The policy of the house has not been fully settled upon. The Oxford theatre, Brooklyn, is an- nounced to reopen with "small time" vaudeville, Aug. 28. GIVE UP A STARTER. The Opera House at Porchester, N. Y., will pass from the books of the Family Department of the United after Sept. 2. This is due to the fact that the office cannot book two houses in the same town, and that precedence will have to be given to F. F. Proctor, who is booking the New Theatre In the town. The Opera House was one of the first to enter the Family De- partment, when that office was opened. It is said that Mr. Proctor entered a complaint against the opera house, as opposition. HOYT'S MAKING MONEY. So. Norwalk, Ct., Aug. 23. At last Hoyt's Opera House is mak- ing some money, with vaudeville. A collection of local men entered a com- pany, which took over the house last spring. The same company leased the Music Hall, closing it up, to keep opposition quiet. Bookings are ob- tained from New York. FINISHING TWO THEATRES. The new McKlnley Square theatre, which will likely pursue a "pop" vaudeville policy, is scheduled for an opening Sept. 9, although there Is a possibility of the house not being turned over to the owners by that time. Work is progressing favorably on the new DeKalb theatre, DeKalb ave- nue, Brooklyn, and although the house is only about half completed, is ex- pected to be ready by the middle of MORTGAGE ON BROOKLYN HOUSE. A mortgage was recorded last week affecting the new theatre being built by the Clark Co. on DeKalb avenue, near Broadway. The mortgage was made to the Title Guarantee ft Trust Co. as trustee, to secure $160,000. The Clark Co. also built the Shu- bert theatre in the Brooklyn borough. PICTURES IN ORPHEUM. Cincinnati, Aug. 23. Through arrangement made with the Loew Circuit, a picture (only) pol- icy will be played in the Orpheum this season. TWO IN SEPTEMBER. Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Two new houses have been added to the list booked by Charles Kraus, the local agent whose office Is affili- ated with the Family Department of the United Booking Offices. The Darby (Dr. Harrington) will open Aug. 28, playing five acts. The New Grand at Seventh and Snyder avenue will open Sept. 18, playing stock sketches and four acts. The house seats about 1,400. Wil- liam Rapport will be the manager. It is probable that Eleanor Kent, for- merly with the Lubin Company, will be secured for leads for the stock. Kraus will furnish the vaudeville acts and the members of the stock com- pany. NAME THE OPPOSITION. Boston, Aug. 23. The story appearing in a recent issue of Variety- concerning the "op- position sheet" going into effect with the opening of the season, is attached to a notice, both enclosed in a heavy frame and posted in a conspicuous place in the National Booking Office. The notice reads, "If artists receiv- ing contracts from this office for the Howard, or Bowdoin Square theatres, Boston, play the Old South, Beacon, Austin and Stones, or the Star, pre- vious to date of said contracts, whether under an assumed name or not, their contracts will be cancelled. "P. S.—A representative from this office will review these theatres week- ly." (Signed) NATIONAL BOOKING OFFICE, INC." The National office, Boston, is af- filiated with the United Booking Of- fices, New York. TAYLOR & KAUFMAN DISSOLVE. Philadelphia, Aug. 23. The dissolution of partnership in the firm of Taylor & Kaufman which has been rumored for a long time occur- red yesterday. Both members of the firm will continue booking vaudeville separately. M. W. Taylor has leased a suite of offices in the Parkway Building, and has installed Frank Wolf as general manager. His will be known as the M. W. Taylor Agency, with a New York office in the Heidleberg Building. Mr. Taylor has been connected with the theatrical business for many years and has had vast experience in hand- ling circus and vaudeville. At pres- ent he is manager of the Liberty, and will manage the Orpheum and Key- stone theatres, new vaudeville houses to be opened this year. All three were built by J. Fred Zimmerman, of Nixon ft Zimmerman. Mr. Taylor expects to add to the list a house with a seat- ing capacity of 4,000. Is. Kaufman, the other member of the dissolved firm, will retain his pres- ent offices in the Parkway Building. In addition to his booking interests, he Is associated with William W. Mil- ler in operating Forepaugh's and the Girard, and holds the lease of the American (formerly German) which has been released to the Blaney-Spoon- er Stock Company. The booking firm of Taylor ft Kauf- man was the largest in this city. The dissolution, while not coming as a sur- prise, will mean much In the handling of many acts, and the booking of a great number of "pop" houses. G. O. H. STOPS. "Pop" vaudeville at the Grand Opera House, New York, stopped last Saturday night. Felber ft Shea con- sumed but two of the four weeks they had secured to try out the experiment in the theatre. Last week the Grand Is said to have played to $800, gross, with the small- er vaudeville entertainment. The house opens with Felber & Shea's Sunday vaudeville concerts Sept. 10. PICTURES AND MUSIC. Detroit, Aug. 23. The new Cadillac, directly opposite the hotel of that name, being built by the Marks Amusement Co., will likely open some time next month or early in October. The policy will probably be high class pictures with special music. COLUMBIA, BOSTON, REOPENS. Boston, Aug. 23. The Columbia reopened Monday, as a vaudeville theatre, on the Loew Cir- cuit. It was formerly a Western Bur- lesque Wheel house. The opening drew a large crowd, with a great number of women, pre- saging a successful future for the the- atre, if the bills hold up. Marcus Loew and Jos. Schenck, of the Loew office, attended the first shows. A great number of congrat- ulatory telegrams from the best known theatrical people were receiv- ed by Mr. Loew. W. V. A. TAKING 'EM ON. Chicago, Aug. 23. The Western Vaudeville Managers' Association has been adding on many new houses of late. Charles E. Btay, general manager of the big booking agency, says they are coming in 39 fast he can not recall of all of them. Those that Mr. Bray mentioned are at Eau Claire, La Crosse and Waterloo, houses belonging to Mr. Koppelberger, also a theatre at Columbia and another at Jefferson City, Mo., and a new thea- tre at Kansas City, Kans. The Association has Issued con- tracts for the booking of house* in Fort William, Ont., Superior, Wis., and Virginia and Hibbing, Minn. Electric Parks at Kansas City, Wichita and Hutchinson, Kans., form- erly booked by J. C. Matthews, are now supplied by the W. V. M. A., which has added on a Peoria, 111. house. ANOTHER 42D STREETER. The Emmett Theatre Co., recently incorporated, Tuesday secured a long term lease from the Sperry ft Hutch- inson Co. of 223 West 42d street, 100 feet west of the Republic theatre. The three-story and basement dwell- ing at present occupying the plot Is to be transformed into a picture house, and will be known as the Bryant the- atre, with a seating capacity of about 700. WALDRON DOESN'T WATT. Without waiting for comment, pro or con, Chas. H. Waldron, the Boston theatre owner and manager, decided last week, while his "Trocaderos" played at the Columbia, New York, that the first part setting for the show was not right. Although everybody contradicted the manager, saying it would do, Mr. Waldron remarked It didn't strike his fancy somehow, and forthwith put in an order for a new $500 set. The Columbia Amusement Co. offi- cials were wondering during the week how many other managers on the Eastern Wheel are apt to follow Mr. Waldron's precedent. One of the officials In commenting on the inci- dent, stated "it showed a great spirit and the proper .one." Mr. Waldron has ordered a few changes in "The Trocadero" show. Sunday concerts at Hurtig & Sea- mon's Music Hall will start Sept. 10. Mabel De Young leaves the Loew Circuit booking offices this week. MARION VS. REEVES. Dave Marion is willing to wager Al Reeves that the Marion "Dreamlands" will finish "1-2-3" on the Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel list of winners. Mr. Marion wants to bet $1,000 on that proposition, and a few thousands more on any other prop, offering to give Mr. Reeves $500 if he will ac- cept one of the bets. For his side of the betting war, Mr. Reeves wants to wager some thou- sands that the Reeves' "Beauty Show" this season is the best that Al Reeves ever had, or that It is the best bur- lesque show in the world, or that it is the best burlesque show on the Eastern Wheel, or that It will finish the season "1-2-3" on the Eastern list, or that it will finish first, or any other old thing anyone with a lot of loose money may care to gamble on. Still Mr. Marion says