Variety (November 1911)

Vol. XXIV. No. 10. NOVEMBER 11, 1911 PRICE TEN CENTS INDEPENDENT POSITION HELD BY COHA N & HARRIS With Expiration of Partnership Agreement With Klaw & Erlanger, Together With a Chicago House, the C. & H. Firm Said to Have Obtained Foot- ing Sought After for Some Time Rumors of a severance of business relations between Klaw & Erlanger and Cohan & Harris have been rife along Broadway lately, but little of the gossip can be traced to a tangible source. The stories probably originated with the taking over by Cohan & Harris of the lease of the Grand Opera House, Chicago. Some foundation for the re- ports are traceable to the fact that the new lessees of the Chicago theatre have agreed to respect the bookings of the Liebler & Co. attractions at that house for the remainder of the current season. The playing of the Liebler at- tractions in a theatre controlled by what has heretofore been supposed to be a Arm of loyal "syndicate" allies, is regarded as food for figuring, if not actual gossip. Immediately after the production of George M. Cohan's first Broadway suc- cess, "Little Johnny Jones," Cohan & Harris entered into a five years' part- nership agreement with Klaw & Er- langer. During the life of that agree- ment all the Cohan plays up to and including "Get - Rich - Quick-Walling- ford" were—and still are—assets of the partnership. The leases of the (irand Opera House, the Gaiety and the George M. Cohan theatres in New York are also included. The K. & E. agreement having ex- pired, Cohan & Harris presented on individual responsibility, "The Red Widow," with Raymond Hitchcock and "The Little Millionaire," with Cohan as the respective stars. Last week they took over for a period of years the Chicago Grand Opera House. No pub- lic mention had been made of the "Red Widow" and Little Millionaire" ven- tures as individual undertakings, but the assumption of the Chicago lease was officially announced as a personal venture of the producing firm and was at once construed by the knowing ones as declaration of Independence. Quite some feeling of resentment was said to have been engendered at the time "Get-Rich-Quick-Walling- ford'" was removed from the Olympic, Chicago, when it was drawing between $11,000 and $12,000 weekly, after a long run, to make room for A. H. Woods' "The Littlest Rebel" This, it is said, determined Cohan & Harris to secure a theatre of their own in the western metropolis where their attrac- tions could be continued at will. At the present time Cohan & Harris are negotiating for the taking over from Wagenhals & Kemper of the lease of the Astor theatre In New York, which has been on the market some time. They have made an offer of $50,000 a year, but the present holders are asking $60,000 according to re- port. EVA FAY STARRING. Mrs. Eva Fay, who for a number of years has been doing a "mind read- ing" act in vaudeville, is to go starr- ing in a three-act drama entitled "Hal- lowell's Millions," under the direction of Vaughan Glaser. Rehearsals are now in progress. The show is booked to open in New England, Nov. 2r>. The last act of Mrs. Fay's show will include her former vaudeville specialty. Mr. Glaser is also sending out Ty Cobb, of baseball repute, in a revival of "The College Widow," with Cobb in the role of the football player. Wells Hawks, who has just closed with the Ringling Bros.' Circus, has been appointed general manager for the Glaser enterprises. LEAVES BILL WITHOUT NOTICE. The Hammerstein show had a wait of five minutes Monday afternoon. It was only through the herculean efforts of stage manager Mike Simon that the gap caused by the abrupt departure of James J. Morton from the theatre was held down to that short time. "Cheyenne Days" was "No. 6" on the program, with Mr. Morton billed as "No. 7," the next act to follow it. The finish of the Wild West scene is noisy. Standing In the wings, waiting to go on, Mr. Morton remarked to Mr. Simon he did not like to follow the horses that way. Mike mentioned he would hoi 1 the curtain a moment or so and hurry the animals off the stage. While the moment was passing, Jim suddenly said he didn't think he would go on anyway. Leaving the entrance, he packed his grip and left the theatre. In the emergency, Mr. Simon gath- ered all the people of the Ada Overton Walker act. which also requires a full stage and special set; the stage crew got on the Job and in record time had cleared away the special set of "Cheyenne Days," with but the five minutes only Intervening before the curtain rose again. It was a somewhat unusual pro- < edure all around. "W the New* All the Time." l>erybody reml* Vnrlety. HOWARD AND MeCANE. Jos. E. Howard and Mabel McCane will appear in vaudeville, as an act. opening Monday. at Poll's. New Haven. Arthur Klein, who has the turn In charge, secured Miss McCane. upon the receipt by Mr. Howard of a let- ter from his wife. Mabel Harrison, suggesting the newest combination. Mr. Howard nt first entertained tho thought of framing up a new act with Nena Blake FANNY WARD'S NEW SKETCH. "The Doctor Ordered It" is the title of a sketch Fanny Ward is going to present to vaudeville. The news came out a few days after Miss Ward sued Mare Klaw for sonic $»;o,0<>0, alleg- ing a breach of contract The pieco will fir^t lie produced at Mt. Vernon. N. Y.. next week for its worK-out. MANAGERS NOT LOVIN\ A. II. Woods and Charles B. Dilling- ham do not look upon each other with the same affection as that usually ex- hibited by brothers. In fact, they are anything but friendly. The strained relations are due to the withdrawal of "Gypsy Love" from the Globe theatre Saturday night. The show played to $8,100 there last week, with every indication of a f 12,- 000 taking the current week (which includes an election day matinee). Woods wanted the show to remain in New York for a longer period, but is alleged to have discovered that Dil- lingham had booked "The Three Romeos" in for next week, two days after the "Gypsy" show opened, with- out waiting to see if the show would recover from the blow administered by the unfortunate breakdown of the prima donna the opening night. Dillingham kept the booking of "The Three Romeos" a secret, for when asked by a Varikty; representative last week if the piece would succeed "Gypsy Love" at the Globe, with char- acteristic nalvette, professed ignorance. MAUD RAYMOND IN "NO. 2" "LOU." Chicago, Nov. 8. When Harry Askin launches his road company of "Louisiana Lou," the part that is being taken at the LaSalle by Sophie Tucker will be es- sayed by Maud Raymond. LAURA (JUERITE, SINGLE. Trenton. N. J., Nov. 8. Direct from the Folies Bergere Road show, Laura Guerlte, under the man- agement of Jesse L. Lasky, will ap- pear at the Trent theatre next week as a "single" act in vaudeville. As accompanist at tho piano, Miss (Juerite will have George Moore. ANOTHFR RABBI AMUCK. Boston, Nov. 8. A crusade against the "Stage Jew" has been started in Boston, by Rabbi M. M. Eichler. of Temple Ohabei Sha- lom. Rabbi Kichlcr lias quite a fol- lowing. He calls on all good men and women to unite in boycotting theatres and companies that help to keep alive racial and religious prejudices.