Variety (November 1911)

VARIETY CONFERENCE LOOKS POSSIBLE; RAT S' SINGL E CONDITION Organization Accepts Proposals of Managers* Asking Only in Turn That Counsel Be Present. Not Thought Important Enough to Interfere The following letter was written by the iioard of Directors of the White Rats Actors' Union, in reply to the communication from the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, dated Oct. 31, and printed in Variety last week. The V. M. P. A. answered the Rats in its letter of Oct. 24. The Hats, in Its latest, suggests an early date for the conference, with the request of the managers' associa- tion agreed to that a committee of three each, from the Rats, Comedy Club and non-affiliated artists with either society meet the committee of managers (who were named). The Rats have refused to accede to the condition made by the managers that no counsel be present, for the reason stated in the letter herewith. November 8, mi. I Vaudeville Managers' Protective Association, United Booking Offices of America, and Allied and Affiliated Interests. Dear Sirs:— We are In receipt of your communication of the 31st ultimo. We note that you dis- agree with us In the statement in our invita- tion for a conference, that there is at present a "discordant condition'' existing In the pro- fession. A re-examination of the article pub- lished by you In several theatrical papers on or about June 10th, 1911, entitled "A Note of Warning," will recall conditions seemingly forgotten by you. A perusal of that article It seems to us is sufficient to call to your at- tention something of the past. It Is an old saying that "there are none so deaf as they who will not hear; none so blind as they who will not see." If the conference is held we have no objec- tions to the presence of any member of the Vaudeville Comedy Club or any unaffiliated vaudeville artist. We do not care to take part in their selection. We sincerely hope that you realize that we do not propose to be deflected from our purpose by the presence of any one who may not entertain a belief In the principles for which this organisation Is battling. In view, however, of your suggestion we shall insist that there be also Invited to the conference representatives of the leading theatrical publications in the City of New York, to the end that the public may be fully informed of the situation. Furthermore, we must insist upon the right to have our counsel present at the conference for the following reason: Many of the points that we shall submit to you for consideration "focus around the artist's contract," and In- asmuch as this la almost wholly a legal proposition, we necessarily require the pres- ence of our counsel to aid us In the presen- tation of our side of that Issue. Furthermore, permit us to say In advance of the conference, that this organization has not departed one lota from the principles for which it has been contending for the paBt several years. We urc seeking this conference In the earnest endi-avor to secure relief from existing conditions by peaceful means and an appeal to reason and logic. We hope and trust that you will meet us in that spirit. If the conference be held, it seems to us ad- visable thut It be held at an early date. Awaiting your pleasure, wo remain, Yours nBpectfully, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, White Rata Actors' Union of America. .IUNIK McCliKK, I'lvsldent. W. W. WATKRS. Secretary. It is generally understood the Rats will not consent to meet the managers unless the privilege of having counsel present is extended to both sides. The original letter of invitation, sent by the Rats to the managers, con- tained no conditions. "Conditions" commenced to pile up when the V. M. P. A. held a nieoting to puss upon the letter. The request by the Rats that, coun- sel be permitted to appear at the con- ferences Is quite likely to prove ac- ceptable to the managers It Is not considered an important point. This woujd leave the situation pretty clear, with little else to do than set the date of first meeting and select the com- mittees from the Comedy Club and non-affiliated artists. The V. M. P. A. will meet to pass upon the letter of the Rats, following the return to New York of its secre- tary, Maurice Goodman. Mr. Good- man has been in Cleveland all week. LABOR CONVENTION MONDAY. Atlanta, Nov. 8. The national convention of the American Federation of Labor opens in this city Monday. It will con- tinue for ten days. The White Rats Actors' Union will be represented by a committee of three members. Will J. Cooke, Harry De- Veaux and Joe Birnes. It is reported that during the At- lanta convention, the White Rats will further cement the present relations of the order with the parent Union body. RAT1FYLNG AGREEMENT. Detroit, Nov. 8. Charles C. Shay, president of the In- ternational Alliance of Stage Employes, was here from New York this week ratifying the agreement between the stage employes of the Detroit theatres and the managers, which was accepted by both sides about three or four years ago. The agreement must be re-signed each year. It provides for union labor at the union labor scale. The Detroit managers held a meet- ing Tuesday at which time the union agreement was discussed. POLIS HANG ON TO STOCK The Poll stock company, Worcester, Mass., will continue playing stock until December, or perhaps until after the first of January. The Wilkesbarre Poll company will also hold on to its stock policy until after New Year's. RAN AWAY WITH THE COIN. Chicago, Nov. 8. $286 blew out of Chicago Sunday night, leaving Tom Chamales propri- etor of the Savoy Cafe to again dig down for the salaries of the performers in his resort for tho week then end- ing. The missing money had been en- trusted to Frank Howard, the booking manager for the Savoy. He has held the Job for seven months, but was never missed before. Chamales wants Howard arrested for embezzlement, and has asked the po- lice to attend to it. It's hard for a cafe proprietor in Chicago to be trimmed for$2Sfi. I t hurts his pride as well as his roll. HAL GODFREY ILL. The Lulsitania last Friday returned to New York Hal Godfrey, the son of Fillson and Errol, who left immedi- ately upon arrival for his home in Los Angeles. Mr. Godfrey came back home a very sick boy. His friends were immeas- urably grieved at his appearance. Call- ing upon Jenie Jacobs, of the Casey Agency, Miss Jacobs informed Geo. M. Cohan of Godfrey's condition. Mr. Cohan insisted that Hal go straight home in a special train provided by him (Mr. Cohan) that would get him there the quickest, but Mr. Godfrey re- fused to do that, taking a regular fait express. Chicago, Nov. 8. Hal Godfrey, who returned from London on the Lusitania, was forced to stop off at Chicago on his way to his home in Los Angeles, because of ill health. His doctors here advised him to remain in Chicago until his condition permitted him to continue his journey. His parents have been notified and are on their way east. PATERSON, THREE-DAILY. Paterson, N. J., Nov. 8. The Empire will commence playing three shows daily next Monday, ac- cording to A. M. Bruggemann, owner of the house. In making the an- nouncement Mr. Bruggemann teemed somewhat aggrieved at the United Booking Offices, alleging the United had "pulled out" acts from his theatre. The Majestic, playing the smaller vaudeville here, is booked by the Fam- ily Department of the United. Vaude- ville acts were informed at the United offices that the Empire was "opposi- tion." PAT CASEY IS THERE. Pat Casey is the swell agent. In his office is a telautograph. No more ring- ing the bell for Patsy. The tela thing does the work. All the banks have it. You write with a pencil attached to a wire, and the message is repeated in the outside office. Mr. Casey is the first vaudeville man to Install the machine. When Leo Car- rillo is around the office he sits out- side and draws moving pictures on it. DOESN'T STOP ATTACHING. In the case of The Great Howard against Joe Meyers, the agent. Judge Erlanger this week rendered a de- cision in favor of Meyers. The ven- triloquist asked for an injunction to restrain Meyers from bringing attach- ment proceedings against him while playing in New York. The attach- ments were to be based on a claim for commissions Mr. Meyers is alleged to have against Howard. The court stated the only redress a creditor had against a vaudeville act that only had its salary as an asset in some places where playing was to try attachment proceedings. Attorney Max Stuerer appeared for Mr. Meyers. Mikail Mordkln, the dancer, has re- covered sufficiently from a recent oper- ation for appendicitis to rejoin the All-Star Russian Ballet, appearing with the troupe at Washington this week. ENGLISH IDEA OP 4t CLEAN UP.*' Chicago, Nov. 8. Variety, in its review of Ada Reeve at the Majestic last week, where Miss Reeve opened her brief American tour, mentioned that the English girl "could clean up In the east." Saturday morning William Cotton, husband of Miss Reeve, called at the Variett office here somewhat indig- nant, saying that in all their stage ex- perience no one had ever before sug- gested Miss Reeve needed a washing. Upon the translation of the American slangy phrase (i. e. f "to clean up;" a big hit), Mr. Cotton was pacified, but bewailed the number of circulars Miss Reeve had received while at the Majes- tic. He said that if they continued to pour in he would soon stop answering them. MRS. BAILEY VERY ILL. From her home at Kanollys, Mt. Vernon, N. Y., It is reported Mrs. James A. Bailey, widow of the late and great showman, is in a precarious condition. Her illness requires con- stant attention. WITH "THE MASCOT KID." Next week at Hammerstein's Loney Haskell is going to pilot Charlie Faust, the Giant's mascot through a maze of seven days in high time vaudeville. Mr. Hammerstein doesn't know how the salary will be divided. Faust will probably get something, al- though the champion mascot of the National League dearly loves the stage. He likes to kid, and has for- gotten all about the world's series. Faust appeared once during the winter, at Billy Gane's Manhattan. Before Charlie left the house, Billy had his picture taken with him. NEW DUO AT CHICAGO. Chicago, Nov. 8. The new vaudeville combination, composed of Mabel Fenton-Ross and McKee Rankin will open here No- vember 20 th, at the Majestic, booked by Alf. T. Wilton, the New York agent. THE RED SOX QUARTET. Boston, Nov. 8. The Red Sox Quartet, composed of baseball players from the Boston American League team, appeared at Keith's, Lynn, last week. At present they are In Portland. Buck O'Brien, Marty McHale, Mike Lyons and Bill Bradley are the Boston diamond stars who make up the sing- ing four. Their voices guarantee them employment all over the vaude- ville circuits, although their repute as ball handlers is especially valuable in the New England section. NEW ACT FROM DETROIT. Detroit, Nov. 8. An elaborate act of the art study- type, with five female models, has been arranged for vaudeville by Jacob Smith of this city. The art studies are worked with electrical effects and in continuous rotation. Prof. Griffith, of the Detroit Mu- seum of Art, assisted with the posing Charles J. Stine left "The Photo Shop" at Erie, Pa., last week.