Variety (November 1911)

8 VARIETY $200,000 WORTH OF GUARANTEES FOR AM USEMEN TS AT FAIRS Frank P. Spell man Taking Entire Performing Part of South American Fairs Away With Him. Over 200 People Will be done Two Months, Playing in Porto Rico and Venezuela. Outside of the Barnum-Balley Cir- cus, or some other regular tent show that may have left the confines of the United States, Frank P. Spellman will move the biggest aggregation of shows and acts Nov. 25, when he will sail from New York for San Juan, Porto Rico, with over 200 people and the complete performing part (with concessions) for the second Insular Fair at San Juan. The Porto Rican annual government event starts Dec. 7, continuing until Dec. 12. The Porto Rican government guarantees to Mr. Spell- man about $90,000. Another guaran- tee for nearly $110,000 has been re- ceived by the circus and fair man for Venezuela. Spellman will move his show and people complete from Porto Rico Dec. 15, to the capitol of the other South American country, show- ing there from Dec. 24 until Jan. 3. In all the troupe will be away from New York for two months. Among the attractions engaged are Ferreri's Circuses, "Creation," Dar- ling's Animals, Holstein's Diving Girls, Everett's Monkey Music Hall. Princess Wee Wee, Harvey's Lunette Show, Ka- kool's "Seven Shows in One," snake exhibit, Carria's Mystery, Johnny Mack's Captive Balloon and Lincoln Beachy with a Curtis aeroplane. The free acts will be the Siegrist- Sllbon Troupe, 3 Bounding Gordons, James J. Hardy (high wire), 3 South- ern Sisters, Barlow ft Barlow's Circus, Mile. Millie Aimee, an elephant and a camel. Besides all of which May Ward and her "Dresden Dolls" have been special- ly engaged to appear in the Govern- ment House on the grounds for twelve performances at $1,000. Mr. Spellman is the officially ap- pointed sole director of the amuse- ments at the fair. All the details have been left to him. In communicating with the Porto Rican government on matters pertaining to the exposition, the biggest open air event that occurs down there during the year, Mr. Spell- man uses the U. S. Government cable service, without expense. The guarantees cover all transpor- tation both ways. Mr. Spellman handled the entertainment end of the Insular Fair last year, the first one held in San Juan. OBJECTING TO NEWARK SHIFT. There seems to be a deal of objec- tion on the part of vaudeville artists to the shift called for in Newark, by F. F. Proctor, through which actn playing Proctor's for the week, must move bag and baggage to Krueger'p on the Sabbath, without extra pay. The declination of Burt Green and Irene Franklin last week to follow Instructions leading to this "Jump/ and their suit for the amount of salary withheld by the management, may be the first of a series of similar ac- tions. Many acts have expressed displeas- ure at the enforced shift, Krueger's being a Sunday house only, and not on the Proctor Circuit. For several seasons it was booked by William Morris. It is said Proctor either charges Krueger's for the entire bill Sundays, or derives a percentage of the receipts. Some seasons ago foreign artists contested the attempt of Proctor to have them play his New York theatres Sundays, after finishing the week either at the Proctor Albany or Troy house. Of late, according to report, the Proctor office has been stamping its Newark contracts with a clause call- ins] upon the artists signing to admit they understand the Sunday perform- ances will be played where directed, or at Krueger's. Speaking of the Newark matter this week, F. F. Proctor. Jr., general man- ager of the Proctor Circuit, said to a VxRiETr representative that when it was learned no Sunday shows could be given at Proctor's, Krueger's was taken over by the Circuit for that day, to prevent a repetition of a $36,000 loss Proctor's, Newark, suffered last season, without Sunday performances. "All agents were informed to noti- fy their acts," said Mr. Proctor, "that the fourteen performances called for In the contracts for Newark would In- clude Krueger's Sunday. When acts did not wish to do this, they were not obliged to sign the agreement. "We move their baggage and scen- ery, transporting it again from Krue- ger's to the depot." MISS OSWALD'S SECOND. Baltimore, Nov. 8. Adele Oswald (Mrs. John J. Col- lins) is at the St. Johns Hospital. She will be operated upon there by Dr. Harvey Cushlng, the specialist. The second operation is necessary to ascertain the cause of the swelling upon Miss Oswald's temple, near the right ear, which the first operation at Milwaukee did not entirely remove. LEONARD IN OLD PIECE. "Kid Hamlet," which had its New York showing at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last week, will continue with Albert Hall and the other members of the company, excepting James Leonard, who returns to his old act "When Caesar C's Her." For Leonard's re- vival Richard Anderson has been se- cured for his original role of Caesar. BEST TRICK ON THE STREET. Boston, Nov. 8. "The Great Lavaeseur," a strong man, the headliner at the National theatre, was scheduled to show his feats of strength on the stage of the house. One of the feats was a tug- of-war between the "strong man" and a 60-horse power motor truck and a pair of dray horses. This part of the act had to be discontinued in the thea- tre as the truck and horses are too heavy for the stage. He is giving his exhibitions on the street every after- noon and evening. It is one great ad for the house. Thousands of people crowd the vicinity of the theatre to get a peep at the free show. What looked like a bad piece of business has turned into a good one. JUDGMENT FOR PILOER. Harry Pllcer was awarded judgment for $875 in the City Court Monday against Hurtig ft Seamon who had the dancer under contract during season of 1907-08. Pilcer was engaged by Hurtig ft Seamon for a new play which they intended to produce with the dancer as the big card. The contract was for thirty weeks at $50 weekly, but for some reason the piece never re- ceived any presentment. Hurtig ft Seamon were permitted to deduct the amount Pilcer earned while playing other engagements. Judgment was given for the balance. MANAGER'S WIFE A SUICIDE. Madison, Wis., Nov. 8. Mrs. Edward F. Biederstaedt, wife of the principal owner of the Majestic theatre here, committed suicide Mon- day, shooting herself In the head. Mrs. Blederstadt was 35 years of age and has been in ill health for sev- eral weeks. This is supposed to have prompted her deed. Madison, Wis., Nov. 8. The new Orpheum theatre in this town opened to a capacity house Mon- day evening. The house Is playing op- position to Biederstadt's Majestic thea- thre booked through the Western Vau- deville Managers' Association. The new house will play shows supplied through the Chicago office of the Orpheum Cir- cuit by Walter Tenwick. Millie Payne and Harry Thurston returned to New York last week, AMANDA IJSWJUCKS GUESSING OVER ROSENBERG. Cleveland, Nov. 8. The competition for the lease of the Hippodrome Is up before Judge Bstep in the Common Pleas Court. B. F. Keith's rival for the rental of the property is Walter Rosenberg of New York, heretofore connected with "p6p" vaudeville theatres. Keith's offer is for a ten year lease at $40,000 for the first three years and an increase of $1,000 annually until it reaches $50,000 the last year. His interests are being looked after here by his New York attorney, Maur- ice Goodman. Rosenberg's offer is for a straight annual rental at $50,000. He is repre- sented by Attorney Joseph Klein, of Hidy, Klein ft Harris of this city, who are the local attorneys for the Stand- ard OH interests, and probably the highest priced lawyers In the city. Just who is behind Rosenberg In the bid for the Hippodrome is not dis- closed. His attorney says they are prepared to put up in cash any reason- able amount as a guarantee of their good Intentions. M. B. Johnson, representing the receiver, the Citizens Trust ft Sav- ings Company, and J. E. Morley, for the creditors, openly favor Keith on the ground that he is reliable and responsible, while Rosenberg is al- together unknown to them. It is argued that Keith would maintain a high standard of attractions and hence the property would not deteriorate in value. Attorney Klein responded that his client (Rosenberg) represented persons high in vaudeville, and that if given the lease, attractions as good as those now appearing at the house would be given. Late this afternoon Judge Estep re- fused to act until all offers for the Hippodrome are thoroughly investi- gated. Many surmises have been made as to the action of Walter Rosenberg in bidding for the Hippodrome. The sug- gestion he was merely attempting to "boost the price" for Keith found few believers. Some are of the opinion that a very well known vaudeville manager, who does not care to dis- close himself, is represented by Mr. Rosenberg in this matter. The Hippodrome, as a single vaude- ville house in Cleveland, could be of no use to Rosenberg with his present theatrical connections. Nor would a variety showman take the big house there (really unsuitable for a vaude- ville program) with the knowledge that B. F. Keith will erect another playhouse for his shows, If unable to retain the Hip, the present home of the first grade bills In Cleveland. Mr. Rosenberg left for Cleveland Tuesday, on advices by his Cleveland attorney to be present in person and prepared to prove h!s responsibility. To a Varii:t.- representative he said that it was his Intention to play vaude- ville only to fill in between such at- tractions as the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, "The Garden of Allah" and such other huge shows as might be passing through Cleveland. If this were jronr nne! Tbw why not sqvtrtSst •