Variety (March 1912)

VARIETY MAY BE AUCTION SALE SOUTH OF PERCY WILLIA MS' HOUSES Martin Beck Reported Having: Migrated to Florida to Join the Crowd now There. Chance that B. P. Keith has been Talking to Williams. Some Definite Outcome of the Many Reports Shortly Expected. Provided the option held by Mr r"n Beck on the Percy Q. Williams' New York theatre was not renewed upon Its expiration two weeks ago, it Is not unlikely Mr. Williams may occupy the pleasant position of an auctioneer sell- ing his properties to the highest bid- der, after having received a pretty good sized offer, which lapsed. It was reported Wednesday upon Mr. Beck's return from the West that he might go to Florida Thursday. This Mr. Beck would neither deny or affirm, nor would he make any statement, when requested by a Variety repre- sentative, upon the present status of any negotiations between himself and Williams. In fact, Beck would not admit there have been or were any negotiations, refrring his questioner to Morris Meyerfeld, Jr. Mr. Meyerfeld, Aaron Abrams and Fred Henderson returned with Mr. Beck from Chicago. Messrs, Meyer- feld and Aarons came on East from San Francisco, meeting Beck at Chi- cago. Herman Fehr was at the Or- pheum office, New York, when the party arrived Wednesday morning, having remained in the city to look over bids submitted this week for the construction work on the new Palace theatre, New York. With Mr. WllliamB, E. F. Albee and B. F. Keith in Florida, it looked to the vaudeville people as though the vaca- tion taken by Albee at this time was more for the purpose of bringing Williams and Keith together, also lending his assistance In urging Will- lams to either sell to Keith, or go into the vaudeville pool Albee has been trying to form among the United Booking Offices managers since he be- came convinced the Beck crowd meant business, In Invading the East. The impression spreading after Al- bee left for Miami last week was that If Beck allowed the opportunity to pass to get the Williams houses he lost a chance which might cost him some- thing to recover. That is why the rumors spread Wednesday that Beck was going to Florida, to be on the ground, and offset any inroads made by the Keith faction. Tt was also said if it came to an even t*ung as between Keith and Beck, W * inns would favor Beck, especially If a sale left Mm a small percentage of Interest in the theatres transferred Men close to Williams in business re- lations said there is no chance of the latter entertaining the pooling propo- sition. It seems to be the belief that some definite outcome of the many reports concerning the Williams theatres will shortly make its appearance. No one doubts but that there are good grounds for the rumors, although the stories this week that a sale had been consummated with Beck on the buying end found few believers. So many, however, had "inside information" about this or that, the stories rapidly spread. The work on the new Palace, New York, will be pushed by night and day shifts of workmen. It is ex- pected the house will open sometime next November. Chicago, Feb. 28. A. Paul Keith and Maurice Good- man came in here, from a reported western trip. Mr. Keith made some remarks privately about having se- cured sites to build Keith theatres in western towns. Mr. Keith failed to furnish any details, nor was Mr. Good- man any more communicative. From here Messrs. Keith and Goodman went south. Salt Lake City, Feb. 28. Martin Beck was in the city Mon- day, when he closed for a site in a central location, to build a new Or- pheum for next season. 8478 INTERNATIONAL SHOW. The Sulllvan-Considlne Internation- al Road Show, including Ted E. Box, Mile. Larena, Edwlna Barry and Co.. Alfonso Silvano and Bessie Vald^re's Cycling Brunettes, opens at the Em- press, Cincinnati, March 4. Another bill Chris. O. Brown, gen- eral booking manager for Sulllvan- Considine, is now placing together will be called "The Ideal 20th Century Show." It will contain some features good for publicity. Next week sometime John W. Con- sldine. Senator T. D. Sullivan, Mr. Brown and Jos. Schenck will start westward, for Hot Springs, where the party will remain four weeks in the hopes of breaking each other playing pinochle. Mr. Considine will arrive in New York tomorrow (Saturday). The party leaves for the west March 6. DAVE BEEHLER AROUND. New York has had Dave Beehler around for a week or so. Mr. Beeh- ler will be here until tomorrow (Sat- urday) when he leaves for his Chicago home, also place of business. The Beehler Bros., represented by Dave on this trip, are looking for new eastern material to submit to the mid- dle western vaudeville managers. Dave says he hasn't done so badly. LBONHARDT TRANSPORTING. The show business is now an ad- junct to the regular pursuit of Harry Leonhardt, who is very popular with thousands of theatrical people. Mr. Leonhardt has become the representa- tive for McCann's Tours, the long es- tablished railway and steamship agency, with an office In Marbrldge Building, New York. Special attention will be given by , Mr. Leonhardt to the profession. Rail- way and steamship tickets are pro- cured by him, and his attention in- cludes the securing of all accommoda- tions, also the checking of baggage. For long travel Mr. Leonhardt will submit an Itinerary, whether the proposed trip is for this or the other side of the ocean. For many years now Harry Leon- hardt has been identified with the- atricals. The inducements held by the McCann Tours proved too tempting to be withstood, however. Having the theatrical department of the office under his supervision, Mr: Leonhardt anticipates he will become the center of the large Thespian trav- eling public, as he arranges for trans- portation between any points all over the world. JULIUS 8TEGER IN ''JUSTICE/* Commencing March 11 at the Or- pheum, Brooklyn, Julius Steger will present vaudeville with a new playlet, entitled "Justice." PANNED DISTURBERS. Philadelphia, Feb. 28. At the Keith, Monday matinee, when Norah Bayes and Jack Norworth's act was about concluding, Mr. Norworth took occasion to "pan" some front seat holders, who had seemed bent on disturbing them. It is said Mr. Norworth is endeavor- ing to discover if there is not an or- ganized plot te annoy himself and wife while upon the stage, this having happened more than once during their present vaudeville tour. COMEDY CLUB'S BEEFSTEAK. The fifth birthday of the Vaudeville Comedy Club was celebrated Tuesday evening by a "beefsteak" and "clown night" combined. An overflowing at- tendance resulted, and the crowd Btarted early to devour the Juicy por- tions which had been donated for the occasion by Jos. M. Schenck. Many of the members volunteered as entertainers, and the time passed pleasantly until It was almost time for the next matinee. Among the guests were the Right Honorable Councillor Frank Cohen, It. H. S., Master of Marks of the Corpora- tion of Glasgow, and a member of Parliament. Councillor Cohen made a few remarks. He Is visiting New York, and there has been some fuss made over him. LEW BRICE AND LILLIAN GONNE. Gus Edwards' "School Boys and Girls" is probably on the permanent vaudeville shelf. Its two principals, Lew Brice and Lillian Gonne, have agreed to present themselves in vaudeville together, under the direc- tion of Max Hart. HIGGINS IN MELODRAMA. Atlantic City, Feb. 28. A twenty-five minute melodrama, described In reports from Wilmington as the real thrilling thing, will be presented at Young's next week by David Hlgglns and Co. The title is "At Piney Ridge." The sketch was taken from the piece in which Mr. Hlgglns became famous. The Pat Casey Agency Is booking the act. MLLE. ARENERA Direct from the Voiles Bergere. New York. tacular dance. "L^VE OF THE ROSE" Pri>e««nf ili? til .\ -SIHTKP H\ V A VICTOR. -I BUM TOUR. JOUDRON. Now playing S.-C. TIME. Addreaa, Victor Houie. Chicago LEASES FOR TWENTY YEARS. Columbus, O., Feb. 28. Levi R. Smith has taken a twenty years' lease of the Broadway theatre on West Broad street, running from Sept. 1, 1911. The rental for the period amounts to $97,500.