Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY 11 SYRACUSE IN BURLESQUE LINE ATTACHED TO EAST ERN WHEEL Columbia Amusement Co. will Play its Attractions at the Bastable, Commencing Next Season. May "Split" with Albany or Rochester 44 Syracuse, N. Y., April 3. Next season the Baa table theatre will be a link in the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. Contracts have been closed. The houso has been playing combina- tions. At the Columbia Amusement Co. office this week the Syracuse despatch was confirmed, but whether Syracuse will play a full or a "split" week next season had not been decided upon, it was stated. The town is located to "split" with either Rochester or Al- bany. If the latter city, it would mean the loss of Schenectady, with which town Albany now separates six days on the EaBtern route. Without opposition next season, as per the recent arrangement entered into between the Eastern and West- ern Wheels, it 1b unlikely Rochester will be placed into the "split week" class. HYNICKA QLITS POLITICS. Cincinnati, April 3. Local politics have lost R. K. Hy- nicka, for some time one of the Re- publican bosses in this city. His as- sociate controllers were August Herr- mann and George B. Cox. In retiring, Mr. Hynicka says his other interests demand attention. He is concerned in several theatrical ven- tures. $23,000 FOR PINCH. Chicago, April 3. Charles Simmons, former special policeman at the Empire theatre, has commenced suit against the Empire Theatre Co. for $25,000, alleging his character suffered to that extent when Manager I. M. Herk of the Empire theatre had him arrested on a charge of overlooking some admission tickets he had taken in. The "cop" was discharged in court and feels "the small amount of $25,000 would heal up the wound inflicted in his reputation because of the "pinch." $750 WEEKLY FOR COULON. Chicago, April 3. May Fennessy has contracted John- nie Coulon, the bantam champion of the world, for a tour of the Western Wheel burlesque houses, opening April 22. Coulon's salary will be $750 weekly for which he w'M give a few demonstrations of shad w box- ing, bag bunching and lisht training, finishing with a three-round bout with a sparring partner. Expenses for hia company is included in the agree- ment. COLUMBIA'S SUPER. OUT. Commencing May 1 the running of the Columbia Theatre Building, in- cluding attaches and everything con- nected with the operation of the of- fice building, will be turned over to the Guarantee Realty Co., a mainte- nance concern which makes a spe- cialty of handling large buildings in this manner. John J. Kite, superintendent of the Columbia building since it opened, leaves May 1. UAYETY STAGE BURNED. Omaha, April 8. The stage of the Gayety theatre caught fire Sunday morning, just about as "The Bowery Burlesquers" were entering the house. Repairs have been rushed, and it is expected the burlesque show will be able to give a performance to- night. "MERRY WHIRL" AT CHICAGO. Chicago, April 3. "The Merry Whirl" will open at the Columbia here May 20, for a summer run. It is a Gordon & North show. TWO WAYS OUT. Boston, April 3. Kenney and Hollis, two local boys, who have worked regularly for many seasons in vaudeville, have the man- agerial bug. They will either take the reins of the Bowdoin Square theatre or will go out as managers of the "Old Howard Burlesquers," on the Western Wheel, next season. WATSON'S K. & E. DATES. After Billy Watson's "Beef Trust" closes its regular burlesque season on the Western wheel April 15, the show will play some of Klaw & Erlanger's New England houses. From the last stand in Boston the extra dates are 22-23, Hartford; 24, New Britain; 25, Meriden, Conn.; 26- 27, Poll's, Waterbury, with a return engagement at Miner's in the Bronx 29. The Colonial, Norfolk, Va. (playing vaudeville), closes for the season April 6. "BEEFSTEAK" TO BERT LESLIE. The Vaudeville Comedy Club ten- dered a "beefsteak" Tuesday night to its president, Bert Leslie. Mr. Leslie is leaving this week for a western tour in the vaudevillo theatres booked by the Orpheum Circuit. The "beefsteak" was a combination eating affair and "clown night." At the meeting of the Board of Con- trol last week James J. Morton was elected to the Board and the third vice- presidency. Bobby Matthews was elected first vice-president and Chas. H. Smith second vice-president. Va- cancies occurred through the dropping off from the executive list of Geo. M. Cohan and William Collier, who had filled to present themselves often enough at Board meetings. George Le Maire filled one of the vacancies on the Board. For his work in connection with the annual ball of the Comedy Club, J. B. atarkey was made an honorary mem- ber. Meotlnjj with success this w»m-K (April 1) Colonial. Orpheum and Alharnhni to follow. Direction AI-IiEK. MARSHAL MONTGOMERY. at 1\ C. WFM IA\i: IU!(t\\ I'll ki-: wr.r.r.i: .<c- !-:van THE WAIL OF THE HIC BY JOHN J. O'CONNOR. (Wynn.) "Well, Buddy, they finally starved us outa vaudeville and into Burly-que. This week we signed up with the 'Midnight Owls' and started rehearsin' our bit with the greatest bunch of an- tique chickens that ever Inhaled a Sweet Cap. "To Btart at the beginnin' I gotta give you the definition of our man- ager. He's one o* these guys that packs around about ten karats of bum ice, all bought on the dollar-a-week scheme, has his rags made to order with his monacker stamped on each piece and when he's on the big gallop around the circuit, his limit for llvln' is three bucks and a half a week. "To give you an idea of how big his nob is, just imagine a bloke wearin' a thirteen collar and a nine Stetson. That's him. Always thero with the swellest filly In the barn and wouldn't spend a nickel to see the Statue of Liberty do a full twister. This guy has a mortgage on our lead' ing skirt and if any of the squabs look cross at her, bing goes the big ray and we're shy one on the chorus. I understan' this is the fourth set of dames he's had this season, and be- lieve me, kid, he's some collector. "The program says he wrote th« book, lyrica and music and selected the costume designs. But between you and I that's a small portion of the old Paprika for I'm hep that thif chump couldn't mould together a sec- ond class business letter. "Anyhow I gotta tell you about tht rest of the troupe. Our leadin' man is an acrobat by trade and after swim- min' through the first section he putt on the old pink tights and doef ground work for the Flying Gins- burgs in the olio. His wife and mother-in-law are with the show, both carrying a spear. The other two guyi in the flyin' act are his sons. "I'm goin' to pass up the other ducks for the time bein' and give you a squint at the crowd of Molls we're with. With the exception of two they're a flock of has-beens. I think most are doin' the numbers to fight off the Rheumatics. They all started out with good intentions, but slipped and got their shoes muddy and now they play the Island all summer and the road all winter. And the two odd members! Well don't say a word but watch your Uncle Dudley crease up his Moe Levy's and paddle himself into a good home. My Jane's name is Patsy and she ain't got no more chance to lose me than a stray keg o' George Ehret's has o' gettln' safely through a Bricklayer's picnic. Why this baby is goin' right up to Muske- gon with me this summer and keep the flies away f'm my bungaloo. With some regular rags on, she's goin' to ease up the main street like a Jenny Lind and I'll have all the Harlem Hoofers standin' on the other side of the alley glvln' es the once over. "I'll tell you Homethln' about this troupe ne\t week. Gimme a chance to g«-t next. Just now I'm busy tryin' to peddle my breath ticker to this broad. Kase alori.i; cull, here comes a bull. (To be continued)