Variety (April 1912)

Vol. XXVI. No. 8 NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 27, 1912 PRICE 10 CENTS NIXON & ZIMMERMAN FIRM WILL NOT B E DISSOLVED J. Fred Zimmerman Denies Reports of Dissolution, But Says Agreement Connecting Him With Name of Firm When Not Personally Interested Will Not Be Re- newed. "Pop" Vaudeville Causes the Rumors. Philadelphia, April 24. There will be no dissolution of Nixon & Zimmerman, the big the- atrical firm and members of the "Syn- dicate" in this city. This became of- ficial with the announcement made by J. Fred. Zimmerman to a Variety representative yesterday. The impression that such a split would occur had become general and caused considerable surprise and com- ment. It was reported that ill feel- ing following the interest taken by both members of the firm in the "pop" vaudeville craze now at the top of its rage in this city was the cause and that efforts to bring a peaceful settlement had failed, A. L. Erlanger's name being mentioned as the medi- ator. The real cause of the rumor, how- ever, is that Nixon & Zimmerman, who have been connected as a the- atrical firm for more than twenty-five years, have an agreement which will expire some time this year and which will not be renewed. In making the matter plain, Mr. Zimmerman said: "There is no truth in the report that Nixon & Zimmer- man will dissolve. Such a thing could not occur, as each theatre com- pany in which we are interested is a separate corporation. This Includes the Chestnut Street Opera House, the Broad and the Forrest. The Garrick is held by the firm on a ten year's lease. "There is, however, an agreement between Mr. Nixon and myself which expires this year and will not be re- newed by me, because of considerable annoyance that I have felt through the manner in which the name of Nixon & Zimmerman has been used. This agreement gives me protectior in any matter where the firm name is used without me being interested, such as the leasing of theatres, pro- ductions or other business. In more than one case I have sought to have my name disconnected with matters in which I am not interested in any way, but this was denied me in view of the right given in the agreement to use the firm's name, with the pro- tectory clause operating. This agree- ment will not be renewed by me and there will be no further use of the firm name of Nixon & Zimmerman in business affairs other than those in which I am directly interested." An instance of the use of the firm name occurred no later than this week, when the local newspapers car- ried a story that Nixon & Zimmerman had attached the scenery and cos- tumes of "The Sweetest Oirl in Paris" which closed at the Walnut Saturday night. The attachment was brought because a three-nights' book- ing at the Apollo, Atlantic City, had been cancelled. The Apollo is own- ed by Samuel F. Nixon. Later the announcement of the attachment was corrected in the papers. A theatre in a small town near here is billed as Nixon & Zimmerman's Grand Opera House, but Zimmerman has no in- terest in It. "NOTICE" FOR "GLASS HOUSE." Chicago, April 24. Notice of closing in two weeks (May 4) was posted for "The Glass House" at the Chicago Opera House Monday. The piece is a Martin Beck produc- tion, opening here April 14. It drew in $2,600 gross last week, playing at 50-50 with the theatre. Martin Beck's losses on the legiti- mate venture are said to aggregate over $20,000. CARLE'S NEW MANAGERS? Saturday sees the termination of the contract between Lederer & Frazee and Richard Carle. The comedian has ended his season in "Jumping Jupiter," returning to New York Mon- day. As yet Mr. Carle has entered into no plans for next season, and has not concluded which one of the several managerial offers at his -disposal for '12-'13 he will accept. He will not continue under the L & F direction. Neither will Mr. Carle accept any of the offers made him for an imme- diate vaudeville tour, he says, al- though a short variety engagement for him is reported on the tapis. ONE-NIGHTERS GIVE UP. The first week of one night stands through New England of Dustin and William Farnum in "The Littlest Rebel" yielded $8,667. FRENCHWOMAN GOING HOME. Bert Angere, the French dancer, closed her engagement at the Winter Garden Saturday night. She sails for home May 4, but expects to return in the fall with a big scenic dancing novelty. The scenery. used in "The Captive Dance," in which Miss Angere ap- peared at the Garden, will be retained. Martin Brown and Jose Collins will put on a new dance in the set. ANSON POND SERIOUSLY ILL. Anson Pond, one of the best known men about town, author of "Her Atonement" and other successful plays, and the closest personal friend of Charles Frohman, Is critically ill at his home in New York, suffering from gall stones and cirrhosis of the liver. He is not expected to recover. CRITIC DALE SAILING. Next week Alan Dale starts on his annual pilgrimage to the other side, where he will remain until the next theatrical season opens. GIRL ACTRESS SIGNED UP. Ruth Chatterton. practically co-st;ir with Henry Miller in "The Rainbn". " at the Liberty, has boon placed i;: ; !• r a five-year cuntr ACTORS FIGHT ON TRAIN. Philadelphia, April 24. A real fight came off on the night train from Pittsburgh last Sunday. The participants were Lloyd Bingham and Arnold Grazer (The Grazers) both in vaudeville, but unknown to each other. Mr. Bingham was accom- panying his wife to this city for Keith's this week, and The Grazers were on their way to the Fifth Ave- nue, New York, from Dayton, O. Grazer had secured a seat in the buffet car, when Bingham came in. The older and heavier actor abruptly asked the younger man to make room for him. Not caring for the tone Bingham employed, young Mr. Grazer ignored his request. Bingham called first the porter, then the Pullman conductor. Both decided for Grazer. Thereupon Bingham attempted to chaBtlse Grazer, who got into action first, with the result Bingham limped back three cars to where his wife Grace Hazard and Ethel Grazer (Grazer's sister) were merrily pass- ing the time in a stateroom. The battlers were separated by train hands who threatened to stop the train and have them thrown off, if they did not cease. Nearing Phila- delphia Bingham asked the conductor to wire ahead for an invalid's chair to be at the station, to convey him to a taxi. No one on the train thought he had' been injured that much. Grazer escaped unscathed, although some- what troubled by Bingham's threat to swear out a warrant for bit* arrest. Upon Mr. Bingham reaching Keith's on crutches, the story was given out he had sprained his ankle and wrist when thrown from a seat in a Pull- man while coining into town. Man- ager Jordan, of Keith's, scoured the* city for a leading man to replace h'mi in his wife's sketch, but failing to find one, Bingham decided to ap- pear, which he did, limping through the act on a cane. \ I.. \ • . II,.1 OPENING SHOW N \MED. The ipriiiiiL' a* tract ion a! ♦ f•.- \' v.- Cor' t !'.• at iv :;" w < our--, ■ -*'- -a fi': i'.n ia W\v v <:i. ,,-i " be J'pley .i;. I la:'let's' new r'»;". i<- <", "V.\ 'The ' « ,<o- " ' i - s .> • Th f> ' ■■»-i!-'e v !! H" ? b'' renrlv before t In- <<:■ rlv I .i ' I