Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY ENGLISH BOY COMEDIAN FA LLS HEI R TO $200,000 Laddie Cliff Is Left the Big Legacy by a Maiden Aunt in England. Still Playing Vaudeville, and Not Using the Windfall for "Press Stuff" But eighteen years of age and a star in American vaudeville, Laddie Cliff, from England, was made the heir to $200,000 in the will of a de- ceased maiden aunt in England. Young Mr. Cliff has not informed any press agents of the theatres he has been appearing in since learning of the windfall that he is nearly a quarter of a million dollars wealthier, and the first news of it was contained in a letter written to a friend In New York. The boy comedian and singer has been in this country about two years, coming over from England, his home. NO 5TH AVE. THIS SUMMER. Another "big time" vaudeville house may be lost to the summer- time if the decision of the Maine courts in the Keith-Proctor case does not intervene to place the theatre under the direction of F. F. Proctor. If that happens, and the decision 1b looked for daily, Mr. Proctor will probably run through the hot weather. May 20 will start another "New Act Week" at the house, the third this season. Five or six turns have al- ready been placed on the program by Eddie Darling, of the United Booking Offices. It is said Mr. Darling may give another "special" before the 5th Avenue closes by having a "5th Ave. Favorite Week," the last of May. Nothing has been booked for June. The regular vaudeville season at Proctor's, Newark, has been extended three weeks beyond the first an- nounced date of closing. May 13 will be "All Women's Week" over there, with Belle Hathaway's Monkeys on the program (placed there because Miss Hathaway's monks are all fe- males). The Fifth Avenue, so far this sea- Bon, shows a net profit of around $40,- 000. CARTOONIST ELOPES. "Mutt and Jeff" would have been tickled to death had they seen their creator, Bud Fisher and Pauline Welsh elope last Friday. Miss Welsh was "breaking in" a new act with Geo. F. Moore at Proctor's 58th Street theatre. They were to have opened at the Majestic, Chicago, Monday. After the Friday night show, Mr. Fisher made a call. It was about midnight when he and Miss Welsh de- cided to get married. They attended to that business immediately without notification to any one. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher sailed for Ber- muda on the next boat following the ceremony, Mr. Fisher leaving behind him a $500 contract for his Hammer- stein engagement this week, and tak- ing chances on his newspaper job. It is reported the cartoonist got an advance on royalty from Gus Hill of $2,500 (through the "Mutt and Jeff" shows). The last reports from Mr. Hill said that he was expected to re- cover, but the doctors couldn't decide what was the matter. One diagnos- tician expressed an opinion Mr. Hill had permanently lost his breath. SECOND MOFFATT SKETCH. A second sketch by Graham Moffatt will be produced by that author for the Orpheum Circuit. It will be first presented next season, with Richard Moffatt, a brother of Graham's, in the lead. The piece is called "Jean," employ- ing three people. EXPELS MORE RATS. The Board of Directors of the White Rats Actors' Union recom- mended that two more Rats be ex- pelled from membership at the weekly meeting Tuesday night. The recommendation was favorably acted upon by the lodge, whereupon Rob- ert Nome and Al Burke ceased to be members. Last week the Rats expelled Harry De Veaux from membership. It is believed that there is a connection between De Veaux's expulsion and that of Nome's. Charges against the latter were preferred by Bond Morse. In the Burke case Ali Abner, of Chicago, made the complaint. Some weeks ago Burke preferred charges against All, but did not substantiate them to the satisfaction of the Board. At tbe hearing before the Board Tuesday of the charges against the expelled members both men (who are "western rats" and in Chicago) presented their defense by way of written statements. AT CASEY AND HIS HIGH HAT IN LONDON A picture of Pat Casey as he appears In London, disguised by a high hat an The photograph was taken at high noon aB Mr. Casey stood at the corner of tin- waiting for the King to keep a date with him. The cane is a Springfield hickory over to England by Pat to emphasize his remark:?, if he found Parliament would an American swear word now and then. Mr. Casey left London l.-tst Monday, taking A. L. Erlange.r with him They \vl l'arln. Hamburg and Amsterdam, sailing for home May 4. t'nsry will prob.ihiy i.r langer back with him—perhaps the hut. too. In Springfield. Mass., where they post hourly bull' tin.- t-iiln« wlii' I'-i' <' doing abroad, there is great sorrow over the non-reccipi uf any n>■»■« tli.it going to Ireland. Casey intended visiting the landscape of his ;in<< slots until ^ lr they wouldn't believe he never drank a drop of whiskey ■«"■' Hwre miKiu be »iou upon his Irish nationality Rather than start an international rumpus <>v. v i littl like that. Caaey made Erlunger listen to reason, and g't ov.r to the «.'ontirn-nl. d ( jine. Strand . t;»k«'ii pit-vent 11 go to np Kr . i s i y I v 1 'a '♦. ! i f.»:-Tji- (I ! > L «. ■ t s t e thing ADA REEVE'S AMERICAN RECORD. Chicago, April 24. Ade Reeve, the English comedienne, has about completed her Orpheum tour and is preparing to leave for New York from where sho will sail for England with her husband-manager, Wildred Cotton, arriving at home sometime the latter part of next month. Miss Reeve will fulfill several stand- ing engagements on the other side returning to this country in time to open for Martin Beck early in October. For her return engagement the English singer holds a contract for six months. Provided circumstances permit and the building is completed, she will be the first star attraction at Beck's Now York Palace theatre. During the present American tour Miss Reeve played but nine towns in this country, with return engagements at every house visited, excepting the Orpheum, Minneapolis. In San Francisco the English girl was held over for five weeks, while at Los Angeles she remained for a three-week stay. At Winnipeg Miss Reeve on her first engagement broke all records of the house for business on the week, the largest Saturday re- ceipts and in addition, held the stage for a longer period than any act previ- ously appearing there. Returning for the second time she broke her own record. Because of this, a Canadian syndicate approached the comedienne with an offer for six weeks in Canada at practically double the salary she was receiving on the Orpheum cir- cuit, but through Mr. Beck holding an option on her exclusive services while in this country, the proposition was necessarily turned down. Miss Reeve told a Variety, repre- sentative while in Chicago, that were it not for the.'r home In the Isle Of Wight, England, they would settle m California for the remainder of their lives. The western climate and the country impressed both Mr. and Mrs. Cotton as the nearest thing imagina- ble to perfection. While in San Fran- cisco, Miss Reeve was taken ill, neces- sitating a three-week layoff. During her American tour the English singer was frequently spoken of as the "Eng- lish Maude Adams." While here Miss Reeve appeared at the Actor's Fund benefit given at the Auditorium, last week. .IT! J A ROONEY MARRIED. Philadelphia, April 24. A second matrimonial trip was started by Julia Rooney Saturday last in tills city when she wedded I. Regis Ma her. superintendent of the l.'nited (las Co. STARTS NEW EVICTION SLIT. Atlantic City, April 24. Instead of appealing from the de- cision of the lower court, which de- cided against them in the action to oust Brown & Wesley from the Suvoy theatre, Comstock a Ost h.r.r start- ed another dispossess, on a technical ground not employed in the previous action. Melville and HJggins open at the Palace, London, June o.