Variety (April 1912)

« ••■If- LI • VARIETY U SUiWMER SHOW SELECTED FOR C OLUMBIA , NEW YORK 44 Let OcOfge Do It "Opening There June 10. Not a 44 Wheel" Attraction, But Will Probably Be In The Eastern Cir- cuit Next Season. Leff ler & Bratton's Company. The selection of a summer attrac- tion for the Columbia, New York, was made Tuesday when contracts were passed between Leffler-Bratton and the Columbia Amusement Co. for the firm's show, "Let George Do It," to open at the Broadway house of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel June 10, for an indefinite run during the hot spell. The piece is at the West End, New York, this week. It Is playing the Shubert "pop" time, and goes to the Manhattan, New York, next week. J. Herbert Mack, president of the Columbia Amusement Co., and man- ager of the Columbia, saw the com- pany some weeks ago in the west. He was favorably impressed with the troupe, which stars George P. Mur- phy, the German comedian, with the result that negotiations were started. Mr. Murphy will continue his pres- ence with .the company on Broadway, although lome of the other principals may be changed, and the chorus con- siderably augmented. New song numbers may also be introduced. It has been about settled that with the opening of the next burlesque sea- son on the Eastern Wheel "Let George Do It" will take its place as one of the circuit's regular attractions. Chicago, April 24. The Columbia will have Gordon & North's "Merry Whirl" for its sum- mer attraction, the show opening here May 19 for six weeks. When that is over with the house will close down for repairr and next season will find it thoroughly redecorated and reno- vated from cellar to roof. Dave Marion's show at the Colum- bia played to a capacity Monday mati- nee, this being the first time the S. R. O. sign has been in evidence at this particular performance in nine weeks. There is reported to have been some trouble passed through by Gor- don & North before they convinced James C. Morton, of the "Whirl" show he would have to play the Columbia here as a part of his con- tract with the firm. Morton did not believe it at first, it is said, but a threat to invoke the law and advice by his attorney changed the comedian a mind. WESTERN SHOWS AT RANDOM. While some of the Western Wheel burlesque shows have closed the re- mainder are playing supplementary season dates. According to several of the Empire Circuit people the route of the shows is not known. No record of the after- season stands is made in the New York headquarters of the Western Wheel. Although the week of May 6 has been set as the official closing of the Eastern Wheel burlesque season by the Columbia Amusement Co., a number of the shows will close shop before that time. In fact the Rose Sydell show closed last week in Chicago, while Robie's "Knickerbocker's," ''Honeymoon Girls," Midnight Maidens," "Painting the Town" and "Vanity Fair" wind up next week. Heads of the Columbia company say that this earlier closing is due to the closing of the burlesque season In the Milwaukee house. Business is anything but good in that town at present and the show managers were given a chance to play it or pass it up. Rather than go in there and lose money, the companies booked there passed it by. Chicago, April 24. Rose Sydell's "London Belles" closed Its season at the Columbia the- atre last week, going to the shelf two weeks before its scheduled closing date. The show still has Minneapolis and Milwaukee on its route, but it 1b said that W. S. Campbell flatly re- fused to go back into the North, prob- ably realizing that it would mean a Bure loss. His former visits in both towns is said to have proven disas- trous. Rumor has it that Campbell was offered a guarantee to play the two weeks, but refused it because the figure was not of sufficient size. The show opened and closed its season at the Columbia, Chicago, getting away with big weeks on both visits. TWENTY GIRLS AT $20 PER. The Western Burlesque Wheel is already promising itself new things for next season's shows on the cir- cuit. Among them is the regulation that each company must carry twenty chorus girls, who will receive $20 with no wardrobe. AFTER PROVIDENCE SITE. Boston, April 24. There is a story Geo. E. Lothrop, manager of the Howard and Grand Opera House, this city, is about to close for a theatre site at Providence, located on Westminster street. Mr. Lothrop proposes to build an office buiding with a theatre seating 2,000 people according to the story. Policy of theatre is not stated. MORE TIME TO MAKE READY. Next season the Censoring Com- mittee of the Eastern Burlesque Wheel will commence its trip of in- spection over the circuit, one week later than it has been customary. Heretofore the burlesque examiners have given the shows on the Eastern Wheel about three weeks of prepara- tion. This is considered too short a time. Accordingly, next season the censors will look 'em over one month after the date of the official season's opening. As it takes about three weeks to go over the Eastern route, those fortunate enough to escape un- til the last will have had seven weeks of playing before passed upon. There has been some talk of hav- ing a permanent ^inspector on the Eastern Wheel, who shall continue traveling over the circuit, reporting upon the shows throughout the season. Nothing decisive has been arrived at about this, although many burlesque people regard a permanent inspector as a necessity, in order that all the shows shall be kept on their toes. An argument in favor of the inno- vation is that house managers, be- lieving the shows have passed the Censor Committee, do not subject them to the local criticism the resi- dent men might otherwise pass upon them. In this way, shows which in the early part of the season might be quite mild or were when officially in- spected, later on may turn very boisterous in several respects, with- out the Wheel's heads becoming aware of the change until the show plays in a nearby convenient theatre to New York. OBERWARTH WITH FENNESSY. Next season "The Gay Widows'' on the Western Burlesque Wheel will be under the direction of Louis Ober- warth and James E. Fennessy. Mr. Oberwarth has managed the produc- tion this season. Among the re-engagements for the company are Ritter and Foster, John C. Hart, Jas. Daley. "THREE SHEET SAM" ENGAGED. Known as "Three Sheet Sam," Sam J. Schonlnger, of the Hayes Print- ing Co., is going to become a mar- ried man May 18. His bride will be Jeanette Lanier. WESTERN WHEEL SETTLES. The Western Burlesque Wheel has settled the claim made by May Ward that she lost two weeks while work- ing under a contract for one of the Western managers. 1'he adjustment came off when Miss Ward wan offered the Empire and Casino, Brooklyn, for consecutive weeks, commencing Mon- day next, at $360 per week, if she would call quits on the old trouble After consultation with her hus- band, Freeman Bernstein (the cham- pion 24-hour vaudeville agent of the world). Miss Ward capitulated. Mr. Bernstein informed Miss Ward that $350 in his salary code would have to be indicated on a clean sheet of paper, as he never figured it out that far, and, of course, Miss Ward felt gleeful when she found there would be more money coming to her every Saturday night or Sunday than Free- man ever heard of. Mr. Bernstein is called the 24-hour agent through keeping his office open day and night. Most of his business is transacted after 10 p. m. Free- man says he contracted the habit when as a boy he was attacked by in- somnia. He worked in a bakery then, hired by the boss to watch the flour, as the bakers were inveterate gum chewers and couldn't keep their minds on their business. The Inces- sant watch gave the future theatrical agent no chance to think for himself, and he would remain awake when In bed planning how he could double his salary, without losing a day's pay. In this way he became sleepless and kept up the habit so early contracted. Mr. Bernstein denies he has Insomnia. Says his old books are lost, but he's certain he never booked that act. FRED DUPREZ "MON'OLOC.iST" N.'xr week (April 2in, Alhainhip. N". ■•■'■ York: May ♦>. «'<>loni;ii. New York; May '■■<. Orpheum. Hror.kU". Sailing May L"> ••'" ,1 " LuHitanla. < M" ■» 'lin- K --t »!"«• < '•'' >'J 1 " !M find Chel*<a I'alace, London. Ot, r h;r..- l.ran time, to fill-"*. ,, r ... .. ..,......, American Il^pr.■■■•• ntutive, h.I»w. .- ^la-iiia., Foreign K*M r "s»entative. UKUIIGK KOBTBR- BIJOU STOCK. Philadelphia, April 24. The Bijou will have a Jacobs ft Jer- mon stock company following the reg- ular burlesque season there. Dan Dody, the general producer for the firm, will stage it. WEINGARTEN'S "TROC" AGAIN. Chicago, April 24. The old Trocadero theatre on State street is to come into its own again. Issy Weingarten has once more as- sumed control of the former burlesque house, and after enlarging and redec- orating the auditorium will rename it the Gayety, and offer up-to-date stock burlesque. Weingarten plans to have many of the old Trocadero favorites back again. The house will run through the sum- mer with this brand of entertainment. Weingarten was manager <>.' "The Troc" up to the time it ceased to b<> an Eastern Wheel stand, after which it went through the gauntlet of a dime museum, picture house, cheap vaude- ville theatre and several other things THIKSK'S RLKIJOSgrK STOCKS. Mortimer M Tin.-.,- hns completed plans for tin- in:.u<- ■ i 1 ■■>•■• r ■' n.ni-r burlesque h-h-U. »■ Mm- Stiw. {'lev; land, :uid th>- St:^- Detroit. Thiese's "Win". Woiiimi and Song* and "The Kollbkcrs" will bo amonfc the pieces to bo used by Thiese. The stock regime will start early in May.