Variety (June 1912)

?A VARIETY BB ""Vw&JF"" CHICAGO Repraaeatattve ———^—— VARIETY'S CHICAGO OVFICBi MAJESTIC THEATRE BUILDING MAJKSTH' (Lyman H. Glover, mgr.; agent, r. 11. U.).—If only the Three Gladdenhecks who opened the current week's bill and the Four Vanls who came on at the tag end. had rendered a few choice dlttlea. the man- agement could have conalatently billed the ■ how aa a song conteat. There were songs or all deacrlptlona, lomo publlahed, others restricted, a few good and many bad. and they came In one Ions; continuous and tlre- aome string. This fact alone is enough to put a damper on any entertainment and it certainly did a lot to make the Majestic ■how look like the second class article. The headliner, Cissle Loftus, started off on het customary routine of imitations, but after the second number found her voice slip- ping, and apologizing to the audience aban- Y , doned the balance of her song work and wen! into the Maud Allen dance. Because of this handicap Miss Loftus suffered. The Glsddenbecks opened with some acrobatic feats noticeably slow, but nevertheless well done. A little more action thrown Into the work, together with the splendid perform- ance of the female member of the trio, would Improve the offering a whole lot. In second spot Percy O'Malley Jennings and Catherine Nelson entertained nicely with some typical English humor and a few songs. Miss Nel- son's laugh, rather forced at times, might be subdued to advantage. Jennings makes a great "fop," he always did. The audlenco evidently remembered the comic from "The Goddess of Liberty," giving him a noisy re- ception on his entrance. The pair were a safe hit. Likewise Kalmer and Brown who followed with more music. The dancing seems to be the prop. It landed the hon- ors of the show for the couple. Callahan and 8t. George with a scenic gem called "The Old Neighborhood," had the comedy position and held It down to tdvantage. In fact Callahan was presented with a few laughs that escaped Monday night. Rich- ards and Kyle had a hard furrow to plow with their skit in one, for which Ren Shields and Harry Richards take credit. At least one or two of the best laughs sounded like Tim McMshon. Otherwise Richards material carried the genuine ring to It and the pair made good. However, until the couple reached the vocal department, the going looked pretty rough, but the songs coming at the close brought them over nicely. Following Miss Loftus, Lew Sully and his own orchestra leader held'the stage for a rather long period. The orchestra leader at times became rather conspicuous, but otherwise didn't do any damage. Sully went through with ease on the talk, but grew a trifle tiresome toward the finish. His travesty on Alice Lloyd held up the end. The Four Famous Van is performed on the tight wire, one of the quartet working a bit like Bird Mlllman. They held the majority to the finish. WTNN. Dave Beehler will move to New York some time next week, where he will remain over the summer, arranging for the Importation of a number of eastern acta Into the middle- west with prospects of a season's booking. During David's sojourn, his brother Charles will manipulate the book at the agency office. Minnie Palmer, a Chicago producer, has arranged to look after the Interests of a new summer park In Gary, Ind., where she will make her headquarters during the hot months, managing the project and arrang- ing for the vaudeville attractions. Mlas Palmer will book the house direct. Lew Rose, who has been about here offering his new act "A Matter of Caution," has left town for Dubuque, la., to spend the summer with his brother, Jake Rosenthal, who has the Majestic theatre In that city. The Hambergcr string of "pop" vaude- ville theatres will remain ope ndurlng the entire summer. The Hamherger office is alao supplying acta for the Jonea, Llnlck nnd Schaeffer theatre at White City Park. In- cidentally. Hamherger ia announcing an all woman's bill for the Apollo theatre thla week, thla being the flrat one of ita kind In town. Alva York Is ono of the few artlsta to se- cure an Orpheum route from the Chicago end. having been handed a season's work over that time by Walter Meakln of the A. K. Meyers office. Mies York Is In LouIk- vllle this week, working for the "Associa- tion." The Orpheum theatre In Champaign goes dark at the conclusion of this week, while the Orpheum. South Bend, will do like- wise next week. Rose KesBner was granted an absolute de- gree of divorce from Harry Smlrl last week on a charge of desertion. The case was tried before Judge Gibbons in the circuit court. Smlrl, who Is In the east, wan served via the publication route, one of the simple methods employed by local attorneys In making di- vorces come cupy and with comparatively small expense. The Cook Sist< is have gradually dwindled down fr_>m a quartet to a double act. Ill- ness deprived the turn of one section of har- mony last week, Incidentally compelling the glrlB to cancel some immediate time. The quartet started out a few years ago under the direction of Jake Sternad when that Indi- vidual was sponsoring the Saratoga Cafe en- tertainments. Shortly afterward twenty-five per cent, of the act disappeared through a marriage ceremony. The Erie thetre on North Clark street has discontinued vaudeville for the summer. The Erie has been one of the most prosperous family theatres In Chicago, playing pictures Ave days of the week and depending on vaudeville Saturday and Sunday. Commenc- ing i-ext week, pictures will be the sole at- traction at a nickel per. The Tower Brothers and Darrell, recently booked to go south for the Hodkln's circuit have dissolved partnership leaving the Hod- kins bills one act short for the past week. A successful benefit was held at the Casino last Thursday, the receipts going to the man- ager, M. 8. Schlessinger. The house was sold out at twenty-five and fifty cents per. The managerial benefit Is an annual feature at this particular house. Frank Mayne, billed to headline the Wil- son Avenue and Wllllard theatres last week, was forced to cancel the engagement to Jump east and attend the burial of his brother who was accidentally drowned. Mayne's misfor- tune left both houses without a headliner. Adair and Hlckey filled in the breach at the Wilson. L. A. Edwards, manager of the eastern company of "The Missouri Girl," has re- turned to town and Is making preparations to pilot one of Merl Norton's "Casey Jones" companies on the road next season. The Palace Hotel, favorably known as "The Actor's Roost," Is about to go under new management, H. B. Humphrey, the pres- ent proprietor, having arranged to transfer his interests. The Palace is classified In the professional directory as a full sister to the Revere House directly across the road. The recently reopened case of Norman Frledenwald against Joe Welch for alleged unpaid commissions has resulted in a Judg- ment for $106 In favor of the agent. Welch was attached here several months ago and was given a verdict In bis favor by a local Justice of the ^eace. Frledenwald appealed the case and is now endeavoring to locate the Hebrew Impersonator. Edward Abbott, a western newspaperman, and who occasionally dabbles In dramatic art. has arrived In Chicago where he will shortly begin to write material for vaude- ville. Abbott Is preparing a new "single" for Stuart Barnes as well as one for George Lav- ender. Trlxie Fiiganza Is the latest legitimate headliner to play the outlying theatres, the musical comedy star accepting a contract for the Indiana theatre, where she will headline the program within the next two weeks. Miss Frlganza topped the Majestic bill last week. An Alrdome Is being run in Mitchell, 8. D., probably the farthest point north where an open air amusement park holds forth. The Mitchell enterprise Is supplied with attrac- tions through the S-C office. Several air- domes recently opened In and around Ne- braska have been forced to discontinue be- cause of poor patronage or cold weather. The Mitchell alrdome reports favorable re- sults. William Anthony McGulre. author of "The Divorce Question." now enjoying a prosper- ous run at McVlcker's, has completed several short plays for vaudeville, one of which will shortly be produced by Sam Llebert. who has been roadlng with Harry Askin's "Louisiana Lou" Co. Eddie Shayne. now a part of the A. E. Meyers office, will Journey east some time next month in quest of suitable material for the W. V. M. A. time for next season. Shayne will spend several weeks in the east, returning In time to join the routing meetings held In the "Association." Eddie Hayman will be absent from his desk during the months of June and July, when he will visit the various cities in the north to which he will send vaudeville attractions next season. After bis return. Kerry Meagher will again take himself to the Pacific Coast to establish the much-talked-of western office for the "Asso- ciation." Lincoln J. Carter has sold his Interests In 'The fat and the Fiddle" and "The Cow In the Moon" to Charles A. flellon. who will look after both productions next season. Rel- lon directed the routing of both shows during the p;ist sen son. acting 1'or Mr. farter. V.. V. fhurchlll. formerly one of the Thea- tre Booking Corporation, has returned to tint company, where ho wMI hereafter make his headquarters. Churchill will look after the bookings of the Saxe Brothers' Interests, who receive their attractions through the Keefe agency, and (n addition to this duty will attend to the booking of his own Qarden theatre in Kansas City. Churchill has been dabbling with the electrical game during his abaence from show business. Melbourne McDowell, while recently play- ing Racine for the Keefe office was relieved of a loaded suit case by one of the depot loiterers, the thief removing the traveling bug to a nearby lot, where he took posses- sion of those contents which looked salable. McDowell, after a search, discovered the missing Reticle minus Its contents wl.h the exoeptlon of a few personal letters. Jewelry and valuables to the extent of several hun- dred dollars were gone. J. C. Matthews left Chicago this week to be present at the opening of Electric Park. Kansas City. The Motthews office Is sup- plying the park with its summer vaudeville. Billy Newklrk has been selected by C. H. Mile* to look after his Interests at his newly acquired Lincoln theatre on the North- v«st Side. Newklrk has been managing the Grand Rapids house for the Independent manager. * Minnie Warner and Genevieve Gannon an preparing for their annual dash Into New York, this time to spend a whole month. Mlnaie will leave sometime In July, reaching the eastern town after a lengthy trip through the South. Genevieve will leave two weeks after Minnie. The two girls will return to- gether. Major Glover, general manager of the Kohl-Castle Interests, haa moved Into the of- fices formerly occupied by the Western Or- pheum branch. Mr. Glover's former office will be employed as a meeting room and will serve the "Association" agents during their semi-weekly booking meetings. Richard Bennett seems to have turned the tide at the Alcazar. It Is an open secret that for many weeks the O'Farrell street stock- house has been losing, and losing heavily. But the theatiegoers have flocked to see Bennett In such numbers that "Alias Jimmy Valentine" is now In Its second week. It has been a long, long time since ah Alcazar production has done sufficient business to merit more than a single week. Sid Grauman of the Empress Is never slow at seizing an Idea and capitalizing It Into stage material. Two weeks ago Blanche Bates attended a country house party and. according to a story that crept Into one of the newspapers, entertained the guests by doing the "Texas Tommy" In bare feet. San Francisco has been "Texas Tommled" unto sickness. Every vaudeville theatre, cafe and cabaret has staged the vigorous acrobatic "rag" dance. That there could be a pos- sible bit of attractiveness left In It one could scarcely imagine. But Sid Grauman staged a "barefoot Texas Tommy" at the Empress this week, with four couples partici- pating. What additional degree of enter- tainment this may afford is hard to con- ceive. "The Bigamist." a play by William Curtis, an Oakland newspaper man, which was re- cently produced at San Jose by the Ed Red- mond company, Is said to be one of the new plays which OUIe Morosco will produce shortly. SAN PKANCiaCO By AL C. JOT. ORPHEUM (Martin Beck. gen. mgr.; agent, direct).—Lean A Holbrook made their first local ^appearance since appearing here as rood stars and the musical comedy people put over a hit; Camllle Ober found the audience In attune with her fine voice, her range proving amazing, the vocalist pleaded all the way; Sayton Trio is a good act of the contortion brand; Reba and Inez Kaufman did not do so well with their sing- ing, dancing and imitating; the holdovers, Klrksmlth Sisters, Theodore Roberts and Co. and the Cycling Paulhams. repeated hits of the previous week, with Ray Cox having the biggest success of anything on the bill, this comedienne having become a redhot favor- ite with the Orpheum regulars. Big busi- ness was recorded from the very start. EMTRESS (Sullivan & Consldlne, gen. mgrs.; agents, direct).—The Delmar Poster Girls, with Eddie Harris and Estey Welr, with their musical comedy offering, was full of life and pleased Immensely; Wlllard, billed as the "Man Who Grows." was on as a special feature nnd the freak proved In- teresting; Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Voclker. with their artistic and high class musical offering, went fairly well, but did not re- ceive the applause they deserved; the "bare- foot" "Texas Tommy" dance failed to cre- ate the sensation expected through the bill- ing of the "bare skin expose"; Roach and McCurdy got attention and fair applause; Josie Flynn got over nicely with her songs; Holmes and Riley, who style themselves "so- ciety vocalists." offered an act of mediocrity which was disappointing; Elizabeth Myers presented a routine of songs, her work suf- fering In comparison with another woman single on the bill; Lawton offered a conven- tion Juggling turn which was enjoyed. PONTAGES (Alex. Pantages. gen. mgr.; agent,, direct). —The featured act was "Cin- derella." well staged by Edward F. Rice nnd Co., which was entertaining and appre- ciated; a burlesque of "Vlrglnlus" followed with Fields and Matthews turning loose n lot of laughs, their comedy work being very good; Nndje. the physical culture woman. offered a conventional posing act, while Louise Gerard and Co. pleased with their music; Walton and Brandt In their lively skit, "Just Fans." went fairly well; Robert- son Bros, and Wilson entertained with their voices, while Frlscary held his own with card manipulations. Good business. ('OUT.—Margaret Anglln In "Green Stock- ings." COLUMBIA.—Final week, "Spring Maid." ALCAZAR—Richard Bennet, last week In "Jimmy Valentine." John Consldlne arrives here from Seattle next week on his semi-annual tour of Inspec- tion. From hero he goes to New York. Hazel Laugcnoir, University of California girl, who was the first woman to swim the Golden Gate, makes vaudeville debut in a fortnight at the Empress In a swimming act. Sam Harris Is organising a new circuit which will Include the Republic theatre in this City, Bell, Oakland and a house in Val- lejo. It is understood that the booking will be done by Mrs. Ella Weston. The American has reopened with vaude- ville and plcturca The closing of the Orpheum, Sacramento, for the summer is accompanied by a report that all has not gone as merrily as might be hoped In the four-days-weekly tenancy of the Theatre Dlepenbrock. Officially It is said that business has been splendid all season, and that the bookings will be renewed be- ginning in September. Unofficially It Is said that if the bookings are renewed the seat of operations will be transferred from the Dlepenbrock to the Clunle. The Clunle has the advantage of location, being in the heart of the business section. The combination bookings for the house do not number more than three a week, and It Is said that Fred Giesea, who is rapidly becoming a power in California theatricals, can so arrange these bookings as to leave the house open to the Orpheum for the four last nights of the week. Business at the Dlepenbrock haa been good. There has been no difficulty over meeting the payroll and the Orpheum's share was settled In the beginning on a percent- age basis. Moreover, a certain amount of patronage was guaranteed by the Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento before the ven- ture was attempted. The house Itself has not. however, participated to any great ex- tent in the pro fit a Moreover, managerial friction has arisen. It Is believed better business would be done at the Clunle, and Glesea's theatrical Influence Is expected to do much toward bringing about a transfer of base. Kolb and Dill ended their ten weeks' sea- son at the Savoy Saturday night, but con- trary to early report Manager Muehlman has out turned out the lights for the sum- mer. The theatre has turned Itself over to pictures and is asking—and getting—prices ranging from 26 to 60 centa The pictures for the opening week are of Bernhardt and Rejane in productions of famous dramas They rank as the highest class motion pic- tures ever shown in Ban Francisco. If the experiment proves a success, Muehlman will continue the picture policy until the open- ing of the combination season. This will mean two big theatres for pic- tures during the summer, as the Cort will have a six weeks' run of Kinemacolor fol- lowing the production of "Kindling," which starta next week. Kolb and Dill are to rest for a few weeks and will then take to the road with "The Girl In the Train." This was the most pop- ular production the German comedians have ever made here, general opinion being that It was superior to "Lonesome Town," which made a fortune for them. The production of "Kindling" which Is to be made here next week recalls some rather Interesting facts In connection with the play when Its author. Charles Kenyon, was first trying to get a hearing for himself. Ken- yon, formerly a San Francisco newspaper man, broke Into playwriting with a sketch. "The Operator." which played with success for several years. Encouraged* by this, he concocted a drama, which he named "The Greatest of These." This was submitted first to Mrs. Flske. who wrote to the aspiring author she did not have time to conaider It just then, but would be pleased to meet the author and discuss It personally with him when she reached San Francisco sev- eral months later. Meantime Kenyon con- tinued to write and rewrite. He had con- fidence in the play. When Mrs. Flske came he wrote reminding her of their previous correspondence, and received a polite but Icy reply that the star was too busy to grant him an audience. Later Kenyon sub- mitted "The "Greatest of These" to Harry Bishop of Ye Liberty theatre, Oakland, and It is possibly still on the manuscript shelf there, as neither Bishop nor his affable man- ager, Jack Jackson, had time to read it. Neither Mrs. Fiskc nor the Ye Liberty peo- ple knew that they had the chance to pro- duce "Kindling" long before It got Into Mar- garet Illlngton's hands. Still Kenyon thinks that "Kindling" by any other name would play ns well, and "The Greatest of These" was "Kindling." PHILADELPHIA By GEORGE 1ft, YOUNG. KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr.; agent, U. n. O.).—With the exception of the big type number on this week's bill the show averaged up to first class entertainment. The vaudeville houses, which are the only ones open now. with the exception of the Chest- nut, which plays stock, are having their first real test for business In warm weather.