Variety (July 1912)

VARIETY 5 VAUDEVILLE PRODUCERS SCARCE NEXT SEASON 'S PROSPECT Loss of Percy Q. Williams to Vaudeville Seems Mostly Pelt by Men Who Build Acts. Afraid to Invest and be at Money Mad Magnates' Mercy The vaudeville! producer as seen in next season's prospective is a scarce article. With the Official de- parture of Percy O. Williams from the variety field June 30, the man who builds acts appears afraid to make an investment for a vaudeville turn and leave himself at the mercy of the money mad magnates left in the "big time" division. The producer for vaudeville has never had smooth sailing in his attempts to place some- thing rcw before the public via "big time" \audeville. While Mr. Williams was looked upon as the savior of the producer, through his semi- attitude at least of encouragement to them, there were other handi- caps the producer encountered. About the greatest (besides grafting) was "stalling" by the booking men in the big agencies who are supposed to look out for new material. Of these "stallers" perhaps P. F. Nash is most justly entitled to the world's championship. He reduced the art (if it is that) of leaving the impression upon inquiries that all was not hopeless to the point where his reputation preceded his stereo- typed utterances. Besides "stalling" the producer ran against the grafters in the same ag- ency, who, if they did not almost in- sist the newcomer select an agent they mentioned (and of whose office they had a "piece"), the grafters grew more bold by "holding up" the producer for a share in the profits of his acts. A few producers have continued on the vaudeville way. How they accom- plish what they do remains a sealed book to those desiring to "break in." The Percy Williams office was reckoned as the one place "on the level." With Williams out the pro- ducer who might give vaudeville one, two or more acts during the season has turned away from the "big time," either toward the smaller vaudeville houses or else give up the M. M. M. s as hopeless. The greatest fear the order of af- fairs in vaudeville has instilled in the producer is that he will, with an in- vestment of any considerable amount, be submerged through the demands of the managers and their arbitrary methods of running a booking agency. It isn't the act, it's getting it over Although a new turn may be very de- sirable, the producer of it stands no more and even not as much chance as the producer with a bad act but willing to "give up." The very few producers still stand- ing as purveyors of good goods are not certain of their position in vaude- ville next season. They know the grasping and grafting tactics. How they will avoid them and still place their acts before the public at a profit to themselves is of more importance just now to them than the quest for novel ideas to place in the vaudeville form. The legitimate actor or actress also looks askance upon the variety busi- ness. The troubles of "finding an open- ing," of bookings and likewise the "stalling" have worked its harm for recruits to vaudeville from the dra- matic end of the profession. The vaudeville producer claims he can't stand the gaff of the graft, and traces this grafting, whether by an inside or outside agent or manager, to the fountain head of the booking business, which compels agents to "split the commission." In other ways as well this booking gourmet greedily seizes upon every avenue that may bring into its maw another dollar, whether legitimately earned or not. The cry of the agency seems to be "get the coin," and not from the public, but from the actor or pro- ducer. This, say the vaudevillians, is what is going to drive vaudeville to the deminition bow wows and de- cay. The vaudeville producer growing scarcer and with the possibility of passing away following Williams' de- parture, along with the rush of stand- ard vaudeville acts into any half way favorable engagement for next sea- son (outside of vaudeville) is com- mencing to alarm the-men-who-watch- things over the complexion of coming programs. "Where are the shows coming from?" they ask, and answer it by another question: "Where are the acts?" While the "small time" is progres- sive, it can not yet hold these valu- able adjuncts necessary to the future of vaudeville. The "small time" in a measure will benefit by the "big time" trying to throttle those essential to the latter. Variety people are watching the change of conditions on the "big time." They expect lurid evidences of the altered situation, and are wait- ing to learn how far the money mad magnates of vaudeville will go before they force the bubble to burst. THREE-ACT TO DISSOLVE. It is reported that Weston, Fields Fields and Carroll will continue as a "two-act." Internal affairs are the cause of the separation. "DAREDEVIL" HINTER KILLED. Cleveland, July 3. "Daredevil" Robert Hunter, of Newark, N. J., a professional motor- cycle rider, met instant death here at Luna Park Sunday night when making a sharp turn to avoid a rider ahead. He crashed into a post at the side of the track. Finn Huntinger, another rider, was painfully hurt by striking Hunter's machine after the crash. JOE HART DID THINGS. Jos. Hart returned to New York oa the Mauretanla last Friday, accom- panied by his wife, Carrie DeMar. During his short stay abroad, Mr. Hart busied himself perfecting ar- rangements for an exchange of vaude- ville attractions with Sewell Collins. He was loath to disclose all his future plans, but said: "Miss DeMar's success in London was bigger than ever, and she goes back next year with a new act. She has also had an offer from A. H. Woods for the stellar role in 'The Widow Wise,' but will probably stick to vaudeville. "I have arranged with Oswald Stoll to produce 'Everywlfe' in October at the Coliseum for a run. Following that I am interested In a big water pantomime, book by Sewell Collins. "Mr. Collins' first American produc- tion of mine will be 'The Little Stranger/ to be followed by 'Honor Among Thieves.' "I am bringing over here Torke Stephens and Margaret Moffatt in the sketch, 'Just Like a Woman/ which is a big success in London. Later on I shall import a German pantomime running forty-five minutes and two French novelties, the nature of which I prefer to keep secret for the pres- ent." PANTAGES BOOKING CINCINNATI. Cincinnati, July 3. Oct. 6 the Pantages Office will commence supplying the Orpheum theatre with the regular road show. Manage/ Martin who owns Ches- ter Park (also booked by Pan- tages) succeeded in landing a Pan- tages franchise, although It Is said the move was strenuously opposed by the United Booking Offices. The Cincin- nati franchise rn^ay be followed by others in the middle-east. REMEMBERING CHARLIE BRAT. Chicago, July 3. A rather sentimental scene took place on the eleventh floor of the Ma- jestic theatre building Saturday when the employees of the Western Vaude- ville Manager's Association gathered in the main room and presented Chas. E. Bray with a large copper plate upon which was engraved the name of every "Association" employee as well as various resolutions carrying appreciation of Mr. Bray's treatment of them during his three years as chairman of the big institution. Kerry Meagher made the presenta- tion speech, taking Bray wholly by surprise. The big executive filled up with gratitude and during his short address seemed to have lost control over his Adam's apple, the final re- sult being a general cry-fest all around. Mr. Bray while in Chicago has made a multitude of friends and he will always be kindly remembered. The "Association" Is a monument to the efforts of Bray who, by his per- sistent and untiring work built a wonderful organization out of chaos. Mr. Bray will shortly leave the in- stitution when his successor Charles E. Kofel, will assume the active di- rection of it. "SISTERS*' IN A NEW ACT. Tempest and Sunshine, booked for an engagement at Hammerstein'i July 15, will play there July 22 In- stead ▼ hen they will show a new act. Next week they will play Newport to take the edges off the new offering, in which Edward Aveling and Albert Lloyd will assist. The act will tell a love story with interpolated singing and dancing numbers. HOWARD AND NORTH NO MORE. The well known vaudeville team of Howard and North Is no more. The partners agreed to go their separate ways two weeks ago. Ed Howard and Frank North have been in vaudeville for* several years. "Those Were the Happy Days" was the first sketch played by the couple. LEVEY BOOKING CORT TIME. San Francisco, July 3. Bert Levey is negotiating for the Boyd Theatre, Omaha, and the Be- lasco, Los Angeles, which he expects to add shortly to his circuit. The Cort houses in the*West, which are being converted to vaudeville, will book through the Levey offices. It is understood the Belasco will continue in stock until October, when the new Morosco, in Los Angeles, will be finished and will then go In o vaudeville. JOS. M. SCHENCK •ni^ of ih" mi("t populnr m< n In v;i 11rl♦• \ M!• . and Kfnf-ril manager hooking manner <>f t h»> I.or-u < '|rcu|T. AC'TKESB DROWNS IX CANAL. Syracuse, July 3. Mrs. Minnie Lester Mitchell, for- merly an actress, committed suicide Sunday afternoon by drowning her- self in the Erie Canal at Lenox Ba- sin. She had separated from her hus- band while in this city four or five years ago. The deceased leaves a son, Elmer, sixteen years old, and a daughter, Savella, twelve.