Variety (July 1912)

6 VARIETY PROTECTION FROM "THIEVES" NEEDED BY AM ERICAN ACTS Bold Steals by English Actors from American Vaudeville Artists. The Meymotts After Taking "In 1999/' Copyright It in England, and Prevent Owner from Showing There. Carlton, Another English Raw Lifter. That something will have to be done in regard to "copy acts" be- tween England and the States becomes more evident each season. A trip through only three or four English halls during June revealed no less than five "steals" perpetrated by Eng- lish acts. Carlton was doing Geo. B. Reno's 'Misfit Army," having even imported a fat man from the States for it. Charlie Grapewin's "Awakening of Mr. Pipp" was being done with but a few changes. The cancelling of "In 1999" because of a copy has already been mentioned. There were others also. It is probably only fair to sur- mise that some American acts coming back from England do the same thing regarding the taking of bits which they think will do nicely over here; in fact, almost every season Wilkie Bard suffers be- cause someone returns with some of his material. This has been partly responsible for Mr. Bard's refusing to consider America. The theft of "In 1999" by the Mey- motts, who presented it in England as "In the Future," was a particularly brazen steal, according to Jesse L. Lasky, who put on "1999" over here. When the Lasky act appeared at the Ftfth Avenue, New York, in February, the Meymotts asked him for the Eng- lish rights, offering to pay a royalty of $15 weekly. Mr. Lasky turned down the offer without any negotiations, looking toward a larger amount. Then the Meymotts, who had been playing here in the west, visited the theatre daily, taking down the dialog and business of the sketch. Although Louis Hooper, represent- ing Mr. Lasky, went to England and save a copyright performance of the playlet two months ago, the Meymotts had had the unmitigated nerve to copy- right their stolen matter previously on the other side, securing a prior claim, and prohibiting the owner of the piece from showing his own prop- erty in England. Carlton, an English comedy magi- rian, who stole the Reno act, is no- torious for filching other peoples stage property. He came over here with a turn that contained nothing of his own excepting an illy-conceived make-up. Carlton did not become popular on this side. The actors seemed "to be on to him," as it were. At the Comedy Club the night before he sailed, Carlton, while seated at a table, said: "Well, I leave tomor- row." Johnny Xeff, from across the table, retorted: "Have you made up your mind yet what act you will do on the other side?" LOSE INJUNCTION CASE. Philadelphia, July 3. An application for an injunction against the "Texas Tommy Dancers" at the Keystone this week was denied Tuesday. Newman & Goldsmith made the attempt to restrain the western dancers, on the ground they were in- fringing upon the "Tommy Dancers" at Hammerstein's, New York. SOME FAIR DATES. Everything is being set for the big eastern fairs next fall. The Brockton (Mass.) fair will be held Oct. 1-2-3-4 and will have a big vaudeville show booked in by J. Harry Allen, New York. Other fair dates are: Trenton, N. J., Sept. 30-Oct. 1-2-3-4; Virginia State Fair, Richmond, week Oct. 7; Alabama State, Montgomery, Oct. 16- 26; Maine State, Lewiston, Sept. 2-5; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 11-19; Worcester (Mass.) Sept. 2-5. AMERICAN TRYING AT 10 CENTS. San Francisco, July 3. The American Theatre has re- opened with ten-cent vaudeville. ANOTHER MINSTREL TROUPE. Spitz & Nathanson will back a min- strel organization next fall. They have acquired the title of a well- known minstrel troupe which they ex- pect to divulge later. With new people and a brand new special car called "The Providence," S. & N. expect to get the show started about Sept. 9. Only eastern territory will be played. ELIZABETH MURRAY. Elizabeth Murray is back in vaude- ville again for a few weeks, filling in a short interim before she engages once more with a musical comedy or- ganization. Miss Murray never has been able to remain long in the two- a-day before some manager of a show lures her away with a tempting prop- osition. In her peculiar line of character delineation, Miss Murray is without a competitor. Her most recent achieve- ments in the musical comedy world were the creation of the stellar role in the original company of "Madame Sherry" and her enormous hit in the defunct "Mania's Baby Boy," wherein she "stopped the show" in the Kitchen Cabaret scene. Miss Murray's pictures ornament the front page of this week's Vaiiiktv. ROUTING ONCE MORB. Routing meetings of United Booking Offices managers commenced once again Tuesday, after a lapse of sev- eral days. It was said by an agency man that sufficient material of a smaller calibre was available, and that "big acts" were not looked for much before the opening of the season, when they seemed to appear as required. Vaudeville artists are still shy on the "cut-salary" proposition expected with an offer for next season from the United. A great many acts from their statements have determined not to ac- cept a cut from the United, preferring, if they must reduce their weekly sal- ary, to do so on the "small time," even with the hardship of an extra performance daily in the bargain. MISS GUNNING GOING SINGLE. Brushing aside all managerial of- fers, Louise Gunning has placed h»r engagements for next season with M. S. Bentham, to secure vaudeville time. She will appear alone In the varie- ties then, unless changing her mind upon a tempting production proposi- tion showing itself. SEXTET LOSES CASES. The Cora Youngblood Corson Sex- tet has lost its case against the Win- ter Garden. The Sextet opened at the Garden on a contract arranged by Joe Shea and Jo j Wood. The act was closed after the first week. Suit for $200 on express contract and another for $500 salary for the two weeks they didn't work were died. Shea testified in court he was in no wise commissioned by the Garden to send the act there, but that he placed it on approval. Failure to prove that Shea was empowered to act for the Garden resulted in the Sextet losing. REBUILD IN BUTTE. Butte, Mont., July 3. The Sullivan-Considine Circuit will rebuild here. Their Empress theatre burned down some weeks ago. The S-C shows are at present appearing at the Orrin. Sacramento, July 3. The new Sullivan-Considine theatre- in this city will seat 1,700. The Chamber of Commerce wired John W. Considine a vote of thanks upon the announcement of the Cir- cuit's intention to erect a new house. MAURICE IN LONDON. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, July 3. Florence Walton and M. Maurice have arranged for an opening in Lon- don, at the Alhambra, next Monday. Maurice gained local fame last season as the star of Martin's Cabaret. TOURING AROUND A CITY. (Special Cable to Varietv.) Paris, July 3. Hagenbeck has pitched his men- agerie outside the walls of Paris and intends exhibiting all around the city, staying a week at each stop. RATS* MATTER UP IN AUGUST. Nothing more will be done by the Central Federated Labor Union on its proposed recommendation to the American Federation of Labor that the charter of the White Rats' Actors' Union be revoked until after the Executive Council convenes in Wash- ington during the early part of August. PATSY MORRISON'S RECORD. By Tuesday morning of this week Patsy Morrison had his show booked for next week, breaking all records In advance bookings for his house. HURT IN AUTO ACCIDENT. Saginaw, Mich., July 3. William H. Mueller, of Mueller and Mueller, sustained a fractured skull in an automobile accident between Bay City and Saginaw ten days ago, and is at St. Mary's Hospital. Four men were in the machine, the others being only slightly injured. Mueller's condition is critical. GREELEY GETS CONGRESS. Portland, Me., July 3. The Congress Theatre has been ta- ken over by J. W. Greeley, formerly of the Portland Theatre. D. D. Lead- er, of Rumford Falls, is associated with him. The Congress has been playing pic- tures for a couple of years. It will be wholly renovated. REAL ALL-STAR SHOW. Mike Simon will stage manage a real all-star show at Arverne, Long Island, July 21, when, under the aus- pices of Mrs. Henry B. Harris, a ben- efit for the Hebrew Infant Asylum will be held at the Pier Theatre. So far Mr. Simon has listed Rose Stahl, Frank Tinney, Clifton Crawford, Blanche Ring, Bernard Granville, Harry Fox and the Millership Sisters, Maude Raymond, Septet from the Lamb's Gambol, R. F. Outcault, the cartoonist; Six Brown Brothers, Wil- lie Weston. HOUSE STAFF WAITING. Indianapolis, July 3. The Union Theatre, after an unsuc- cessful attempt to do business despite reported big financial backing, has ap- parently closed for good. Incidentally the stage crew and all connected with the house are hoping that some day they will get what money is coming to them. BIRMINGHAM AGREEMENT. Chicago, July 3. The upshot of the meeting between Karl Hoblitzelle and Jake WelU in this city last week was that Wells should withdraw the Orpheum, Bii- mingham, from the field, and that Hoblitzelle allow him to acquire an interest in the Interstate house there. It is said that this was agreed to. Wells offered the Orpheum to the new Southern Musical Circuit, which accepted it. PA NT AGES, OAKLAND, AUG. 1. San Francisco, July 3. The opening of the new Pantagos house in Oakland has been >et for Aug. 1