Variety (July 1912)

8 VARIETY SHU BERTS' MANY CONFERENCES OVER VAUD EVILLE AFFILIATION Moss & Brill and Cunningham & Flugelman, Also Pru- dential Agency, with Two Philadelphia Agents Men- tioned as Possible Adherents to the Shubert Combine. Appears to be Getting Into Tangible Shape. It's a very dull half hour when Jules Delmar hasn't a conference of some kind with some one on around the Shuberts* vaudeville headquar- ters. This week the Shubert talk revolved around Moss & Brill and Cunningham & Fluegelman. It was said Tuesday the attorneys for both sides were also conferring on the matter of contracts. These agreements, if signed, will take the two Arms' small time vaudeville theatres into the Shubert camp. In the early part of the week that seemed quite likely to occur. C. H. Miles has been a part of all conferences. In addition, It was re- ported Mr. Miles often met Karl Hob- litzelle, while he was here, from Sat- urday until Tuesday. There existed a rumor that Miles wanted to get into the Western Vaudeville Association, Chicago. The object of the meetings between him and Hoblltxelle is said to have been to talk that over. Wal- ter Keefe, who is the Miles agent, >s said to have been often considered in the confabs. What connection the meetings be- tween Miles and Hoblltxelle could have with the Shuberts and the West- ern Vaudeville Association has not yet been made clear. Besides the Moss & Brill and Cun- ningham & Fluegelman people, Del- mar and Miles expect to draw into the combine the Prudential Agency, which books about 45 houses in season, mostly all split weeks. Some of the Prudential houses pay as high as $1,400 weekly for their shows. A couple of Philadelphia agents are also listening to the new Shubert cir- cuit. The inducements offered to join the Shuberts vaudeville end are very at- tractive. Besides the outside houses receiving one-half the commission the new agency will charge, free office rent and other accommodations are guaranteed. It was said Moss & Brill and Cun- ningham & Fluegelman were holding out Tuesday to obtain a couple of the Shubert theatres in New York be- fore going into the combine. One of the houses wanted for their vaudeville was named as the West End. A strong objection was raised against this point. What theatres the Shuberts may throw into the booking affiliation have not been named, nor, it is understood, are the other agencies naming their theatres. A question of territorial rights also came up and was in process of ad- justment at another meeting held Wednesday afternoon. ENTRIES FOR FIELD DAY. Entries for the V. C. C. auto, track and field races to be held at Brighton Beach in August may be addressed care Charles Ahearn, at the Vaude- ville Comedy Club, 107 West 44th street. New York. GAIiLAGER AND SHE AN SPLIT. Through the signing of contracts with Werba & Luescher next season as individuals, it became known that the former vaudeville pair have dis- solved their stage partnership. Both remain with "The Rose Maid" for next season. BERLIN VARIETY SHOWS. (Special Cable to Variety.) Berlin, July 3. The Winter Garden continues its June program. The bill at the Apollo for July is: Carmen and Lola, Mor- iaoff, Firs Moraczar, Johnny and Charley Darius, Yana Ada Pagini, Scott Bros., Clown Daniels. "KINGDOM, LTD.," PRODUCED. (Special Cable to Variety.) Berlin, July 3. Franz Wagenhoff's "Kingdom, Ltd.," at Lustsplelhaus, was well re- ceived. The idea is good, the execu- tion weak and the acting passable. "POP" ALL THE TIME. At the Loew office this week it was stated that notwithstanding what the owner or anyone else might say regarding the policy of the Shubert, Brooklyn, Loew's "pop" vaudeville will continue there indefinitely. NEW BUILDINGS. Elizabeth, N. J., July 3. A two-story hollow tile and stucco theatre is to be built at First and Marshall streets, for W. J. Lawrie, costing $9,000. Hornell, N. Y., July 3. Plans have about been completed for the new theatre to be built by F. S. Peters of this city. The cost will be between $20,000 and $25,000. George Gotthelf is accepting bids on his new picture house to be erect- ed at 1888 Third avenue, costing $12,500. It will be a one-story affair. BEDINI AND ARTHUR IN SHOW. Chas. Cromwell's "Dandies," a Western Wheel show for next season, will have Bedini and Arthur. Others are the Victoria Four, Miriam Hen- ques, Eddie Cantor, Georgia Cunning- ham, Eddie Schwartz, Solly Ward, The Barrs, Anna Yale. Mike Zelenko is musical director, with J. Hearn in advance. Mr. Cromwell will manage the company. BERNSTEIN'S DICTAPHONE. "Say, young fellow, do you get this? No? Well, come and look it over. Talk about your Pat Caseys and his dictagraph! There's no one in the show business got anything on me now, for this is a dictaphone that's four years ahead of the rest of the bunch. "Yes, I am a busy little guy, and this thing was made for me, although they hadn't heard about me until the other day," said Freeman Bernstein, Monday, as he sat in front of some- thing that resembled a phonograph. "I never knew a thing about any 'dictaphone' until I let out a yawp one morning because that gal out there gets down late. She's a nice girl but she lives a long way from Times Square, and since the coin started my way 1 am first on the job every morn- ing with the mail. You're wise. "When I made the holler about the help sleeping too long some nifty kla- do standing around said I needed a dictaphone, that that was the real thing for business people, so I called up this concern and told them I want- ed one. They asked $200 for it, hr.< I haven't paid them yet. I'm Just trying it out. From the way it started off I think it will take me about si: months to give it a good try, if tbey don't come down on me for kail be- fore then. "Oh, they'd trust me. Anybody would. Why not? Since I went through bankruptcy I don't owe a dol- lar in the world. "This is the best graft I've struck in a long time, though. On the level it is, I'll swear it by Chris Bro*n's picture there on the wall, and that is some photo, aint it? Go over and rubber at the frame. I gave up 190 green certificates for that gold band around Chris' mug, and you know how much I must think of a fellow to give up anything. "Sure, the machine works all right. After I read the mail I make records of what I want to answer, instead of dictating to the gal. Then she takes the records, puts them in her phono machine, and, as the record talks into her ears, she writes just what I've said. And now I don't care if she never gets down mornings for I've an- swered the letters whether the an- swers are sent out or not. I'm a great nut for regularity in business. Why, it's only the other day I started a bank account. That was fine, too, but I told May, and May made me give her a check, just to flash, she said, and so I wrote it $500. The very sam** day she had the butcher cash it. "How do you like this dictaphone thing? All right, eh? If you say any- thing about it, don't print this, but some morning I am going to make a record of what I think of Albee and send It over to him. Some hot rec- ord, bo! Well, I should think I could. Walter Rosenberg is an amateur when he tries to pull that hot stuff along- side of me, who invented it. Listen, while I tell this yap manager in Fonda what I can give him for $300 on the week, and if you stick around until I'm through I will tell you what he will get." JOBBERY ALLEGED. (Special Cable to VaribtO London, July 3. Much adverse comment is engen- dered over the appointments for the Alhambra music hall. Jobbery is alleged by Schwelm, a representative of $65,000 worth of debenture holders. Seymour Hicks has issued a writ against the financial firm headed by Schwelm for breach of contract, al- leging he was appointed manager. Director Leveaux was until recently Hicks' manager. REAL HIT JOCK M'KAY. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, July 3. Jock McKay opened at the ^Pa- vilion Monday and was a real hit. FIVE AMERICAN ACTS. (Special Cable to Variety) London, July 3. Five American acts are on the bill at the Victoria Palace. They are: Mary Elizabeth; Will Lacy in "one wheel" stuff (fine);; Stoddard and Hynes; General Ed. La vine; Morris and Allen—all successful. ENGLISH VERSION FINE. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) London, July 3. "The Dancing Viennese," English version, is fine. Gustave Werner, the only German in the cast, was the big- gest hit. "GLAD EYE** IN WHITNEY. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, July 3. The Whitney Theatre (old name) on the Strand, has been taken for "The Glad Eye," transferred from the Apollo. RAIN OPPOSES CHARITY. (Special Cable to Varibtf.) London, July 3. Rain ruined the theatrical Garden Party, resulting in a colossal loss to charity. DOST REMEMBER IMPERIA? (Special Cable to Variety-.) Paris, July 3. Imperia has been engaged for the Olympia, commencing July 5, the house remaining open until July 15. Imperia appeared at the Winter Garden, New York, for one week—In a panto. EMMETTS WELL LIKED. (Special Cable to Variett.) London, July 3. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Emmett at the Holborn Empire satisfied by the open- ing of the act and were well liked. ETHEL LEVEY'S ACT BETTER. (Special Cable to Variety-.) London, July 3. Ethel Levey opened at the Hippo- drome Monday. Her turn is agreed to be infinitely better than the last time she appeared here, at the Alhambra. Daly and O'Brien, after a two years' tour of the world, are back in New York.