Variety (July 1912)

VARIETY MANAGERS FIGHTING UNION WITH "ONE MAN" O RCHESTRAS Hammerstein Hires Burt Green for the Summer while Other Theatres Avert Musicians 9 Increase with Piano Players. The old joke about the one-man orchestra is in actual operation in New York City this week. At least it is in effect at all the vaudeville houses employing union musicians. Hammerstein's would have profited by the new scale of wages demanded by the Musical Mutual Protective Union, to take effect at the conclu- sion of the three years' agreement, which expired June 30. Under the old scale a limit of twelve acts wae specified on a vaudeville bill, with extra compensation for all additional work. No number of turns are men- tioned in the new demand for in- crease of salaries, which would have figured out cheaper for William Ham- merstein, who, however, elected to stand with the managers' association, they having come to his assistance on a previous occasion. He therefore installed as pianist Max Vincenti, the husband of Gertrude Van Dyke and himself a regular performer and member of the union. Burt Green will occupy the accompanists' seat be- ginning Monday, having been engaged for the remainder of the summer. Oddly enough, Tuesday afternoon at Hammerstein's there was a capacity house, so big as to warrant the plac- ing of chairs in the musicians' pit in which to accommodate the overflow. The only other two-a-day houses now open are the Fifth Avenue and Union Square. F. F. Proctor and B. F. Keith are equipped with experi- enced vaudeville pianists at their continuous "pop" houses and fared a bit better than Mr. Hammerstein. Hut the fact remains that the "big time" vaudeville houses partook very much of the atmosphere of the picture emporiums. The Loew and Fox houses employ non-union musicians and were not affected by the strike. Of the musical comedy shows at present in town the Moulin Rouge, which employed thirty-two musicians, had two piano players and the regu- lar drummer, who had been with Florenz Ziegfeld for years and re- fused to go out. Werba & Luescher, managers of "The Rose Maid." now at the Globe, insisted that the management of the house live up to their contract and provide proper musical accompani- ment for the opera. The house man- agement therefore laid off five of the regular orchestra and paid the re- mainder the new scale. A similar condition prevailed at the Columbia, where three men were laid off, the trio having been with the house since it opened. Those laid off felt they were being made the scapegoats and hung around with their more for- tunate associates seeking solace. Many of the rank and file among the musicians have expressed them- selves as "dead sore" on the entire proceeding, declaring that it was no time to strike when most of the houses were closed and a long and "cold" summer in prospect. The association of theatrical man- agers are said to be considering a plan whereby they will carry their own orchestras on tour next season, materially reduced in size, and doing away with the continual local en- tanglements arising. They argue that a smaller number of men In an or- chestra with a musical show, thor- oughly familiar with the score they are playing, would be much more ef- fective than a green set of men in each town, especially on opening nights, which are most important. The union seemed to have no re- gard for a possible loss of employ- ment through reduction in size of or- chestras. "The Scale" appeared to be the point striven for. One union official is quoted as stating he did not care if the orchestras were trimmed down to but one man only, if the sin- gle player received the union wage demanded. There were no important develop- ments around the headquarters of the Musical Protective Union, 210 East 86th street, this week, the officials and musicians watching the theatre managers now doing business. President Kerngood does not ex- pect the real crisis to come until the regular theatre opening in the fall, when he thinks that the majority, if not all, will grant the Increase asked. All reports that the union men would make trouble for the theatre managers at their houses are un- founded, according to the musical of- ficials, although close tab will be kept on any steps the managers may take. President Kerngood said that the union was making no attempt to run the musical arrangement of any the- atre and that if only piano music was used that, that was the lookout of the managers if the public remained satisfied. In nearly all the theatres using piano playeis the men carry union cards. The present controversy between managers and musicians does not af- fect the musicians at Coney Island or any of the parks in any way, as they are working under a previously- arranged scale, which will continue in effect until Sept. 1 next, when the new union salary prices become ef- fective. President Kerngood said that the parks would not be affected by the new ruling during the present summer. President Kerngood anticipates no trouble with the burlesque managers next fall, one whose name the labor chief refuses to divulge at present having agreed to the new scale. Kerngoo 1 says that for five months the union has been trying to pro- cure some sort of a reasonable con- cession from the managers, but that JANIS FOR VAUDEVILLE? A report is around that Elsie Jan is herself will play vaudeville next sea- son, instead of becoming a part of the proposed three-star combination Charles Dillingham had in mind. The manager announced Miss Janis would Jointly star In a new production, with Montgomery and Stone. It Is said the two comedians have mentioned they needed no assistance, with the possible result Miss Janis will spend '12-'13 playing the twice daily once more. An act produced by Miss Janis will play Henderson's, Coney Island, next week. A rather Important rumor connect- ing Dillingham with the vaudeville map cropped up during the past few days, but no details concerning it were obtainable. MARRIED IN ATLANTIC CITY. Atlantic City, July 3. Scott Pardou, assistant manager of the Shelbourne and a very popular young man here, sprang a big sur- prise Saturday night when he was married to Dorothea Davenport Sad- lier, a member of the Sidney Drew Players, who closed their season at the Apollo last week. Bride and groom had known each other for several years. Miss Sadlier's home is in London. She will retire from the stage. MUSIC BY AN ALIAS. "The Love Maid" is tho title of a new musical comedy, book and lyrics by Maurice E. Marks, music by Ed. Rosenbaum, Jr., alias Edward LeRose. PRINCESS FOR ANNIE RUSSELL. The new Shubert theatre being erected on West 39th street, near Sixth avenue (almost opposite the Elliott), and which will seat 299 peo- ple, as announced in Variety some months ago, will open Nov. 11, with a season of nine weeks of subscription performances by Annie Russell and what is to be called her "Old Eng- lish Comedy Company." The house will be called The Prin- cess. Samuel Freedman, formerly ad- vance representative for Sothern and Marlowe, and, prior to that, a New York newspaper man, worked up a subscription plan among society folks at $2 a seat before any announcement was mado that has guaranteed the Russell season $1,000 a week already. Among the plays to be presented are "She Stoops to Conquer," "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Rivals" and a classical play, the title of which has not yet been selected. Beatrice Her ford and Oswald Yorke will be nem bers of the organization. A special feature will be the Friday and Saturday matinees for boys and girls. Later on there are to be spe cial performances of plays for chil- dren during the holidays. they turned down every proposition suggested by the musicians. The Musical Protective I'nion is an integral part of the American Fed- eration of Music, which contro's the national affairs of all the unions Tin* local union will, however, expect to fight its own battles unless the help of the higher body should be needed. LIONEL WALSH TO BE STARRED. A new star will be silhouetted against the theatrical sky after Christmas, when Werba ft Luescher expect to propel Lionel Walsh into the leading limelight. An English piece is now held by the managers for the starring tour. Mr. Walsh is at present the prin- cipal support of Alice Lloyd in "Lit- tle Miss Fix-It," at the Tremont, Bos- ton. The show is having an excep- tional run for the summer time, and will probably remain in Beantown un- til around the first of August, when a month's rest will be taken. A tour for the "Fix-It" company has been laid out commencing early in Septem- ber until Christmas time, when a new production for Miss Lloyd will go Into rehearsal. Werba ft Luescher this week con- tracted for the exclusive services of Charles Morgan, of Philadelphia, who put on the Mask- and Wig pieces in that city. Clyde MacKinley is the general producer for the firm. BERNARD GOT NOTHING. Sam Bernard, who crossed the At- lantic to see "Princess Caprice" tn London, returned without giving the show a tumble. The comedian stated that as far as he was concerned the piece was not there. George Graves' individual work sent the show over in London. Mr. Bernard will decide between a piece by Winchell Smith, now being written, and "The Three Wives," which he already has. The visit to England, however, netted Mr. Bernard, who returned last week, $8,000, won by him on the way over from Billy Brady. On the boat going out the theatrical people aboard whiled away their time with stud-poker, table stakes. Besides the money Brady placed in the centre which never came back, Martin Beck added a mite of $1,000. KTllhL WHITKSIDE IN V\n»K\ll I K