Variety (July 1912)

VARIETY CHICAGO'S "ASSOCIATION" NEW B USINESS -LIKE WAYS Managing Director Kohl will Play No Favorites Among Agents, Not "Split" Commission, and Protect the Franchises Issued to Managers by the W. V. M. A. Next Season Looks Promising Around Chicago. Chicago, July 17. Now that the directors have as- sumed active charge of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association hy placing Charles E. Kohl, the manag- ing director in the chair formerly oc- cupied hy C. E. Bray, the small time situation in the middle-west is very apt to undergo an immediate and rad- ical change. With perfect harmony existing between the "Association" managers and the directors them- selves, there is every indication that the expected rearrangement of af- fairs will lead to a betterment of con- ditions for both managers and artists. One of the first things to be con- sidered is the possibility of an affilia- tion between the "Association" and either the Sullivan-Considine or Pan- tages Circuit, which might, inciden- tally, bring Bert Levey's Pacific Coast time into the line-up. That such an affiliation would improve conditions and be welcomed by both parties there 1b no doubt. The western, coast, insofar as the small time is concerned, has always been a puzzle, but until quite recently has never been considered for its real value by the middle-west or eastern agencies. With Pantages and the S.-C. people routing acts for twenty and thirty weeks the middle-west has suf- fered, for the majority have chosen the consecutive coaBt routes in pref- erence to the uncertain routing In the middle-west. An affiliation with either coast circuit would enable the "As- sociation" to route an act for a year with reasonably small jumps. After traversing the northwest, an act could play the coast time and pick up the Interstate time at San An- tonio, gradually working back into the middle-west. As yet nothing of- ficial has been announced, but the several recent conferences held \n C. E. Kohl's office and attended by John Considine and J. C. Matthews have caused the rumor that such an affiliation is really anticipated, if not actually being negotiated for. The edict of C. E. Bray tabooing the ten per centers from the "Asso- ciation" floor for all time served to throw the Chicago colony into a state of confusion, particularly those acts that had signed up for next season with the outside agents. It is under- stood the managers are in favor of an "open door" at least to the several agents who are in possession of good lists of desirable attractions. It is expected that before long the Asso- ciation managers will seek to have the rule amended to such an extent that at least four or five of the local agents will be given the privilege of the floor. This matter will be brought before the directors at their next meeting, and an official announce- ment made within two weeks. It is expected that the Beehler Brothers, Kraus & Peters, Edward Shayne and Sam Baerwitz will be al- lowed to do business, but provided the door Is thrown open Managing Director Kohl will make their en- trances conditionally. An attempt will be made to clean up the small time around Chicago. If the agents wish to do business with the "Association" it is thought they will be pledged to refrain from book- ing with opposition offices. This re- striction will, in a large way, block the success of the several independ- ent agencies that prospered under the administration of C. E. Bray because of his policy In exclusively extending the ten percentlng privilege to the A. E. Meyers Agency. One thing is certain. There will be no "splitting" commission between Association managers and agents. This will be good news to the agents. The managers would like to know what the new administration will do to strengthen the value of an "As- sociation" franchise. While those in- terested in the booking office have al- ways held an "Association" franchise worth holding, from the manager's viewpoint the territorial rights given by the "Association" have been as- sumed practically worthless. In the past, several instances have been re- corded where one "Association" man- ager was permitted to encroach on the territorial rights of another fran- chise holder. If Mr. Kohl's intentions carry, each franchise will carry ex- clusive booking privilege for a certain area. As far as the "Association" Is concerned the contract will be car- ried out to the letter. This may or may not have its own results. If it does not serve to bring outside mana- gers into the office, it will at least in- still confidence into those particular managers who are now holding "Asso- ciation" franchises. If Major Lyman B. Glover's plans materialize, the "Association" will co- operate with the Majestic manager ment in holding down the "big time" acts from accepting engagements in the "small time" houses of Chicago. Mr. Glover has ordered new contract forms for the Majestic, which contain a clause prohibiting any act engaged to play tho Majestic, from accepting engagements from any "small time" house in Chicago for a period of six weeks after the termination of the Majestic engagement. No act will be engaged for the Majestic that has played a "small time" Chicago theatre within a year of the Majestic date. While the six week clause marks a time limit, Mr. Glover figures the acts will understand that a "small time" engagement in Chicago at any time will reduce the value of the act for big house. This rule if strictly adhered to will GIVING OUT "BLANKETS." Chicago, July 17. The Consolidated Vaudeville Man- agers' Corporation, through the West- ern Vaudeville Managers' Association, commenced this week to throw blan- ket contracts over all the available material in sight, and will continue routing for next season until several hundred acts are under contract. Incidentally J. C. Matthews, who placed the Ned Wayburn attractions for the Pantages time, is arranging to ha\e the Wayburn acts take up a loute on the "Association" time after Pantages is through with them. This may or may not savor of a possible affiliation or working agreement be- tween both offices. ALBINI SHOW LOST. Chicago, July 17. The day on which the Albini show was scheduled to appear In Regina, Canada, somewhere up in the far Northwest, Regina and the surround- ing country were wiped out by a cy- clone. Since then no word has been received from the troupe. While no one is worrying about Albini himself (who is cyclone-proof), friends of Charles Colby and other members of the aggregation are anx- iously awaiting word from the North- west to see how the travelers fared. Albini's route will carry the show somewhere up around the North Pole. CHRIS O. BROWN In a summer setting. Mr. Brown Is the general booking man- ager for the Sulllvan-Consldlne Circuit. His is one of the most Important vaudeville chains in the U. 8. Chris Isn't a bad little fellow, though he does wear striped shirts. weaken a number of the local houses, particularly the Indiana, Wilson Ave- nue and Willard. These theatres have attained the habit of playing acts "di- rect from the Majestic" and unfortu- nately have educated their clientele to look for "big time" turns. W ithout the big attractions their box offices will suffer. Next season looks promising for the small time in and out of Chi- cago, uj DE HAVEN HIT AN AGENT. Philadelphia, July 17. Jules E. Aronson, the booking agent, is in need of a vacation and is trying to get the money for it through bringing suit against Carter De Ha- ven, who is made defendant in a suit for $5,000 damages for personal in- juries. Aronson was standing on the corner thinking how to beat some of the big agents in the booking of a chain of houses when, he claims, De Haven tried to knock the thoughts out of his head by hitting him with the auto Carter was driving. MANAGERS PICKING DATES. The managers of the United Book- ing Offices have abandoned their in- tention of formally routing acts, ac- cepting the season's offer made by the agency. Last week it was de- cided by the managers to pick dates wanted of acts, and place them on the books with the act's route for the season to be made up later. The booking meetings now, when attended at all, amount to little be- yond the managers talking over the routes or acts submitted. ORPHEUM'S 12-18 OPENINGS. The opening of the 1912-13 season on the Orpheum Circuit will commence Aug. 6, at Denver. Aug. 11 the Or- pheums at St. Paul and Minneapolis start; Aug. 18, Salt Lake; Aug. 19, Lincoln, Nebr.; Aug. 26, Omaha, Sioux City, Des Moines, Duluth; Sept. 1, Kansas City. These, with the Orpheums that have been open throughout the summer at Spokane, Seattle, Portland, San Fran- cisco, Oakland and Los Angeles, be- sides the houses at Winnipeg, Sacra- mento, New Orleans and Memphis will give the Orpheum Circuit a route of twenty weeks next season. The Orpheum at Memphis starts Sept. 2, with the Orpheum, New Or- leans, one week later. CLASS IN CAFE SHOW. Los Angeles, July 17. Pearl Oilman, programed as "Sis- ter of Mabelle Oilman Corey," and Gena Bella Hickok, labelled "The Lit- tle Cousin of President Taft," are at Levy's Cafe. IDA'S FAREWELL BIRTHDAY. Ida May Chadwick will celebrate her twentieth birthday by taking in the Comedy Club jamboree at Atlan- tic City. This is Ida's farewell birthday. ROOKS ORIGINAL AND "COPY." Chicago, July 17. "The Monkey Hippodrome," said to be a "copy" of Rochez's "Night In a Monkey Music Hall," was recently booked over the Pantages circuit by J. C. Matthews. Three local ten per cunt, agents who had been offering the act at once claimed commission. A lhwsuit will probably result, inasmuch as the act's manager disclaimed all knowledge of any such thing as a "ten per center." Thinking the circuit might lose the act, Matthews cabled to Paris and ar- ranged to have the Rochez turn Jp case of emergency. Now the Pan- tages circuit has both under contract.