Variety (July 1912)

8 BARS INTERSTATE BOOKINGS BY UNIT ED OFFI CES' AOENTS Orders Issued That No Agent Booking Through the U. B. O. Can Place Any of Their Acts on the Inter- state Circuit. Jake Wells and Interstate Still Wrangling Over Territory Agents doing business with the United Booking Offices were surprised Tuesday when informed by John J. Murdock, the "executive manager" of the U. B. O., that they could not place any of their acts with the Interstate Circuit. The Interstate books through the Western Vaudeville Managers' Asso- ciation of Chicago. The W. V. M. A. is supposed to be an affiliation of the United. As such its managers would be entitled to acts under direction of the "United agents" without Interfer- ence from the big agency directors. Several reasons are in circulation why the United issued the instruc- tions. One is that the agency wants the acts going west to be booked through its own office In order that it may make the five per cent, com- mission, also the "split" of the agents' commission. This manner of book- ing, if allowed, would either force the actor to pay fifteen per cent, com- mission (through the W. V. M. A. ex- pecting five per cent, for its commis- sion) or leave the W. V. M. A. with- out commission for one of Its man- agers' acts. Another cause was said to be the dearth of available material In "big time" vaudeville next season. Due to this the United did not want the In- terstate to take away twenty-five or thirty big time turns which would de- prive the United managers of their services at the opening of the season. Another reason may be found in the failure of Karl Hoblitzelle ana Jake Wells to reach an agreement over southern territory. It was re- ported the two men had agreed that Hoblitzelle should have Birmingham, without the Wells opposition. Since then it is said Wells has been claim- ing that Birmingham, Mobile and Lit- tle Rock belonged to him, although It Is reported Wells has no house in Mobile in which he could play vaude- ville. Hoblitzelle is general manager of the Interstate Circuit. It was through Murdock attempting to arrange the southern time between Hoblitzelle and Wells that the upheaval in the West- ern Vaudeville Managers' Association came about. This resulted in the overthrow of the Murdock forces In the middle west. Wells, who operates with Wilmer & Vincent, claims the vaudeville privi- lege in the following cities: Norfolk, Richmond, Savannah, Atlanta, Little Rock, Birmingham, Mobile. The Murdock order against the In- terstate was given out the day follow- ing the arrival in New York of Celia Bloom, booking manager for the cir- cuit. The instructions specifically mentioned Miss Bloom. Mr. Murdock is reported to have made his order so plain to one agent that his remarks even included the name of the agent's clerk. MA-BELLE AND 16 PEOPLE. The "Woodland Phantasy" from the Hippodrome's show last season, will be sent over the Sullivan-Considine Circuit by Chris O. Brown, in arrange- ment with John B. Fitzpatrick, who put on the act. In the lead will be Ma-Belle, the dancer, lately appearing as a solo turn in the New York vaudeville houses. Sixteen people will support her. Another feature act signed for the S-C tour this week by Mr. Brown was the Karno Comedy Company. It will make a return trip, about the fourth, over the circuit, commencing in Dec. The company, managed by Alf Reeve9, has gone home, but will return in the fall. "The Hydro" is the title of the new piece the Karno people will offer. Of the foreign attractions engaged by the western circuit, Spadonl, the heavyweight juggler, Is due to shortly arrive in New York. It has been about four years since he appeared on tnis side. Another European importation for the S-C time is the Spa Brothers, equilibrists. MARYLAND'S CABARET OVER. Baltimore, July 17. The Cabaret show at the Maryland closed Saturday. The house will open its regular season Aug. 19. VARIETY BBHBBasaBBB^BaBBaSBSBBBBBBBa HOUDINFS LIFE JOB. It looks as though Harry Houdini, by pulling business into Hammer- stein's at the hardest period of the summer season, has secured a life berth on the Victoria Roof, for an annual July engagement. Mar. Houdini has been held over at the Roof for this week, his third there, and was notified last Saturday by Wil- lie Hammerstein he would be expected to remain the month. Next week Houdini will repeat Mb performance of being handcuffed in a packing case and thrown into water, this time using a tank on the Roof's stage. It is talked about around "The Corner" that If Mr. Ham- merstein holds Houdini over for the fifth week the escape expert will make it a point to kill himself. Monday night with the temperature around 96 he did his hardest physical trick, releasing himself from an iron bed- stead. This is the first real opportunity Houdini has had on Broadway, where the management has given him carte bianche to do as he pleases inside and outside the theatre; also a good posi- tion on the bill. Four years ago, when Houdini played Hammerstein's (downstairs), he was made to closo the performance. There is some talk of sending out Houdini next season at the head of a vaudeville road show, comprised of some of the turns now on Hammer- stein's Roof. During August the Roof will put an a revival of "Salome" with an un- announced dancer. Willie Hammer- stein is merely pushing it forward as a "name," to back up the intermis- sion attraction, the skating girls, al- though "Don," the talking dog, dis- played good symptoms early in the week, following his first appearance. Willie has an option upon the dog's cervices. THREE BILLS IN A WEEK. Atlantic City, July 17. The Vaudeville Comedy Club show at the Savoy next week will have three programs, the bill changing ev- en; other day, although the head- liners may be retained for lie full term. The benefit Is under the dLL 'on of Jos. M. Schenck, chairman of ti~ C. C. committee. It is understood the theatre is play- ing the show on a 60-40 basis, the club receiving the larger share. The full program as arranged up to Wednesday is under "Bills Next Week" in this issue of Variety Mr. and Mrs. Corse Payton will be on the week's program. The only re- quest America's best worst actor made was that he be allowed to open the show. It was granted. OUS DREYER LOAFING. This is the annual loafing time for Oue Dreyer, the lawyer, who left New York Monday for a western vacation trip that will include West Baden for a run. FIELDS SPONSOR FOR SHOW. The "Hanky Panky" show, in which Lew Fields and Marcus Loew are Jointly interested, 1b being billed at the Broadway for its opening Aug. 6 as "Lew Fields' Mid-Summer Pro- duction." Christine Neilsen has been engaged for the prima donna role. LEFT ESTATE OF $85,000. J. Rosamond Johnson has been ap- pointed sole executor of the will of hit father, the Rev. James Johnson, vho died in Jacksonville, June 26 last. This was done at the lequest of hU brother, James William Johnson, vho is living at Corinto, Nicaragua, whe e he is connected with the con- sular ' ervlce. Both were appointed in the ''ill. but Rosamond's brother elected to-five him the exclusive han- dling of t.*ie estate. They share equally in the deceased's holdings. The deceased was a well-knowii colored preacher and was supposed to have been worth more than $250,- C00. A rough summary of tiie estate after death discloses a little over $86,000. \ REPAIRS ORDERED. Cincinnati, July 17. Building Inspector Rapp has been looking over the various theatres in town and in consequence there will be repairs made at the People's, Standard, Keith's and Walnut Street. SONG WRITER'S PLIGHT. Chicago, July 17. Judge Newcomer's decision in the criminal courts last week In the case of Will Rossiter against Bennle Dun- ham, a colored song writer, will be interesting to music publishers as well as to melody "lifters." Dunham was arraigned on the charge of securing money under false pretenses. Rossiter a short time ago paid Dunham $100 for a song called "Honey How I Love to Sit and Look at You." Shortly after purchasing the song the Chicago publisher dis- covered the song was identical with a number published by the Shapiro Co. a few years back. A demand was made of Dunham for the return of the money. He refused and was ar- rested. Judge Newcomer fined Dunham $50 and costs and sentenced him to three days in jail. Dunham was also or- dered to return the $100. 1012 SUMMER FAD. A summer fad has struck many of the clerks In the Putnam Bi'lding agencies. It is to have the hair clipped close to the scalp. Most of the boys had Sully, the barber, attend to the job Tuesday. Sully is the Cabaret barber, who says if any more stories are printed about him that are enough to break up his family peace, to not forget the address of his shop, on the second floor of the Putnam Building. You will locate it by the noise. FORSYTHE OPEN ALL SUMMER. Atlanta, July 17. The Forsythe theatre, playing vaude- ville, will remain open throughout the summer. This is the first year the house has kept going continuously. RAIN RUINING AIRDOMES. New Orleans, July 17. Incessant rains have played havoc with airdomes scattered throughout the south. Hundreds have been forced to close. Most of those remaining open have closed in the roofs, and cease to be airdomes any longer. What looked like a very profitable business when first instituted has become pre- carious. The temperature that the south has been experiencing during the past two summers has not been conducive to "alrdoming." As un- believable as it may appear in the north it is a fact that of late south- ern summers are cooler than those of the north and east. For instance, while New York sizzled last week, all over Dixie tb^ thermometer hovered around seventy. RULE, WITHOUT REASON. Numerous murmurings are heard around town these sweltering days over the ruling of the House Com- mittee of the Friars which compels its members to lunch and dine at the clubhouse with their coats on. While the members have not re- sented the ruling, even on the warm- est days, they have said the dignity o* the Friars is no more to be upheld in hot weather than at court, where judges quite often permit the removal oC the outer coat.