Variety (July 1912)

*2 VARIETY T- SAN FRANCISCO SUFFERING FROM CHE AP ENT ERTAINMENT Golden Gate Public Passing Up the Legitimate Houses. Richard Bennett, in a More Popular Repertoire Than Before, Pails to Attract Big Business. San Francisco, July 17. The show business In San Francisco ye decidedly suffering from want of public attention. As yet there has fteen no complaint from the vaude- ville houses. Vaudeville, even the best of it, is cheaper here than the cheapest of the legitimate. The peo- ple are looking for cheap entertain- ment, and in consequence the variety houses get the crowds, while weep- ing heroines of the real dray-ma weep to empty houses. The engagement of Richard Ben- nett at the Alcazar is an illustration. It was profitable, satisfactory, as far as that goes, but with conditions far more in its favor it was not as profita- ble as the engagement of Bennett a year ago when the Alcazar was out la the suburbs and had no end of downwwn opposition. This time the Alcazar Is down in the heart of the city. A better, or, at least, a more popular, repertoire of plays was presented, and for a part of the engagement there was no dra- matic opposition of any kind, nothing but vaudeville, pictures and one medi- ocre musical comedy. Still, there was _o wild flocking to see Bennett, even though everything was propitious for ^he flocking. The one disastrous week of the en- gagement was the week of "Cabbages and Kings," Joseph Medill Patterson «nd Hugh Ford's new play from O. henry's stories, given its premiere >ere. Regardless of the merit of the play, which was not enough to brag about, one would think that the repu- tation of the authors, the popularity of the O. Henry stories, and the curi- osity which a new play should arouse should be enough to briug out a few crowded houses. Nothing doing, though. The San Francisco theatregoer wants apparently only goods of es- tablished reputation. "Cabbages and Kings," had it been produced in Los Angeles, would probably have had a six or eight weeks' run. Here every- body stayed away. And yet the last week of the Bennett engagement, de- voted to "The Lion and the Mouse," which scarcely ranks as a recent suc- cess, was one of the most profitable of the season. "LET GEORGE DO IT," ANYWAY. The Leffler-Bratton Co. will have a "Let George Do It" show on the read this season, even though the "Merry Go Rounders" (last year's 'Let George Do It") is a spoke on the (astern Wheel. Danny Murphy, a brother of George P. Murphy (who will travel with tte "Rounders"), will be starred in the piece, which will play towns wherein the Eastern Wheel does not enter. "The Dingbat Family" and "The Newly Weds" will be the others of the firm's properties. The former is a r.e* piece by Mark Swan. The prin- cipals have not been engaged as yet, as the firm will not put out any of their shows excepting the Wheel at- traction before Oct. 15. George P. Murphy had a narrow ercape in an auto accident last week. He was badly burned about the eyes. Saturday night Danny took his place a 4 the Columbia. George P. resumed the role early in the week. PRINCIPAL MISSING. Madge Hughes, who signed as a principal with Sam Rice's "Daffydllls" Western Wheel show, failed to report at rehearsals Monday. Mr. Rice is afraid his soubret doesn't know the way about New York, and has sent out a call for her. THE WILLIAMS SHOWS. The two Sim Williams shows have had their rosters completed. "The Rosebuds" with Joe Adams, which, will play under the management of Williams & Curtin (having the for- mer franchise of J. H. Curtln's "Broadway Gaiety Girls"), will have besides Mr. Adams as the principal comedian, Gruet and Gruet, Helen Van Buren, Laura Huested, Livings- ton Family, Clayton Frye, Mabel Hazleton, with Fred Erzier, leader, Henry Shapiro, agent, and Louis Liv- ingston, manager. "Girls in Joyland," the second of the Williams string, and which re- places "The Ideals" on the Wheel, Is composed of Harry L. Cooper, West, Henry and Co., Fred Buhler, Harry Bray, Flester and Edwin, Emily Nice, and Sim Williams and Co. in an elab- orate plantation act. Lou Lesser is agent for the show and Neill Sullivan, musical director. Mr. Williams will manage this troupe. RICH'S "JOLLY FOLLIES." Al Rich's "Jolly Follies" (Eastern Wheel) is about ready to go into re- hearsal. John Arthur, Arthur Gilles- pie and Leon Errol are responsible for the book, lyrics and music. The principals engaged are Edward Begley, Phil Ott, Max Burkhardt, Billy Betts, Maurice Wood, Alice La- nar, Nettie Nelson, Virginia Ware and Frank Martin. 'GIRLS FROM RENO" COMPLETE. Collins & Madison have finished the roster for their "Girls from Reno" (Western Wheel) show. Mike Collins, Nanette Young, Harry Campbell, Nellie Nice, Lew Reynolds, Jack Sullivan and Love and Haight (a new act imported from the west) will be supported by twenty chorus fc.rls. The show has a preliminary vcek at Cleveland, Aug. 19, before the opening of the regular season. SHOT "PACKY" KBARNS. A shooting occurred last Saturday night near Fort George, New York City, when "Packy" Kearns, said to be known in the downtown theatrical cc lony, was sent to the hospital with a bullet hole ploughed through his body. "Cap" Schneider, a former bur- lesque chorus girl, is alleged to have been the cause of the fracas. While at one of the Fort George resorts she applied to the proprietor for an escort home, claiming she was in fear of Kearns. An Italian waiter, detailed to take the young woman on her way, was suddenly struck by Kearns as the couple were about to board a car. ATter hitting the waiter Kearns start- ed away, when the Italian shot him and escaped over an embankment. Ihe following night detectives trailed a youth sent to the resort for the waiter's clothes. Reaching his hid- iL£ place, the man jumped out of a fourth story window to the ground, escaping without serious injury as far us known. Kearns while in the hospital re- fused to divulge the identity of his assailant, saying he knew who had shot him, and that he would "get even" in his own way. Miss Schneider is said to be under engagement to a burlesque troupe for the coming season. PORTLAND LOSES "CONGRESS." Portland, Me., July 17. The Old Congress theatre passes from the theatrical map this week. The house will remain closed for about six weeks to undergo complete al- terations and will then reopen as the Greeley theatre. Popular-priced vaudeville will be the attraction. A. J. Pervarada, late manager of the Congress, expects to have a new theatre in Portland in the fall. A site has been secured. The policy of the new house is not announced. THE HYNICKA SHOWS. The Eastern Burlesque Wheel shows going out next season under the management of R. K. Hynicka und Chas. Arnold (who will trade as the management of R. K. Hynicka teen casted. "The Dazzlers," written, produced aid staged by Leon Erroll, will have Pete Curley, Alf P. James, Benny Tierce, Johnny Walker, Chas. Ray- mond, Fred Reese, Frank Farber, Frank Chamberlain, Nan Engleton, Kitty Mitchell, Kate Pryor and Betty Davison as the principals. Ben Bolen Is agent and Geo. Belfradge manager. ill. Hebee will conduct the musicians. In the Ben Welch Burlesquers ara Ben Welch, Frank Carleton, Chas. Nelson*, Pat Kearney, Tom Conroy, William Gelssler, Mamie Milledge, Kate Carleton, Celia Mavis, Helen Delaney. Maurice Cain is business manager, J. J. Liberman manager, and Geo. Connell musical director. Josh Daly returned to New York Monday, after having traveled 12,000 miles in eighteen weeks with his min- strel troupe. While away Josh had a haircut, but was so busy at all other times, he forgot to "wash up" until striking 42d street, LEASES THE GRBENWALL. Tuesday Henry Green wall leased the Greenwall theatre, New Orleans, to F. W. Stair and T. W. Dlnkins, for a period of years, with possession to be taken Sept. 1 next. The Greenwall has been placed upon the route sheet of the Southern Musi- cal Comely Circuit. Up to date Jake Wells, who contributed (on papen) seven southern theatres to the new Wheel, has failed to attend the meet- ings at which it was desired to elect officers. Owing to his absence the promoters have been unable to com- plete the final arrangements, although all producers Interested have been as- signed shows. If for any reason the Southern Cir- cuit fails to materialize through a de- fection, the Greenwall will have a policy of stock burlesque, which Messrs. Stair and Dinkins will Install. Mr. Stair has the Star theatre, To- ronto, on the Western Burlesque Wheel; Dinkins is a Western Wheel manager, with a couple of shows on the road in the season. The popular priced vaudeville cir- cuit proposed some months ago sim- mered away after Wells, who had likewise agreed to furnish a number of theatres for it, failed to do o. New Orleans, July 17. "Wine, Woman and Song" starts an indefinite stock engagement at the Greenwall, Sunday afternoon. The company left New York by steamer Saturday, and arrives here tomorrow morning. Manager Arthur B. Leopold, who engaged the troupe, preceded it three days, returning by rail. According to Mr. Leopold, Mortimer M. Theise, manager of "Wine, Woman and Song," assured him the organization was as good as the best of those which have carried the title in the past. SPLIT ACT'S REUNION. There will be a reunion next season in "The Girls from Happy land." Ilurtig & Seamon have engaged for their show Stevenson and Nugent and Lake and Schroeder. Once upon a timo when burlesque never heard of an $8,000 week, Lake and Stevenson were partners. The firm has also secured Wally and Woods for the "Taxi Girls," and the Hippodrome Four are under contract as well. These items, with rehearsals having started Monday and Jules Hurtig fly- ing over Europe on a hand-car, aro the only news the Hurtig & Seamon crowd could recall Monday, aithoug'i Jennie Wagner thought it was warm tor this time of the year. WOULDN'T STAND FOR RELATIVES Baltimore, July 17. William Levin, a member of the stock burlesque company at Hollywood Park, had his wife, mother-in-law and several other members of the family arrested for assault, also holding him up for his salary. The wife claimed it was the only way the comedian could be made to give up. The judge upheld the wife, but fined the relatives $5 each, saying he couldn't see where the relatives came in on the salary.