Variety (July 1912)

VARIETY 11 AMUSEMENT TRADES COUNCIL TO COVER ALL STAGE UNIONS Movement in Chicago to Incorporate AH Stage Unions with A. P. of L. Into One Body, for Concerted Action. Expected to Spread Over Country. White Rats Left Out. Chicago, July 24. One of the most important moves ever made by organized labor, in so far as the theatrical profession is directly concerned, was started this week when representatives of the Mu- sicians' Union, the International Alli- ance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the International Alliance of Billpost- ers and Biller8 of America, the Sign, Scenic and Pictorial Painters and the Moving Picture Operators' Union ar- ranged to meet and discuss plans for the formation of what will ventually be known as the Amusement Trades Council. The plan is to have all organized trades represented in the theatrical profession establish a separate execu- tive board of their own for the express purpose of handling grievances of the individual unions represented in the council. This will serve to bring the theatrical tradesmen together. If tue plans of the various labor heads carry, an agreement will be reached whereby each of the unions will agree to pro- tect and stand by each other in times of strikes or any trouble. An amalgamation of this kind was attempted some three years ago in Chicago, but failed to materialize. The recent difficulties experienced by the musicians, the stage employees and the picture operators have re- kindled the old flame and it is thought nothing will stand in the way of the scheme this time. The move, at pres- ent, is merely local, but if successful the Chicago unions will endeavor to make the agreement a national affair. One noticeable fact about the move is the absence of the White Rats Act- ors' Union in the line-up. This seems peculiar, as the W. R. A. U. is at present affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, as are the vari- ous unions represented in the move. The White Rats were neither con- sulted nor invited to attend the meet- ing held at the headquarters of the Chicago Federation of Musicians. One labor official stated to a Variety representative that the White Rats could not become a part of the Amuse- ment Trades Council until such time as the Rats had local representation even though they were considered a theatrical trade union and an affili- ated body of the American Federation of Labor. It is understood the first thing at- tempted will be an adjustment of the difficulties existing at present between the Chicago theatres and the Musi clans' Union. The union demands that all dramatic houses employ a full or- chestra whether needed or not. They promise to go after the Klaw & Er- langer forces immediately and wl'.l not permit union orchestras in Klav & Erlanger theatres playing musical shows unless "The Syndicate" man- agers agree to carry full orchestras in their dramatic houses. In other words, the union will pull their or- chestras out of the Colonial, Chicago Opera House and other theatras booked by Klaw ft Erlanger and oth era playing musical shows at timej, unless the Blackstune, Powers and other "Syndicate" dramatic houses in- stall full orchestras. A recent settle- ment by the Shubert firm excludes their three Chicago houses from the unfair list of the union. The musicians also intend to union- ize all the picture theatres in Chi- cago. A few of the other unions inter- ested in the expected trades council have some slight grievances that they desire adjusted. The governing heads of the various theatrical trade unions decided that the time is ripe for an affiliation of the theatrical unions in Chicago. They had drafted different agreements that will be helpful to the representatives in coming to some kind of an arrangement. It is expected that each union will 'be represented in the council by five delegates, provided nothing happens to interfere with present plans. MABEL HITE TAKEN HOME. Late last week Mabel Hite was re- moved from Dr. Bull's Sanitarium, to her apartment on the upper West Side, New York. Miss Hite may be confined to the house for some time. PRIMA DONNA'S FIRST. Boston, July 24. A. H. Woods will present a new prima donna when he opens "The Woman Hater's Club" at the Tre- mont Sept. 16. The new soloist is Dorly Oilba. This will be the first American presenta- tion. TYNAN'S UNNAMED PLAY. San Francisco, July 24. James K. Hackett is having a very pleasant engagement at the Columbia in "The Grain of Dust." He will follow that piece with an unnamed play by Brandon Tynan. LITTLE THEATRES EXCHANGING. Thii week Arthur Bissell, manager of the Aeolian Co. at Chicago, wan- dered into New York, asking Win- throp Ames, of the Little Theatre, if the Little Theatre Mr. Bissell says he is building in Chicago could not use the plays Ames presents in New York. Someone told Mr. Bissell about the Slcilan Players, who have appeared abroad. He would like to have them as well. "IN DUTCH*' FOR KOLB AND DILL. San Francisco, July 24. Kolb and Dill will open the season of the Savoy next month in a new musical comedy by Aaron Hoffman en- titled "In Dutch." Later in the sea- son they will produce a new comedy by their musical director, Frank Stammers. HEIN PLACES TWO. Cohan ft Harris have accepted two musical pieces from Silvio Heln, which they will produce during the coming season. GARRIOK'S MUSICAL STOCK. St. Louis, July 24. It is understood here that the Gar- rick theatre will house musical stock during the coming season. Lew Morton will be interested in the venture with the Shuberts. "LITTLE NEMO" STAYING IN. Somehow A. H. Woods got around to reading the book of "Little Nemo" the other day. The book has been hanging around a long time. After looking the manuscript over, he said he guessed "Little Nemo" wouldn't do for him, so the paper cartoon play will not go out the com- ing season. MORRIS' "VIRTUE" SHOW. A route for William Morris' "Blind- ness of Virtue" has been started. It will open at the Auditorium, Quebec, Sept. 27, although previous dates may be played. Mr. Morris' intention is to present the English piece in the Canadian provinces before deciding whether it shall be given a New York hearing. RENAME "POLISH WEDDING." Cohan ft Harris have cabled for Valli Valli to report here for rehear- sals by Aug. 1. Miss Valli has been engaged for the principal role In "The Polish Wedding," the German title. The piece may be renamed for America. "EVE" $10,000 WEEK. Chicago, July 24. The Garrick is cackling over the $10,000 week "A Modern Eve" now running at the house pulled for the seven-day period ending Saturday night. The exact figures were $9,760. The Garrick is one of the three Chicago houses open at this time. Labor Day, "Eve" will leave the Garrick to make way for "The Bird of Paradise," the Oliver Morosco pro- duction. Guy Bates Post will head the cast, which will also include Bessie Barris- cal, Frank Sheridan, Lewis Stone, Herbert Farjon, Howard Hickman, Robert Harrison and others. "The Rose Maid" is claiming $10,- 000 was taken in at the box office of the Globe last week. The show 1b under a house contract which permits notice to be given It by the theatre management any time receipts fall be- low $2,000. That amount is guaran- teed the theatre weekly by Werba ft Luescher, who manage the show, now playing on a 60-40 basis. "The Rose Maid" on its 150th per- formance will be turned inside out by its managers, Werba ft Luescher. The men will play the feminine roles and the women the men's parts. Juliette Dika is to be the German Al Shean is now playing, while Mr. Shean for the one occasion will linger in the title role. The success of the 100th per- formance suggested the latest in the reversal of the characters. It is said Tyson ft Co., upon reading the press announcement sent out about the event, Immediately ordered 150 additional tickets for the night. The new Winter Garden's piece, which opened Monday night, is likely to affect attendance at local theatres now open. The Tuesday matinee at the Win- ter Garden was a sell out. By that time also a large advance sale was be- ing registered. The daily papers ga^ the performance excellent notices. Though "The Passing Show" holds promise of a continued run at the Garden, the Shuberts do not expect to hold it there beyond the scheduled time, moving It out to make way for the Gertrude Hoffmann production, which went into rehearsal Monday. Wednesday, Ida Schnall, the princi- pal diver at the Garden, was run over by Julius Cahn's automobile. Her toes on the right foot were crushed by the wheel. As Mr. Cahn was not in the car he has not been charged with unfaithfulness to the Shuberts, al- though his office Is in the Amsterdam theatre building. S. ft HAS BUFFALO HOUSE. The Shea Amusement Co., which is building a large theatre on West Gen- esee street, has leased the house to E. I). Stair, of Detroit, and John Laugh- lin, of Buffalo, for ten years, Laughlin will manage the house. It will play Stair & Havlin attractions. The theatre, seating 1,000, is ex- pected to be named and completed by Sept. 16. SKATING SCENE ON HAMMERSTEIN'S ROOF. Howard Fielding (Fielding and Carlos) has recovered from a serious injury rev aled last January.