Variety (July 1912)

VARIETY IS WESTERN BURLESQUE SHOWS PROM ISE TO S TEP LIVELY Whip Over Them in Form of Governing Committee to Keep Managers On Their Toes. One Show Held in Reserve to Fill First Vacancy. Elimination of "Extras" Means Saving of $3,000 to $4,000 for Each Attraction. All the signs around the headquar- ters of the Empire Circuit (Western Burlesque Wheel) in the Knicker- bocker Theatre Building are that the Western shows the coming season will step lively all the time to keep up with the best in the race. The activ- ity of the Governing or Censor Com- mittee may be one of the reasons why the producing managers will be on their toes. The managers as a whole, however, seem agreed that their attractions for '12-'13 will be the best of any year. Some high-priced and high-class casts have been reported in rehearsal. The fact that an extra show will be pro- duced by the Governing Committee or under its direction, and be held in reserve until Oct. 1 for the purpose of caking the place of the first pro- duction ordered off the Wheel by the Censors, may have spurred the West- ern people to undue efforts to perfect a capable organization. If by Oct. 1 all the Western shows shall have passed muster the new attraction will have a place made for it on the Cir- cuit. The extra show is one of the moves of the Governing Committee to warn the managers business is meant. An- other step taken by them before the season has started was a forerunner of the stringent measures that may be expected by a lax producer. The Committee has required that a list of scenery, wardrobe, principals and chorus of each production be fur- nished them, with the proportion of new material specified. It was said at the headquarters early in the week that the Censors had ordered one well-known manager to replace the costumes for an entire number, which he did at once without protest. Another remedy placed in the hands of the Censors gives them a Big Stick power. It is the authority upon their own conviction and failure of the manager to follow instructions, to en- gage a producer who may take charge of the work of rebuilding up the piece, number or scenes, with the ex- pense chargeable to the management of the censored show. The Governing Committee of the Western Wheel is composed of I. H. Herk, E. D. Miner and Barney Gerard. When taking up their censoring du- ties, which will probably occur offi- cially two weeks after the regular season opens (Aug. 26), the members (to cover the shows rapidly) may di- vide the country into the east and west. Mr. Herk, who is the general manager of the Empire Circuit Co. for the northwest will see the pro- ductions in and around Chicago, while Messrs. Miner and Gerard will look them over in the east. When either of the Censors shall deem a show insufficient, he will call in both of his colleagues for confirmation of his judgment. The opinion of the three will determine the fate of the show. Mr. Herk will leave for Chicago around Aug. 1, returning to New York about Aug. 7, and after seeing his own two shows launched, actively commence upon the censoring duties, along with his side partners. There may be one more general meeting of the Empire Circuit Co. before the season opens. Harry Mar- tell, of the executive body, said he thought another meeting would be held, but was not certain what mat- ters would come before it. A feeling of confidence among the Western managers at headquarters seems to bespeak more for good Western shows for '12-'13 than all the flowery language could describe. Some of the attractions will take a very early start. Several have passed through the rehearsal period and are waiting for their opening (supple- mentary) date. The managers on the Western Wheel are very much buoyed up through the prospect of retained profits the coming season. "Retained profits" are moneys that have been made and can be kept. In previous seasons this money was returned to the house management in the form of "extras," covering "extra advertising" and "in- cidentals." Hereafter on the West- ern Wheel "extra advertising" is lim- ited to 100 lines on Sunday, at the most. The Empire Circuit Co. has also re- quired its house managers to forward a requisition for the exact quantity of the show's paper that is required. This paper must be put out at the ex- pense of the house. Any paper not put out is chargeable back to the theatre by the show at cost, giving the travelling manager another lee- way for the new era in the West. CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES. Fay St. Clair, through August Dreyer, her attorney, is bringing suit against Sam Howe, alleging a peculiar twisting about of a play or pay con- tract. Miss St. Clair ten weeks ago asked to be released from the contract. Re- ceiving no reply she gave up further idea of joining another troupe and waited for the season to begin. This week the girl received notice she would be released as requested. Miss St. Clair claimed it is too late now to secure another berth an 1 thinks she has Jujt cause for dam- ages. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT OFF. The Southern Burlesque Circuit is about all oft*. The futility of attempt- ting to have Jake Wells at meetings has discouraged Clarence Wels and Henry Green wall. At the one meeting held at which Wells attended all the houses and shows were listed. Al Rich, Max Spie- gel and Henry Jacobs (Jacobs & Jer- mon) were appointed a committee on productions; Messrs. Wels, Greenwall and Wells a committee on theatres. Mr. Wells made a glowing speech on the prospects of the Southern Bur- lesque Circuit, enjoining upon every one present not to mention "bur- lesque" below the Mason and Dixon line. Then he had each member pledge himself to appear the following Wednesday for a .thorough organiza- tion of the Wheel. Wednesday came and every one else with it, excepting Jake Wells, who hasn't been seen by the promoters since. Wells had listed seven houses to go In the Wheel. At the offices of the Western Bur- leseque Wheel it was said this week that the leasing of the Greenwall, New Orleans, by F. W. Stair and Tom Din- kins, was an independent enterprise; that the Western Wheel did not intend to have a southern spur to its circuit. Both the men taking the Greenwall are Western managers. When It was learned by the Colum- bia Amusement Co. officials that some of their members had become inter- ested in the Southern Wheel, orders were issued to leave it alone, the Columbia people claiming their man- agers had all they could do to look after the Eastern Wheel attractions. THIESE SHOW NO RIOT. New Orleans, July 24. The M. M. Thlese show at the Greenwall is no riot. The only thing to recommend it at all to those who dare for that kind of thing is Choceeta. a "cooch" dancer. The show opened Sunday, following "The Behman Show." The contrast is marked. CENTREPORT'S MASQUERADE. Commodore Charles Barton of the Centreport Yacht Club presided over a masquerade ball given in the Long Island town Saturday night. Visitors included many profession- als from all over the Island. Admis- sion was one dollar and prizes were given for fancy dress. John Burke won something among the men, and his wife among the women. The Commodore came into New York Monday with his yachting cap three points to starboard. NOT AT ALL CLUBBY. Chorus girls for the burlesque shows must be scarce. This week an Eastern Wheel manager "borrowed" two girls from another manager in the same Wheel by supplying tho young women with all wardrobe and paying their fare to the opening point. It wasn't a bit clubby but still the manager who lost the couple has about 160 signed up. lie can use sixty and says about thirty will prob- ably show up. $500 AND CIGARS. Jim. Curtin sat In his office wonder- ing if the London theatre had been on Broadway what his lease would have been worth, when Charles Crom- well entered. Mr. Cromwell has "The Dandies" a new Western Wheel show to direct next season; Mr. Curtin* company will travel as "The Rose- buds." I i tr | Cromwell quoth to Curtin that "The Dandles" were In Toronto, week Aug. 12, and "The Rosebuds" were In Buf- falo Aug. 6. Would Mr. Curtin ex- change dates? *■ Mr. Curtin hemmed and hawed, kicked a few bits of dust off the car- pet, looked at the celling, gased over Cromwell's head and then Inquired If it was urgent. Cromwell admitted he wanted the exchange badly. Mr. Curtin said he thought he should do a favor for a newcomer on the Wheel, and he would exchange the dates as requosted. "That was pretty gracious be- havior," thought Cromwell, "and I'll just slip Uncle Jim a box of cigars for it. So that he won't think I'm small fry for a big favor, I'll make It a box of 100/' said Cromwell to himself—and he did. (Don't let Cromwell read this part: Aug. 12 at Toronto Is Felr W<sek. If Mr. Cromwell had asked for the ex- change and $500 to boot, he would have gotten It Just the same.) TAKES TO OTHER WHEEL. From the Western Wheel where Murry Simons last played, he has made a switch about, and will open with Chas. H. Waldron's "Troca- deros" on the Eastern Wheel this sea- son. SELDEN'S TWO SHOWS. Two Western Burlesque Wheel shows for the coming season have been written by Edgar Selden, who first started authoring comedy skits for the Wheel last year. "The Whirl of Mirth" (Whallen, Martell & Daniels), which Mr. Selden turned out last season, has been re- vised by him. The other piece is Chas. Cromwell's "Dandies," featuring Be- dinl and Arthur. "The Dandies" is reported as one of the most expensive burleseque shows in the matter of salary that has yet been gotten together for the coming fray. BURKHARDT GOES WITH SPIEGEL A contract for five years exists be- tween Charles J. Burkhardt, the comedian, and Max Spiegel, the man- ager. Mr. Burkhardt will appear the com- ing season in Mr. Spiegel's "Winning Widows" on the Eastern Burleseque Wheel. NOT SO GOOD AT NORFOLK. Norfolk, Va., July 24. "The Behman Show" has not done so well while showing in this city, where the company came after four weeks at the Greenwall, New Orleans. Jack Singer will close the engage- men this Saturday.