Variety (September 1912)

Vol. XXVIII. No. 1 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1912 BUYING OUT KLAW & ERLANGER HOPE OF SHUBERTS' BACKERS Reported Attempt Being Made by Samuel Untermyer and Andrew Freed man to Negotiate Purchase of •The Syndicate" Properties. Retirement of Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger Necessary to Accomplish It. Shubert People Believe They Can Put Through Deal. The factional fight in legitimate theatricals has resolved itself into an attempt by the financial sponsors for the Shuberts to buy out "The Syndi- cate," if that is possible. The Shubert people are said to believe it is, al- though the consummation of any such deal would practically mean the retire- ment of Marc Klaw and A. L. El- langer from the show business. Samuel Untermyer and Andrew Freedman are the prime movers in the effort to eliminate "opposition" in the first class show division by the absorp- tion of the Klaw & Erlanger interests. The immense amount of money neces- sary to swing this deal can readily be commanded, it is said by Messrs. Untermyer and Freedman. The two men are rumored to have jointly in- vested with the Shuberts around $700,- 000 in the latter's theatrical enter- prises. Their first purchase in the Shuberts stock was reported at the time as $400,000, with additional moneys put in since. The source uf the gold supply to place the legitimate field under one direction will come from the Wall street connections of the Guggcn- heimer, Untermyer & Marshall law firm, and the wealthy business as- sociates of Mr. Freedman. The story so far has been one-sided. While there have been an under-cur- rent report for some time the Shu berts were after the entire legit branch, nothing has been rumored as regards the attitude of Klaw & Er- langer. Nor is it made known by the reports whether with the sale of "The Syndicate" as represented by K. & E., the properties of Charles Frohman and other managers allied with "The Syndicate" would be included, though Messrs. Untermyer and Freedman's plans comprehend the assimilation of all first class producing and theatre managers. Overtures looking to an understand- ing or agreement between Klaw & Er- langer and the Shuberts have all been iti vain.. That these were futile is said to have been due to the obdurate posi- tion taken by Mr. Erlanger, who has steadfastly declined to treat with the Shubert camp. This left no avenue of consolida- tion open for the Shubert backers (who arc said to have primarily in- vested with them in the belief they could fix up the broken fences) but to arrange for a purchase of the opposing forces, if they were for sale. Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger are wealthy men, and have occupied their pre-eminent position at the head of theatricals for many years. Each is still active in the management of "The Syndicate," besides the firm's attrac- tions and theatres. Neither has ex- pressed any opinion as far as they have been quoted, if they would sell. No one in the show business, without the aid of outside capital, is in a position to buy them out. The people behind the Shuberts, who arc first of all business men. have the idea that to obtain complete con trol of legitimate theatricals would mean a great saving, in salary, local opposition and in many ways intrench the theatre manager, where he is at drift under the present condition. REED, SHUBERTS* GEN. 1 Chicago, Sept. 4. The Shuberts' general manager for Chicago is now John A. Reed. Mr. Reed came here last week with J. J. Shubert. Sam Gerson will be general press representative. Asher Levy will con- tinue handling the financial affairs for the Shubert theatres here. They are the Lyric, Garrick and American Music Hall. Charles W. Collins, formerly dra- matic editor on the Inter Ocean, will have charge of one of the Shubert theatres. The local Shubert shake-up has cre- ated as much talk almost as when the Shuberts let out Herbert Duce two years ago. J. J. Shubert became nettled through some of the local papers neglecting the premiere of "The Society Whirl" the opening night. The Inter Ocean explains it by saying "Oliver *Twist" took precedence over "The Whirl." Earl Delamatcr, the Inter Ocean's dramatic critic, at the same time handed a slap at both the show and Mr. Shubert, the latter having told Delamatcr when he called at the Lyric to sec the "Whirl," that he was through with Chicago and would send no more shows here. PRICE 10 CENTS SYNDICATE TO BUILD. A syndicate to build or buy theatres is said to have been formed by Moss & Brill, Cunningham & Fluegclman and interests outside the show busi- ness. The group have started off, ac- cording to rumor, by looking for a plot of ground on the downtown East Side. The two firms mentioned arc mem- bers of the Consolidated Rooking Offi- ces. Their operations, it is said. w'!l l»e confined to theatres for vaudeville onlv. AXOTKHH IN TIMES S^l AKK. Negotiation-, now going through for a site in the Times Square section are expected to be closed daily, when the announcement of a new theatre to be built around 42d street by a well known legitimate manager will be iiiade. 1©1« _L HFHIIMlauV WESTERN MANAGER. San Francisco, Sept. 4. Fred B. Henderson, of New York, has been appointed western manager of the Orpheum Circuit, and will make his headquarters in this city, taking the work off the shoulders of Morris Meyerfeld, Jr. Mr. Henderson will devote much of his time to traveling over the circuit. Edwin O. Child, here for several weeks acting as assistant manager of the Oakland Orphtum, has been ap- pointed successor of John Morrissey as manager of the San Francisco Or- pheum. Child commenced his duties Sunday. Mr. Henderson expected to return east shortly, but was prevailed upon by Mr. Meyerfeld to accept the po- sition. TRIAL FOR BLANCHE WALSH. Blanche Walsh will have a tria? r week at the Fifth Avenue commencing Monday with a new act by Joseph A. Golden, entitled "The Countess Na- dine" and a cast including George W. Howard, William A. Canfield, William M. Travers. If the managers approve of the offer- ing Miss Walsh will demand $2,000 a week for the sketch. Alf Wilton is Miss Walsh's repre- sentative. SHIRLEY RIV1SB IN "WALTZ." Shirley Rives has been engaged by Jos. Hart to sing the principal role in "The Eternal Walt/." It is the part Vinic Daly was origin- ally engaged for. TAN«UAY IN "SUN DODGERS." The place for Eva Tanguay's gyra- tions this season has been found. It will be at the head of Lew Fields' "Sun Dodgers." Miss Tanguay and Mr. Fields settled the terms Wednesday. The eccentric singer is t receive $2,500 weekly, and will be starred with the musical com c(\y production. It is said Fields is also after Cyril Scott as a member of the <\i-t. The new Fields show wi" «-pen about Oct. 1 in Philadelphia It is due to succeed "ffankv Pant..-" at the Broad- way theatre. The l.i'ter show is not expected to mov ' -fore Nov. 1,