Variety (September 1912)

VARIETY WILLIAM MORRIS PLACING FEATURE ACTS IN PROCTOR'S Some Deal of Significance Supposed to Have Happened Between the Two Managers. KeHermann Opening at the Fifth Avenue Sept. 23. A Defensive Alliance Against the Field It was impossible to learn this week what there might be behind the plac- ing of Annette Kellermann by'William Morris as the feature at F. F. Proc- tor's Fifth Avenue theatre for the week of Sept. 23. Neither Mr. Mor- ris nor F. F. Proctor, Jr., would say anything other than the booking was entered. It first became known Mon- day when the photos of Miss Keller- mann were hung in the Fifth Avenue lobby. Variety in its issue of June 28, last, reported some "deal" between William Morris and the Proctor Circuit was imminent upon Morris' return from Europe. The story was based upon rumors at that time of the stragetic position in bookings the Keith Cir- cuit had placed itself in in New York through the purchase of the Percy G. Williams theatres. That gave Keith seven "big time" Metropolitan vaude- ville theatres as against the lone Proc- tor "big timer." It is not improbable that there will be divulged in time facts sufficient to confirm Variety's intimation of over two months ago, although it is claim- ed by all the important persons on the Proctor staff that any stories to the effect Mr. Proctor will .break away from the United Booking Offices are groundless. Proctor is the vice-presi- dent of the U. B. O., and this interest, it is said, together with his agree- ments with the agency, would prevent any such step. However the Broad- way regulars believe a Proctor-Morris defensive alliance against the field has been formed. Vaudeville people know, however, that the Kellermann booking must have been made direct between Mor- ris and Proctor. Had it been entered through the usual channels of the United, it would have "leaked." It is also pretty well understood that the U. B. O. officials might have attempt- ed to block any business dealings Mor- ris and Proctor contemplated. While speculation may be indulged in to any extent, and doubtlessly will be, over the apparent connection in some way of Morris with Proctor, the facts, whatever they are, sceni to be kept closely guarded. Kellermann will appear at the Fifth Avenue in "Undine." the act she play- ed at the.Winter Garden. The turn employs thirty people. It will be the first time the diver has appeared in Broadway vaudeville at the head of a production. She is closing a run at the London Palace, appearing at that hall after having opened at the* Oxford. Following the Kellermann engage- ment it is likely the Proctor-Morris deal includes the opening of the Harry Lauder American tour at the Fifth Avenue, also any other feature attrac- tions for vaudeville Mr. Morris has. When the booking of Miss Keller- man for the Fifth Avenue became known the Keith people switched Odi- va's route around, bringing her from the Bronx to the Union Square for the Sept. 23 week. Another angle to the Proctor posi- tion in the U. B. O. came up this week in a story that the United Booking Offices would possibly be dissol ed, accomplishing .a double object there- by. The dissolution of the corpora- tion, its officers believe, might relieve the U. B. O. of the prospective en- tanglements the "split commission" may cause it, if the officials are to run their booking business without law- suits attending, and it will also remove the Proctor interest in the profit earned by the U. B. O. through com- missions. By forming another corporation (upon the U. B. O. surrendering its agency license) the present leaders in the United think they could then book "net" (contract for acts less the com- mission, such as a $500 turn being en- gaged for $475), and under a new cor- porate title declare Mr. Proctor out. Since the purchase of the Williams houses the Keith people are of the opinion the Keith Circuit is contribut- ing a far greater share of the United's earnings than Proctor does. The lat- ter was given a share in the booking office when leaving the agency of William Morris some years ago. It is said the United is contemplat- ing a plan something akin to what the building trades have. Through that, the present bosses of the United would appoi; : agents who now do business through their offices as man- agers, and secure their "split," prob- ably retaining the Vaudeville Collec- tion Agency as an adjunct to collect. ANNA CHANDLER DIVORCED. Anna Chandler-Curtis was granted a divorce from her husband, Jack Curtis, by the Illinois courts last week. Mr. Curtis has been given the custody of their daughter. The decree carries no alimony stipulation. FRANK JONES IS HACK. The resignation of Frank Jones as one of the routers in the United Hook- ing Offices, has been withdrawn. Mr. Jones has returned to the agency, taking charge of the books for the Keith theatres in Cincinnati, Louis- ville and Indianapolis. DEBERYL - AGOUST EliOPEMENT. The United Booking Office was a bit annoyed early in the week because Simone De Beryl, billed to play at Keith's Providence, for the week, only played one day and then disappeared with Fmile Agoust, who is appearing at the Winter Garden in the "Ballet of 1830." The act which had a route of sixteen weeks laid out for it at $400 per must appear at Keith's, Philadel- phia, next week, or the United, from report, will hold the Marinelli Agency responsible. Leo Maase, head of the Marinelli Agency here, when questioned, said he had not received any notification to this effect from the booking office and didn't think he would. He protested Marinelli could not be responsible for the love affair of the members in acts he booked. The Providence papers gave quite a bit of publicity to the elopement. ED REYNARD REMARRIES. Before starting west about a month ago for the fulfillment of this season's vaudeville engagements, Ed. F. Rey- nard, the ventriloquist, remarried Bianca Froelich. A divorce was granted the couple about a year ago. They had not since seen each other until both arrived in New York in June, when the mis- understanding that had arisen between them was explained away. Mr. and Mrs. Reynard spent most of the summer at Southold, L. I. Mr. Reynard left for the west without making formal announcement of the ceremony. IN VAUDEVILLE AT 60. Chicago, Sept. 4. Annie Inman, sixty-nine years of age, has gone on the vaudeville stage with a sketch called "Gannet Farm." She opened at the Virginia, on the West Side, and was later booked at the National, Detroit, where she gained a good deal of attention. She has been a pensioner on the Actors' Fund in Chicago for some time. Once a member of the McVicker stock com- pany in Chicago, Miss Inman later played engagements with Modjeska and numerous other big stars. ACT SPLITS QUICK. The Tempest and Sunshine part- nership did not even last until the opening of the engagement the act was billed to play at the Union Square this week. The separation happened last Friday, when the Square contract was called off, and Lucy Daly sub- stituted. Sunshine accepted an offer Monday to become a member of the Gertrude Hoffman Revue. Max Hart acted as agent. Tempest and Ten will be the billing for the former Tempest and Sunshine act hereafter. SOUNDS GOOD OVER HERE. Ellis and McKenna have been booked solid for three years in F.urope. NEW THREE ACT. Tom Dingle and Ksmeralda and Viola, who were together in the Raths- keller turn put on early in the spring by Mabel I lite, have formed a three- act. HIP'S AMERICAN REVUE. Allien .le < '"iirville, the booking mauagi r hi tiu I.• union Hippodrome, left New York Tuesday, alter a visit here ol a lew week-, (luring which he looked over and selected many Ameri- can turns for a London appearance. About twenty in all were chosen by Mr. de Courville. Some will appear in the "American revue" the Hippo- drome will produce in December. The booking man stated he had picked up ideas while in New York, and the December production at the Hippo- drome will have several of them em- bodied in it. During ()ctober the Hippodrome will present an operette for the first time on any stage. It has been writ- ten by K ah man and Hurgon, the au- thors of Vienna, where they have suc- cessfully turned out musical pieces. A. Chariot, of the Alhambra, Lon- don, leaves tomorrow on the Olympic. The Alhambra will also present a revue during October. While in New York Messrs. Chariot and De Courville vis- ited the same theatres. It will be in- teresting to note the selections of American acts and players by each for their respective productions. Neither cared to give out who had been en- gaged by them. Before leaving Tuesday de Courville arranged to play a big rathskeller act at the Hippodrome, London, opening Sept. 23. Pete Bernard, who has been one of the big hits at Kelly's, Coney island, this summer, will head, the troupe, to be made up of seven enter- tainers picked by de Courville while doing the Carbaret at the Island. GARDEN'S SUNDAYS ON. The Winter Garden will start its Sunday vaudeville concerts Sept. 8, with most of the bill supplied by the people of "The Passing Show ol 1912." NO INTERMISSIONS NOW. The B. F. Keith theatres opening Monday (Alhambra, Bronx, Orpheum and Bushwick) gave their vaudevilU shows without an intermission. This practice will be carried into the Co- lonial, when that house starts the „ season next Monday. The Union ' Square has been running during the summer giving the entire show with- out a break. On the title page of the former Wil- liams theatres programs now appears a picture of H. F. Keith. KELLY-KENT DIVORCE. Spokane, Sept. 4. Annie Kent, at the Orpheum last week, was granted a divorce from James Kelly by Judge William A. Iliineke, of the Superior Couit. MANAGERS CHANGED. New Haven, Sept. 4. Poli's theatre is now managed by Ollie Kdwards. who came here from Poli's Hartford. The latter house has been placed in charge of W. D. Ascough. L. I), (iarvey, t lie former manager of the local Poli tin aire, resigned, and is reported t« h;»\e been offered a position in the headquarters of the l : nii(d JJookin;. ' 'liicos, New York.