Variety (December 1912)

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VARIETY 15 ELECTRIC HOISTING MACHINE SUPPLA NTS FLY FLOOR MEN New Labor-Saving Device Installed at Lyric. Works in Units, Handling Two Sets of Lines For Each Unit. Lever Controlled Power Takes Care of Everything Hung Behind the Asbestos Curtain •The Firefly" (Emma Trentini) show, opening at the Lyric, New York, Monday night, was set, draped and festooned in all its hanging properties by a new labor saving device. It is an electric hoisting machine, controlled by a single man or two at the lever of it on the fly floor of the theatre's stage. Ordinarily for a production of the Trentini show size at least six or eight men would be necessary in the fly gallery to handle the "hung stuff." Some productions might require six- teen or eighteen men aloft. The new contrivance dispenses with the services of these, and also does away with counter weights. The hoist- ing machine takes care of everything that is hung behind the asbestos cur- tain. It is arranged on a unit plan. One unit will handle two sets of lines. The machine is adjustable and may be set for any number of units, according to the demands of the pro- duction. Before placing the hoister at the Ly- ric, Charles A. Bird (for the Shu- berts) tested 'it at the Elliott theatre for "Ready Money." Mr. Bird says he is satisfied the machine is efficient. The employment of it will likely be extended to other theatres. Its cost is around $2,200. AGAINST BIG OPPOSITION. Pittsburgh, Dec. 4. William A. Brady's "Bought and Paid For" drew $12,000 into the Alvin last week. Against it was "The Gar- den of Allah" at the Nixon. The Lieblers' show is reported to have come into town with a $12,000 advance and to have played to around $21,000 on the week. OMAHA POOLED. Omaha, Dec. 4. A pooling agreement has been reached in Omaha between the Boyd's and Brandeis theatres. Boyd's will play stock, the Brandeis taking in the travelling attractions. The pooling understanding goes into effect immediately. ORIGINAL COMPANY ON TOUR. "It is not true,",,says H. H. Frazee, "that William Courtenay will retire from the cast of 'Ready Money.' All of the principals of the New York company will go on tour. In fact, there has been but one change in the cast, and that a minor one." "Ready Money" was to have gone to the Grand Opera House direct from the Elliott, but the attraction wanted 60 per cent, and the house will only give 50 to dramatic shows. Frazee has in preparation two new productions — Wilson Mizner and George Bronson Howard's "An Ene- my to Society" and Edwin Milton Royle's "The Unwritten Law." The latter piece opens out of town New Year's week. The deal by which "An Enemy to Society" was to have come to the Academy was not consummated and negotiations are now on for bringing it to one of the larger Broadway play- houses after the first of the year. FIRM SEPARATES. By mutual consent the Morrisson- Brewster firm of dramatic producers has dissolved. Leigh Morrisson will continue producing alone. He has en- gaged Roberts Mills as general man- ager. Morrisson's next production will be "What Happened to Mary," which the McClure Publishing Co. has arranged with Owen Davis to dramatize for the stage. The "Mary" show will come out in January. MANAGERS UNDER BONDS. San Francisco, Dec. 4. Local lawyers are understood to be engaged in the work of drafting a bill to be presented at the next session of the Legislature, which will provide for the compulsory bonding of all mana- gers organizing show before they can legally enter into contracts with play- ers. The object of the proposed meas- ure is to do away with the frequent stranding of performers or at least re- duce the evil to a minimum. Advocated by State Labor Commis- sioner McLaughlin and supported by all the influence of his important of- fice, the proposed bill is regarded as having a splendid chance of becoming a law. ACTRESS FACES DEATH. Los Angeles, Dec. 4. Mabel Normand, of the Keystone Film Co., is recovering from shock and exposure after a thrilling expe- rience that came little short of being a tragedy. The company was posing for a dramatic subject in the surf near Topango canyon. During the dramatic action the her- oine was lashed to the rocks before a rising tide. The lashings gave way in the face of a huge comber that tore her from the cliff and she was washed out into deep water. Miss Normand was rescued in an unconscious condi- tion, after being knocked violently among the rocks. ATTACHES "ENCHANTRESS". Boston, Dec. 4. Joseph M. Gaites; Sumner-Gaites Co., Corporation; Frohman. Harris Corporation; Thomas B. Lothian, man- ager of the Colonial theatre in Boston; and S. W. Coombs, representative in Boatoii for the Gaites interests, were named in a civil action brought in the Suffolk Superior Court (Equity Ses- sion) by Michael, Henry and Samuel Orange, co-partners in the Orange Manufacturing Co. of New York, which manufactured the costumes for Gaites* "Enchantress" (Kitty Gordon) company. The Orange Co. claims to have made costumes for the production that cost $16,925.56, and that they received $13,- 000 of this amount in nine installments. They claim that $3,92156 is still due and that they have been unable to col- lect it. In the bill of complaint filed with the court it is charged that Joseph M. Gaites contracted with them for the costumes, to be delivered Sept. 30, 1911. At the time of delivery, it is charged, Gaites formed a corporation known as the Sumner-Gaites Co. with a capital stock of $10,000. When the company was formed, it is alleged the costumes were transferred by Gaites, and that Gaites has no other property or assets from which the plaintiffs can satisfy their claim. They claimed that the costumes were in the posession of the Sumner-Gaites Co., playing at the Colonial, when the bill was brought last Friday; were be- ing used in "The Enchantress"; that the costumes were mingled with other property of the defendants, and that it couldn't be separated for the pur- pose of attachment, and that much of it was being used as personal apparel by members of the company. It was further claimed that the com- pany was to close its local engage- ment Nov. 30 and that Sumner-Gaites Co. would remove the property from Massachusetts where the defendants could not reach it, unless restrained by the court. As the Frohman, Harris Corporation operates and controls the Colonial the- atre and had the property in litigation, in control, they were named in the action. Phipps, Durgin & Cook appeared for the plaintiffs and Thomas J. Barry for Gaites. They had the hearing put over until Dec. 3, by agreement. It was stated by counsel that a settlement might be reached. Aaron Jones, of Jones, Linick & Schaffer of Chicago, has been in New York several times during the past month. LEAGUE'S RAZAAR. The annual Bazaar of the Profes sional League wil be opened next Thursday by Daniel Frohman at the rooms of the League. 1999 Broadway. It will continue Friday anl Saturday. Mrs. S. Ludlow Neidlinger is in gen- eral charge of arrangements. Her chief lieutenant is Mrs. P. Linden-Howard. Many notables of the stage have vjI- unteercd their assistance. Amelia Sum- merville will have charge of the fa- mous wheel of fortune, assis:ed by El- sie Janis and Nora Bayes. Mrs. Harry Layton will preside over the fancy work booth. Rosalie Muckenfus will keep count of the vote for th» most popular actress. Miss Emma Frohman will l-andle the Actors Fund interests. GABY'S $91,000 WEEK. Philadelphia, Dec. 4. "The Social Whirl" with Gaby Des- lys and Al Jolson did a phenomenal week's business at the Lyric, ending Saturday last. The box office showed a total of over $20,000, with a Satur- day night house of $3,100 (over capac- ity). There were two big events to help business along, Thanksgiving and the Army and Navy football game day. The Lyric is getting $2.50 for the Gaby engagement, which ends here this Sat- urday, the show opening at the Shu- bert, Boston, Monday. It is estimated the Lyric will take in around $18,000 this week. Boston, Dec. 4. "The Passing Show" leaves the Shu- bert Saturday. It will open at Mon- treal Monday, for a week. From there it will go to Toronto, Buffalo and even- tually reach Chicago for a run. CHICAGO PRAISES "VIRTUE." Chicago, Dec. 4. The attraction at the Studebaker, "The Blindness of Virtue," has over- lapped any show in town so far this season in the matter of attention be- stowed by the press. Following up the eulogistic notices of the opening last week, three of the local Sunday papers devoted the front page of their amuse- ment sections to the show. Last week, after a slow start, the show closed to a week registering nearly $5,000 at the box office. The Sunday night business reached $900. A long run is predicted for the piece Cos- mo Hamilton wrote. The Studebaker is charging $1.50, top, for this show. It can play to $13,- 000 on the week. Jack Lait is attending to the pub- licity for William Morris who presents the play. Kenneth McGaffy and Geo. A. Davis are working with Mr. Lait on the press work. G. O. H. THE PLAGE. Chicago, Dec. 4. "The Pretty Little Widow," the re- named "Woman Hater's Club," opens at the Grand Opera House here, Christmas eve. "SIS HOPKINS** TRANSFER. William Fitzgerald has purchased the rights to the original "Sis Hopkins" production from the Rose Melville management and expects to have the show on the road by Christmas. Harry Leavitt will go ahead, and Harry Brown will be the man behind. UNIONIZING JERSEY CITY. Jersey City, Dec. 4. Every effort is being made by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes to unionize all thea- ters in this city. Michael Carney, of Newark, fifth vice president, has been instructed to come here and take charge of the local movement. Elsie Faye, who has just returned from Europe, will probably join the Eddie Foy show, "Over the River," taking the role, made vacant by the re- cent retirement of Lcona Stephens, °rt£ina11y playrd by Lillian Lorraine-