Variety (February 1913)

VARIETY "OPPOSITION" TO WILSON AVE. ANNOUNCE D BY C HAS. E. KOHL Managing Director of Western Vaudeville Managers* Ass'n Announces New House in Territory Controlled Through "Association" by Jones, Linick & Schaf- fer. Western Agents Instructed Not to Book Eastern Acts Before Submitting Names. Chicago, Feb. 6. The recent announcement of C. E. Kohl's intention to erect a chain of vau- deville theatres in this city has started considerable gossip among the manag- ers who are most likely to be affected by the move. It would not surprise those in touch with the situation to learn that the managers would organize to oppose such a move and protect their interests, at least those who are now housed under the Western Vau- deville Managers' Association roof and hold franchises for territorial rights. At the present time little can be learned of Mr. Kohl's plans, other than that he has decided to invade the Wil- son avenue territory, at present con- trolled by Jones, Linick & Schaeffcr. This location is considered the choice "neighborhood" spot of Chicago. Sites suitable for theatres are few and far between. The Wilson Avenue is considered the most prosperous small time house in town and was always regarded as ex- empt from opposition of any kind. Mr. Kohl informed a Variety repre- sentative he had secured a site a; Evanston and Wilson avenues (only a few feet from the Wilson Avenue the- atre) and would immediately prepare to have the house ready for occupancy not later than next August. He also intimated that another site had been obtained but would not disclose the location. The latter is probably on the South Side and may be in the neigh- borhood of the J. L. & S. other house, the Willard theatre, which has earned the same reputation for the southern end of Chicago as the Wilson has for the North Shore section. Incidentally, Mr. Kohl added the in- formation that the Orpheum Circuit and the U. B. O. would be interested l^n the venture. Aaron Jones, the leading spirit of the Jones, Linick & Schaeffcr combination, refused to discuss the subject for pub- lication, but gave the impression his firm were on the lookout for such a move and would be amply protected in case of action. Jones claims to have landed a site around Wilson avenue also and stated that his firm would shortly commence work on a new house to succeed the present Wilson and which will have a capacity of 2,700. The Wilson's ca- pacity has always been considered the one bad point. It has been rumored Jones was negotiating for the lease of the Colonial for pop vaudeville, but after a lengthy confab with those in possessicn the deal fell through. Plans for the J. L. & S. Hippodrome, to be erected on State street, will be ready in two weeks. The present situation is considered •imply as an echo of last summer's altercation, when the "Association" managers organized the Consolidated Vaudeville Managers' Corporation. At that time it was thought an open fight would be the only plausible solution of the argument, but with the election of C. E. Kohl to the position of Man- aging Director, succeeding C. E. Bray, the affair was hushed up and peace established. There are many towns just outside of Chicago in which the vaudeville business is controlled by individual managers who are supplied by the "As- sociation" service, but have no other assurance of protection other than the stereotyped franchise. If Mr. Kohl's intentions show signs of materializa- tion, there is bound to be an interest- ing fight and a possibility of the Consolidated Managers reorganizing for mutual protection. That the U. B. O. in its determined effort to cut salaries is looking toward the "Association" for "assistance was learned this week when it became known that local ten percenters had been warned not to offer a route to desirable acts in the east without per- mission of the proper western author- ities. It is understood that several acts exhibited wires in New York from Chi- cago agents in which consecutive time in the middle west was offered, using the wires as a club to get their proper salary from the U. B. O. FISCHER COMES IN. Clifford Fischer returned to New York Sunday night, as the representa- tive of the London Opera House, for- merly Hammerstein's. Mr. Fischer is over here to secure material for an American revue he has in mind to establish at the Opera House within a couple of months. While in New York he has been in negotiation with Ned Wayburn to stage the show. Louis Hirsch, who wrote the music for the present Hippodrome, London "Hello Ragtime" show, has been signed through Fischer to supply the Opera House with its raggy strains. Fcrnand Akoun left the Opera House management after promoting the pres- ent pop vaudeville policy which is now holding forth there. With Akoun's de- parture came Fischer's arrival. EMZA11KTH MURRAY IN DEMAND. Chicago, Feb. 6. Elizabeth Murray did not leave town with "Exceeding the Speed Limit." Dorothy Morton filled in at St. Louii. Miss Murray is as yet undecided as to her future. Cabarets have been frantic- ally beckoning to her with the largest offers ever tendered in this field. It is unlikely Miss Murray will accept the Cabaret course. COAST-TO-COAST TOUR. The agreement between the Pruden- tial Vaudeville Agency and the Marcus Locw Agency for co-operative book- ings was signed Monday. The Pru- dential will remove to the Loew-Sulli- van-Considine offices in. the Heidel- berg Building about Feb. 17. The Loew Circuit at present covers New York to Boston and Sullivan- Considine, from Pittsburgh to San Francisco. The Prudential takes in the territory between New York and Pittsburgh, making a complete chain of houses booked from one office, from coast to coast. BANKRUPTCY SUIT WITHDRAWN. The application for an involuntary- petition in bankrutpcy filed by three creditors against Loew's Fifth Avenue Theatre Co., has been withdrawn by arrangement between both parties to the action. The company has settled the suit of Albert E. Lowe against it for breach of contract, by purchasing the stock held by him and giving notes in pay- ment of a salary contract for three years held by the man whose name was over the house. MEYERFELD IN NEW YORK. Morris Meyerfeld, Jr., president of the Orpheum Circuit, is scheduled to arrive in New York today or tomor- mor and sail for Europe next week. ADLER GOES TO LOEW. Felix Adler has signed for a trip over the Loew time, booked by Irving Cooper. Adler will open Feb. 17. Next week he is playing for William Fox. original'^ MAJESTIC BUILDING WIDE OPEN. Chicago, Feb. 6. The rule restricting outside agents from the Majestic Theater Building is about to be annulled. Within the next month it is likely that every ten per- cent agent in Chicago will be housed under the roof of the Kohl and Castle structure. When the "Association" established headquarters in the new Majestic Theater. Building, one of the clauses in the arrangement was to the effect that no one connected with the the- atrical profession would be granted a lease without the permission of the "Association." This rule was strictly adhered to un- til last season, when the western office of Variktv was moved from the Crilly Building to the 9th floor of the Majestic structure. However, C. E. Kohl has decided to abolish the rule, and already the Been ler Brothers, Harry Spingold and James McKowen have made arrange- ments to move, provided they can arrange for their present leases. Last week Fred Barnes thought he had definitely closed for a loft in the building, but before the transaction was completed the news spread around town and Mr. Kohl stopped proceed- ings. IMPERSONATED BERLIN. Cleveland, Feb. 6. A young man posing as Irving Ber- lin, the song writer, was placed in jail here on a charge of forging Berlin's name to a $10 check, cashed by Adolph Menjou, owner of the Berghoff Hotel. "Berlin" came from Columbus where he induced Mrs. C. Wright and her daughter, Erma Gurthrie Wright, a singer, to come here under the impres- sion that he was to stage an act in which Miss Wright would be featured. Miss Wright gave him a $100 in cur- rency and was to have given $150 more when he produced her act at the Hippodrome here. The deception was brought to light when O. A. Robertson an old friend of the real Berlin, denounced the "fake." The arrest followed. ACT LOST RIGHT OP ACTION. Chicago, Feb. 6. Minnie Marks lost a case in Michigan last week because her tabloid (playing under the name of the Three Marks Bros.) was not registered in that state. Tlie court ruled that no act or play that was not registered under its play- ing name could recover damages under a contract no matter how binding the agreement. I)K CO! RVILLE RUMORS. (Special Cable to Variktv.) London, Feb. 6. There arc many and conflicting ru- mors concerning Albert DcCourville leaving the Hippodrome. He left last week for Paris on some mysterious mission, without offering any explan- ation. THIS WEEK (FEB. S), HAMMKHSTKIN'B "Dutch" Mike and Stella Johnson, two Tommy dancers from the ( oa-f. are expected in New York shortly They have received ofFrr- for Kuropc.