Variety (February 1913)

VARIETY TABLOIDS GROWING STRONGER; REPLACING VAUD EVILLE WEST Pushing Acts Into Cabarets. Stage Hands 9 Union Making Hard Conditions For Tabloid Producers. How One Act "Beat" the "Extra Stage Hand" Demand With Bill-of-Sale. The tabloid has taken a great hold hereabouts. In many instances it i* pushing the vaudeville acts to the rear. A big booker in this section claims there are at least 150 less acts on the books of the agents today than there were a year ago at this time. The acts have taken to Cabareting according to the agent and are well satisfied to work for less money and stay in one place from two to ten weeks. Boyle Woolfolk returned from New York lar.t week after making arrange- ments to send out Knute Errickson in the near future in his old success "The Seminary Girls." This was practically all that the tabloid producer secured while in the cast, although he also closed for the production of "Mme. Sherry" in tabloid form. This is the biggest thing that has been thought of in the tabloid field up to date. Woolfolk has agreed that the pro- duction shall be made before July 1. What is more important he has signed to pay a royalty of $200 a week for the playing rights. It is the first big roy- alty that has been agreed upon in the tabloid field. The wise ones are watch- ing for results with interest. The stage hand question is becoming quite a serious one amongst the tabloid producers. Up to the present time the tabs have not been bothered to any great extent, but during the week several annoyances were experienced. One man was all some of the compan- ies carried and with the house stage crew was all considered necessary. Now, however, there is a likelihood of the Union insisting upon two and in some cases three being carried. This will work a great hardship amongst the tab men as the additional $80 or $100 added to the salary account will be more than they can stand at the present salary for tab acts. The issue has not reached a climax yet but it is just a question of time. There is a general feeling of unrest amongst the managers of the smaller houses by the new edict lately issued by the I. A. T. S. E. which states that a mem- ber shall not only sign for the one week the act plays in the house, but also for the entire engagement of the act. This means that not a member of the local in which the act or tabloid is play- ing can be engaged at a salary of from $2 to $4 a day, but a man must be carried who will receive $35 or $40 a week. It will necessarily send the price of the tabloids up. Managers forced to figure as close to the cushion as possi- ble fear the result. Bothwell Browne, assisted and abetted by C. L. Hoyland, manager of the Orpheum, Racine, Wis., slipped one over on the I. A. T. S. E. last week. When Browne came into the theatre he was informed the house staff could not handle his stuff and he would have to hire a stage carpenter at $40 per week it he wished his scenery put up. Browne refused and immediately gave Manager Hoyland a bill of sale for his scenery, whereupon the manager wen: back and wanted to know why tne stage hands wouldn't handle it. It be- longed to him and he proved it by dis- playing the bill of sale. The stage hands, not quite under- standing what it was all about, neither did Hoyland (as he afterward ad- mitted), but they hung up the scenery. A review of Whitney's "Broken Idol" put on as a tab last week at Gary, Ind., by the Interstate Produc- ing Co., is reviewed in the New Acts department of this issue. TAB STOCK HOLDING UP. Trenton, N. J., Feb. 6. This is the second week of the sec- ond tabloid stock company at the State Street theatre- It has caught on as well as its predecessor and is doing business. The company is carrying six acts with complete sets and ward- robe. There are 18 people in it. The Prudential Booking Agency of New York put out the tab companies. The present one is called the Majestic. It gives a 30-minute show, changing twice weekly. "SCHOOL DAYS" IN "TAB" FORM E. J. Carpenter's "School Days" (original) Company played its last $1.50 stand last week. It will be lifted in tabloid form for a twelve weeks' tour of the Jake Wells' houses, opening Feb. 3 at Nashville. Twenty-two people and a carload of scenery will be carried, Clay T. Vance managing the outfit. GUS HILL'S REASONING. Gus Hill announced through Variety a fortnight ago that he proposed to embark very extensively in the export- ation of tabloid musical shows for vau- deville. Since then he has undergone a change of heart, and advances what he considers a good and sufficient rea- son therefor. "I already have one in operation/ he said, "but do not propose to go fur- ther into the scheme, for the reason that I find the vaudeville managers will not pay a sufficient price for such offerings. They seem to be paying a good single turn almost as much as can be secured for a company of twen- ty, which, with scenery, costumes, railroading, etc., makes the total week- ly expense of such an undertaking al- most as much as a show that would give an entire evening's entertainment. "I have figured it all out, and can see no profit in the scheme. The oth- ers are welcome to the game." LOEW BOOKING NEWBURGH. Xewburgh, N. Y., Feb. 0. George Cohen opened his new ( )pcr;' House Monday, with vaudeville hooked by the Loew-Sullivan-Considine agen- cy. New York. The house seats 1,400. CLAY SMITH SELLS OUT. I lay Smith has left the music pub- lishing firm of Smith and Browne hav- ing sold his share in the business to his former partner Raymond A. Browne, who will continue the business undei the old firm name. Smith will proba- bly return to vaudeville. Browne recently settled a suit which he had instituted against llubeit i*. Main, the New York publisher. Sonu- time ago Main wrote a Utter to a Mrs M. F. Millard of Detroit in which he attacked the words and methods oi Browne, who at that time was in busi- ness for himself. Browne started ac- tion for $25,000. A letter of apology accompanied the check for settlement. FEATURES IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Feb. 6. Vaudeville has had the call this week in Chicago and some of the big stars have been in the limelight. Harry Lauder and his company at the Audi- torium; Cissie Loftus and George Beban are joint headliners at the Majestic, and Napierkowska remains at the Palace as the big drawing card. Beban was changed to the Majestic from the Palace this week, when it was decided to hold Napierkowska over. DANCER'S REAL ARABS. Chicago, Feb. 6. Bobker Arabs, who closed the bill at the Palace last week, made up the "company" for Napierkowski. The men formed the Arab band who cap- tured the dancing girl. When the dancer was held over for this week the Arabs were shifted to the Majestic bill and will continue playing with her. They have also been booked on the same bills all over the Orpheum Circuit. "SEVEN DAYS" IN PROVINCES. (Special Cable to Vaeieim London, Feb. 6 James Welch is to play 'Seven Days," opening in the provinces Feb. 20. If successful the play will be brought to London for a run. SPBREE'S BUILDING HOUSES. Chicago, Feb. 6. Roy Sebrec, formerly manager for his father of the Saratoga Hotel, and later manager of one or two vaudeville acts, may break into real show busi- ness around August. It is reported that a piece of property at Madison and Ashland streets has been purchased by the Scbrees and a theatre to be called the Ashland Hippodrome (seating capacity 2,200) will be erected to house pop vaudeville. It is not known who will book the house. It is further stated that young Mr. Scbree will have three houses opened or well on their way before the winter season is far advanced. NEW BUILDINGS. Charles M. Rosenthal, 160 Broadway, has completed plans for a new theatre to be devoted to moving pictures with stores taking up the 84-foot frontage on Amsterdam avenue and 100 feet on 177th street. The cost will be $25,000. Bids closed last last week on tl>'.- work of remodeling the stable at Union street and Seventh avenue, Brooklyn, into a moving picture thcatie. J Desmor.d-Dunne Co. is owner w..i. offices at 170 Montague street, Brook lyn. Plans ha\c been approved by the board for a $20,000 picture theain* to be erected at Bound Brook, the home of the Pathe Frere American produc- tion plant. Hulziser & Hamilton. »>;" Bound Brook, are the owners. Oilier movies in New York unJer construction already announced as 1k>- ing under way are: Plans were tiled for the $5,000 picture house at Sutter avenue and Abrbley street, the Bronx; plans have been tiled for the $6,000 picture establishment at 1852 Third avenue. Manhattan. CLOWN THEATRE'S BIG START. The Clown theatre of the Vaudeville Comedy Club had a big start last Sat urday night when the first perform- ance was given in the clubhouse. TIr theatre is on the second floor. It is the library converted and parnished off with a stage having regular footlights, also drops, besides a balcony running around the room. The theatre was jammed full of people who had paid one dollar or fifty cents each for admission. Over 200 were present when the show start- ed at 12:30 after the orchestra of piano, violin and drums rendered an overture. The musicians were Mike Bernard, Violinski and Joe West. A moving picture was first shown, then came a prolog, in which Master Gabriel described what would follow. Joe Whitehead did some dancing and posing. After him Geo. Allen, an un- known female impersonator, appeared. Melville Ellis and Al Jolson were next. Tommy Gray and Felix Adler did a conversation, telling some of the oldest gags known to man. Bert Leslie read wires received, and then "Every Actor" (after "Every Woman"), and written by Mr. Adler, was presented. In the cast were Mr. Adler as Every Actor, Joe Dixon as Big Jump, Ed Wynn (Cancellation), Paul Baron (Ten Per Cent), Gabriel (Small Time), Wil- liam Barnes (Big Salary), Joe Kane (Union Hill), Tommy Gray (Author), Joe Whitehead (Big Hit), Eddie Cor- relli (Split Week), Charles Gillette (Benefit). The performance ended about 2 a. m with the company singing timely paro- dies upon show conditions around New York. Last Wednesday was "Representa- tives' Night" at the Comedy Club. A large number of agents were present. Managers came along to see them. In about a month, another professional performance will be given in the "theatre." Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Crane have been booked by Will Collins to open in London March 17.