Variety (February 1913)

VAR1ITY LEGIT SITUATION WORKING OUT. (Continued from page 3.) tioning a few other cities, went on to say: "In Toronto the Shuberts have the best theatre, so that the K. & E. house will give way: "In Kansas City, the Shuberts also have the best house and in Cincinnati r-*Vhe K. & E. theatre (Grand Opera House) is the best and will be given tl e preference in the adjustments. "Other towns are so affected by local interests the 'powers that be/ who control the houses themselves, will have to be consulted before either syn- dicate can take any action. "For instance, in Chicago, Harry Powers and Will J. Davis have inter- ests with K. & E. in Powers', the Il- linois and Colonial. Powers again has an interest in the Blackstone. In the Olympic and Chicago Opera House, Kohl & Castle are partners with 'the syndicate,' jand none of these local partners would consent to having their houses relegated to a change of policy. As a further matter of consideration, the Shuberts need more houses in Chi- cago for their attractions in addition to the Princess, Garrick and American Music Hall. "In St. Louis the present conditions could not have existed if Spalding was alive. When he died, K. & E. took over the Spalding interests and can, therefore, act without consulting any local interests. "In New Orleans, K. & E. would wel- come the closing of the Shubert house for they own the Tulane and Crescent outright in* conjunction with Samuel F. Nixon. "In Pittsburgh, the Nixon must re- main the leading house. That thea- tre, before the Shuberts entered the town, was good for from $15,000 to $20,000 a week, but was killed by the competition for the past few years. "In Philadelphia, the Shuberts have the Lyric and the Adelphi. The Adel- phi will probably be given over to stock. That would mean shifting some of the Shubert attractions into the Nixon & Zimmerman houses. "What will be the fate of K. & E's new Metropolitan in Seattle is a mat- ter of conjecture. Up to the advent of that house, Seattle was the mecca of the northwest. Cort's theatre, the Moore, is getting out of what is now the most desirable location for a $2 house owing to the movement which no longer makes it the center of the town. The Moore may be relegated to pic- tures and pop vaudeville and the Met- ropolitan become the leading house. "In Boston, K. & E. are free to act because they are actual partners on an entirely different basis from that which prevails in Chicago, with no lo- cal interests to dictate." An adjustment of the entire situa- tion will doubtless be reached dur- ing the present season and the summer. With the incoming theatrical season, the States and Canada will be cleared of the destructive competition that has reigned so long in the legitimate to the severe financial loss of the produc- ing manager. Whatever the general proposition may be or develop into, it is not in- tended by either side to merge the identity of their respective parties in any way. Even the booking offices of the two "syndicates" will be main- tained as separate establishments with a full corps. Chicago, Feb. 20. In the rearrangement of local con- ditions in the legitimate held here it is reported the Blackstone will house the big dramatic pieces and Powers the lighter shows, the Cort getting the "overflow." The Garrick and the Illinois are to hold musical shows. This leaves the Olympic, Colonial and Studebaker out of the running. The Colonial and Olympic are spok- en of as pop vaudeville possibilities. WARM ADVERTISING. Philadelphia, Feb. 20. The advertising matter which re- ferred to the "chickens, squabs and broilers" with the Gertrude Hoffmann show at the Lyric has stirred up quite a little fuss. At the benefit tendered the Cushman Club by Otis Skinner at the Chestnut Street Opera House last week one of the speakers referred to the advertisement in no uncertain terms. This week's "ad." for the "Broad- way to Paris" show carried this line: "The Merry Chirping of our chickens from The Gay White Way' is in no way disturbed by the sad cackling of passee old hens." Toxen Worm, the Shubert press agent, has been making good use of the muss. WARNER SHOWS NEW PLAY. Newark, N. J., Feb. 20. H. B. Warner is playing a week's engagement at the Newark theatre in "The Ghost Dreamer," in which he comes to Broadway March 3. The piece has been playing a preparatory series of one nights through Pennsylvania. It is a curious combination of pure comedy and melodrama, and the audi- tor is at times somewhat confused as to which is its proper classification. In the cast are Katherine Emmett, Frank Campeau, Frank Westerton and William Sampson. The piece is the work of Charles Goddard, a New York newspaper man in collaboration with Paul Dickey. It is presented by Maurice Campbell. It is in four acts—a New York hotel, stateroom on an ocean liner, old tavern in Spain and an ancient castle in Spain. "PASSING SHOW" GOING WEST. Chicago, Feb. 20. Though business remains enormous at the Garrick, where "The Passing Show" is already overstaying its an- nounced engagement here, the final week for the Shubert production in Chicago has been set for March 24. "The Show" will then go west, likely to the coast, and "Broadway to Paris," the Gertrude Hoffmann piece, may fol- low it in here. There is a chance also that the Hoffmann crowd may go along the route made by "The Passing Show." Philip Bartholomae's "When Dreams Come True" follows in the Garrick. "ESCAPE* 1 AT COHAN'S. Chicago, Feb. A). Arrangements have rinally been set- tled whereby 'The Escape," the new Paul Armstrong piece, with Helen Ware as star, will have its Chicago showing at the Cohan & Harris (Jrand Opera House. It was originally booked in at the Garrick, but owing to the success ot 'The Passing Show" the three weeks which were to have gone to the new piece will now be turned over to the Shubert production. It will give that show a continuous nine weeks' run at the house, and will be carried beyond this if possible. "The Escape" opens March 2, to be followed in by George M. Cohan for ten weeks. This will be Cohan's first Chicago appearance in three years. The ease through which the shift of booking was made for "The Escape" from the Garrick (Shuberts) to the Grand (Klaw & Erlanger) may be the first exemplification of the new work- ing understanding between the two "syndicates." Last spring, though, a somewhat similar occurrence happened when the Blanche Ring show was switched into the Cohan theatre, New York. Oliver Morosco will leave Los Angeles Feb. 24, to be here at the premiere. BIG CAST FOK "GEISHA." The cast as much as the piece will be depended upon by Arthur Hanimer- stein in his revival of. "The- Geisha," an opera that was a season's success on Broadway some years ago. The players to be engaged are of such weight in name and ability Mr. Hammerstein is reserving all his dip- lomatic powers for the final line up when contracts are to be signed. William J. Wilson, assisted by Ed- win Emery (from San Francisco), has been engaged to stage the all new pro- duction. It will open March 31 in either Philadelphia or Boston, coming into the Weber & Fields theatre about a week or so afterward. "The Beggar Student," another Shu- bert revival for April, will likely make its reappearance either at the Casino or Lyric. The Shuberts and Hammerstein have formed a partnership for the "Geisha" revival, each putting up $5,000 for a bankroll with which to make the pro- duction. The cast will embrace such people as Lina Abarbanell, who will receive a salary of $900; Zepilli, of the Chicago - Philadelphia Grand Opera Company; Orville Harrold, Edwin Stevens and James T. Powers. Frank Mayne in "The Third Decree" opened on the Loew Circuit this week. JAKE SHATTUCK NEEDS AID. Jake Shattuck, for many years treas- urer of the Academy of Music, and later in a similar capacity at the Bijou, is in Oakland, Cal., suffering from cataract. Unless an operation is per- formed, lie is threatened with total loss of sight. He has written friends in New York he is without funds, and $200 is re- quired for the operation. An effort is being made to raise the necessary amount. Any contributions sent t<- Variett will be acknowledged and for- warded. 13 TANGUAY AT FULTON? The Fulton theatre, New York, one of the hard-luck Harris houses of this season, is thinking of tendering an otl'er to the Eva Tanguay road show to come in there. Sam H. Wallach, who manages the house, went on this week to see the vaudeville troupe Miss Tanguay heads. It is claimed the Tanguay show did enough business last week over one- nighters to give the star $6,900 as her share. The cost of operating the com- pany is about $1,400 weekly. Next week Tanguay and company are at the Colonial, Providence. Arthur Klein is still the manager. The Fulton will be dark next week. Lillian Russell opens for seven days March 3. "The Unwritten Law" at the Fulton closes Saturday night. "CHILDREN" IN DOUBT. Atlantic City, Feb. 20. "The Children of Today," which Co- han & Harris present at the Apollo this week, is by Clara Lipman and Samuel Shipman. It is a satirical com- edy in four acts aimed at the worldli- ness of modern children and their de- creasing regard for parental control The satire at times is almost ridicu- lous and makes the widowed mother appear a woman of putty. There can be no question but that the play is vitally interesting as an analysis of present conditions or at least a few years hence, even though very far-fetched. The piece has advanced ideas. James Bradbury did excellently as the stepfather, Carmen Nesville was fine as an adventuress, Millicent Evans as the daughter was good, while Geo. Probert did not have an easy time of it as the impressionistic artist. The first night impression here was not flattering. The play may go either way. REVIVAL AT MANHATTAN. Utica, Feb. 20. Robert Campbell, owner of "The White Slave," has signed contracts'for a big scenic revival of the famous melo- drama, to open at the Manhattan Opera House early in August. There is to be a big metropolitan "all-star" cast. He also plans a similar revival of "Siberia," and 20 weeks have been set aside for him at the Manhattan. NEW SHOWS TO BOSTON. Boston, Feb. 20. New shows to Boston will come into local theatres next week. At the Plymouth Robert Lorraine in "Not for Sale" takes the stage, "Disraeli" going out Saturday at the conclusion of the 19th week of its run here. "The Follies" leaves the Colonial this week, with "The Miracle" picture showing there commencing Monday. At the Tremont "The Yellow Jacket" will replace "Milestones." The season for the Gilbert & Sulli- van Opera ( o. has been prolonged. It eomes into the Majestic March 3, suc- ceeding "Bunty," now playintr there. Joe Whitehead will continue in vau- deville for the remainder of tlie season.