Variety (April 1913)

Vol. XXX. No. 5. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1913. PRICE 10 CENTS WON'T DECLARE NEW PALACE OPPOSITION TO HAM MERSTEIN'S Keith Crowd Claims to Have Disposed of Stock, But Back- ing Up Martin Beck in His Violation of the United Booking Offices "Franchise." Palace Business Worse Than Last Week With a Poorer Show, Also. The B. F. Keith crowd which ob- tained an interest in the Palace the- atre, New York, at the same time they administered such an unmerciful business whipping to Martin Beck, are now alleging they have disposed of all their stock in the enterprise, although refusing to declare the Palace "oppo- sition" to Hammerstein's Victoria. Both houses are in the same "franchise" district as apportioned by the United Booking Offices, which seems to be booking each theatre, since acts re- ported secured for Hammerstein's have been "pulled out" by the U. B. O. and listed for the Palace. Two of these turns are said to be Elizabeth Murray (the hit of the bill this week at the Paace) and James J. Morton (Acts are not responsible for the "pull- ing out" affair.) Hammerstein's is also said to be "losing slips" or having them "mislaid," another indication the U. B. O. is get- ting its usual work in to favor the Pal- ace as against the legitimate holder of its Times Square "franchise" (Ham- merstein's). The argument of the Keith people is that the Palace-Hammerstein con- fusion is "unfortunate." They say they were obliged to take charge of the Pal- ace to get Beck out of a hole, and Beck in his customary way of getting into trouble he cannot take care of him- self, has led them further into it. The reason the Keith people do not declare the Palace opposition is, accord- ing to report, they do not feel they can affront Beck because of the Or- phcum Cihcuit in the west behind him, and with the Hammersteins only oper- ating one theatre. This argument on the surface would sound logical to the uninformed, but those on the inside of vaudeville say the U. B. O. has Beck and the Or- pheum Circuit so thoroughly cowed, it could book the entire circuit at a mo- ment's notice without a protest. Beck is receiving an "awful showing up" (as the theatrical people express it) in his attempted operation of a "$2 Vaudeville" theatre in New York City. For Omaha, Lincoln and Kansas City, along with other towns of that ilk, Beck has posed as a showman and the cities believed it, not caring either way, but on the Main Alley where the boys are watching him, Beck, after many statements of what he could and would do, did a somersault the first week, and performed the impossible triple, in the current bill at his Pal- ace. It is a poorer show than last week's, and doing less business. Business at the Palace has held to the calibre of the entertainment pre- sented there. Last week owing to the Palace catching the Saturday night overflow from the Broadway houses (which gave it a capacity orchestra) the house did around $4,000 on the week. Its Sunday matinee held 150 people by actual count. Sunday night a fair house gathered. Monday mat- inee seven rows in the orchestra were occupied for the new show going on, and Monday night the usual ten rows (with paper) wert taken. It was rumored Wednesday the Pal- ace would reduce prices next week to one dollar. Another report was to the effect Charles B. Dillingham was in negotiations for the Palace as a pro- duction theatre (legitimate). Ruth St. Denis, the classical dancei, who has appeared n 75-cent vaudeville, will be the feature attraction at the $2 house next week. MANAGERIAL CORDIALITY. At the meeting of the managers' as- sociation to provide funds for the flood sufferers, all the managers of the former competitive factions gathered for the first time. Among those early assembled was William A. Brady. Later A. L. Erlang- er entered and, passing Brady, said, "Hello, Bill." "How are you, Mr. Erlanger?" replied "Bill." "I didn't address you as 'Mr. Brady'," remarked Erlanger. "Oh, all right, then, 4 Abe\" was the answer. A few moments afterward Lee Shu- bert came into the room. A loud, cheery "Hello, Lee" came from the head of "The Syndicate," with an equal- ly affable "Hello, Abe" from Shubert. "Oh, my Lord!" said one producing manager sitting near by. "Isn't that pleasant? And we have been sweating between them for three years." BOSTON'S SUMMER GARDEN. Boston, April 2. Plans are on foot for a monster en- tertainment at the Boston Arena this summer. Three hundred tables are to be placed in the floor, and an orchestra of 100 pieces will furnish music. The Shuberts and John Cort are to furnish the acts, which will appear on a platform in the centre of the floor. Beer and light wines will be sold. FRITZI SCHEFF ENGAGED. Chicago, April 2. It is reported the marriage of Fritzi Scheff to George Anderson, of her com- pany ("The Love Wager"), will shortly occur. Miss Scheff was recently divorced from John Fox, Jr. INCORPORATING HIP CO. Los Angeles, April 2. The Hippodrome Company, of Cali- fornia, was incorporated March 26 in Sacramento, capitalized at $100,000, for the purpose of operating the Hip in this city. The incorporators arc Irving Acker- man, Sam Harris and Charles Brown, local men. NO PASS CASUALITY. Chicago, April 2. The first casualty reported from the new No Pass ordinance, which went into effect April 1, comes from the Clyde W. Riley Advertising Agency, which controls all the theatre programs of the Chicago theatres. In the past, each theatre was given a half page in the programs for which the Riley agency received passes upon request. These passes the Riley people distributed among their other advertis- ers, securing and holding business in this way. So great was the demand upon the agency, it is estimated, be- sides the passes received from the the- atres, they spent as much as $4,000 a year for tickets besides. It is now almost a certainty that they will be forced to buy from $10,000 to $12,000 worth during a year for their patrons, of whom they have made virtually free theatregoers. Orders for the pass ordinance have been received at the Klaw & Erlanger headquarters, but so far as is known nothing more has been said at the Shu- bert houses. "No passes" has been the slogan at the Shubert houses for the past two years where no paper has been given out, although there has been a free list recognized. "CUE-MEN" FOR CIRCUS. A new thing in acrobatics has been dug up by George Mooser for the Bar- num-Bailey Circus, now at the Garden, and which is reported to be badly in need of a novelty. Mr. Mooser's importation is a troupe of eight Chinamen, who swing around in the air hanging by their cues. The Chinks will join the show in about six weeks. NANCE O'NEIL MAY MOVE. No definite arrangements have been made for the Nance O'Neil company to continue another week at Wallack's in "Ann Boyd." Despite thr popular prices established for the new produc- tion the advance interest does not war- rant much further time on Hmadway. DeWitt NewiiiK. who played the traveling salesman \f<-iwlav ni:;!if, le't the cast Tuesday.