Variety (May 1913)

c ol. XXX. No. 9. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1913. PRICE 10 CENTS THEATRICAL ASSOCIATIONS MAY BE MERG ED INTO UNIT Theatre Managers 9 Association and National Theatre Producing Managers' Association to be Recruited up to Full Strength or New Order Formed, Embrac- ing Former Factional Sides, K & E-Shubert Pooling Agreement Making it Possible. To Combat Labor Troubles, Princi- pal Reason. Awaiting Return of Alf. Hay man. The Klaw & Erlanger-Shubert mer- ger" or "pooling" of certain towns to be more correct, is already working its beneficient influence in many direc- tions. The combined strength of the now solid phalanx of organization, capital and experience is working out, day by day, many details looking to the elimination of many cumbersome minor alliances until it shall have been developed into a smoothly-oiled and easy running arrangement of machin- ery. Among other things the matter of conducting the two associations of legitimate managers is being given consideration at present. They are the Theatre Managers Association, Charles Burnham, president, (to which all but the Shuberts and some of their allies belong) and the National Theatre Producing Managers Associ- ation. William A. Brady, president, which could never muster over fifty per cent of the producing managers. The members of both organizations were never active individually, being content to let their respective presi- dents dispose of most of the matters. As a result there was never complete action on matters of vital interest to both sides. The Theatre Managers Associations had affiliations in local or- ganizations scattered throughout the country, but the producing managers' organization, mostly all of them resi- dents of New York, had just as much difficulty in calling out the full strength of their association as the others. It is now designed to recruit the members of one to the other, or to dissolve both and form an entirely new organization to embrace the avowed objects of both. Much of this, however, will be left open until the return of Alf Hayman from his vaca- tion trip abroad, when he and Hollis E. Cooley are expected to devise some simple method of combining all the legitimate managers of the country. The strong point to be suggested in favor of so complete and comprehen- sive an organization as above outlined is to be in a position to formidably combat such labor and other matters as may arise from time to time. No successor to Ligon Johnson, gen- eral counsel to the National Producing Managers' Association, has yet been chosen. It is not unlikely that he may be prevailed upon to remain at his pre- sent post until there is a readjustment of affairs when the new associa- tion proposed shall be able to make him an attractive proposal to act for them, providing him with an adequate office staff for the transaction of their affairs. POY TALKING RETIREMENT. San Francisco, April 30. Eddie Foy has exhibited here a 30 weeks' contract with the United Book- ing Offices for next season at $1,750 a week for himself and seven children. Foy declares that at the conclusion of this tour he will retire permanently from the footlights. BERNHARDT'S RETURN DATE. Chicago, April 30. The Majestic last week with Sarah Bernhardt as the attraction was rather a disappointment in the matter of busi- ness. The house played the French woman earlier in the season at advanced prices and the public flocked to see her; but upon the return date, with the usual house prices, there were but two or three sell-outs on the week. The wonderful woman must bow be- fore old age. Her steps are slow and measured and at times her efforts to get around the stage are almost pitiful. These who have seen her on this last trip will not have the correct impres- sion of the Great Bernhardt as she once was. ALBANY BILLS COLD. Albany, N. Y., April 30. With the Legislature at the point of adjournment, it may be said that unless a special session is called by the gov- ernor, none of the bills affecting the- atricals in any way will be passed. All are in committee and will remain there, if the two houses adjourn as slated. DRESSLER REGULARLY BOOKED. Marie Dressier will bring her "All Star Gambol" tour to a close in East- on, Pa., Saturday night. Her personal manager, J. H. Dalton, ran into town this week to negotiate with Alf. T. Wilton for vaudeville time, whereupon the agent booked her at the Colonial for the week of May 19 at a salary re- ported to be $2,500. The "All Star Gambol" tour has not been a financial success. "O JEE' COMES OFF. Los Angeles, April 30 "O Jcc," produced at the Burbauk last week for a run, was suddenly taken off and this week there is being pre- sented "Get - Rich-Quick-Wallinnford," with Frances King in the role she cre- ated in New York. CORT CUTS PICTURE PRICES. Chicago, April 30. The Cort, playing a feature film, has already cut prices to 10-15. "YOCJI MAN" NEXT SEASON. "The Yogi Man" a new musical comedy by R. Henry and Claire Kum mer, is announced t'or production early next season. Miss Kummer lias already gone to lur summer home at Narragan- sett Pier. CORT OFFICE ACTIVITY. The John Cort offices in the Long- acre Building looked like a convention of theatrical celebrities this week. Headliners, managers and producers were constantly calling upon George Mooscr, in charge of Mr. Cort's vaude- ville enterprises. Several important engagements for road shows over the Cort Circuit next season have been reported, but Mr. Mooser will not confirm any. He says, as previously quoted, he would prefer no mention be made of the stars under contract until Mr. Cort gives the word to release the news. EMMA DUNN IN "MOTHER." A return trip to vaudeville in her former sketch "Mother" will be made by Emma Dunn, who scored the big hit of David Belasco's "Governor'! Lady" this season. M. S. Bentham is fixing the vaudd~ ville time for Miss Dunn. COAST FOR JOHN MASON. It is not improbable John Mason will immediately reorganize or draw to- gether the company which closed with him in "As a Man Thinks" last Satur- day, and make a quick start for the Pa- cific Coast, remaining out all summer. WILLIAMSON ILL. San Francisco, April 30. The Ventura last Friday brought in J. C. Williamson, the Australian man- ager, who was ill on the trip over and had to be removed to the McNutt Hos- pital Saturday. Today it is said he is convalescent. Jules Simpson, the Brcnnan-Fuller representative, also returned on that lioat. There were several other the- atrical persons aboard, including some of the stranded performers from the Hud Atkinson Wild West. (A story concerning these people is « "nlaincd in the correspondence from San Francisco in this issue.) <;aki>\hr and vi\ck\t dissolve Lottie Gardner and Frank Vincent will dissolve stag'- partnership Mav 23, when the former retires f? mi active professional work