Variety (May 1913)

VAHI1TY WOODS' GERMAN ENTERPRISES HAVE FIE LD TO THEMSELVES First Pop Vaudeville Theatres Over There. Nothing But "Store Shows" Before. A. H. Woods Gets Flock of Berlin Theatres Available for Music Halls. Playing Five Acts and Pictures. Two Shows Nightly. When A. H. Woods had the oppor- tunity of settling down, after his re- turn from Europe last week, he let in some light on his enterprises in Germany. Much has been printed about Woods' moves over there, but detailed information had been scarcely retailed prior to the return of the man- ager. The perplexing thing about Woods' invasion of the German country to those along Broadway who understood Teutonic conditions, was how he did it. Mr. Woods says "Guess I worked fast." The fact remains, however, the Woods- Goldsoll concern has four first class theatres in Berlin, playing pop vaude- ville under a license that would per- mit either to give the highest grade of music hall show, and allow it to serve refreshments. Another theatre, the Pottsdammer, is being built for Woods on Pottsdam- mer Platz, Berlin, a location in that city that ranks with Broadway and 42d street, New York. The other Berlin houses are the Apollo, on lower Fred- erich strasse; Wilchustat theatre, on Frankfurter strasse; Cines Nollendorf, on Nollendorf Platz, and Theatre Gross Berlin, Charlottenberg (the Hoboken of Berlin). Outside of Berlin Mr. Woods has the Sarassina's Circus at Dresden, opening there Aug. 25. It seats around 4,000, and is the New York Hippo- drome of Germany. Other towns re Leipzic, Cologne, Hanover, Bremen and Munich. There will be 13 Woods- Goldsoll pop vaudeville theatres in the Fatherland by Oct. 1. Mr. Woods does not expect to return over there until November. Martin Herman sails to look the situation over in his inter- est May 27. L. J. Goldsoll, who started the promotion of the entirely new enter- tainment for the Germans has been a resident of Berlin for some years. He is an American, well thought of on the other side. Prior to the innovation Woods and Goldsoll introduced, Ber- lin knew nothing of pictures other than what had been shown in "store shows," mostly "upstairs places." Ber- lin was in the same condition, moving pictorially, that New York was six years ago. The novelty of a combined vaude- ville and picture show in a regular theatre at prices ranging from ten to fifty cents immediately appealed to the Germans. Mr. Woods is sanguine of the continued prosperity of his Ger- man venture, and has gone so far as to contract for good sized vaudeville acts, having taken the Thurston & Mc- Cormick "Auto and Train Effect" from "The Honeymoon .Express" at the Winter Garden, New York, for a trip of ten weeks over the German circuit, paying something like $625 weekly for it. Five acts make up the vaudeville program. They are mostly on the "dumb" order and imported, when German turns are not used. With the opening of next season the Woods German Circuit will employ about 90 acts weekly. Two shows nightly are given, matinees (excepting on Sundays) not showing sufficient strength to keep the houses open. In pictures feature films are being sought. Besides the feature at the Theatre Gross Berlin, is "The Sinking of the Titanic," a Cines subject at an- other of the Berlin houses. The Cines people supply a daily picture service equal if not excelling anything in the picture line that may be obtained over here, stated Mr. Woods. At the opening of the Theatre Gross Berlin, the house staff seemed to be dallying. Mr. Woods mentioned he would like the lobby swept The men assured him it would be attended to the next day. The theatre was due to open in an hour. Woods grabbed a broom, sweeping it himself. Something novel in the picture line was brought over here by Mr. Woods. It is called "Life's Target." A picture of living objects rapidly passes over the sheet. Rifles are used to shoot at them. When one is struck, the sheet stops and the marksman may examine the result, or the sheet can be stopped at any moment. This will be put out by Woods as a concession. HAS AMERICAN, DAVENPORT. Chicago, May 21. W. S. Butterfield and Mark Heiman journeyed to Davenport this week and closed a deal whereby they will con- trol the American theatre there next season. The house has been receiving bookings from Jim Matthews of the Pantages office but beginning June 1 the house passes into possession of the new parties and next season will re- ceive its bookings from Sam Kahl through the Western Vaudeville Man- agers' Association. There is another house in Davenport now in the course of construction, with no announcement cf policy. RINGLING BOOKING ACTS. John Ringling is booking many acts for next season with the Ringling cir- cuses, it is said. One of the circus people mentioned this week that Max Lowe of the H. B. Marinelli agency had submitted a list of 100 "circus acts" to Mr. Ringling last week. The list contained names of mostly foreign turns, some over here now and others abroad. TANGUAY HITS CHICAGO RIGHT. Chicago, May 21. Eva Tanguay got a flying start at the American Music Hall Sunday after- noon. The house was, with the. ex- ception of the last two rows down stairs, entirely filled. It was the largest mat- inee that the American Music Hall has held since it was turned over to the Shuberts. The Palace and Majestic Sunday afternoon were practically empty. The Tanguay show pleased immense- ly although not a big show but it was fast and snappy. Miss Tanguay her- self was a tremendous success. At night the house was sold out the takings for the day amounting close to $2,000. This was beyond the figures of both the star and the house manage- ment. It is almost assured that the troupe on its two weeks' engagement will get over $20,000. The Music Hall is very poorly situated and this is considered a remarkable amount for a vaudeville show to take in the house. Frank Buck is managing the Music Hall in the absence of Sam Gersen. Asher Levy, manager of the Garrick, iu overlooking the details of the en- gagement Harry Green, the rag drummer of the College Inn restaurant orchestra under Walter Blaufuss is playing the drums with the orchestra ana will be carried on tour with the Tanguay troupe. Green is featured, being al- lowed one number with the spot light on him. Monday at the Music Hall the mati- nee was extremely good, while both the Palace and Majestic fell rather sharp- ly, neither house gaining more than half an audience. At night business at all three places was good, the Tanguay show getting the best of it again. The Palace with a convention buying out half the house filled up pretty well. The Majestic held a good audience while the Music Hall was big. In the two days the Tanguay show did 13,590. They were betting here- abouts that the show would not take $9,000 on the week at the Music Hall before the engagement opened. It now looks as though $12,000 would be reached. The Tanguay business has been mych better than either the Majestic's or Palace's up to the matinee today. LEVEY WANTS LONG LEASE. San Francisco, May 21. Bert Levey is in Denver, negotiating for a long lease of the Tabor Grand. The consummation of the deal seems to be assured. If it is closed Levey proposes to extend his circuit east- ward, probably as far as Kansas and Nebraska. The San Francisco agent expects to proceed eastward from here. MUCH DEMAND FOR GREEN. Chicago, May 21. Gene Green, who finished a big week at the Wilson last week and is this week doing the trick for the Jones, Linick & Schaeffer people at the Will- ard, goes into the Colonial as the big feature June 9 and plays a return date at the Wilson June 23. Green will play a return in all of the J. L. & S. houses. NEW ACTS FORMING. Lillian Smalley (Lola in "Madam Sherry"), has prepared a "single" act for vaudeville. Madge Tyrone, all season with "The Conspiracy," opened in a new dram- atic sketch entitled "The Right Road," at the McKinley Square theatre, New .York, Monday. Al. Can field has withdrawn from the "Mr. Flynn from Lynn" cast and is re- hearsing a new vaudeville act with Herbert Ashley, written for them by Aaron Hoffman. OH, YOU CHERRY SISTERS! Chicago, May 21. Cherry Sisters have once again re- tired to Cedar Rapids and this time they journeyed back without any great flare of trumpets or fireworks. The sisters took over the Haymarket the- atre last week putting in a show and playing on a percentage basis. The house opened Monday night and the receipts amounted to $7. Tuesday night business picked up, after the seven came $11 but even this was too small and so the house management decided the engagement was a fliv. The sit- ters said it was due to lack of publicity. They allege that in every town they had played the vegetables passed over the footlights to them alone amounted to more than their biggest night's re- ceipts at the Haymarket. The girls berated the management and then dropped each act on the bill a cute little note stating that salaries would be paid sometime. ORGANIZED IN ARIZ. Phoenix, Ariz., May 21. 20 managers of vaudeville and pic- ture houses of Arizona met here and organized what will be known as the Arizona Exhibitors' Association. This meeting comes as a result of the Bert Levey Circuit and the West- ern Vaudeville Managers' Association to acquire exclusive booking rights of the Arizona houses. W. R. Dailey of San Francisco, who has been here in behalf of the Levey end, has left while the Frint George Booking Agency, representing the W. V. M. A. is signing up a unmber of houses. HARRY LEONHARDT BACK. Harry Leonhardt, for the past two years connected with the steamship agency business, is returning to the theatrical field. Monday he enters the employ of F. F. Proctor, taking charge of the b >oking of travelling combina- tions playing the Proctor small time houses in Elizabeth, Plainfield, Cohoes, Schenectady and Perth Amboy. Leonhardt's experience in the legiti- mate field dates back to his associa- tion with the late Augustin Daly. He has occupied practically every post in the amusement field, from painting scenery up. GU8 SUN PLAYING TABS. Cincinnati, May 21. Gus Sun has confirmed the report that from 10 to 15 tabloid productions will be put on his circuit next season. The tabs will be sprinkled in be- tween the vaudeville shows.