Variety (June 1913)

r- Vol. XXXI. No. 1. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, JUNEI6, 1913. PRICE 10 CENTS. $90,000 VAUDEVILLE OFFER FOR OE RTRUD E HOFFMANN United Booking Offices in Press for Attractions Malce Mimic Proposal to Play 30 Weelts Next Season at $if9W Weeldy. Agents Surprised by I iheral Anything that likens itself to an at- traction in vaudeville for next season is being eagerly sought by the United Booking Offices. The press and extremity of the U. B. O. in the present conditions are more fully told in the offer the agency has made to Gertrude Hoffmann. It is 190,000 for 30 weeks, if the mimic will play in the big time vaudeville theatres booked by the agency at those terms. Miss Hoffmann has given no reply to the proposal it is said. Another potent reason for the U. B. 0. exceeding its salary limit and "con- secutive time" allowance is that Miss Hoffmann has a road show proposition under consideration. She closed her very successful season in "From Broadway to Paris" at Montreal last Saturday. The trip over the Shubert time convinced her managers that as a box office card Miss Hoffmann is a very desirable person. They see a world of money ahead for another trip with the star the magnet, and have placed before her a flattering offer. The experience of the big time vaudeville booking men the season ended has convinced them that the booking system of vaudeville pro- grams, whether the normal show or "big bills" does not allow a show to be placed together in an attractive form, either in the playing, on the bills or at the money window. This has led them to the conclusion that an "attraction" is necessary, an idea that is prevailing nowadays to an extent sev- eral vaudeville road shows are being formed, owing to the weakness dis- closed the past few months by the reg- ular big time vaudeville houses throughout the country. During the summer the United Booking Offices may acquire a num- YOR SUMMER SHOW FOR BOSTON. Boston, June 4. Lucy Daly and "Hap" Ward will be the new attraction with the Mayer- Hirshfeld show, to be put on at the Majestic early in July. It will be one of George M. Cohan's old musical comedies. In the meantime the house will re- l^ntin dark. It was intended to keep * * ' • only, when Salaries and Long Tinie Now Being Offerra." _ tor two weeks omy, wnen "Play or Pay" Contracts Demande|l?»fL^C^L^^ l)*»t/ .4,jrS fuled to take a chance with only two ber of "names" for its A^teW^fF-NWX^iO weeks' rehearsal, fall. In approaching flttUXNttaMio4ll9'<»- to secure headlinei s ^ and plans of the road show promoters, the U. B. O. managers have encountered an obstacle through finding the big features demand "play or pay" con- tracts, the same as the legitimate pro- ducing managers have been issuing to their artists from vaudeville. The "play or pay" agreement which elimi- nates the "two weeks^ tricky clause is something the United agency does not care to issue unless obliged to. It has depended upon this cancellation provision in the past, to the great mis- fortune of several legitimate actors and actresses who were unaware of the crooked paths leading to a big time vaudeville route. This week the U. B. O. managers booking for next season surprised the agents by the liberality of the salary and the long routes promised. The agents remarked it was a further sign of the managerial distress over the outlook. ^.^ I . Ill the chorus has been kept and the fnlstr^^^t w Jin en principals, too, but Harry First will be among the missing. PRODUCKKS EMBARRASSED. A well known legitimate producing firm is reported to be in serious finan- cial difficulties. Throughout the past two months the firm has been annoyed by attachments on its attractions and been helped out by the head of one of the ''Syndicates." Announcement of the firm's dissolu- tion and bankrupcty is momentarily expected. CELEBRATES 7eTH BIRTHDAY. Boston, June 4. Charles H. Clark, the oldest member f)f the "Old Homestead Company," cele- hratcd his 76tli birthday Tuesday. POWERS AT STUDEBAKBR. Chicago, June 4. James J. Brady will not be the man- ager of the Studebaker, as reported. It is probable that Harry Powers, who has been appointed Klaw & Erlanger's general manager in Chicago, will also look after the Studebaker, with a box office man acting as assistant manager. TAKE JUIilETTB DIKA. The Shuberts have taken Juliette Dika for leading woman of "The Honeymoon Express" when that show goes on the road. Miss Dika will step into the role now held by Grace LaRuc at the Winter Garden. The production closes its New York run June 14. The Garden will be dark until the new "Passing Show of 1913" reopens it in July. PIOTURED BELASOO IN ACTTION. David Belasco in a moving picture, entitled "David Belasco Conducting a Rehearsal of One of His Own Com- panies," may be produced by the Fam- ous Players Film Co., as a result of D. B.'s zealousness in seeing that "A Good Little Devil" was properly staged before the camera. Belasco, in giving the principals dif- ferent instructions at times, was not aware the picture man kept the cam- era working on him. Daniel Frohman sent Belasco a check for $5 for hi? day's work in the studio. The money will go to the Actors' Fund. NEED HITOHOOOK HERB. ' Broadway may have another look at Raymond Hitchcock sooner than mntic- ipated. Cohan & Harris, it it laid, are thinking of bringing the present star of "The Red Widow" back from the west, earlier than intended, for the pur- pose* of giving Mr. Hitchcock a new production to open one of the firm's New York houses next season. The supply of new attractions in sight for the larger producers is not plentiful enough, the managers are claiming. STARRING IRISH BARITONB. The legitimate is due for a novelty next season, when George J. MacFar- lane will appear under the management of William A. Brady and the Shuberts as an Irish singer in an Irish play, call- ed "Shan-Magun." Mr. MacFarlane is a baritone. Irish stars, past and present, have been in- variably tenors. Viola Gillette, with Mr. MacFarlane in vaudeville and who is also with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, where Mr. MacFarlane is now a mem- ber, will likely be cast for the principal female role of the new production. A review in VxRiBxr of "lolanthe" at the Casino may have given an erro- neous impression. Mr. MacFarlane and Miss Gillette are married. HOLBROOK BLINN RB-BNGAOED. Holbrook Blinn, director of the Princess Theatre Players, has been re- engaged for next season. Commencing Monday last the pro- gram at the Princess was reduced to three sketches, the former opening piece "At the Switchboard" being re- moved. Frances Larrimore of the stock com- pany, left the cast to join "The Master Mind." Phil Klein, manager of the theatre, is very ill in a local hospital, from complication developing through an attack of laryngitis. TWO ACTS SPLIT. McKay and Cantwell dissolved their j»artncrship this wek, by mutual agree- ment. The same thing happened to Haw- thorne and Burt.