Variety (June 1913)

VARIETY HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF IN CHIC AOO "A SSOCIATION" Managing Director of Middle-West Booking Office Said to be Interested in Agency Lately Organized to Talce Over Former *'Stand-In'* Broker. W. V. M. A. Managers Unsettled Over Return of Old Conditions by Man They Placed in Power. More Trouble Prob- able This Summer. Chicago, June 4. A condition of dissention similar to the one that existed in the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association last summer, when several managers rep- resenting practically the entire strength of the big agency threatened to with- draw and establish their own booking quarters, is gradually growing into a reality. The secession of Jones, Linick & Schaeffer and their ultimate success with their independent agency has had its own effect on the W. V. M. A. managers and it would not be a sur- prise to see several more jump the traces and join the opposition force. It is well known negotiations have been carried to the closing point be- tween the J. L. & S. people and sev- eral "Association" managers. The "accidental" outside meetings of the latter have added strength to the report that a few more may walk out. One of the principal reasons for the present condition is said to be the con- nections between C. E. Kohl, manag- ing director of the "Association" and the John Simons Agency. While Kohl claims he only loaned Simons the money to purchase the A. E. Meyers office, this is not generally accepted. When Kohl assumed the leadership of the "Association" he immediately abolished the monopoly held by the Meyers office and declared himself in favor of an open door for agents. The "open door" policy worked to the satisfaction of all concerned, but with the weeding out process and the recent business deal which brought Kohl and Simons together, the vaude- ville horizon hereabouts began to cloud up. Several of the agents booking through the "Association" are already preparing themselves for a shift to the opposition if the Kohl-Simons Agency is shown any favors. The conditions that existed during the Meyers reign were responsible for the Consolidated Vaudeville Managers' Corporation and it is thought the manajj^ers who made up that organization will soon get to- gether again and make a final stand. It was at their suggestion young Kohl was appointed to the head of the office, succeeding C. E. Bray, and they look upon the Kohl-Simons deal as a large double cross. The presence of John J. Murdock on the ground hjs done much to in- crease their fears for next season, for despite Kohl's statements to the con- trary, it is known Murdock has ingen- iously succeeded in securincr young Kohl's endorsement to every policy he advocated. The inauguration of a Chi- cago branch of the United Booking Offices is sufficient to show Murdock's motive, for he naturally hopes to re- instate himself in a territory from which he was banished by the late C. E. Kohl. Immediately after assuming charge of the W. V. M. A. young Mr. Kohl announced Murdock would have no say in running the "Association** and for awhile it looked as though he in- tended to keep his word, but Murdock patiently waited until a break in the "Association" seemed imminent and then stepped in with his usual advice. There are still a few members of the "Association" who are strangely fa- miliar with Murdock's methods as well as his past performances and the mod- ern Napoleon would like to arrange for their immediate removal. Some- how or other they always manage to interfere with his delicate plans at the wrong moment and even to a great general (as Murdock believes himself to be) this is rather annoying. Through young Kohl he evidently expects to arrange the "Association" matters to his own liking and unless the Manag- ing Director displays a spark of in- telligence and some of the independ- ence he was credited with inheriting, it is possible Murdock will have ac- complished his end before next sea- son happens along. Those who seem to have the inter- ests of the "Association" at heart are in favor of a show-down and the im- mediate expulsion of Murdock and his policies from the middle west. The various managers who make up the W. V. M. A. and the directors of that in- stitution are a little closer together than formerly and a well founded ru- mor brings the news that the manag- ers are considering another alliance which would eventually necessitate a meeting that would settle Murdock's plans one way or the other. Meanwhile the managers are closely watching the operation of the Kohl- Simons combination, expecting an af- filiation during the summer between that and the Albee, Weber & Evans outfit in New York, in which Murdock is said to be the controlling figure. Inasmuch as the existence of the Meyers office brought forth a summer war last year that almost wrecked the "Association" it is hardly thought likely the managers will stomach the Kohl-Simons proposition, which is pal- pable evidence of a broad business weakness on the part of the manag- ing head of the "Association," or a flagrant attempt at petty graft. Agency because of the peculiar cor- poration laws in the west, was practi- cally thrown in the discard this week when Bert Levey gobbled up the entire string of Arizona houses formerly hooked by George and which was es- sentially the foundation of the Denver office. The houses annexed by the coast agent include the Elk's theatre, Globe; Gem, Miami; Opera House, Bis- bee; Dime, Douglas; Coliseum and Empress, Phoenix, and houses at Pres- cott, Mesa, Ray, Clifton and Morenci, Arizona. They add a total of seven weeks to Levey's present string and go a long way to make the independent agent the strongest vaudeville contend- er west of Chicago. Several months ago Print George, under the direction of C. E. Kohl, pres- ent managing director of the "Associa- tion," made a trip through the north- west in an attempt to tie up sufficient houses in that section to give the "Association" an unbroken string of houses from Chicago to the coast. George very foolishly promised man- agers in that section Orpheum Circuit acts, provided they affiliated with the "Association." Morris Meyerfeld, Jr., heard of George's methods and sent a statement broadcast declaring that George nor no one else had authority to promise Orpheum bookings in that territory. Upon his return George was delegat- ed to invade Denver and wipe out op- position around there. His failure brought about by Levey's activity prob- ably will halt the "Association's" eflforts in that direction and keep the middle west agency in its own field, where it seems to be pretty well occupied trying to check the moves of the new Jones, Linick & Schaeffer Agency. "KEITH'S" ON PALACE. It is said about that the new Pal- ace theatre, now closed for the sum- mer, will shortly have the name of Keith above the Palace electrical sign. This will be the fulfillment of the first intention upon the Keith crowd taking the house away from Martin Beck, to call it Keith's Palace. Be- fore the house opened someone lost his nerve on the Keith thing through the Hamincrstcin United Booking Office "franchise," hut that little difti- ciilty was adjusted to keep the l^ B. O. out of court. The way the Keith people flopped on tlieir plan to get away with the Pal- ace job as against the Hannmrstcin's suggested John J. Murdock had hcru consulted in tlic matter. Los Angeles. Cal., June 4. The "Association's" Denver office. which was established recently by one Print George and has been conducted under the name of the Print George li.^RUE AND «LK\I)I\NI\0. (irace LaRuo and l-'riiost C^leiidiii- iiing are goint,' into vaufieville with a musical and dancing act. i)rol)al»ly opening at the Majestic, ChicaKo, July 7. hooked hy Alf. Wilton. Anotlicr new act of Wilton's is Jo- seph F. Sheehan and \nfoinctte Lc i!rtin. with fonden<(fl oiicras. opcniii:; June 2.S in Detroit. Tel<'|>hon«'H in evrry rcmm nt NDW HHiillNT iioTKr, ST. rolls, >io. ai. GORT TALKING TO HOPPER. The report is around that John Cort has been talking to De^olf Hopper in person or by mail, to induce the lat- ter's favorable view on a Cort road show next season, headed by the "Cas- ey" reciter. Nothing has been done, however, be- yond the talk. SELBINI*S ROAD SHOW. A big vaudeville road show over here is being planned by Lalla Selbini for next season. Miss Selbini is play- j ing at present to whip the big acts she secured from the estate of the Great Lafayette into shape. These will form part of the show. Miss Selbini has the sole rights to all of the late Great Lafayette's show, including "The Lion's Bride." VIO WILLIAMS DIBS. The death of Victor Williams oc- curred early Monday morning last at his apartments in the Hotel Wood- ward, Broadway and 55th street. He had been afflicted with a throat trou- ble for some years. It developed into paralysis and "Vic" passed away with but his wife and a nurse in attend- ance. The evening before Willie Hammer- stein had called, and found Vic cheer- ful, although in bed. He informed Willie the next day would sec him about again. Vic had been in bed since Friday. The body was embalmed and re- moved to an undertaker's rooms. Services probably will be held Sun- day. Mr. and Mrs. Percy G. Williams are due in New York today on the Mauretania and will decide where. A wireless was sent to them yesterday saying Vic was dangerously ill, to prepare them for the sad news. When the parents left New York a few weeks ago their son was feeling bet- ter than he had for some time. Victor Williams died at the age of 35. He was unusually popular among his intimates, full of spirit, and noted for his frankness and truthfulness of speech. He held several managerial positions in connection with his fa- ther's theatrical enterprises. Resides his widow and parents, the deceased left a brother, Harold, about four years younger. »,000 SEATS AT 5 CENTS. Next week or so up in the Bronx on Prospect avenue, another theatre is to open. It is the lUirland, and seats 5,- 000 people; 3,000 in the open and 2,500 enclosed. The j)lace has been leased by a Mr. Pickhardt. Admission to see the pic- ture show will he five cents. FDDIK DARLING HAILING. Of all the staff of the United Book- in.^ OfTices expecting to go abroad this ^nninur. luhlie Darling, booker for the Keilh New York houses, seems to he the single f»ne who will le.ive. He \^•ill h;i\e ff»r t ninpany I. Samuels. 'I 1m y will travel a<ross on the Kron- )>^iIl/^s'^(■n ( (cilie, sailing; June 10. Mr. Darlitu,' e\f)ects to remain on the nlhcr ^i<le for six (ir eij^^lit weeks, cov- eting (ireaf Britain and the Continent. hi^t ti'iiriij: to Paris.