Variety (June 1913)

8 VARIETY CHiCAQO MANAGERS CONNIVE FOR "NEI GHBORH OOD TRADE" Windy City Question is How Can tlie $2 Attractions Ob- tain Tlieatre Patronage Outside ''Tlie Loop.*' News- paper Suggests Taliing Shows to Outlying Districts. Chicago, June 4. Discussion is rife regarding the play- ing of the big attractions in the outly- ing districts in Chicago. One of the dailies discoursing upon the incon- venience of getting into "The Loop" through the inadequate service supplied by the elevated and surface cars ad- vised that as long as the people could not be brought to the shows the shows should be brought to the people. This sounds like very good logic when based upon the fact that the outlying vaude- ville houses have been doing so well but there are many things to be con- sidered. In the first place a two dollar attraction cannot be judged by the pop price vaudeville. The later does busi- ness because it is cheap and handy and makes a pleasant evening out of the flat without any great inconvenience. The "$2 show" if right will bring people into "The Loop" for they also wish to make an evening of it. A well informed manager on local theatricals stated that there was but one district in Chicago at present that would support the big attractions and it was in the neighborhood of the Wil- son Ave. theatre. Even here he was satisfied the people would not pay over $1.50 as tiie highest price. To play the attractions in the neighborhoods that now carry along the popular priced Stair & Havlin attractions would be useless. There is only one house in the neighborhood of Wilson avenue. That is the Victoria, two stations away from Wilson, and now playing Stair & Havlin bookings. BOOKED FOR LOEW. Next M'onday on the Loew pop vau- deville circuit "Circumstantial Evi- dence" and Daisy Harcourt will make their first appearance, engaged through the Loew-Sullivan-Considine agency. WALTER KEEFE WILL BOOK. Chicago, June 4. C. H. Miles was in town this week, hut no action was taken in forming a new booking arrangement. When Miles left Walter Keefe was still book- ing the houses and will probably con- tinue to do so as long as he hands them the goods which have been going over the time during the past season. The new Miles house in Cleveland, held up by strikes and the recent flood, will open about Aug. IS. SNYDER SONG DECISION. The Supreme Court handed down a decision late last week in the action brought by Charles K. Harris to re- cover profits from Ted Snyder & Co. on the song "A Girl in Havana." The suit called for an accounting by the Snyder company to Harris, who claim- ed the publishing rights. It was ar- gued before Justice Vernon Davis, and judgment for plaintiff (Harris) was given. From $12,000 to $15,000 will have to be paid over by the Snyder Co. if the judgment is finally affirmed. The case has been appealed under instruc- tion of Henry Watterson (of the Sny- der Co.) who says he will carry it to the court of last resort if necessary. A. H. Rosenfeld appeared for Harris, Max Josephson for the defendant. When "In Havana" with Jimmie Powers was produced at the Casino theatre. New York, with A. Baldwin Sloane and Kay Goetz the accredited writers of the book and score, Harris had Sloane under contract. "A Girl in Havana" was an interpolated number, by Mr. Goetz, Irving Berlin and Ted Snyder. It was copyrighted by the Snyder Co., but to permit the program- ing to remain in harmony, the piece was listed on the play bills as one of the authors' joint product. The front page of the printed selection, to fur- ther harmonize, carried the Sloane- Goetz names also. Harris contended chat inasmuch as he held Sloane under contract, he was entitled to the profits of any of his works by whomsQever published. During the trial before Justice Davis, Harris was called upon to tell what songs he had ever written that became famous. Mr. Harris started with "Af- ter the Uall" and mentioned all his best known numbers. Mr. Berlin was also requested to tell what selections had ever gained him any fame. Mr. Berlin first named "Dorando" and con- tinued with every failure he had com- posed, neglecting to mention any of his successes. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was not referred to during the trial. BLANCHE MERRILL LOCATES. Several music publishing firms have l)een after the services of Blanche Mer- rill, the young lyric writer who has gained a big reputation for her age within the past couple of years. Tlie Wattcrson-Snyder-Berlin Co. finally secured her. Miss Merrill start- ed Monday on the regular staflF of the firm. Slie will collaborate mostly with Irving Berlin. The girls' work in writing entire acts for Eva Tanguay and Lillian Shaw, be- sides giving Lasky's "Trained Nurses" its best number, attracted considerable attention from the profession to her jingling lyrics and ofttime melodies. Miss Merrill also composes. BKENNKH AND RATLIFF PARTED. Chicago, June 4. Brenner and Ratliff who played at the Majestic last week ended the part- nership at the close of the engage- ment. Mr. RatlifT will return to mu- sical comedy. Dorothy Brenner, it was reported, might be placed in "The Tik Tok Man" at the Grand Opera House. TAKING DOO COOK ABROAD. In announcing his retirement from the stage, to roll up a bank account as a manager, Walter Hast says he has placed Dr. Frederick Cook, the near- Pole locater, under contract to appear in the London halls in September. Mr. Hast believes the guy who put the big No in North Pole and made Brooklyn famous can draw the English people in to hear him tell about it. The Doctor received almost as much free publicity over the polar trip on the other side as he did over here. Mr. Hast has been appearing on the stage with his wife, Peggy Lennie, the act being known on both sides of the ocean as Lennie and Hast. Mr. Hast with his wife (Peggy Lennie) sails on the Mauretania next Wednesday for England. The same boat will take Owen McGiveney, the English protean actor who has achiev- ed a remarkable success in American vaudeville this season. McGiveney is under the Hast management. Next season at one of the Harris theatres in New York Mr. Hast will branch forth as a producing manager on his own account. He has accepted for production a three-act farce en- titled "The Lunatic at Large," by Storer Cluster and Acton Bond. It will be presented over here with an all-English company. IDA MAT MARRIED. Ida May Chadwick, daug]iter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Chadwick (Chad- wick Trio), and Joseph A. Zitch were married May 24 in Hadden Heights, i\. J. LA8KY*S *'RED HEADS." Jesse L. Lasky is preparing a vaude- ville production to be entitled "The Red Heads" for next season. It will have 20 people. Mr. Lasky considers it a successor or sequel to his "Trained Nurses." Leo Edwards is writing the music. TWELVE ACTS AT PROCTOR^S. Since Monday Proctor's 125th street theatre has been offering 12 acts in its pop vaudeville program, with no pic- tures. The show starts at 11 a. m. and is continuous. A drop in business with warm weather brought about the change. FOX HOUSES OPEN. Among the William Fox pop vaude- ville theatres in New England, the Nel- son, Springfield, is almost certain to remain open over the summer. The Grand Opera House, Hartford, is still going and may run until the weather stops it. In Springfield Mr. Fox has no opposition these days. The Fox metropolitan time is not expected to shut in the hot spell. Labor Day will witness the opening of the new Fox theatre at Jamaica, Long Island. BECK AND WILLIAMS BACK. The Mauretania due today brings back Martin Beck and Percy G. Will- iams. Write to the NEW REGENT HOTEL, ST. I.OI'IH and renerve.your rooma.— Adv. BBRN8TBIN*8 BRAN0HB8. In addition to removing hit offices from the Fitzgerald to the Putnam Building this week, Freeman Bern- stein opened a branch office at 218 Tremont street, Boston, with Irving F. Moore in charge. Another Bernstein branch is in early contemplation for Philadelphia. The Allen-Epstein agency also re- moved to the Putnam Building this week. McNAUOHTON IN TWO-AOT. A Charles McNaughton and Anna Orr have a "two-act" in readiness for vaudeville. Mr. McNaughton is a brother of Tom, and has been out with one of the Werba & Luescher shows. Like his better known relative, Charles is from England where he was a com- edian also. WOOLF*S SEVERAL AOTS. Late in the summer Ida Brooks Hunt, assisted by a company of two, will try out a new operetta, book by Edgar Allan Woolf, music by Lou Hirsh. V/oolf is also writing the book of a musical playlet, "Mon Desir," music by Armand Kalisz, for a new vehicle for Amelia Stone and Mr. Kalisz. A cast of five and a special set will be required for its interpretation. "The Clown," another of Woolf's acts, presented here for the past two seasons, is to be produced in London, with the original costumes and scen- ery, by Tom Terriss within the next few weeks. LAST CLOWN NiGHT. The last Clown Night of the season at the Vaudeville Comedy Club will take place June 14 and be called "Sur- prise Ladies' Night." Bert Leslie, chairman of the committee in charge, has the surprise for the women tucked away. Until Sept. 1 the Club has reduced the initiation fee on membership ap- plications to $15. It was formerly $25. ADELAIDE-HUGHES MARRIED. Mary Adelaide Dickey ("La Petite Adelaide") and her dancing partner, J. J. Hughes, were married June 3 at Ben- sonhurst. Long Island. They have been working together for the past three years. AT LONDON OPERA HOUSE. (Special Cable to Vaukty.) London, June 4. Polaire opens at the London Opera House next Monday, and the engage- ment of Anna Held there is now con- firmed. The management will feature big stars in future. McWatters and Tyson opened in the Opera House revue ("Come Over Here") Monday night and are doing nicely. HEAT HURTOrOb (Special Cable to Vaubty.) Berlin, June 4. The hot weather here is hurting the indoor amusement business. Jeanette Adler, late of the Musical Cabaret Girls, opens June 9 in a new act with six Chicago girls in her sup- port.