Variety (June 1913)

VARIBTY UNITED SURPRISING ACTS WITH ROUTES AND MONEY Now Paying Top Prices for Next Season. No ^'Stalling.*' Managers Need Acts for Bills. Can't Afford to Take Chances on ^^Opposition** or Others Securing Them. A strange condition exists in the United Booking Offices, so strange even the inmates of that institution arc gasping with surprise. And all be- cause the United has apparently de- cided to open its purse strings and as- sume a normal routine attitude. The news may be greeted with sus- picion, but nevertheless it's a fact the agency is issuing routes to the acts they consider desirable for next sea- ion at an increase in salary. Very few, if any of the acts accepted for next season have been handed contracts at the old figure. It's a very different condition from that which existed last season at this time and a businesslike atmosphere pervades where once the bawling, screaming whines of the self-conscious reincarnated Napoleon held sway. Despite that Eddie Darling, the United's accepted chief booker, has gone on a European vacation, the va- rious managers are meeting regularly and laying out routes for the coming season with unusual alacrity. Quite a number have already been accommodated with routes carrying a reasonable increase over the amount re- ceived for the same act last season. Considering the philanthropic atti- tude now assumed by those behind the books, one would imagine "opposition" threatening for the next th atrical period or else that the latest failure has taken the wind out of the little Napo- leonic expense killer, for the United is really becoming generous to an ap- pallingly fabulous degree. It is stated E. F. Albee has given in- structions that desirable acts should be secured at a price their services are really estimated to be worth. This is said to be in pursuance of a policy by the U. B. O. to fill up the "body of the bills" for next season in advance, rather than to chance the acts wanted being taken by other managers, if the usual "stalling" process is indulged in by the U. B. O. booking men. TWO HITS IN NEW CROSS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June U. At the New Cross Empire last week Felix Adler finished strong. McDeav- itt, Kelly and Lucy were a tremen- dous hit. BVBLTN THAW PLAYING. i (Speeial Cable to Vaurt.) London, June 11. Evelyn Thaw is appearing at the Hippodrome, dancing with Jack Clif- ford, but not billed. Business is good «nd the audiences are very good to Evelyn. The Four Londons opened there Monday and are a success. Marie Hart is now playing Ethel Levejr's part and "Teddy" Gerard has the role created by Shirley Kellogg (Mrs. Albert DeCourville). It is understood here that DeCour- ville has purchased the old Weber and Fields shows for production in En- gland. TWO HITS AT OPERA HOUSE. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. Mile. Polaire and Carpentier (the prize fighter) proved big drawing at- tractions at the London Opera House, where they opened Monday. Both were enthusiastically received. Polaire is receiving $193 a day for her appear- ances here. Bert Fitzgibbons, on late, started slowly, but got over with material Frank Tinney made London familiar with. SPECIAL PERFORMANCE. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. An all-star cast of legitimate play- ers will give a special performance of "London Assurance" June 27, for the King at the St. James. SAM CURTIS CLOSED. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. Sam J. Curtis and Co. were closed at the Southend Hippodrome on the ground they were offering an inferior act. PAULINE MORAN A HIT. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. Pauline Moran opened at the Alham- bra, Glasgow, Monday, and scored a big hit. CORELLI AND GILLETTE OVER. (Special Cable to Vuuvtt.) London, June 11. Corelli and Gillette are doing big at the Palladium. They opened Monday. "FAUN" BIO SUCCESS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. Martin Harvey presented June 10 at the Prince of Wales's, the William Faversham production of Edward Knoblauch's play, "The Faun." It is generally pronounced to be a big success. BEECHAM*S SEASON JUNE 24. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. Joseph W. Beecham's season of grand opera at the Drury Lane will be inaugurated June 24. **CARDINALS ROMANCE * DUB. iSpfcid CtbU #• Vauctt.) London, June 11. "The Cardinal's Romance" will be presented at the Savoy Saturday night June 14. OOL. BORDBVERRY DIBS. (Special Cable t0 Vabiety.) London, June 11. CoL Gaston Bordeverry, the noted sharpshooter, died in Johannesburg, late last month. He was attacked by a paralytic stroke May 7, and found at 2 p. m. by Frank de Brath, proprietor of the Lowther Hotel, Durban. A physician diagnosed the stroke to have seized the Colonel in bed shortly af- ter midnight. Col. Bordeverry had given standing orders not to be called. CoL Bordeverry, after opening at Cape- town, Tivoli, appeared at the Grand, Port Elizabeth, for a week. From there he went to the Empire, Johannes- burg, for three weeks. He had per- formed subsequently at the Hall-by- the-Sea, Durban, Natal, where he was stricken. The colonel's daughter is a member of the Mirza Golem Troupe, now somewhere in Europe. His wife, Mme. Rudy DeFontenoy is at present in the United States. FASHIONABLE PICTURE THEATRE {Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. The Colisee (French for Coliseum) is the name of a fashionable moving picture theatre opened June 7 by Cas- tillan, at Avenue des Champs Elysees, No. 38. It is a nice little house in an aristocratic quarter. A few vaudeville acts and short sketches will be given to break the monotony of a cinematograph show the entire evening. The proceeds of the opening night were given by the manager to the fund for aviators in Morocco. REJANE PUTS ON COMEDY. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. The Theatre Rejane has withdrawn its Italian operetta in French and mounted a comedy, "Mademoiselle Beulemans' Divorce," June 7. SUCCESSFUL REVIVALS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. The revival of "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" at the St. James, with Mrs. Patrick Campbell and Sir George Alex- ander, .is successful. Sir Herbert Tree's Shakespearean re- vival at His Majesty's is a big hit. OABT AT THE PALACE. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. Gaby Deslys has been booked to open at the Palace, London, commenc- ing Sept. 1. HITCH IN HELD-CORT DEAL. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. There is a hitch in the consummation of the contract for the services of Anna Held to head an organization in America to be projected by John Cort. When H. B. Marinelli left New York it was understood the deal was closed and the terms agreed upon—$2,250 a week and a percentage. According to report here, Miss Held is holding off for $2,500 a week and the percentage. The presence of Lee Shubert here may account for the comedienne's at- titude. sailings. Reported through Paul Tausig & Son, 104 East 14th street. New York: June 19, Joe Boganny and Co., Sut- cliffe Family, Konerz Bros., Lewis and Dody, Mr. and Mrs. A. Hickey, Fred Day (Adriatic); June 18, Seeley and West, Mile. Lu- cille (Campania); June 17, Daisy Harcourt, Ergotti Troupe, Edmond Montrose (Kr. Wlhm. der Gr.); i June 14, Paul Sandor (Geo. Wash.); June 14, Ethel Rosebud (Olympic); June 12, Zertho (Koenig-Albert); June 11, Alice Lloyd, Tom McNaugh- ton, Alice Burne-Norton, Bessie Hy- ams (Mauretania); June 10, Jack Wilson (Kr. Cecilic); June 7, Mary Bnrley, Frank Kern (Cleveland); June 7, The LeClairs (Kroonland). June 14, Jules Kibel, Sam Howard, Sid Herbert (Bell Boy Trio) (Olym- pic). June 10, Billic Burke, Vivian Clem- ents, Richard Bennett. Lyn Harding (Baltic). (Special Cable to Variety.) London, June 11. (For South Africa) (Johannesburg Empire) Elsie Faye, Joe Miller, John Bertisch, Lisa Seebach, Mildred Parr (Saxon). June 12 (for New York), Hanlon Bros. (Imperator). June 11, Ben Harris (Kr. Wlhm. II). (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. June 6 (for Buenos Aires—Seguin Tour) Les Djali Gaily Les Coenen lAsturius). June 6 (for South American Tour) Leona Trio, Charlier, Regina Miarka. E. S. WELLARD FOR STATES. (Special Cable to VAinmr.) London, June 11. It is reported that upon the arrival here of Walter Hast (now aboard the Mauretania), a contract will be closed for E. S. Willard to appear in Amer- ica next season under Hast's manage- ment. The tour in the States may be in the legitimate house, Mr. Willard having in his repertoire "The Middle- man" and "The Professor's Love Story." There have been stories Mr. Willard may appear in the halls, but it is not thought likely. It is said any vaudeville proposition for him must carry a fig- ure of not less than $4,000 weekly. ALTHOS TO TOUR SPAIN. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, June 11. Athos, the athlete, has been engaged through the Pasquier Agency to appear during June in different bull fighting rings throughout Spain. He will play one or two days only in each city, and will wrestle with a bull, as practised in South American sports (something after the style of the giant in "Quo Vadis"). The salary paid Athos i« $193 per day during the engagement.