Variety (June 1913)

VARIITY U. B. O.'S BOSTON BRANCH VERY B ADLY D EMORALIZED Premature Publication of Agency's Intention To Wind Up Boston Office Keeps It Open. Pride Won't Permit Closing. More Clerks Than Houses To Book. Employes Looking Elsewhere For Permanent Positions. Boston, June 18. The publication of the intention to abandon its Boston branch agency by the United Booking Offices may have prevented that occurring just now, the U. B. O. not caring to admit a failure so early in the John J. Murdock scheme of establishing branches of the agency throughout the country. None of the other branches has made any money it is said, and the usual Mur- dock failure has been repeated in these matters. The Boston U. B. O. branch is de- moralized. There are a lesser number of houses booked by it than there are people in the office, but the loss will be carried in preference to the big New York agency publicly admitting its weakness at this time. Several of the men connected with the local branch office have so little confidence it will be maintained in- definitely they are casting about for more permanent berths, in way of representation for other agencies in New York or to open a booking busi- ness as individuals. It is said that the U. B. O. com- mands so little respect from its Boston staff that some of the things reported as happening in connection with the local branch are being generally talked about by those on the inside of things theatrical here. SAUNDERS AT FOX HOUSE. Claude Saunders, last season man- ager of the Alhambra, has taken the management of the Lyric, Bridgeport, for William Fox. At one time Saunders was general manager for Jos. Gaites. MUST CHANGE SKETCH. Chicago, June 18. John Ellis, Inez Lyman and Co., who have been playing "The Power of Of- fice" on the Jones, Linick & Schaeffer time, ran into trouble this week. William A. Brady became aware of the fact that the sketch very closely resembled "The Man of the Hour" and immediately wired the booking office to watch out for it. The office informed the principals, and the sketch will have to undergo an overhauling before it can again be given. STRANDED IN BIR>UNGHAM. Birmingham. Ala., June 18. The tabloid, "Collo^^c Girls," put out by Max Spiegel of New York, ended its tour here. The chorus .i.:irls with the show, say most of tliein, arc with- out sufficient money to return to New York. The fare is ^23. The show was out six weeks. The girls claim they were closed without notice, after having been obliged to pay a transportation charge of $8 to the opening point and working the first week on half salary. The Spiegel tab played in this sec- tion on a weekly guarantee. Max Spiegel, who is the burlesque manager, says the tabloid, "College Girls," company received two weeks* notice, with place where show would stop given; that he engaged the girls for ten weeks and played them ten weeks; that he was not expected to provide transportation from the closing point back to New York. HODKINS JOINS J. L. it 8. Chicago, June 18. C. E. Hodkins and his circuit of small time vaudeville theatres will move in its entirety into the Jones, Linick & Schaeffer offices Aug. 1. The papers were signed last week whereby the southern circuit will re- ceive its bookings hereaiter from the Orpheum Building. Mr. Hodkins will look after the houses personally, but all contracts will pass through the J. L. & S. office. There are about 30 Hodkins theatres in all, covering a wide territory which runs into ten different states. Many of the houses play but two acts, but there are about 14 which play four acts paying the medium salaries. MARRIED IN ATLANTIC. Philadelphia, June 18. George W. Metzel, business man- ager of the William Penn, was mar- ried today to Esther Walter Hargis of this city. The wedding took place at the Beth Israel Temple, At- lantic City, Rev. Dr. Fisher officiating. The wedding was a quiet one. The newlyweds are going on a trip through New England and will spend fart of their honeymoon at M. A. Shea's farm at Wolfboro, N. H. They will reside permanently in Philadel- rhia. LEWIS BRAHAM ILL. Chicago, June 18. Lewis Braham (Braham's Phanto- graphs) was removed to the Alexian Brother's Hospital here this week, suf- fering from a complication of urinary and rectal affections. He has been for three weeks at the Germania Hotel, and is now being cared for by Robert Nome and Bobby Gaylor. Braham was granted a life member- ship in the White Rats' Actors* Union for securing more members in one year than any other member of the organi- zation. Gaylor is also a Iffe member of the order. TRAINOR DBOISIOir AFFIRMED. The Court of Appeals yesterday affirmed the decision of Justice Green- baum, granting Val Trainor a writ of mandamus directing his reinstatement as a member of the White Rats Actors' Union of America. Trainor was expelled from the order, it being charged that he uttered malicious statements. Guy Murray, attorney for Mr. Train- or in the proceedings, said his client might now bring an action against the White Rats for whatever damages he has sustained through having been kept out of engagements by reason of his wrongful expulsion from the order. At the White Rats it was said no course of action had been decided upon in the Trainor matter. Asked if the reinstated member would be ordered before the Board of Directors for an- other trial, the reply was made that this had not yet been passed upon. Trainor is now restored to full mem- bership, and eligible to enjoy all the privileges of any member in good standing. Prior to the final opinion by the Court of Appeals he was de- barred from entering the clubhouse through a stay having been obtained each time the case went higher. 12 AOTS AT HAIiSET. The Halsey, Brooklyn, inaugurated its new 12-act vaudeville policy in the hope of solving the box office problem Monday night. For the present the rebate ticket plan is in vogue. The Halsey is M. H. Saxe's house 2nd has not done much financially since its opening as a pop house. JOB WOOD*S SUMMER JOB. Joe Wood has a job for the summer managing Ocean Park at Ocean Park, N. J., which opens its season June 30. One of the first things Joe did after taking the management was to enter negotiations for an auto polo feature and plan a "15-singer" Cabaret show. This park is owned and controlled by the city. POP AT ROCKAWAT. The American Music Hall at Rocka- way Beach opens wjth five acts vaude- ville and pictures, three shows daily, June 30. Last S9iday night's show at the Win- ter Garden ended the vaudeville there for the summer season. OIROUS TRANSFERRED. Cincinnati, June 18. The Cincinnati Enquirer printed the details of a transfer of the Wallace- Hagenbeck show by Ben Wallace to John Talbot, Ed. Hagcrman, John War- ren, Hugh Harrison and Ed. Ballard. The consideration is mentioned as $500,000, the amount of a capitalized concern, which will now operate the show. The story states the circus suf- fered greatly in the recent flood and that 11 elephants ordered from abroad will arrive here shortly. They are in- cluded in the sale. The purchasers are circus men, with the exception of Mr. Ballard, an Indiana hotel man. Mr. Wallace first put out the circus over 40 years ago, operating it since. A few years ago he combined it with the Hagenbeck menagerie. Proceed- ings in court are pending to determine the right to the use of the Hagenbeck n%me. BANKER TAKES SAVOT. San Francisco, June 18. Charles Muehlman is no longer con- nected with the management of the Savoy, having disposed of his stock in- terests in the house. The Savoy is now in the control of a Mr. McKenzie, a Spokane banker, whose brother, William, is here in charge. The feature film policy now in vogue will be continued indefinitely at the Savoy. HUGH D. McINTOSH General Director. Harry Rlokard'a Circuit of Vaudeville Tbeatree. Australia. RELLE BAKER CHIOAGO DRAW. Chicago, June 18. Belle Baker who is in her second week at the Wilson Avenue theatre, is creating an enviable reputation as a drawing card. Last week the versatile character singer went into the Wilson A-venue a practically unknown quantity in the outlying districts here, but by Wednesday it was evident the singer would become as popular in outlying Chicago as she has proven herself in 'The Loop" vaudeville houses. Down town Belle Baker, headlining ir the two big time houses, holds lecords that far excel those done by the $2,000 headline women taken from the legitimate and besides doing the business, made good, which can- not be said for the legitimate high salaried artists. At the Wilson, Miss Baker, running into the first real warm weather of the season, has been doing a business that has surprised the Jones, Linick & Schaeffer office to such an extent further contracts and inducements have been offered her. Miss Baker, however, will play next week at the Willard on the South Side and will then return to New York. Having just completed a tour of the Orpheum Circuit where the papers have all lauded her efforts to the skies, she has been favorably com- pared with the greatest character sing' era the American stage has produced- After a few weeks rest in New York Miss Baker will journey to Europe where she may or may not play as the fancy strikes her. Alfred Butt has made her an open offer to appear at the Palace Music Hall, London, at any time during the coming season. No contracts have been signed, however. ♦ ♦ ♦