Variety (September 1913)

PfiRur f.i£^R,>ua: NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1913. J (j 4^2.290 Vol. XXXII. No. 1. PRICE 10 CENTS AaTna, ufc»ie*> ^ui "HANKY PANKY" AT OAR Boston, Sept. 3. The "Hanky Panky" company, now at the Boston theatre, is rehearsing for a new show there, which may go ir the Winter Garden, New York. All the present members of the com- pany, with the possible exception of Montgomery and Moore, will be re- tained for the new piece. The team is reported considering returning to vaudeville. The new "Hanky Panky" piece is said to be an old Weber & Fields man- uscript, "Fiddle-De-Dce." "GRAFT" SUFFERANCE POLICY BLEEDIN G VAU DEVILLE DRY Big Time Managers Cannot Stand the Qaff of Agents' Exactions, Fathered by ''Split-Commission" Promo- ters. $750,000 a Season Stolen from Managers to Permit $200,000 to be Divided by Chief Grafters. Booking Men Accused of ''Standing In'' With Agents. The big time vaudeville managers thought they saw in the visit of B. F. Keith to New^ York this week a pos- sible investigation of the big time sit- uation in its booking side. Nothing came of the call as far as known, though the managers were somewhat elated the Boston magnate selected an opportune moment to put in his appearance. The comment on the big time situa- tion is growing stronger and more ex- tended among the managers interested. One day this week an out of town manager figured that $750,000 this sea- son will be stolen from the managers' pockets to appease the inordinate greed of the hip time vaudeville agents who are now working more openly than ever in the "grafting" end of their business.- This $750,000, said the manager, would he saved to the big time managers if the principal graft- ers at the head of the booking agency d'd not prefer to sacrifice anything in order to obtain the $200,000 yearly the "split-commission" graft returns them. As the principal sufferer amonp the big time managers is B. F. Keith, it was thought upon his arrival in New York someone had given Mr. Keith some inside information on how he is losing money in his theatres through agents taking extraordinary payments from actors, when not actually having a share in the act's salary often total- ling as high as 33 1^3 per cent. The big time managers believe that while one word from cither of the offi- cials in charge would stop the grafting by the agents, the word -.iA not be spoken, th** officials themselves hfving become committed to the steai -g through sjionsoring an agency as bad as the worst and which shares in the graft in the same manner as the oth- ers. Besides dividing up the "split commission" takings these officials al- .co have a share in this agency, and without theatres of their own, none of the $750,000 practically stolen from the box offices comes out of their pockets. The talk about graft says one im- portant booking man in the big time agency has a "piece" of a certain agent's business (not Albee, Weber & Evans'). This agent, according to re- port, is receiving preference and plac- ing his acts at an increased salary in the best houses, where the salary once paid will become a standard that the out of town managers will follow. The hooking man is said to be afraid to "do business" with more than one agent and selected the agent where the income might prove the larg- est. This particular agent, accord- ing to report, will make from 160,- 000 to $75,000 this season, mostly from the "salary" received from acts booked by him, in addition to the usual five per cent, commission charged. Before the "split-commission" went into ef- fect an agent making $20,000 or $25,- 000 yearly was a leader; now almost any big time agent "cops" that amount in a season. That such a condition could exist without the knowledge of those high- est in authority is ridiculous, say the vaudeville people, who think either the agent or the booking man "has some- thing" on their bosses, leaving them immune to graft as they please. With the big time vaudeville man- ager paying the graft toll through his (Continued on Pape S.) BKRLIN AND BAKER AT $2,600. Provided managers will allow Irving Berlin and Belle Baker $2,500 weekly as a team, there is a possibility of the couple forming a vaudeville part- nership. ORIENTAL DANCER ENGAGED. The Orpheum Circuit has engaged ?.n Oriental dancer on the other side, who will first be seen over here at V.^ Palace, New York. She is Mile. Rash- anara, 19 years old, and the daughter of an English army officer stationed at Bombay, India. Rashanara from reports abroad should do very well on this side. The Orpheum has her for 10 weeks. PAY TEMPLETON IVANTED. Chicago, Sept. 3. Harry Askin is now negotiating with Fay Templeton for the show which is to follow "A Trip to Washington" next February at the La Salle. Clara Inge has been put under con- tract for the same production. DAVID BISPHAM STEPS IN. Milwaukee, Sept. 3. Duplicating the Chicago stunt »ii. which her narrW wa^ tvithdin^Vn" Aftfi' much billing as Lhe'headline attraction, Florence Holbrook.' '.t was announced Saturday, would not appear'at th«' Ma- jestic this week, DavM r^i;sphairi being substituted. '• ' ' ' * - t Failure of costumes to be ready was given as the reason, but as her future appearance is indefinite this does not satisfy those curious enough to desire the real facts. If yoa don't advrrtlM In TARtKlY, don't •dvrrtlne at all. ^ 18 CONSIDERING. David Belasco has under consider- ation a dramatization with music of George Jenks* novel "The Tempera- ment of Clytie," made by the author, with melodies by Joseph Carl Breil. 8HUBERTS RBTAKS PRINOBBB. Chicago, Sept 3. The announcement that Edward J« Doyle will sever his connection widi the Princess theatre leaves the im- pression the Shuberts have again a^ sumed control of the house. Laat summer it was taken oyer by William A. Brady. Doyle was Brady's repre- sentative in this city. CENSORED LASKY«8 POSBS. Boston, Sept. 3. Several of the poses shown by Jesse L. Lasky's "Thre. Types" were cen- sored out of the vaudeville act at re- hearsal Monday at Keith's. KALISCH WITH WHITNBY. Bertha Kalisch is f return to the legitimate again this fall^ under the management of F. C. Whitney in a new play shortly to be put in rehearsaL Miss Kalisch has not appeared in New York in the legitimate in some fr ur or five seasons. Her last engage- ment in that field here was in "Marta of the Lowlands." SALARY GOBS TO $5,000. The United Booking Offices is re- ported to have raised its price offered for Madame Nordica, by $500. The famous prima donna is now in receipt of an offer of $5,000 a week to appear in the two-a-day. A cable to that effect was sent her lo Australia this week. •♦MADCAP DUCHESS** IS TITIiH. H. H. PVazce and Victor Herbert have finally decided upon a name for the new Herbert •pera. It is to be called "The Madcap Duchess," and r.pens at the Colonial, Boston, Oct. 27. Cflen Hall has been engaged as lead- ing tenor. He has been singing Wag- r.erian roles at the Metropolitan and for the past two years sang in oratorio both in Europe and America. Frazee looks upon him as a most remarkable "discovery" for light opera.