Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY UNITED AGENCY TELLS "ASS'N'' TO TURN OV ER ITS COMMISSION U, B. O. Orders W. V. M. A. to Remit for Houses Booked From Chicago. First Step to Break Up Western Vaudeville Managers* Association. Chicago, Sept. 3. Orders received today from the in- ner sanctums of the United Booking Offices in New York directin^j the Western Vaudeville Manager's Asso- ciation to pay Claude Humphrey, the United's Chicago representative, im- mediately and without argument com- missions from houses in South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, Terre Haute, Lafay- ette and Evansville, have caused quite a stir in the "Association" ranks, the officials of that organization realizing that the order, if complied with, will weaken the "Association's" strength considerably, some of the best towns being included in the list. This move, apparently instigated by John J. Murdock, who was ousted from the "Association" when the Kohl-Castle faction began to appre- ciate local conditions, recalls the pre- diction made in Varietv last summer that Murdock's only interest in the middle-wtstern agency, is to have it come under the direct supervision of the United, where he could juggle it, eventually "squaring" some old ac- counts with "Association" managers and employees who hindered his prog- ress when he held the managerial reins of the office. It is unknown just yet what steps the "Association" will take in the mat- ter, but it is not thought likely the deal will be accomplished without some opposition on the part of those who have the best interests of the "Association" at heart. It is under- stood such a move would seriously confuse bookings from this end, inas- much as several of the managers in- terested have properties, considerably west of the marginal line and these would naturally be booked through the "Association" and come under the supervision of its officials. A meeting of the "Association" di- rectorate has been called for Oct. 6 when it is expected a general shakeup in the booking staff will take place. Some action will then be taken on the acts playing opposition houses. While no official information can be secured as to the possible effect the meeting may have on the "Associa- tion" employees, it is practically ad- mitted by those at the head of the in- stitution that some important changes would be made. THE MARINELLI SUIT. The papers in the forthcoming legal battle to be waged against the vaude- ville trust by H. B. Marinelli arc being I\repared by Henry A. Wise, Mr. Mar- inelli's ohief counsel. It is said the complaint will recite a complete history of vaudeville and "The Trust." The Marinelli offices will remove some time thi« week to the Heidelberg I^uilding, where much larger quarters have bcyen lakon. H. B. Marinelli sailed last Saturday. He will return to New York about Nov. I. An effort made by the United Booking Offices to induce Marinelli to return to its fold before the international agent left, failed of its purpose. Marinelli de- clined to listen to any overtures. Jack Henry has left the New York office of the Marinelli agency. Treat Matthews replaced him. DELMAR Ilf POLITICS. Having tried almost everything else, Jule Dclmar has gone into politics as a wholly local side line in his home city. New Rochelle, N. Y. ^^he Democrats of the Third Ward of that village have nominated Jule for Alderman. Delmar accepted the nomination in a little speech after tak- ing five bows. Between campaigning night and morning, Mr. Delmar will continue as a booker in the Loew-Sul- livan-Considine agency. The New Rochelle Standard in tell- ing what it thought of Jule, said he was a hustler. LOEW BARS U. B. O. AGENTS. Nearly all of the "United agents" dropped into the American (Loew's) during the week to see the program, the American putting on the acts to their best advantage in addition to its accessibility. The U. B. O. men often noted a turn they wanted, and many of the acts now in the big time houses were found on the small time. Other agents, it is said, in addition to the U. B. O. people, are also barred from the Loew Circuit. These are the agents and circuits playing in opposi- tion to Loew. DOING A "CAVE TANGO." The Pathe directors were in hard straits this week. They had sent out a call to the dramatic agencies to send them an actor to play a role in a big jungle scene where the thespian was to wear as few clothes possible and do a cave tango with wild animals. One man went after the job. He reneged when he found the job of play- ing hide and seek with jungle beasts only paid $5 a day. The idea of wear- ing a fig leaf and standing a chance of having a piece of flesh torn out in his anxiety to sttiy as far away from the animals as possible was worth more than ■fTvc,.h'e\said\ ...... CAL.' ^XHIBI'milS: MEETING. •'• : .^slqiEcan^isco, Sept. 3. Thc^aftifiJahconyjETitjon; of the Mov- ing Ptct.ni'if^''-^/Rii)*iJirs' League of California is to be held Sept. 9-12 in San Diego. Some unusually important business is scheduled for transaction. If yoD don't advertise la VARIETY, don't iKlvertlfle at all. AGENT*S WEEKLY GRAFT. A vaudeville agent of the United Booking Offices group has peculiar ideas of "commission." On a "try out" receiving $100, this agent retained as his "commission" $20, and on a salary of $200, contracted with the vaudeville act by a theatre, the "agent" demands and receives ISO weekly, leaving the act $150. HIT BY MOTORCYCLE. Chicago, Sept. 3. As Carrie LaMont was leaving her hotel Aug, 28 she was knocked down and painfully injured by a motorcycle. At the Henrotin Memorial Hospital examination showed a compound frac- ture of one of her legs. Miss LaMont was featured with the tabloid piece, "Hello. Bill!" It will be eight or ten weeks before she will have use of the broken member. DETROIT'S 8-ACT SHOW. Detroit, Sept. 3. The first eight-act two-a-day vaude- ville show booked by Manager Ward fdr the Broadway is made up of the following: "Night in a Police Station," Bernard and Lloyd, Merian's Dogs, John Healey, Aldro Onutchell, Curtis Sisters, Musical Lockwoods, Hope Ver- non. The house opens for the season Sept. 14. The first five turns arc the regular Sullivan-Considine road show. Three extra acts will be added weekly through the S-C Chicago office. AMERICAN, FRISCO, DARK. San Francisco. Sept. 3. The American is dark. Charles Al- phin, whose pop burlesque stock was entering its seventh week, made a trip to Ltjs Angeles, and on his return an unconfirmed report spread that James M. Goewey has surrendered his lease on the house. LOS ANGELES HIP STARTS. Los Angeles, Sept. 3. The Hippodrome (the old Adolphus on Main street), opened Sunday to a crowd that filled the 3.000 seats of the enlar.c:ed auditorium. Considering the price is but ten cents, the opening bill is a good one. It includes "Toddles," elephant act; Mahoney Bros., and Daisy, Albertus and Millar; Will H. Adams; Agnes Johns and Co.; Noble and Brooks; Light Opera Four; Two Bremmens. There is an eight-piece orchestra. TWO DAILY AT KINGSTON. Kingston. N. Y., Sept. 3. The Orpheum started two shows a day Monday with extra pictures to make up ?.iy shortcomings the vaude- ville program may offer. Five acts are being played. ••AUTO BANDITS" IN FILM. The Mittenthals e seized the un- derworld bull by the horns so to speak and have manufactured a thriller en- titled "The Auto Bandits of New York." Frank Day, a well known lead- ing stock actor, played the principal role. The Mittenthals intend to or- ganize their own stock company and work in the new studio they intend building. ♦•PULLING OUT" ACTS. Philadelphia, Sept. 3. The vaudeville situation was further complicated this week when F. G. Nix- on-Nirdlinger opened the Grand Opera House, entering the three-cornered vaudeville war that is stirring things to fever pitch in this city. The fact that Frances Clare and Co., the adver- tised headliner for the opening bill at the Grand "mysteriously" disappeared Monday proves that the opening was of interest to others. Miss Clare's act has been playing the S.-C. time. Joe Maxwell's "Night in a Police Station" took the spot. William Lampe and Co. also disap- peared from the G. O. H. program. Lampe having reported "ill" by wire to Nirdlinger. Money has been liberally spent on the Grand since Stair & Havlin turned over the house to Nirdlinger, and it presented a bright appearance Monday. The lobby has been completely changed and beautified. White suited attaches and a corps of girl ushers handled the big crowds Monday evening. The Grand is one of the largest houses in the city, seating a little more than 3,- 000. Monday evening, when the first show was given, the theatre held al- most capacity. The show ran smoothly and was re- ceived with warm approval. F. G. Nix- on-Nirdlinger is general manager of the Nixon-Nirdlinger houses and F. F. Leopold is assistant. Thomas M. Dougherty will be house manager at the Grand. Three shows daily will be given, with the prices evenings 10-20 and afternoons 10. With the Grand open, the fight for patronage among this house, the Liber- ty, a few doors away, booked by the United, and the Metropolitan, the Loew house six blocks away, is in full blast. Monday being a holiday, and not a good one for theatres here, the Metropolitan held about three-quarters capacity Monday afternoon and had them standing at the evening show; Andrew Mack was credited with being the "draw." The Liberty had almost a filled house Monday night. Tuesday afternoon business fell off all around. The Liberty had for its show: lolcen Sisters; Roach and McCurdy; Wroe's Buds; Five Armanis; Jennings and Dorman; "Globe of Death." The sudden entry into the Lincoln Square (New York) program Monday afternoon of Frances Clare and Co., a "girl act" of 11 people (new to New York), is said to have been brought about through the Loew office "pull- ing out" Miss Clare from the Grand Opera House, Philadelphia, for this week. Miss Clare, according to report, be- lieved she was to open at the Nixon. Atlantic City, with Philadelphia to fol- low, on the N-N time. Five weeks in the Nirdlinger houses had been con- tracted for with the girly number, through Chris O. Brown. All the N-N contracts have been declared off, it is said, by Miss Clare, who will play the Loew Circuit theatres in New York. Until recently Nixon - Nirdlinger booked his theatres through the Loew- Sullivan-CoBsidine agency in New York.