Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY "ASS'N." MANAGERS BUNKED; KOHL HANDI NG IT TO 'EM Bars One Firm of Agents and Places Stock of the Simons Agency on Sale. Wants to Restrict Booking Business of Western Vaudeville Managers* Association to His Own Agency. Managers May Rebel. Chicago, Sept. 24. C \i. Kohl, managing director of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Associ- ation, pursuinji his usual eccentric gov- trnniental methods, notified the nechler Brothers Agency this week that here- after the "Association" doors would be . losed to it I Kohl gave no reason for his aci.on. which has caused considerable worry among the several smaller agents solely dependent upon the "Associa tion." but it is thought he intends to re vert to the old monopolistic rule u\ ten percenting in the "Association." re- serving that special right for the Jolm Simons of^ce, which Kohl himself tinanced and is understood to own. It is probably planned to bring the new order into effect after the directorate meeting scheduled for Oct. 6. Considering that Kohl was lifted practically from oblivion to the mana- gerial oftice of the big western agency on his promise to abolish the closed door system, his new attitude assumes the proportions of a hugh double cross to the various managers who accepted his word of honor and implored the di- rectors to place him at the head of the institution. .\l that time Kohl de- nounced the single booking system as a "raw grafting scheme," but then Kolil was seeking the aid and patronage of the managers. However, it is a question if the cir- cuit heads will accept Kohl's plan, for it was the same thing that came close ic disrupting the agency less than a year ago and it is understood the man- agers are quietly arranging to combat any attempt to coerce them into patron- izing the Kohl-Simon oflice exclu- sively. .\nothcr angle of the situation has to deal with the several agents who will very likely be forced out the same as the Beehlers. When the "Association" doors were thrown open, those admit- ted renounced the independent time and it is hardly possible that the independ- ent offices will welcome them upon their eviction. The whole business closely resembles John J. Murdock's methods, especially since Kohl is not generally credited with being an in- ventive genius any more than he is con- sidered a good executive. Tuesday the stock in the John B. Simons Agency was peddled around the "Association," most of it being bought up by those on the inside. It is understood the ten percenters will shortly be weeded out until the exclu- sive booking privilege is held by the Simons Agency. Mrs. Caroline Kohl is at present in N'ew York. over McMalio-.'s "Pullman I'orter Maids." It seems the agent guaranteed the pr( (lucer iO weeks for the act, but wlieii li'j came lo route it the 20 weeks were not fortlii omjng. It is not an easy matter to secure 20 weeks for any act in "The Assuoiation" at pres- ent. McMahon demands that Spingold, having guaranteed the work, will have to make good, as he brought the act out here and started them going. "LEPIMNG" TO COAST. A long "lep" was started last week when Musette, the violiniste, left New Vork, direct for the San Francisco, where she will appear for two weeks with an entcrainmcnt feature of the Mechanics' Fair. The booking was made by the .Mlen-Epstin agency. Transportation both ways was fur- nished Musette, who is to follow the local run by a concert tour of four weeks through (."alifornia, under the direction of the fair management. BLAIR TO BOOK ISLANDS. San Francisco, Sept. 24. Sam Blair, formerly connected with Vc Liberty theatre, Honolulu, is back in San Francisco. He will act as booking agent for the Consolidated Anmsemcnt Co., taking the place of Richard Kipling, resigned. The selec- tion of acts for the Hawaiian Islands Circuit will be up to Blairc. COKBETT WITH MARK-BROCK. Buffalo, Sept. 24. Commencing in November James J. Corbett will play around the Mark- Brook pop vaudeville circuit, starting at this point, it is said, in opposition to Shea's, the bi;' time hr)tise here. NO HALF IXTRREST. Chicago, Sept. 24. Aaron Jones denies the report that lie was about to take over a half inter- est in the Kcdzic, the West Side pop v.iudevillc house owned jointly by Wm. Malcolm and Eddie Hayman. AOENT CAN'T MAKE GOOD. Chicago, .Sept. 24. Harry .Springold and Tim MacMa- hon are in thr mirlst of a cfnitroversv AL. HINGLINO DEFENDANT.* Milwaukee, Sept. 24. Mrs, Alfred T. Ringling\ wife of the iTcns man. testified yesterday before Juflge v.. Ray Stevens in her suit for divorce. She charges desertion four ycnrs ago and demands custody of their 18-year-old son. Richard T. Ringling. and an e(|uitable division of her hus- 1 aiuj's wealth for her own and son's support. After an hour's session adjournment \v.'> taken. .Alimony will be fixed by a.i.;riemcnt. The court reserved deci- '•i' II on the divorce plea. BIG CLOWN NIGHT. The first public Clown Night of the season was held at the Comedy Club Saturday night (Sept. 20) and yielded the largest receipts of any day in the history of the club. Over $670 was realized. In addition to several single turns there was presented "The Cure," a burlesque on "The Lure," with George LeMairc, George White, Franklyn Ar- dell, Francis Morey, George McKay and Walter James in the cast. Then there was a travesty entitled "Uncle Thomashefsky's Cabin," played by Jack Curtis, Harry Green, George White, Franklyn Ardell, Ben Schafer, George Morton, Sam Shannon. "The Knockers' Club," a satire, was given by Frank Conroy, George Le Maire and George McKay. "Talking It Over With the Wife," a comedy skit, was presented by Conroy and Fred Neice. The two Jlown Night authors. Tom- my Gray ai.d Felix Adler, did a side- walk conversation and parody singing turn, entitled "Seeing the Author." So great has been the demand for tickets for these affairs, that the board of directors of the Comedy Club is considering the feasibility of hiring a Broadway playhouse for some Sunday evening and throwing open the sale of tickets to the public for a gala affair. Nov. 1 there will be anothers Ladies' Night, the chief event scheduled for that occasion being a burlesque entitled "Come Back to Aaron." NEW CORPORATIONS. Albany, Sept. 24. .Among the new corporations formed in this state were: The 1176 DeKalb Avenue Co., the- atricals. $25,000; Edward S. Keough, Mary V. McGuire, William H. Hay- wood, 472 Van Buren street, Brooklyn. University Theatre, Inc., of Buffalo, $20,000; Moses Straus, Morton H. Schwartz. Joseph B. Friedman, all of Buffalo. Georgetown, Del., Sept. 24. The following charters have been tiled, for amusement corporations at the- state department, Dover, Del.: The Chicago Feature Film Co., Wil- mington, Del., capital stock, $200,000. Incorporators, Herbert E. Latter, W. J. Maloney, Oscar J Reichard, all of Wilmington, Del. The United Film Corporation, New York City, capital stock, $1,000,000. Incorporators, Frederick J. Collins, Vv illiam S. Milliken, New York. New England Amusement Co., Prov- idence, R. I., capital stock, $75,000. In- corporators, James W. Lees, William .\ Lees. John Williams, all of Provi- dence. The Motor .Square (iardeii \nuise- mcnt Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., capital stock, $15,000. Incorporators, William M. Tobin, R. C. Henry, Frederick J. English, all of Pittsburgh. The Ocean City Pier Co., Wilming- ton, Del., capital stock, $225,000. In- corporators, Oscar J. Reichard, W. J. Maloney, Herbert E. Latter. BOSTON BRANCH BUSTING. Boston, Sept. 24. More shifting in the United Book- ing Otficc here. J. K. Burke has been dethroned as manager and his place is new filled by Charlie Eraser, one of the booking agents. He was the orig- inal U. B. O. booking man in this town. Before getting the job as manager, Fiaser made a month's trip through the provinces and got himself about seven weeks' booking, or rather, that is what he is now offering the big acts. It is thought the shifting in this of- fice will cease for a while at least. There have been many changes in its short life. Burke was the tir^t one on the job. He opened the office and brought in Fred Mardo, who was then booking with Marcus Loew, and Jeff Davis, who was doing the same stunt for Sheedy. P'rom the first day that the "big" office opened there was internal strife apparent. The agents did not get along very well. Too much good work on one man's part and a bit of jealousy on the part of the others. This did not tend to make peace in the office. The office was not making any money. Burke was called back to New York and J. J. Clifford sent on to take charge. Matters grew worse instead of better. Burke had to come back again. Era- ser went on the road, and it is said that there was an understanding that he sl^ould have the managerial posi- tion when he returned. He has the job now. It is charged that there was quite a stand in New York among some ot the real business heads of the U. B. O. to make Fred Mardo the man- ager instead of Eraser, but that D. F. Hennessy, Burke, J. J. Murdock and Lester Mayne refused to have Mardo in that position. Their objection was based on Mardo being a Hebrew. Fred Mardo is now doing three-fifths of all the local booking and has forty- eight different houses to fill every week. Davis is doing some of the work Jhat Eraser did before he became man- ager. To all inquiries regarding the where- abouts of late Manager Clifford, infor- mation was tendered that he was on a "vacation." Now they tell the truth about his getting through. More sled- ding and shifting is coming, according to those who have inside "info." NOT IN THE OLDEN DATS. \ composer of popular ditties drove down Broadway Monday in an auto- mobile. An observer remarked: "Take a look. Beethoven and Mozart got al- most as much money as he does." If Tou don't aflvrrtlN« In VARIRTY. don't •dvoitlae at nil. RILLroSTERS ATTACK FRAUD. Spokane, Sept. 24. The Billpr.sKrs association of the Taiitic coast, m convention here, arrayed itself strongly against fake ad- vertising and pledged itself to fight the exploitation of unscrupulous schemes through the billboards. .Another subject being discussed is increased efiiciency in small town plants. The election of new officers has been put over until tlie ne.xt meet- ing in San Franri>;rf durini,' February.