Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY 13 "DEAL" NOT WORKING WELL; MUSIC AL SHO WS CONFLICT Boston Overcrowded by Plays Along One Line. No-Pass Rule Made to Sound Ridiculous. Shows Buying Up Houses to Distribute Tickets as Paper. Boston, Sept. 24. Something slipped a cog or two this week in Boston in the supposedly per- fected big attraction booking agree- ment between Klaw & Erlangcr and the Shuberts. Eight first-class houses which are open have six musical at- tractions pitted against each other, and there are only two dramatic produc- tions playing. One of these is "The Conspiracy" at the Park, doing a land office business as the result of the agreement, and the other is May Ir- win in "A Widow by Proxy" at the Plymouth, doing a fair business only through this selfsame agreement. Of the musical attractions, "The Sun- shine Girl," with Julia Sanderson, at the Hollis, is getting the cream of the business. Mizzi Hajas in "Her Little Highness" at the Tremont conies sec- ond, Mclntyre and Heath in "The Ham Tree" revival at the Majestic third, and "The Purple Road" at the Shubert, "The Merry Martyr" at the Colonial and "The Courtin'" at the Boston following in respective order with poor business. The college lads are all that are sav- ing some of these through the chor- useju A rumor which has spread insistently through Boston, and which will not be downed despite equivocal denials by some of the big managers, asserts that the managers of the biggest houses, both Shubert and Syndicate, have entered into a secret agreement concerning an equitable division of net house profits at the end of the year as a sort of a mutual insurance that no one will really suffer in case of un- fortunate bookings or business. This agreement is in no way arranged to affect the shows or gross receipts, but is rumored to come after all expenses and upkeep have been met. In other words, it is a division of the "velvet." It sounds improbable to many that Charles J. Rich, who expects to break all records at the Hollis with highest class musical attractions, should enter into such an arrangement, but he is the head of the local associations of managers, who this year are banded closer together than the Mafia. One man who should know what is going on behind the inner box office door asserts that such an arrangement is secretly in effect in both Philadelphia and Chicago, and while a gamble, is finding an enthusiastic welcome among the managers, who would rather play safe than take too long a shot. The anti-pass agreement between the local managers last week attained sublime heights and then stepped over into the ridiculous. When this tran- spired things moved quickly and cer- tain arbitrary rulings were given a swift kick in the neck. An advance agent at the Shubert ar- rived and in the evening decided he would drop in and sec the show. He was informed at the door that the house rule would not accord him a seat, although there were plenty to spare. He did not have a weak heart and when he finished on the telephone it was decided advance agents were at least entitled to see the show that preceded their attraction at the house i^ had a booking for. The country press, which was or- ganizing a high advertising rate for cash when the agreement was first made public in Varibtv, have been lib- erally papered by some houses and, other houses up to this week were in ignorance that some of the opposition were indulging in this little free read- ing notice game. When Mizzie Hajos opened at the Tremont in "Her Little Highness" the show had to buy the house and then flooded the city with paper, one block of 2CX) seats being sent to the Boston Conservatory of Music in order that the balcony battle would be a guar- anteed success. "The Purple Road," v/hich opened at the Shubert Monday night, also had to buy out the house to get any paper and then sent it broadcast, several newspaper offices getting in on it to their great aston- ishment. On succeeding nights when the show wanted to paper it had to take the tickets out from the gross receipts, although the New York press is now recognized. U. S. CO. SHUNTS. A change of policy as to the em- ployees of the New York offices of the United States Printing & Litho Co. has brought about a new adminis- tration here. Following the published announcement John C. Trauth had been promoted to the management of the office and E. J. Doolittle as his assistant, also comes the move of Rollo W. Bickerstaff from the managership of the United to the general manage- ment of the National Printing Co. in New York. "Bicky" succeeds a Mr. Kellogg, who goes to Chicago. Trauth was engaged by Bickerstaff as treasurer some years ago, Bicker- staff having been associated with the United States Co. 16 years. Bickerstaff, who is visiting his biother in Kalamazoo, Mich., will take charge of his new post Oct. 1. AH! WERE IT TRUE! Columbus. Sept. 24. A paragraph in the Columbus Citi- zen editorial columns expresses naive wonder: "Every one of the 102 theatres in New York are packed to capacity these nights and afterwards the show men and women sit in chairs alon? Broadway waiting for seats in the lobster palaces. Wonder where all the money- comes frbm?" If TOO don't sdvertlM In VABIKTT, don't ndTfrtlM at »ll. LAURA HAMILTON STAYS. Laura Hamilton will remain under the management of the Shuberts. This will be a disappointment to Ned Way- burn and Albert de Courville in Lon- don. They engaged Miss Hamilton to appear in the Leoncavallo operette at the Prince of Wales', which Wayburn is to put on. Miss Hamilton expected to sail next Tuesday. She gave her "notice" to the Winter Garden man- agement last Saturday. This week she reconsidered when the Shuberts offered her a contract for three years, at a salary raise of $25 weekly, with a similar increase in her stipend with every new production she appears in. A maid has also been fur- nished the young woman. Miss Hamilton's salary with the Shuberts has been $75, she playing without an agreement. The de Cour- ville offer was 1175 a week, with 30 weeks guaranteed on the other side. Bessie Clayton also gave her "no- tice" at the Garden, but withdrew it this week. Harry Gilfoil is another who notified the management he would leave the production. This will happen tomorrow. The Gilfoil role may be dropped out of the show. The entrance of Anne Dancrey into the cast Monday night caused several changes in the running. Some com- plaints were made by principals they had been handicapped in the shifts, al- though Cross and Josephine were ben- efited by the changes. If Dancrey proves a draw the pres- ent run of "The Passing Show of 1913" may be extended indefinitely. The schedule at present calls for the new "Pleasure Seekers" to open on the road Oct. 20, coming into the Garden Elec- tion night or eve, when the current piece moves to Boston. Other than the people of the "Hanky Panky" show, the principals in "The Pleasure Seekers" will consist of Dor- othy Jardon and George White. Lew Fields has been rehearsing the new piece. He leaves tomorrow for Chi- cago, where "All Aboard" will open at the American Music Hall Sunday night. The appearance of Dancrey this week did not start anything unusual about the Garden. The French woman did nicely enough, but fell considerably short of the result expected. She is under con- tract to the Shuberts for ei^ht weeks at $1,250 weekly. A couple of songs, some dancing (including a waltz with Charlie King), besides a pair of shape- ly nether limbs and handsome silken hosiery, made up the Dancrey contri- bution to "The Passing Show of 1913." Other new people in the piece are George Whiting and Sadie Burt (Whit- ing and Biirt), who made a decided score; Artie Mehlinger also had a suc- cess mark on his record. Mollie King is not appearing in the piece this week. TWO MORE "LAW" SHOWS. Two more "Within the Law" shows will he put out by the American Play Co. The Helen Ware Company opens Oct. 13 in Philadelphia, and will take to the big city time. The other "Law" piece will not start out until February, when it goes into Boston. "Within the Law," at the Lltinpc. New York, did $9,700 la^t week, the 57th of the run there. SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, Sept. 24. Cooler weather has boosted business in the legitimate houses, all those open this week recording high figures. "The Honeymoon Express" opened to a ca- pacity house at the Lyric Monday night and is doing very big. The show was well received and the papers treated it with liberal praise. Al Jolson carried a hit all the way through, capping it with his specialty, which came so late as to escape notice by the critics. Ziegfeld's "Follies" is still drav/ing crowded houses at the Forrest, falling off very little Monday night despite the opposition of the "Honeymoon Ex- press." "The Master Mind" is a big draw at the Garrick, registering close to a record mark for an early season offer- ing last week and starting strong Mon- day for its second and last week. The Little theatre opened Monday night with "The Yellow Jacket" here for two weeks. The house was crowd- ed and the piece warmly greeted. Press comment was very favorable. The Walnut continues to pack them in at a dollar. "Officer 666" is the at- traction this week and at popular prices the show is a great hit. The Adelphi is dark until Thursday, when George Scarborough's "At Bay," with Guy Standing and C rystal Heme in the principal roles, will open. SHOWS IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Sept. 24. Cool weather arriving Sunday gave business a big impetus. "Within the Law," capacity business in its final week. William Hodge in "The Road to Happiness" at Garrick, also doing well. "The Lady of the Slipper" at the Ill- inois, still making good. Rose Stahl, at the Blackstone in "Maggie Pepper," has failed to arouse much interest, and "The Double Cross" at the Cort is still deserted. "Stop Thief" has had another spurt of business. "The Whip" at the Audi- torium continues to big houses. "The Governor's Lady" at Powers' is doing better, and "A Trip to Washington" at the La Salle has been gaining at a lively rate. ATTRACTIONS SCARCE. Chicago, Sept. 24. Managers in the smaller towns are complaining bitterly of lack of good, legitimate attractions. Houses in the big one night stand districts are dark a good share of the time. Those shows of high class which have been playing in the smaller towns have done fairly well, although busi- ness has not been quite as good as last season at this time. ACTORS' SONS IN STOCK. Taking an inventory of names in stock one will find several sons of well-known stage stars. William Courtlei«h. Jr., is at the Shubert. Milwaukee, playing stock. Clay Clement. Jr., is with Ed. Schil- ler's stock in P.ayonne, N. Y. Another is Milton Nobles, Jr., slated for a South American tour with Franklin Clifford's Co. Ralph Stcvvart'.s son, Kenneth, has also playcfl in stock