Variety (December 1913)

VARIETY WHITE RATS INTERESTING LAMBS A MONG LEGITIMATES Sevoral Members of the Lambs Proposed for Membership. Some Have Taken Rooms at Clubhouse. Equity Association, Composed of Legits, May Consider Rat Affiliation. Wants Union Connection, *Tis Said The legitimate player is becoming interested in the White Rats of America, from indications, and the purpose of the Rats to extend its in- fluence into the legitimate branch stands a very good chance of a speedy fulfillment. Several members of the Lamb's Club have been proposed for membership in the Rats. William Courtleigh, Shepherd of the Lamb's, has been a Rat for several years and has lately re- newed his interest in the organiza- tion. Carlton Macy, another promi- nent Lamb, was last week elected to the Rats Board of Directors, filling a vacancy. Charles J. Ross, a vaude- villian intermittently for years, is like- wise a Rat as well as a Lamb. Some of the Lambs now on the list of the Rats for membership, all hav- ing been favorably voted upon at the first or second balloting, are P. B. Pratt. Earl Craddock, Dallas Welford and Theo. Bendix. Rooms at the Rats clubhouse have been taken by several other Lambs. The Equity Association, a society of legitimate players organized for mu- tual aid and protection, with Francis Wilson as president, is said to have Rat leanings, through a desire by many of the members to become affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. The Rats, having the theatrical A. F. of L. charter, would be the only avenue for any group of show people to attain that haven. From a report the Rats would wel- come the addition of the Equity Asso- ciation, and the Rats is said to have stated if the Equity officers desired offi- cial quarters, they could be set apart for them in the clubhouse of the Rats on West 46th street. With the activity in increasing its membership from all the theatrical sides, the Rats will likely make a bid for the picture actor to join the order. The picture people have the Screen Club, a very congenial social organi- zation. The Rats would extend its various benefits to the picture player as well as to the legitimate, and it has in mind the inclusion of stock people. The players in stock are subject to many abuses that an organization such as the Rats could correct, if not pre- vent, and the same is true of the pic- ture people, the officials of the Rats believe. With the Associated Actresses of America closely allied with the Rats, provision for the new membership includes the women as well as the men of the various show branches. After spending a large sum of money in booming last season, flitting from one agent to another, she finally land- ed in the booking offices of Weber & Evans. Despite the "influence" believed to be wielded by this agency, Miss Barnes was still unable to solve the booking problem and in despair fell into the hands of a vaudeville newspaper man on a daily paper. At about this time, women singles being scarce, Gertrude received some bookings in a"nd around New York, whereupon, according to report about town, the Weber & Evans concern de- manded a "rake-off." As the daily newspaper man was probably getting "his," Miss Barnes, or those back of her, could not quite see it in that light, and declined to con- tribute to the Weber & Evans exche- quer. Then occurred a most mysterious cancellation of some of the young woman's bookings. GENERAL KEITH SWITCH. According to rumor there is to be a general switching in the managerial ranks of the Keith local houses, to take place almost immediately. EDNA LUBY AND A SKETCH. Vaudeville is going to get Edna Luby in a sketch, with five people. The act will "break in" on the Proctor time. Miss Luby has been posing in mov- ing pictures of late, for her almost- namesake, Lubin, of Philadelphia. MANAGER WOODWARD RESIGNS. San Francisco, Dec. 3. Guy Woodward, the new manager of the local Pantages house, has tend- ered his resignation to take effect Dec. 6. PANTAGES* WINNIPEG. Winnipeg, Dec. 3. The new Pantages theatre seems to be progressing toward an opening Dec. 22 or thereabouts. The house will seat 2.100. Pantages vaudeville is to be played. Winnipeg will be the first stand on the circuit. TROUBLING 5nSS BARNES. Gerturde Barnes is having her troubles trying to establish herself as a "bic time 'single'" in vaudeville. SHOEBRIDGE GOING BACK. Joe Shoebridge will sail Dec. 16 on the Mauretania, returning to the H. B. Marinelli London office. Mr. Shoebridge, who has been over here for three or four months, look- ing after the English bookings in the local Marinelli branch, will probably come back to New York, when Mari- nelli next sails for this port, some- time in March. GYOI MAULS BECK. Add to the white hopes of vaudeville, Gygi, the Spanish violinist, who only understands vocable Dutch and a demi- tasse of English. The dust of the Martin Beck suite in the Putnam Building hasn't quite set- tled yet from the stirring up it got last Friday, when Gygi took the suite's host for a Holland rug, "Welcome" side up and a Beck office chair for a bastinado. Beck was handing Gygi some Beck bunk about promised booking not forth- coming, and fell to the bullying voice and terms he sometimes uses toward his house managers and other subordi- nates. Gygi's royal "Spanish" blood boiled forthwith, and before the Orpheum's head could parry or run, he was flat from a blow from the chair, with Gygi standing over him ready to play the entire aria. Georgie Hayes, in an ante- room seeking an engagement, was picked up bodily by several scared U. B. O. attaches attracted by the row and thrust into the Beck suite to pacify the irate violinist. When the smoke had cleared away and Gygi had been de- coyed from his prey Beck's feelings were soothed by associates. Rumor says that as a consequence of the fracas Gygi has assurances his con- tract will now be fulfilled. WHO'LL BE COMMISSIONER? Who will be the next License Com- missioner for New York? It is ex- pected that the present incumbent of the office, Herman Robinson, will neither be reappointed nor present himself as an applicant. Jim Holland of the Central Fede- rated Union is among the candidates for the position, also Harry De Veaux. The White Rats, according to under- standing, have no choice for the job, but will ask that Mayor Mitchell select someone with a knowledge of the- atricals against whom the organization has no objection. The inspectors and office force hold their positions under the Civil Service law and are not aflFected by changes in administration. They are appointed for life. HART GETS GAMBOL SKETCHES. Joe Hart has secured the produc- tion rights to two of the sketches pre- sented at the Lambs Gambol last Sun- day night at the clubhouse. GUS SUN'S ADDITIONS. The Gus Sun Circuit it booking the Colonial, Dayton, a former United Booking Offices house. The Colonial now splits with the Arcade, Toledo, with a 7-act show being given in each stand. The Sun Circuit recently acquired the Columbia, New Castle, Pa., another U. B. O. house, the Hippodrome, Mc- Kecsport, Pa., also a United link, and U. B. O. houses in Charleston and Huntington, W. Va. MAE HOLDEN. The centre oval of Varibtv's cover page this week has a likeness of Mae Holdcn, a clever young woman who has been attracting much attention with "The American Beauties." The show is at the Columbia, New 'ifcrk, next week (Dec. 8). OPERA HOUSE INJUNCTION. Philadelphia, Dec. 3. A temporary injunction was granted Monday on the application of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in Court of Common Pleas No. 1 against Nixon & Zimmermann, and the Pickwick Amuse- ment Co. and ordering that Nixon & Zimmermann be restrained from ex- ecuting a lease J. Fred Zimmermann, Sr., had made with Marcus Loew for the Chestnut Street opera house, owned by the University. The Loew Circuit had expected to open the opera house Dec. 15 with pop vaudeville. Physical possession has not yet passed to it. The hearing came up Tuesday and was adjourned until Dec. 9. Ex-Judge Beitler appeared for the University, Henry G. Arnold for Nixon & Zimmermann, Horace Stern for J. Fred Zimmermann, Sr., and John R. K. Scott for Marcus Loew. Mr. Scott declared in court this case was the crisis of a theatrical war. He said "Keith is the man who instigated this proceeding. We will show when the time comes how the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania have been used by Keith and that Nixon & Zimmermann have been willing tools in this matter." Ex-Judge Beitler replied he had never met Keith. Mr. Scott answered, "You have met E. F. Albee, his repre- sentative, and discussed the case with him." Mr. Beitler than sat down. Mr, Arnold informed the court he did not want an adjournment, as it was only a plea by Loew to "stall" for time. Judge Beitler added he had found the Pickwick Co. (Loew) was a New York corporation, capitalized at $10,- 000 with but 11,000 paid in and that of the Board of Directors only Loew was known to the University. It was inti- mated some responsible party on the lease was wanted. Mr. Scott retorted a bond would be given by Loew for the full amount of the rent, 1275,000. The University's attorney replied that was for the court to decide. Opinion is widely divergent on the case. It seems to be agreed that at present the University has the best of it. Its Trustees are wealthy men of high integrity. It is understood Keith has made them an offer to take over the house if the lease with Nixon & Zimmermann is abrogated. However, it is said that if Loew can assure them the rental, as he did for the Metropoli- tan opera house, the University will withdraw the present action. N-N ON THE HUSTLE. Philadelphia, Dec. 3. Fred Nixon-Nirdlinger is a pretty lively little hustler in a business way, and his activities have been the sub- ject of comment to headquarters by Harry T. Jordan, now generally rep- resenting B. F. Keith in this city. With the affiliation of N-N to the United Booking Offices, the latter docs not favor Nirdlinger booking acts and otherwise acting for himself, without great regard for the U. B. O. It is reported Mr. Jordan had a talk with N-N, and E. F. Albee of the U. B.- O. invited him to go over to New York for a confab. It is said N-N was in one of his rushes when the Albee message arrived and foTgot all about it.