Variety (January 1914)

VARIETY "SPLITTING COMMISSION" IN UNIT ED'S F AMILY DEPT. New Order of Affairs to Take Effect Upon Removal to Palace Theatre Building. Agents Booking Small Time Turns at Low Salaries Will Have to dive Up One-half Their Earnings "Making it unanimous" is the answer to the United Booking Offices inten- tion to have agents booking through the Family Department of the agency "split the commission" after the re- moval of the U B. O. to the Palace theatre building. The moving day is soon to arrive, delayed somewhat by workmen on the new offices. Heretofore the Fam. Dep't. has been left alone in the commission end. It books the small time turns for "United houses." Most of these are at low salaries, giving agents a small revenue it they adhere strictly to the customary five per cent, for booking. The "split," through which one-half the amount re- ceived by the agent (five per cent.) will be retained by the booking office "downstairs" (the same as is done "up- stairs") will materially decrease the agents' earnings, if they still persist in charging the act only five per cent. Besides the "split," the Fam. Dep't. also tacks on a fee of five per cent. of its own. Last year the Family Department of the United, which has been developed into a big institution through its head, D F. Hennessy (who has been in charge of it since starting) earned a profit of $90,000. This year it is said the small time branch of the big agency will turn over around $120,000 net. SINGER WITH KOHL. Chicago, Dec. 31. The following is the complete an- nouncement sent out by the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association re- garding Mort Singer: C. E. Kohl, managing director of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association has arranged with Mort Singer, manager of the Palace thea- tre, to act in a business and advisory capacity with him, in handling the vast volume of business of the West- ern Vaudeville Managers' Associa- tion. Inasmuch as Mr. Kohl's duties as general manager of the Assoc..ition have increased beyond one man's capability to handle, and owing to his many other interests, he has ar- ranged as above with Mr. Singer. Therefore, commencing Jan. 1, Mr. Singer will take upon himself the responsibility of the business end of the Association, and will no doubt prove a most valuable party to the executive staff of the Western Vaude- ville Managers' Association. NEW COLONIAL OPENS. Philadelphia, Dec. 31. The Colonial in Germantown, a new Nixon-Nirdlinger "pop" vaudeville theatre, opened Monday night, with a show in for the week that cost the management around $1,800. The thea- tre seats 2,700 and is extravagantly built, costing around $400,000. Harry Brown is resident manager. Three shows daily are given. Through the recent "pooling" by the Nixon and Zimmerman interests, the Orpheum, in the same suburban sec- tion, discontinued vaudeville last Sat- urday, giving the Colonial a clear field. The first week's program has Karno's Comedy Co., Jones and Syl- vester, Gruber's Animals, DeWitt and Stewart, Pearl Abbott and Co., Strol- ling Players. Acts remain a full week. The Orpheum is now playing legiti- mate combinations. It has "A Butter- fly on the Wheel" this week. SUING AND SUED. Henry Myerhoff, who books fairs and parks, is having his troubles aired in the courts. Myerhoff was the Park Booking Circuit which went out of business with several judgments against it. The Park Circuit put the Ernest Trio under a five week's con- tract, but after playing two or three weeks, the trio refused to work any further time. Myerhoff, upon the re- incorporation and forming of the Henry Myerhoff, Inc., had the Ernest contract assigned to him personally. He began suit against the Ernests for $500 and the case comes up for trial Jan. 17. Myerhoff, Inc., has been sued by the Ebling Troupe for $600, which they claim is due on a five weeks' contract Myerhoff is said to have given them. The Eblings worked four and on the four got part payment. John C. Coyle is MyerhofFs legal representative, while the Eblings and Ernests are repre- sented by O'Brien-Malevinsky and Driscoll. WAITED LONG WHILE. Martin Alsop accepted a vaudeville act from Augustin MacHugh before the latter became famous as the au- thor of "Officer 666." He paid a de- posit on the sketch and planned its immediate production. Alsop never put it on and after a year or two Mac- Hugh made plans to produce it him- self. When MacHugh's name became known through "Officer 666," Alsop figured the sketch with the MacHugh name would mean something. The re- sult was that Alsop began an injunc- tion suit against the author in May, 1912. The case is just coming to trial before Justice Newburger in the Su- preme Court next week. GOING BACK FOR ONE DAT. San Francisco, Dec. 31. Gaby Deslys is returning here Sun- day for two performances at the Cort. William L. Wilken is now in advance of the show. AGENTS GOING DOWNSTAIRS. The changes in the handling of the agency question at the United Book- ing Offices will consist in part, it is reported, of many of the 38 men with "franchises" being retired permanently to the Family Department of the agency, leaving but a few of the bet- ter known commission men "up stairs." There may be other plans for the agents, though nothing is positively stated. It is said the condition of business over the country is demanding more ?ttention from vaudeville managers just now than anything else. LMPOSTER GETS ALL OVER. Cincinnati, Dec. 31. The fellow who has been traveling around this section posing as a critic or advertising solicitor on Varibtt ar- rived here late last week. He met Prof. Emmett and introduced himself as "Reed" (W. Reed Dunroy) of Chi- cago. Mr. Emmett suspected the man and upon investigation found he was a faker. He is of pleasing appearance and a good talker, wears jewelry and fine clothes. Emmett describes the fellow as of medium height, weighing about 165 pounds, sallow complexion, wears glasses, soft hat, tan shoes and chin- chilla coat. IN CHARGE OF SUNDAY SHOWS. Springfield, Mass., Dec. 31. Walter Griffith, for some time as- sistant manager of Poli's here, has been placed in charge of the Sunday per- formances on the Poli Circuit, with headquarters at the United Booking Offices, New York. "HUMPTY DUMPTY" IN CIRCUS. When the Frank A. Robbins circus starts its 34th annual season May 2, at Trenton, N. J., Owner Robbins plans to produce a "Humpty Dumpty" panto- mime of a new scale. This spectacle will have a ballet of 24 girls, new cos- tumes and new scenery and the panto is. expected to run from 30 to 40 min- utes. Robbins featured "Humpty Dumpty" with his show 20 years ago. He thinks the time is ripe for a revival. PAY FOR 80 WEEKS. Thomas C. Hamilton, who avers he was placed under contract to appear with Julius Steger in "The Tenth Commandment" for 30 weeks and never did play in the piece, has brought suit to make Steger pay him for the full time. Steger contends the act is not his property, but belongs to James San- try, now on the Pacific Coast. DAVENPORT'S NEW ONE. Davenport, la., Dec. 31. Davenport's new playhouse, seating 1,500, opened Christmas Day. It plays vaudeville, three shows daily on a split week. The house cost $200,000 and is booked by Frank Thiclen, of Chicago. Admis- sion, 10-20-30. VAUDEVILLE IN BROADWAY? Upon the expiration of the lease held by Marcus Loew on the Broadway theatre, where pictures are now being daily shown, it is said the Felix Is- man vaudeville concern will take over the house, for vaudeville shows at pop- ular prices. The original lease, hejd by Isman, the Shuberts and Lew Fields, and which was assigned to Loew, expires with Loew's occupation of the prem- ises. A new lease is reported hav- ing been made to a company headed by Geo. H. Earl, Jr., of Philadelphia. Mr. Earle is associated with Isman in several theatrical enterprises, all grouped according to report under the heading of the Stanley Theatre Co. The corporation operates the new Stanley, seating 2,800, at Market and 16th street, Philadelphia, the Globe in the same city, now building, and to have a capacity of 2,000 when open- ing March 1, besides the Palace, Vic- toria and Great Northern over there. The Colonial, Atlantic City, is an- other proposition that will be finished by Feb. 22, when it opens with pop vaudeville. The Garden Pier theatre at the seaside will start as a twice daily vaudeville theatre, which Eugene L. Perry, general manager of the Stanley Co. will also look after. The Pier theatre, booked through the United Booking Offices, will compete with the Savoy, booked from the same agency and managed by Louis Wes- ley. The Pier theatre will advertise "Keith Vaudeville." Atlantic City, Dec. 31. Harry Davis and Johnny Harris have apparently abandoned the Garden Pier theatre. After several trips here they became less interested in the house. B. F. Keith signs still adorn the out- side. The right to use the Keith name was bought by the pier owners (Alfred Burke and Geo. H. Earle, Jr.). Victoria Blauvelt is no longer privite secretary to F. F. Proctor, Jr. If yon don't Advertise In VARIBTT, don't advertise at all. O. C/8 ANNUAL. The annual meeting of the Vaude- ville Comedy Club was held Monday, at 11 P. M., Gene Hughes, the new president, presiding. The protection of the stage material of its members was one of the prin- cipal discussions of the meeting. A resolution was passed to have a com- mittee appointed to confer with all theatrical clubs and also to see what may be done regarding the new copy- right law. A committee was also appointed to draft a ritual and initiation sermon to be given to new members. A committee of seven will be ap- pointed to take charge of all entertain- ments at the clubhouse. The club is to have monthly meetings for the mem- bers instead of only one meeting a year as formerly. The question whether the club should raise the dues of its members and if it should lease the present quarters and take a smaller house was discussed at much length. It was finally decided to adjourn the meeting until Sunday, Jan. 11, at 5 p. m., to decide. ^Molle^ve^buT^^TtT^npe^Or«aTItTa re-orders. One In a house means more In the same string. They make business and keep It. Used with or without auxiliary musicians. Consult C. ft. Look, N. Y and Bkn. Tel.