Variety (January 1914)

VARIETY "CANCELLATION CLAUSE" OUT OF WESTERN FIR/VTS AGREEMENT Jones, Linick & Schaeffer Make Their Small Time Vaude- ville Contracts "Play or Pay." Aaron Jones Orders a "Satisfactory Clause" Taken Out of the Agreement. Chicago, Jan. 7. Someone connected with the Jones, Linick & Schaeffer Agency caused a "satisfaction clause" to be inserted in the firm's contracts last week, thus giving the agency the privilege to can- cel an act at any time during its en- gagement. This week Aaron Jones heard of it. Next week it goes out. The "unsatisfactory" or cancellation clause and the "two weeks* clause" in a vaudeville artist's contract are the important points the White Ratt are proceeding against to obtain an equit- able contract for the actor. The two weeks' clause especially for a vaude- ville artist, should never be in an agree- ment that is at all deemed fair. The \audevilHan books by the week, and it rests with the manager before engag- ing the act, to ascertain if satisfactory, rot cancel on the two weeks' notice just at the time limit, invariably cost- ing the act canceled a week's salary, it not having sufficient time to fill in the open time. With players in the legitimate, the two weeks' clause may be a necessary protection to the manager, who usually produces the piece for a run, and de- pends upon his altars to properly play the roles allotted to them. ROUTING BLANCHE BATES. Blanche Bates (Mrs. George Creel) is now living at Ossining and when she has fully recovered will have a first whirl at vaudeville. She recently became the mother of a fine baby girl. A route is now being laid out for her by the United Booking Offices. ' DEBUT "LAUGH" SKETCH. "The Last Laugh" is a new playlet Herbert Hall Winslow has written for Garrett Beekman's vaudeville debut. Thomas Maher and Cecelie Holmes will also be in the presentation. SHEEHAN WITH FOX. Winfield R. Sheehan, former secre- tary to the police commissioner, Rhinelander Waldo, has gone into theatricals with William Fox. Mr. Waldo passed from police headquar- ters with the outgoing administration. "Winnie" Sheehan has known a theatrical crowd for a long while and must have received much information of the show business through his friendly acquaintances. HENDERSON GETS $10,000. $10,000 was the amount paid in set- tlement out of court, it is reported, for the discontinuance of the action brought by Fred Henderson against Percy G. Williams. The case had been set down on the Supreme Court calen- dar for trial Tuesday. The settlement was reached Jan. 3. Henderson sued Williams for $100,- 000, alleging an indebtedness of that amount through having acted as an in- termediary in the negotiations between Williams and the Orpheum Circuit crowd, by which the latter was ready to purchase the Williams New York vaudeville theatres, afterward obtained by the B. F. Keith faction. CARUS RANDALL TURN. Emma Cams and Carl Randall will make up the new "two-act" Miss Carus has prepared for vaudeville. Mr. Randall was with "A Broadway Honeymoon" when Miss Carus played in that show. LAUDER STARTS WELL. Harry Lauder got a good start on his sixth annual American tour under the management of William Morris, at the Casino Monday. A steady line up to the 'box office window had to be sifted at 2.30 during the matinee to per- mit current buyers of seats a chance to see the entire matinee show. Some of the acts surrounding Lauder are from the other side and were said about the theatre to have been select- ed across the pond without Morris hav- ing any direct information as to their merit. The Lauder show goes to Philadel- phia next week, playing about 11 weeks in all over here on this trip. Neil Kenyon's opening at the Colonial Monday was highly success- ful, and the managers expressed a will- ingness to give him all the American time he desires at his asking salary, $1,000. While the big time managers wanted Mr. Kenyon for his contracted Ameri- can salary, $1,000, it was said Wednes- day there had developed in the book- ings a hitch over the price, the Scotch- man demanding more money, some placing his figure for future engage* ments over here at $1,250. LONG DISTANCE BOOKINGS. Sydney, Nov. 30. Some long distance bookings have been arranged by Earle (Skater) Rey- nolds. Reynolds and Donegan them- selves have been placed for Colombo, Calcutta and Bombay during March and April. Hugh Mcintosh did it for them. They will afterward go to the Continent. Reynolds has booked Gene Greene to open March 30 at Sheffield, England; Williams and Rankin for Monte Carlo, Nice and London; Prim- rose Four for London in June; Fan- ton's Athletes, London, June 22. These acts are now in Australia. Tom Dawson, a prominent come- dian over here, expects to appear in musical comedy in America next sea- son, through the medium of Mr. Rey- nolds. If 70a doo't adwtlM In VARIETY, don't advertise mi nil. PUTTING SOMETHING OVER. Cincinnati, Jan. 7. "Marie Shaw" is heavily billed as the feature of the Keith bill this week. She is termed a "Philadelphia society girl," "A remarkable combination of Tetrazzini and Melba." Her name is said to be Marguerite Boas. Peculiarly on the Keith program this week the opening overture en- titled "Lady Marguerite" is credited to L. Boas as the composer. Miss Shaw did well enough at the opening matinee, but it's too concert for Cinsy. LOPOUKOWA ATTRACTS. The engagement of Lydia Lopou- kowa, the dancer, for the New York Roof, opened Monday evening, attract- ing the largest crowd the Roof ever held on a Monday evening. Lopoukowa is receiving $1,000 a week for the dancing-cabaret run. 8.-0. ADDS ST. LOUIS. St. Louis, Jan. 7. Commencing Jan. 11 the Princess theatre will play the Sullivan-Consi- dine road shows, opening with a new bill shipped directly here from the New York agency of the Circuit. (Under Bills Next Week.) The Princess is the house promoted and managed by the late Dan S. Fishell. The insertion of St. Louis into the S.-C. route will make the travel in fu- ture Ft. Wayne, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago and westward as usual. LICENSES REVOKED. Chicago, Jan. 7. The State Board of Labor Commis- sioners yesterday revoked the license of the Lavigne & Langer theatrical agency on a charge of booking a sin- gle girl singer at Dempscy's theatre, Peoria, alleged to be a questionable resort. The girl registered a complaint. Lavigne & Langer took over the agency of Charles Doutrick at the lat- ter's death. Lavigne says he will ap- peal from the decision through the courts. The commissioners recently revoked the license of the Baker Theatrical Fxchange for booking a singing girl at the Blue Ribbon Cafe, an alleged questionable resort in the levee dis- trict. The inspectors' Chicago office promises a sweeping investigation of the local theatrical agencies as a re- sult of numerous complaints from women. It is understood several other agencies will shortly be tried on simi- lar charges, but no information as to their identity has been made public. ALREE PARTY DUE. E. F. Albec, A. Paul Keith and Mau- rice Goodman, all of the United Hook- ing Offices, art- expected to return to New York by the end of this week. They have been at Miami, Fla.. where R. F. Keith was reported ill. The re- port was strongly denied from the U. R. O., although it is unusual for the three lights of the big agency to re- main away together for ten days or longer without good cause. STELLA MAYHEW CALLED IN. Milwaukee, Jan. 7. Changes in the Majestic's bill from Friday on kept both management and audiences guessing, beginning when Marie Lloyd was unable to appear, claiming illness due to ptomaine poison- ing. Ample notice was given to patrons ?nd a few recalled their money. Stella Mayhew, who had been laid off with Rillee Taylor in Chicago, was hurriedly secured in anticipation that Miss Lloyd might not be able to show Saturday. Then Charlotte Ravenscroft, singing violinist, received a telegram telling of the death of her mother in Fort Madi- son, la., and she took along her hus- band, Edward Flanagan, appearing on the same bill with Neely Edwards in "Off and On," thereby causing the loss of two acts. But Van Hoven, the magician, was accompanied here by his wife, professionally known as Annie Kent, and when pressed into service to fill the Ravenscroft vacancy she did so with credit. Miss Lloyd was able to play Satur- day, and Miss Mayhew was retained, keeping the bill full. The report is current that Miss I loyd and Benny Dillon, who came over here with her, were married New v ear's Eve, but it has not been posi- tively reported. MADMAN SEEKS EVELYN. Cincinnati, Jan. 7. Harry Flynn, of Cincinnati, was com- mitted to the Long View Insane Asy- lum, after trying to reach Evelyn Thaw at the Lyric theatre and her hotel. Flynn, who has been reading Eve- lyn's diary, published in a newspaper syndicate, is under the delusion he is Harry K. Thaw. MRS. JEROME AFTER DIVORCE. Chicago, Jan. 7. Ben M. Jerome has been sued in the Circuit Court for divorce under his real name, Bernhardt J. Michaelis, by Mrs. Florence Michaelis. Association with two other women is alleged in the libel. The couple have a daughter, Bessie Sanford Michaelis, 17 years of age. Chicago, Jan. 7. Ruby La Pearle Zane, an actress, whose child was kidnapped from Long Island, N. Y., last week and brought to Chicago by the father, Edgar Zane, says she will sue for divorce and the custody of the boy, Edgar Zane, Jr. Zane is employed at a small theatre at 55th street and Prairie avenue. THITRBEK AND MADISON PART Thurbcr and Madison as a vaude- ville team are through. Leona Thur- hcr is rehearsing in a production which will feature her on the variety stage. James Madison was her pro- fessional partner for several seasons. OPERETTA PRINCIPALS. Mac Cressy, prima donna, and Henry Rarron, formerly with Henry W. Savage's "Girl of the Golden West" opera company, have been en- gaged by Jose Van den Berg to sing the principal roles in his vaudeville production of the one-act grand opera, "Corsica."