Variety (January 1914)

VARIETY BIRMINGHAM OPENING STOPPED BY HOBL ITZELL E INJUNCTION Interstate Circuit President Obtains Order Restraining Jake Wells From Opening Lyric with Vaudeville Jan. 12 as Advertised. Eight Acts for First Program Awaiting Word. Chicago, Jan. 14. Karl Hoblitzelle, representing the di- rectors of the Birmingham Amuse- ment Co., secured an injunction this week preventing Jake Wells from open- ing the new Lyric, Birmingham, Mon- day, as he intended. At the last meeting of the board it was agreed the formal opening of the Lyric would be held off until another meeting was held for the purpose of ar- ranging the date. Mr. Wells went right ahead with the opening plans and announced in the Birmingham press the shows now play- ing at the Orpheum would be transfer- red to the Lyric this week. Mr. Hoblitzelle couldn't sec it that way and journeyed to Birmingham to look after his interests in the case. The Interstate Circuit own the Majestic, Birmingham (now closed), and with- drew their shows in that house when the peace conference (ending in a pool of the local interests) was held. Birmingham, Jan. 14. AH acts advertised for this week's bill at the Lyric reported Monday, but were informed they could not open, and to hold themselves in readiness to do so at any time during the week. The acts will demand full salary, whether playing or no. Those here awaiting word are Jesse Lasky's "Rest Cure," Rube Goldberg. Willard and Bond, Four Bards. Clau- dius and Scarlet, Lorainc and Dudley. Walter Van Brunt, and Archie and Gertie Falls. The show was booked through the United Booking- Offices of New York. FORBES WROTE SEARS' ACT. James Forbes is the author of the new sketch to be presented by Zelda Sears at the Union Square next week. COMING DIRECT EAST. Irene Franklin and Rert Green arc coming direct to New York, not stop- ping to play any Orpheum time en route. On their arrival here they will prob- ably be booked to open at Hammer- stein's for a fortnight. FAOAX AND BYKON'S ACTION. Barney Fagan and Henrietta Byron have started suit in the Supreme Court of New York against Louis Pincus to recover $6,000, on a contract made by Pincus, as the plaintiffs claim, in which Pincus agreed to secure for them twen- ty weeks' work at $300 a week. Plaintiffs arc represented by O'Brien. Malevinsky & Driscoll "LOVE SLAVE" TAKEN OFF. "The Love Slave" isn't in vaudeville now. Jim Clancy accepted a sketch dealing with the recent office scandal of Mr. Couch and Miss Branch in Mon- ticello, N. Y., and produced it in Bridge- port with Myrza Marsten as the princi- pal woman. Jim called all bets off after the first week. DOROTHY GRANVILLE, SINGLE. Chicago, Jan. 14. Dorothy Granville (wife of Bernard Granville) is preparing a single vaude- ville act which she will play in the out- lying houses around here before trying for the big time. JACK HENRY PUTTIXG ONE OUT. Bridgeport, Jan. 14. Jack Henry, a New York booking man, is putting out a new vandeville act. Rehearsals were held in the Sterl- ing theatre, Derby, Conn., Sunday. Henry is associated in the production which has a cast of 12 people, with Ira Hoyt, former owner of the Norwalk, opera house. The act is of the musical comedy type. In the cast are Tom Ward, Josephine Fleming and Miss Booth. WIRE ACT LOSES $250. Kartelli, the wire act at the Or- pheum. was robbed of $250 in money orders, which the thief cashed at local hotels FIELDS' SON MANAGING. lew Fields' son, with Bobby Harris, opened a pop vaudeville house last, week on Dyckman street. It is called tl e Dyckman theatre. Eight acts and pictures make up the entertainment. EVA TANGUAY RESTING. Eva Tanguay and her Volcanic Vau- deville company are resting this week. Miss Tanguay "laid off" to rest her vocal chords. She was to have ap- peared this week at the DeKalb. Brook'yn. I. Fluegelman, manager of that house, insisted he get his "Tan- Kiiay week." which necessitated the entire route being put back one week, Miss Tanguay opening at the DeKalb text Monday instead. A week of one-nighters will be played commencing Jan. 26, after which the Tanguay show opens at the American Music Hall, Chicago. Following that engagement two routes arc open, one through Canada and back east, the other to the Pacific Coast. The Desmond Gallagher Players in "Live Wires" join the Tanguay show next week, replacing Hilda Hollis and < o on the program. PICTURES AT SAVOY. Atlantic City, Jan. 14. The Savoy is playing pictures this week. It is such a change from the established policy, of the house no one knows what the future plans are. PANTAGES IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Jan. 14. The long-threatened invasion of Alex. Pantages into Chicago is about to materialize, according to a statement issued by J. C. Matthews, the coast cir- cuit's general booking manager. If present plans come through as expect- ed, the site of his local activity will be on the North Side, two short blocks north of the Wilson Avenue theatre, undoubtedly one of the best locations in the city proper, and about the only one not overrun with "pop" houses at the present time. It is understood an option on the site has been secured, the final transfer being postponed until Feb. 9, when Pantages will be in Chicago, coming here from Winnipeg, where he will attend the opening of his new house. Matthews, who engineered the deal up to its present state, is a resident of the North Side, and after investigation learned that the southwest corner of Lawrence and Broadway (Evanston) was on the market. The site is direct- ly opposite the Tom Chamale parcel now housing Morse's Garden on which Chamale is spending upwards of $100,- 000 to rebuild. The plot measures 154x150. City plans provide for the erection of a subway station on the same corner, and the "L" roads intend to build a station but one block east, which naturally makes the property more valuable for theatrical purposes. Up to the present time the Wilson Ave- nue theatre has practically monopolized the vaudeville situation on the North Side, but poor booking judgment has cut inroads into its business and opened up the field for new ventures. LEAVING THE MINES. Chicago, Jan. 14. Dick Staley, who has been gold min- ing in the Rockies for several years, is about to return to vaudeville cither as a single or with one of his mechanical productions. Staley passed through Chicago last week and after prospect- ing around the small time, decided the variety branch of the profession needs some uplifting. His quest for pay ore has been rather disappointing of late, although his mill which is operated for the benefit of neighboring miners has been maintaining itself. Staley will temporarily close up his "Humming Bird" properties and armed with a press agent and some new material anent his experiences in Idaho Springs, attempt to land a route. His long stay in the mountains has provided him with a hefty constitution, some thing which he lacked in former years Joe Adams, another well known pro- fessional who humped into a mess of gold somewhere out west, has tempor- arily returned to show business, but after he satisfies his desires for ap plause. will return to dig more gold. KEENEY GETS ANOTHER. Philadelphia, Jin. 14. Frank A. Keeney has secured from William W. Miller a 20 years' lease of the American, now utilized as a stock bouse by Charles E. Blaney. Keeney assume*; possesion Sept. 1 This makes the seventh playhouse acquired by Keeney within a compara- tively brief spell. CASTLES AT TWO HOUSES. This week is seeing Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle playing two vaudeville theatres, only a short distance apart. They are Hammerstein's and the Pal- ace. The order of affairs, starting with Monday, was that the dancing couple should appear first at matinees at the Palace, and should give Hammerstein's whatever benefit there might be in the first appearance at night, the team to alternate in this way between the two houses for the week. In consequence the theatre receiving the Castles for their second turn had to place them in the program upon arrival, which meant a rearrangement of the bill daily at each theatre. Monday the houses held good crowds at both shows, with Hammerstein's apparently having the better bill, oth- er than the headline feature. Ham- merstein's had also for this week a feature picture film that drew Inspector Schmitberger and four of his staff to the theatre Monday afternoon for a close inspection of it. Wednesday it was temporarily withdrawn until it had passed censorship, the manage- ment declaring it would be put back later in the week. The Castles are billed to hold over in both houses next week. The musical union objected to the colored orchestra of 12 pieces carried b> the Castles playing in the orchestra pit. Monday night the ragtimers were placed on the stage at Hammerstein's. Besides the Castles at both theatres again next week, Cross and Josephine will appear on the same bills, giving the Palace and Hammerstein's two acts out of their total complement that are repeating just across the way. ABAK11ANELL ASKING $1,000. Lina Abarbanell is willing to play vaudeville, if the managers will pay her a salary of $1,000 a week. "WALKED OUT" AFTEK LOOKING. Monday morning rehearsal time at ihe Mronx this week saw Duffy and Lorenz walk in the theatre where they were billed, take one look at the running order of the program and walk out again. FLAVIA A RCA HO IN NEW VERSION Louis Simon will be supported by I'lavia Arcaro in a new version of "A Persian Garden," which has been re- written for a sort of second edition. CAN'T AGKEE ON MONEY. Louis Mann would be pleased to con- tinue in vaudeville at $2,500 a week, but bookings have been held up by the managers, who have set a figure of $1,500 on his latest sketch. VAl'l>EVILLIA\S WED. Chicago, Jan. 14. The marriage is reported from New Orleans of Janet Adair (Adair and Hickey) and "Fat" Thompson (Wil- liams, Thompson and Copeland). The newlyweds continue in their re -pertive acts. JEFF CALL AN BETTER. Bridgeport, Conn., Jan. 14. Jeff Callan was di-eharged from St. Vincent's Hospital today, and resumed the management of the Plaza Theatre.