Variety (February 1914)

Vol. XXXIII. No. 10. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1914. PRICE 10 CENTS FOUR BIG VAUDEVILLE STARS PHTED AGAINS T EACH OTHER Eva Tanguay, Gaby Deslys, Harry Lauder and Gertrude HofFmann Battling for Business in Different Chicago Theatres This Week. Tanguay, With Poorest Lo- cation, but Lightest Admission Scale, Makes Biggest Showing, with Gaby Closely Following. Chicago, Feb. 4. Four \ .iiuk'vilK- stars ol tlic first niagiiitndc were pitted against each other in Chicago this week in one of the most spectacular artistic battles in the history of the local stage. They ali came touted in the extreme, each onu billed as the greatest in the world. At kast two were of international impor- tance, and the other two arc not far behind in fame. Eva Tanguay led the procession opening at the American Music Hall Sunday afternoon, where she was greeted by a large and enthusiastic au- dience. The show ran smoothly, and the star was received with unusun'' warmth. She did over $2,000 on the day, and her advance sale is big. While playing in an out-of-the-way house Miss Tanguay is not having any ditTi culty at all in keeping up with her con- temporaries. Neil Kenyon joined the Tanguay show Tuesday and scored a big hit. The show remains at the Hall three weeks. Gaby Deslys, who has not hitherto been seen by Chicagoans. arrived next. She came to the Auditorium Sunday night before a disai)pointing house, in "The Little Parisienne," a musical piece, in which daby displayed many handsome gowns and acted in her usual way. She did not create tlio furore that had been anticipated. Harry Lauder and Gertrude Hoff- mann, the other two. opened in rival matinees Monday afternoon, the former at the Garrick and the latter at the Majestic. The Garrick was well filled, and the Scot was again the idol of everybody. While flic house is not the largest in town, it is centrally located and the prices are topping at $2, the same as charged at the .Kuditorium for the Gaby sbo\v, while at the American Music Hall, where Eva Tanguay is holding forth, the top prices are $1. Over at the Majestic Miss HofTmann began her two weeks' stay before an audience that packed the house from ceiling down to the footlights. She presented her revue, reviewed else- where in this issue. Miss HofTmann was brought in as an afterthought in order to buck some of the big opposi- tion, and Theodore Roberts, who had been previously billed as the headliner, was sent over to the Palace, where he had to bear the brunt of the headlining for that house against the toughest op- position known here. In the popular-priced houses there was a considerable slump, especially in "the Loop," and even the picture houses felt the elTecls of the stellar invasion. Some of the houses playiiis.; dramatic attractions also experienced a drop in returns. LOW PRICED GRAND OPERA. .\ scheme is afoot to present grand epera in a Broadway house at low prices for that entiTtainnient. the "^calc not to exceed $2. Xo our is mentioned in connocfion with the venture, excepting it is re- ported some of the pec^ple engaged for or interesterl in Oscar Hammerstein's 1 roposed grand ojx ratic enteri)rise for this season ,-\rr b'bind the pop crand IMoject. The tjiiti' the.ures on jiroadway tli.'it iniL;lit be eapaMe of supplying a suit; t ient capacity at the pop scale are tb( r>ro.'ul\\ay (nmv jiictures'i Xew ^'o^l> (W'tli vaudeville) and .lie Cavini iwbcif "Tli'^'li links" is plavinurV The OFFICIAL NEWS of the WHITE RATS ACTORS' UNION and ASSOCIATED ACTRESSES OF AMERICA, as formerly printed exclusively In appears on Page 8 of this issue. fu^m »» CHANGES IN ''HIGH JINKS. Clianges among the principals of "High Jinks" at the Casino are immi- nent. Last week Tom Lewis, although under a year's zontract with Arthur Hammerstein, "gave in his notice" and it was accepted. Elizabeth Murray is also due to leave the company Feb. 14. Stella Mayhcw is reported as Miss Murray's successor, while Tom Waters has been negotiated with to replace ^fr. I-ewis. KRUEGER'S CLOSED SUNDAYS. Newark, Feb. 4. For the first time in 29 years Krue- ger's Auditorium is closed on Sunday, i'lie police closed some of the other theatres here and they couldn't see why liey had to close and Krueger's re- n.ain open. Tlie Odeon the Sunda>^ before open- ed but did nf)t attempt to give any l;t'rformaiu-es last .Sabbath. It has been the custom for the Proc- i( r. Newark, big time house to send its bill for the week on Sabbath with- out extra riiiinii; ration, to Krueger, who paid rroctiir S^70(l tor ibe two -.bo\\<, it i"^ '<aid. U. B. O.'S "ALL WOMEN" SHOW. '\'hc Tnited I'.ookiim OClici's "All Wonien" show gets started in Erie, fa., next week where the Colonial will offer tlie follow iiig bill: Helen and liistin, Grace DeM.ir, I?lark and White. i'eroii aiiij (laylord, Ktissell anfl I IniicJi and 'i'lio'^e j-'reneli r^rls. I'r.'ink O'l'iicn ha> also booked .in all wonn n" -Ii<iv\ i'>i- \\\r W ilim r \ \'incent li''i;-<-, '-penin'^; nrxt wtik ,ii Mlooiia. .iml >-]ilit I iir.r \>.iil; I ■'li iinT o\\ n, i'a., with a "-i-lit" to fojbnv the next eek at .Mb'Mtown and F'aston. BERNARD SIGNS NORAH BAYES. The revived Sam Bernard show, "(lirl from Kay's," with Mr. Hernard in lis former role, is now under way. Engagements for the cast started this week, with the first pick Norah Bayes ar.d Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle. Edwin T. Emery will stage the pro- duction. MINISTER TURNED LOOSE. Jim Clancy is no longer booking Riv. Alexander Irvine, the rector, who got a lot of publicity when he recently played Hammerstein's, Jim says he c(jul(ln't get any money for the rector and turned him loose. MORTON AND MOORE SPLIT. San Francisco, Feb. 4. James C. Morton and Frank Moore, who were with "The Tik Tok Man," have dissolved their stage partnership Mr. Moore has formed a union with Mr. Woodward, the animal imperson- ator. He was the "mule" in the "Tik" sliow. St. Louis, Feb. 4. Montgomery and Moore did not I lose with "The Tleasurc Seekers," as tbey stated intending to at the close of the local (iiL-aLienietit. Mayhew and raylr)r were in r<-adim>ss to join in their places when the team changed their mind": BARRYMORE COMING BACK. I^theI r.arrvniore will return tf> \.iudeviMe after her current tour in I ante ' and has received a route over '•'<' '•'.;' finie in her former i)laylet, "'111'- iwelve I'r.und Look." Mi^< I'arr\ nioic's salary will be the ^anir as r,„ |,,r last varietv appearance $^000 wr.klv.