Variety (February 1914)

VARIETY COLUMBIA'S SECOND "WHEEL" MAY IN TEREST PROGRESSIVES Several Stands on Proposed Route Mean Opposition to New Burlesque Circuit, That Has Made Good So Far This Season, With Better Promise for Next One. Good Plan to Take Poor Shows off Original Eastern Wheel. The Columbia Amasement Co. (East- ern Wheel) tent out an announcement Tuesday it intended placing a secon- dary popular price burlesque wheel in the field next season. On the partial list of towns and loca- tions given out by the Columbia Co. as its proposed route for the new enter- prise are several "band stands" on the present Eastern Burlesque Wheel and also some that suggest the Progres- sive Wheel might be intensely inter- ested if the Columbia's venture de- veloped into a reality. The Progressive is operating a chain of burlesque theatres on similar lines to that announced as prospective for the second Eastern Wheel, the latter having good grounds possibly for its intention if the object is to unload some of its poor shows onto a circuit that they belong to, leaving the original Eastern Wheel with attractions worthy of the prices being charged in its houses. The impression about over the Co- lumbia's announcement however is that it is also made to impress the Progres- sive Wheel managers, the latter having put up an excellent showing so far this season, with a likely probability it will grow stronger next season. STONE'S TRIAL NEAR. Cincinnati, Feb. 11. George Stone, a burlesque actor, who is alleged to have killed Max Abbott, or Opatowsky, another bur- lesquer, Feb. 14, last, will be tried in a few days. The trial was set for Jan. 29, but was continued. The men were playing at the Stand- ard, when they had an argument. Stone, it is charged, ran into a shoot- ing gallery adjoining the Standard, grabbed a rifle and shot Abbott SHOWS EXCHANGE LEADERS. Kansas City, Feb. 11. The Tierncys left Fcnnessy & Herk's "Happy^ Widows" in St. Louis Saturday night and the Temple Quartet opened here Sunday in their place. The "Happy Widows" and "Vanity Fair" traded leaders Sunday, Jack Guckel joining the "Widows" and Dick Greenlaugh going with the Billie Ritchie show. SPOKANE'S GOT IT. Spokane, Feb. 11. Helen MacCorqudale and Ralph Sweeny, members of Spokane's exclu- sive society set, will appear next week at Pantages' in tango steps. E. Clarke Walker, manager, announced they will tour the circuit. Walker also states next week's bill will include Francis and Rosemond, who have been teaching Spokane peo- ple «;he society dances. TWO STARS HELD OVER. Chicago, Feb. 11. Two of the big vaudeville- stars were held over this week after play- ing to record breaking business last week. Eva Tanguay and Her Volcanic Vaudeville Company remain at the American Music Hall and will also be held over next week. She is pack- ing them in. Gertrude Hoffmann was also held over at the Majestic. Harry Lauder did two dollars less than $26,000 on his week at the Gar- rick. Gaby Deslys did over $9,000 on the day, Saturday, and Eva Tanguay played to capacity at the American Music Hall Saturday and Sunday, with big houses all the week. KLEIN QUITS. Arthur Klein remained with F. F. Proctor less than one week, leaving his employ suddenly last Thursday. Mr. Klein was engaged to book the Fifth Avenue, and Proctor's, Newark, under the direction of Harry Brunelle. Friction is said to have caused the abrupt retirement. Several acts booked for the Proctor big time houses by Mr. Klein received notices of cancellation immediately upon his retirement. Some of the agents placing the turns said they would not recognize Proctor's right to cancel NO "TANGO CONTEST." The Casino, Brooklyn, does not per- mit "Tango Contests," says Charles W. Daniels, manager of that Eastern Burlesque Wheel theatre. Varietv, last week, in its review of the Louis Robie show,i^mentioned a "Tango Contest" was billed in connec- tion with the performance. Mr. Dan- iels explains by stating that through delay in receiving program matter from the show he asked Miner's Bronx the- atre (where the troupe had appeared the week previously) to send its pro- gram direct to the printer. This was done, and the "Tango Contest" notice got into the bill without the Casino people being aware of it. The explanation is due, remarked Mr. Daniels, for the benefit of those Eastern Wheel managers who desired to hold a "Tango" at the Casino as an extra attraction but were refused permission. NO AID FOR STRANDED. Boston, Feb. 11. Stranded theatrical troupes can get no aid in Massachusetts, according to Attorneys Bernard £. Corbin and Pat- rick F. Shanahan, who have entered suits against the Olympic theatres in this city and in Lynn alleging breach of contract. The vaudeville act "Fun on the Briny," managed by Jules Bcrnhcim of New York, came into Boston with a contract for I4U0 for a week at the Gordon Olympic and $200 for a split week at the Lynn Olympic. Both en- gagements were cancelled on the grounds the use of ticshings by the seveu girls made the act undesirable. The contracts were through M. R. Sheedy's ottice and the suits are for a total uf $1,500. In Lynn, Bernheim went to the mayor with two cents in his pocket asking aid, and all that was offered was shelter in the poorhouse. The hat was passed and $30 raised, feeding and lodging the company for the night and bringing them to Boston where the State Board of Charity refused any aid, the two attorneys and Sheriff Juinn of the Charles Street Jail raising enough to return the entire company to Mew York from their own pockets. The company, in addition to Bern- heim and his wife (who was leading lady), consisted of Nellie Baker, N. K. Hickman, Elsie Brackure, Emma Wappler, Flossie Fox, Dorothy Young and Edna McCrossin. JACK RIASON INSTRUCTING. The society dances are being taught society by Jack Mason at the Amster- dam Hall on 44th street Mr. Mason has for assistant Lois Whitney, a young girl from the west, with whom he may dance professionally in New York shortly. Mr. Mason received a cable this week from Alfred de Courville, re- questing that he return to London and produce for the Hippodrome reviews, but other engagements hereabouts prevented the immediate acceptance. He is still producing over here, having just completed a couple cf vaudeville acts and has a new show in prospect. HIT BY A TAXI. Bessie Adele Folsom, in vaudeville, was run down Monday night by a ma- chine belonging to the Roger Taxi Co., Brooklyn, and removed to the Roose- velt 1-lospital suffering with concussion of ihe brain. Mi»s Folsom has started immediate suit to recover $20,000 damages. TO THE STOREHOUSE. Montreal, Feb. 11. Edwards Davis' production, "The Kingdom of Destiny," goes to the storehouse, after playing a fairly suc- cessful week in Montreal. The playlet, which deals with love, lust and art, with destiny as staKC man- ager, is too lu-avy, and the rhyming blank verse wearisome. HEARN AND WIFE DEPART. Sam Hcarn and Helen Ely sailed yesterday for England on the Pots- dam. OTIS HARLAN ON LOOKOUT. Otis Harlan is set-king a vehicle for a return to vaudeville. GOING AFTER WINTER GARDEN. Phillip J. Dunne, the attorney, of 15 Broad street, has filed papers with the Corporation Counsel, looking to the revocation of the theatrical license of the Winter Garden, on the grounds that it gives Sunday performances in violation of the law. The attorney first presented his argu* ments to police headquarters and was referred to the Corporation Counsel for action. The matter grew out of the dismissal of a suit brought by Kathleen Clifford against the Winter Garden management for $400, alleged to be due her for three appearances on as many Sabbath evenings there. The defense interposed by the Winter Garden was that the contract with Miss Clifford was illegal, having been made for work to be performed on Sunday. Mr. Dunn conceded that such a defense would throw his client's case out of court, and asked the defendant before trial to waive the "Sunday thing,'* let- ting the case be tried upon its merits. Upon the refusal of the Garden people to do this, it is said Miss Clifford be- came incensed and instructed her at- torney to take the present steps. The break in the friendly relations between the Winter Garden and Mist Clifford started when the actress asked $150 as her contracted price for a Sun- day "show." She was tendered $75 and declined it, the "cut" having'been made, according to report, for the reason she would have supplied 32 girls to appear with her on the stage. Miss Clifford's denial to this includes the statement the Winter Garden production was to have furnished the 32 chorus girls, and that it was p:*eposterous to expect she would rehearse that number of women, appear with and pay them for one per- formance for $150. The night of the dispute over salary, says Miss Clifford, attendance at the Winter Garden was meagre. While the "Sunday defense" has been pleaded before in theatrical lawsuits, often as a reason to break a contract that called for them. Miss Clifford's case is the first on record where a man- agement engaged an artist to play for Sunday evening only, then put in the defense that such agreement was void. NEW TAB PRODUCED. Nashville, Feb. H. A tabloid, said to have had its first stage production Monday at the Prin- cess, scored, and appears to be drawing business so far this week. It is "A Night in Old Heidelberg," presented by Norman Friedenwald. NELLIE GEIGER HAS DIVORCE. Cleveland, Feb. 11. Judge Addams in this city Feb. 3 granted Nellie Geigcr a divorce from John Geiger, now in vaudeville as a violin player. He formerly appeared with his wife, as Geiger and Walters. ACT SAILING. Stone and Kalisz sail Feb. 21, open- ing immediately in London. ir yuu (loii't ■(ivprtln« In VABIBTY, don't »dvrrtl»e at all. DALY HAS ANOTHER. Arnr)Id Daly has expresscfl a willing- ness to return to vaudeville, in which event he will offrr a new act, entitled "Thr Gravity of Life."