Variety (May 1914)

VARIETY VAUDEVILLE SURPRISED BY GIFTS I N B. F. KEITH'S WILL No Actor's Organization Remembered, nor Any Endow- ment to Theatrical Charities to Perpetuate Keith's Name in Profession. Sam Hodgdon Given $3,000. D.F. Hennessy Nothing. John J. Murdock, $5,000. Vaudeville was much surprised upon reading of the bequests in the late B. F. Keith's will. Mr. Keith, who piled up a fortune of about $8,000,000, almost entirely earned in vaudeville, left noth- ing to any actors' organization, nor did he endow anything that could chari- tably perpetuate his name in the pro- fession. The ^will is said to have been drawn in Florida, after the first reports of Mr. Keith's illness reached New York, several United Booking Offices men going to Miami immediately. Among these were E. F. Albee and Maurice Goodman, the latter the IX, B. O. at- torney, who probably drew up the in- strument. The will disposes only of personal property left by Keith, his realty hav- ing been transferred before his death, and, according to report, equally di- vided between his son, Paul, and Al- bee. The realty totaled in values and equities around $6,000,000. This was done, it is said, to avoid an inheritance tax, and it also, through the widow joining in the transfer, avoided any question over her one-third dower right in the property, if that had not al- ready been arranged for in a pre- nuptial agreement. A surprise that equaled that occa- sioned by Mr. Keith omitting to re- member any part of the acting pro- fession as represented by the charitable Actors' Fund and other organizations, was the $3,000 left Samuel K. Hodg- don, the booking manager of the U. B. O., and an employe of Keith in an important position for nearly 30 years. D. F. Hennessy, another old employe and one whom the vaudeville people say is directly responsible for the United Booking Offices coming into life (through Hennessy's handling of the old "Association") was not left anything. John J. Murdock, ^ com- paratively recent acquisition tp the Keith forces, was given $5,000. Messrs. Hodgdon and Hennessy have been the two men connected with big time vaudeville whom everyone has remarked are "absolutely on the level." Mr. Hodgdon as the booking manager has contracted for millions of dollars' worth of acts. Mr. Hennessy saved B. F. Keith and the former "Associa- tion" managers in the days of the White Rats' "strike." This is conced- ed by people who know the inside. Boston, April 29. The will of B. F. Keith, filed in the Norfolk Probate Court and bearing date Dec. 9, 1913, with a codicil an- nexed Jan. 9, 1914, and which has just been made public, reveals a total of $600,000 received by Mrs. Ethel Chase Keith, his widow. A half million is provided in the will and this is men- tioned as being additional to $100,000 given her subsequent to their mar- riage. Keith employes were remem- bered as follows: Thomas F. Wright, doorkeeper at the Boston house, $1,000; John Clancy, chief engineer, $3,000; Samuel K. Hodgdon, one of his oldest employees, $3,000; Frederick Sully, son of his former treasurer who is now dead, $1,000; Minnie R. O'Connor, local treasurer, $1,000; Dennis Crowley, watchman, $500; William Proctor, stage carpenter, $500; Melvin Ricker, officer at door, $500, and John J. Mur- dock, of the United Booking Offices in New York, $5,000. Walter J. Donovan, the former gen- eral treasurer was to receive $10,000 in case he survived Mr. Keith, but he died prior to the death of the vaude- ville magnate. Public bequests included $5,000 to the Boston Floating Hospital, $5,000 for the Boston Good Government Associa- tion, $500 for the Boston Press Club and $500 for the New England Press Club. Some bequests were made to relatives. Ethel Keith Albee, daughter of E. F. Albee, received $5,000. The residue of the estate goes to his son, A. Paul Keith. The will expresses the desire that/ Albee and A. Paul Keith, who were given his theatrical interests before his death, maintain the same policies and aims and that every effort be made to keep intact and per- petuate his policies and houses. GOODWIN'S LIFE HISTORY. Cincinnati, April 29. Nat Goodwin's life history will soon be ready for public distribution. Good- win is busy working on it. He makes the announcement to correct the com- mon belief that the volume has been on the market several years and is not selling. A dummy copy has already been printed. Nat refers to his wives by numbers. To an interviewer he said that he calls Eliza Witherby, No. 1, -"the wife that mothered me"; Elizabeth Pease, No. 2, "the best professional amateur I ever saw" etc. Goodwin gets back at Clara Morris for the unkind things he claims she said about him in writing in a New York newspaper of his matrimonial mishaps. He takes a roast at Forbes- Robertson. "When did he become the great English representative of Shakes- perean characters?" he asks. Goodwin is at the Lyric this week. Academy Stock Burlesque May 4. Pittsburgh, April 29. Wallie Brooks and J. E. Clifford have arranged to open a stock burlesque company in the Academy here May 4. The proposition will run four weeks with a continuation of playing at the option of the managers. BLANCHE BAIRD BOLTS SHOW. Trenton, N. J., April 29. Chase's Broad Street theatre had trouble last week when Blanche Baird (Mrs. William J. Baird) bolted from the "Blanche Baird Big Burlesque Show" and started an action to re- cover salary she alleged to be due her. Arnold Hartz of Detroit and William J. Dunn own the show. Mrs. Baird claimed $116.60 was due An attachment for $350 was presented by a New York dressmaker, and for a similar amount by a Broadway cos- turner. The goods were held at the thea- tre until midnight Sunday, when the constable in charge and Judge Dixon of the City District Court permitted their removal to the Olympic Theatre, New York, where the show opened Monday. The case will be fought out in the courts here. SPLIT STOCK BURLESQUE. Cincinnati, April 29. Manager Harry Hart, of the Lyceum, announces a distinct change cf policy. He will not use Gus Sun vaudeville any more. Instead he will put most of the old Standard stock company at the Lyceum, at reduced prices. The summer burlesque is to be called "mu- sical comedy." Shows will be changed on Sundays and Thursdays. Perform- ances will be at 7:30 and 9 P. M., the only matinee being on Sunday. George H. Ward will be the principal comedian. BILLY WATSON ON BROADWAY Billy "Beef Trust" Watson plays the Columbia, New York, next week, the first time his burlesque show has ap- peared in the Broadway house of the Columbia Amusement Co. It is also the first time Mr. Watson has been on Broadway with a troupe since he played at the old Manhattan, Broad- way and 33rd street, 20 years ago, with "The Bohemian Burlesquers." The Watson show will close its sea- son of 40 weeks at the Empire, Brook- lyn, May 23. Next season besides his own show, Mr. Watson will have "The Oriental Burlesquers" touring over the minor Columbia Circuit. Eastern Wheel at Nixon. Atlantic City, April 29. The Columbia Circuit (Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel) shows will appear at the Nixon Theatre, it is stated, com- mencing May 4. It was understood in New York this week that Jean Bedini will commence playing stock burlesque at the Nixon, Atlantic City, June 15, for ten weeks at least. Mr. Bedini is said to be clos- ing his burlesque show, "The Mischief Maker," at Pittsburgh, this week, to prepare for the seaside season. Clones After 20 Years. Hamilton, O., April 29. The Bijou, which has housed stock burlesque for 20 years, has closed on account of poor business. Manager Hammerle has taken over the Lyric, a movie house. COLUMBIA-PROGRESSIVE DEAL The Columbia Amusement Co. has been holding meetings daily all this week to perfect the details of the pro- posed No. 2 wheel. Among other things brought up, it is said, was the feasibility of dealing with the Pro- gressive Circuit for the taking over of the "opposition" houses anti forming one gigantic circuit with Class A and Class B theatres. This would remove the Class A at- tractions from the smaller towns and permit of the establishing of the Class B circuit with«eme-half its towns hav« ing no burlesque opposition. Members of both the Columbia and Progressive circuits are said to be divided on the question, and no official action has been taken by either side. A regular directors' meeting of the Columbia Circuit is called for today (Friday). LYNN TAKES BURLESQUE. Lynn, Mass., April 21. Burlesque, under the guise of "musi- cal comedy," has won recognition froBw the municipal council and will b% licensed for a trial at Lynn theatre next fall. Mayor George H. Newhan, who is opposed to burlesque showy alone voted against the license. George H. Giles, representing tht Trimount Theatre Co., of Boston, hat possession of the license and theatre lease, after three weeks of dickering with the municipal authorities. Pro* gressive Wheel shows will be booked in with the condition that "all shows must be up to the standard of moral- ity and respectability which has char- acterized theatrical performances in Lynn since Mr. Newhall has been mayor." There is talk of opening the theatre for a summer season. NO PARTIES POR 8HOW GIRL8 Cleveland, April 29. Chorus girls in burlesque are to havt their pleasures curtailed. An ordei came to the manager of "Tfce Star and Garter" company from New York Sat- urday saying that show managers would be held responsible for the con- dition of their girls at all performances hereafter and that it would be a mighty good idea to cut out the alter-show parties at night. During the present season several shows have been seriously crippled at different times through the inability of the choristers to do the right kind of work. Hence the new order. "No member of any theatrical or- ganization playing two shows a day can keep in physical condition and not maintain strict hours," was the word from New York. "We must in- sist that managers of the shows on the road supervise the habits of the members of the chorus to the extent of having all members fresh for every performance. Two shows a day in burlesque is hard work, and we believe the only way for the chorus members to keep in condition is to go home after the evening performance. We suggest that the after-show parties be cut out." It jou <Wt «*v.rtl M L VAkiitf. don't advertise «T »IL