Variety (August 1914)

VARIETY COLUMBIA CIRCUIT BURNS UP THOUSANDS IN RA ILWAY FARES Statistics Made Public Show Expenditure of About $450,000 On Entire Burlesque Season in Railroad Transportation. 68 Companies Playing 80 Theatres Pay Out About $13,500 Weekly Going from City to City. Money statistics re Eastern Bur- lesque Shows are now in order, since the Columbia Amusement Co. is oper- ating 68 troupes in 80 theatres for the coming season. It cost around $20,000 in railroad fares to make the first movement of all the companies to the opening points. The average fares for the sea- son each week will amount to about $13,500, giving a transportation bill for the season of about $450,000. The average "jump" a person on the East- ern Wheel is calculated at $5.50, with Z7 people to a company on the big wheel, and 31 on the extended wheel. The financial item for paper in con- nection with the shows is also a large one. It runs around $7,500 weekly for all of the attractions, reaching a gross of $270,000. Charles E. Barton, of the Columbia Amusement Co. offices looked after the paper contracts, see- ing that all of it was delivered prompt- ly before the shows started out. BILLY ARLINGTON PLAYING. Following court proceedings that re- sulted in an injunction obtained against Billy Arlington playing with other management that that of Jacobs & Jermon's, and a hasty trip to London by Arlington, the tramp comedian has returned to his former management. He -vill reappear with "The Golden Crook" next week at the Columbia, New York. Arlington played in a London revue, without achieving distinction, but fared tetter for a while as a "single" in the English halls. He quietly returned to New York, where the injunction was operative, with possible contempt pro- ceedings in the offing, and as quietly communicated with Jacol)S & Jermon to ascertain their attitude toward him. Henry Jacobs interviewed the Arling- ton emissary, saying Billy could call in person to see him, without encoun- tering any minions of the law, coming or going. The interview between Messrs. Ja- cobs and Arlington became a peace conference. Arlington was told to go to work. Meanwhile Jacobs & Jermon had registered Arlington's contracts in about all civilized countries of the world, excepting China and Japan. PROGRESSIVE MANAGERS. The Progressive Wheel has appoint- ed Bert McPhail manager of the Em- pire, Cleveland. It has placed Thomas McCready, formerly of Watson's Pater- son (N. J.) house, as manager of the rebuilt Olympic, Cincinnati. George Chenet is managing the Club, Roches- ter, for the Progressive. STILL ARGUING IN BOSTON. Boston, Aug. 12. The argument in the injunction ac- tion brought by the Progressive Cir- cuit against Dr. Lothrop in the mat- ter of the Howard and the Grand play- ing Eastern Wheel instead of Pro- gressive Wheel burlesque shows, was still going on today. It started Monday. A permanent in- junction is now sought. The Progres- sive Wheel has not completed its route for the coming season, awaiting the outcome of this motion. ANOTHER INJUNCTION SOUGHT. The Progressive Burlesque Circuit has begun court action against Charles Baker in an effort to restrain him from playing his burlesque show ("The Tempters") elsewhere than on the Progressive Wheel. Monday argu- ment was heard and decision reserved. Dittenhoefer, Gerber & James ap- peared for the Progressive, while Leon Laski, appeared for Baker, who lately "flopped" to the Columbia Wheel. PROGRESSIVES IN ELMIRA. Elmira, N. Y., Aug. 12. The Lyceum, heretofore an exclusive legitimate house, has become a member of the Progressive Wheel, playing bur- lesque the last half of each week, split- ting with Wilkes-Barre. Legitimate attractions will be played the first half of each week. FOLLY GOING IN. Chicago, Aug. 12. Through some arrangement reached between the Empire Circuit Co. and the owners of the Folly theatre, that house is being repaired, and will short- ly be placed upon the Eastern Bur- lesque Wheel circuit, it is said. 2.RING CIRCUS IN S. A. A two-ring circus for South America, <he first ever shown down there, where the one-ring aggregation has been satis fying heretofore, will be organized by Roy Chandler, while in New York. Mr. Chandler is the principal foreign amusement promoter in the country be- low Panama, with headquarters at Bue- nos Aires. He is drawing together a collection of people for his show that will require about 80, all told, who will receive contracts for six months. ALL-SUMMER ACTS GOING. Joan Sawyer has left the Palace bill for the rest of the summer. This is the second of the announced "all-summer acts" to leave the house, Ruth Roye departing a few weeks ago. Hippodrome Engagement The Hippodrome, for its new produc- tion, now preparing, has engaged "The Belles of Seville," a vaudeville act of six people, five women and one man. If you don't advortlM in VARIETY, don't advortiM at all. WROTHE PEEVES PATRONS. St. Louis, Aug. 12. The new Princess theatre opened here last Sunday with the Ed. Lee Wrothe show ("The Ginger Girls"), the house being under the control of James J. Butler, who for years held the Standard franchise and under the immediate management of Joe Walsh, also of the Standard. The advance billing of the Princess opening specifically stated that particu- lar care would be taken of women and children, consequently the opening week's business attracted a large num- ber of the fair sex, but the Wrothe show is so purely burlesque with a number of doubled entendre situations and lines embodied in the book, that it remains a serious question if this will not interfere with future attendance. A not extravagant prediction would indicate that the new house will here- after flay to mostly male audiences. One thing the Princess demonstrat- ed, however, is that excellent attend- ance can be had on the west end of St. Louis which fact may give Klaw & Erlanger and the Shubert people some inspiration. SMALL TOWN OPPOSITION. The circus opposition in the west is very noticeable. This week the Sells- Floto outfit followed the Ringling Brothers into Grand Island, Neb., which has ^ population of 10,326. St. Louis Hip All Right. St. Louis, Aug. 12. Though reported here the Loew Cir- cuit agency had declared Talbot's Hip- podrome, Kansas City, "opposition," there is nothing reported against the Talbot Hippodrome in this city. The Loew agency is not booking any St. Louis theatre. Sisson, Liberal "Paper" Spreader. Watertown, N. Y., Aug. 23. Edward Sisson, of vaudeville, has been held for the grand jury at Cort- land, N. Y., on a forgery charge fol- lowing the passing of bad paper. Sisson, after recovering from his Cortland setback, will be prosecuted by the proprietors of the Astor hotel here for passing a worthless check. Bing- hamton, N. Y., is also anxious to have him explain his idea in circulating worthless checks. Won't Use Published Songs. The Imperial Motion Picture Co., which nianiifactures the Animated Songs, have decided not to use the song numbers from several of the mu- sic publishing concerns, owing to a demand by them for a royalty on all numbers, J. W. Mahan, the president of the company, has written several songs which will be used in the future. Bushwick First to Open. The Bushwick, Brooklyn, will open its reason Aug. 24, the first of the Keith New York vaudeville houses to start. The Colonial is now announced to open Sept. 7. Doc Steiner Won't Admit. Doc Steiner says admit nothing while you're sober, for you niyy be talking to a Russian. POSTCARD RECORDS INFRINGE. The Music Publishers' Board uf Trade is contemplating proceedings against the manufacturers of post- cards that have a record of American copyrighted songs upon them. These post-cards, it is said, are made in Germany. They arc being imported to this country as post-cards only by the thousands. The record of musical compositions on them in many in- stances are of popular songs written over here and copyrighted, the for- eign makers having appropriated the melodies without asking consent. In Atlantic City, according to report, over 100 stores are offering the post-car<l records for sale. AL MEYER LOSES LICENSE. The agency license of Al Meyer, who has an office in the Gaiety theater building, was revoked when it was found that Billy Curtis, conected with him, had failed to issue contracts and make entries when booking the follow- ing cabaret turns: Miss Ward at Rec- tor's, Wise and Thomas at Feltman's, and Miss Althouse at the >Iassau. Inspector William S. Giii had Curtis served with a summons and he was brought before Magistrate Murphy. Witnesses testified they either paid their commissions to Meyer, Curtis or a girl in the office. Assistant Commissioner Kaufman decided that Meyer's license should be revoked. P. ft S. SEW UP AKRON. Akron, C, Aug. 12. Through the leasing of the Grand opera house here, Feiber & Shea have "sewed up" this town, theatrically, for themselves. The firm already has the Colonial, in which they play vaudeville. The former Albaugh Grand will likely be devoted to combinations. ASKING Lltli^NSE REVOCATION. lilmira, N. Y., Aug. 12. Mayor Hoffman announced today that he will review the petition offered by the Italian residents of this city requesting him to revoke the license of the Colonial theatre because the man- agement refused to allow Italians to occupy certain first floor seats. The Mayor will listen to arguments Friday and make an immediate decision. The theatre is represented by M. L. Sullivan, a local attorney. Madame Wanda Very 111. Spokane, Aug. 12. Madame Wanda, a short time ago traveling over the vaudeville circuits with a troupe of dogs, is seriously ill at her home here and is not expected to live long. In private life Mme. Wanda is Mrs. Jack O'Rourke. She resides at E2401 Riverside. Cancer of the stomach has been diagnosed as the cause of her ill health. Gorman Parka Closing. The twelve John Gorman summer parks throughout New England and the east will close the last of the month. The season has not been as productive as anticipated because of inclement weather.