Variety (October 1914)

VARIETY CO-OPERATIVE PLAYING PLAN BALKED BY ENG LISH PLAYERS Federation Instructs Its Members to Accept Commonwealth As "Payment on Account" and Arranges to Sue Managers for Balance. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) London. Sept. 28. The co-operative plan designed to meet war conditions was checked, at least temporarily, today when the Variety Artists' Federation wired to a representative artist playing in each syndicate hall that approval was being held in abeyance, and the scheme was not in effect. The Federation has been unable to secure a satisfactory adjustment of sev- eral points in dispute with the man- agers. A committee will meet the syn- dicate heads Thursday at which time the situation will be canvassed and it is hoped an understanding will be reached under which the co-operative scheme will be put in practice. (8pedal Cable to Varistt.) London, Sept. 30. Artists playing syndicate halls later called at Federation headquarters for instructions and were advised that if they were offered a percentage of the receipts Saturday to sign a receipt "re- ceived on account." The information was added that the Federation would bring suits later for a settlement of any disputes. The legal action will be taken when the moratorium ukase of the government is withdrawn. As an indication that theatrical con- ditions are not nearly so bad as some managers would like the actors to be- lieve, the players in the Alhambra re- vue, who have been on half salary for seven weeks past, were surprised last Saturday to receive 25 per cent, increase over the split sum for the previous four weeks, making a bonus of one week's regular salary, and bringing the total for the seven weeks to an average of 64 per cent, of regular salary. WEEK-TO-WEEK BOOKING. (Special Cable to Varirtt.) London, Sept. 30. The music halls here are booking their bills from week to week without giving any advance contracts except in extraordinary cases. The agents are being continually called upon for me- dium-priced acts at salaries ranging from £40 to £60 weekly. HAWTREY COMING ACROSS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Sept. 30. After the run of "Baldpate," Charles Hawtrey expects to leave for New York to play vaudeville. He is report- ed in communication with M. S. Rent- ham, the American agent, for that pur- pose. VESTRY SISTER KILLED. (Special Cable to Variety.) London. Sept. 28. Mine. Vesperil. a Belgian, one of the Vestry sisters, trapeze performers, was killed by a fall while doing her act at the Hippodrome Saturday. Both wom- en plunged from their rigging. Mine. Vcsperil was still alive when fellow artists rushed to her, but died in the Charing Cross hospital soon after her arrival there. The other sister suffered a broken arm. PARIS EXPECTS BOOM. Paris, Sept. 15. Paris remains without amusements, excepting a few small picture theatres which have started showing within the past fortnight, but poorly patronized. However, when the theatres do reopen it can be taken for granted there will be a big boom, in spite of the increased price of living which can be expected this winter, and a general tightness of money. The American artists will find ample work at the vaudeville theatres, al- though there may be a tendency to cut down prices for a time. Ameri- cans and English will be cordially re- ceived in France, and will fill the gap caused by numerous German acts not being readily booked next season in this country, as well as in England, Belgium and Russia. The American acts visiting France should be real American, and not German born. No bookings are being made for France at present, for it is not certain when the music halls will reopen, but dispositions will be taken with that end in view within the next month. When business recommences it will go with a boom. SOLDIER KISSES JOHNSON. (Special Cable to Variety.) Liverpool, Sept. 28. The audience at the Olympia here Saturday night watched Jack Johnson spa* with a convalescent British soldier. After the bout the soldier kissed the negro pugilist smack on the lips. WAITING FOR DINGLE. (Special Cable to V ambit.) London, Sept. 30. Tom Dingle, booked for the Hippo- drome Christmas, is causing the man- agement anxiety. It is understood Dingle cannot leave America. Tom Dingle is breaking in a new act this week around New York, the billing of which is Corcoran and. Dingle. "FAMILY VAUDEVILLE." New Orleans, Sept. 30. The idea of Famjly Vaudeville in the south is the Bell Family, Agoust Family, Colby Family, Jungman Fam- ily and Foy Family. Changes German Name. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Sept. 29. Oscar Schwartz has bowed to the anti-German sentiment and changed his name to Shaw, to avoid the resent- ment of audiences in England. BUTT SIGNS ETHEL LEVY. (Special Cable to Varmtt.) London, Sept. 28. The rumor that Ethel Levey has signed a contract with Alfred Butt per- sists despite the denials of Jack Hay- man, booking manager for Mr. Butt. Miss Levey is with "The Outcasts." Her departure from that piece would in- dicate that it would be withdrawn from Wyndham's. The cast for Mr. Butt's new Empire revue has been completed, but its premiere will probably be held off until Oct. 19. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) London, Sept. 30. Alfred Butt has signed Ethel Levey and George Graves for a new show scheduled for production around Christ- mas time. Since the new Empire Re- vue is marked up for an Oct. 19 open- ing, no theatre has been announced for the premiere of the new piece. Miss Levey has announced her salary under the Butt management at $2,000, although it is but a short time since she requested $2,500 from Butt, he making a counter offer of $1,000. The Moss Empire has first call on Miss Levey's services for the provinces for 14 weeks, which she postponed for the Hippodrome engagement. Gaby Desly's Palace engagement runs until Christmas, with one month's extension optional. Elsie Janis is scheduled for a return date there Christmas, but it is reported Miss Janis has signed with the United Book- ing Offices, and the Palace (London) management may be making early arrangements for its own protection. MAX LINDER DEAD? (Bpecial Cable to Varibtt.) London, Sept. 30. Max Linder, the celebrated moving picture actor, is reported as having been killed in the battle of Aisne. WHAT IS WAR? The war could not prevent the mar- riage of Leo Stark to Gene Peltier yesterday in New York. Both were with "Sweethearts" last season, Mr. Stark as stage manager and Miss Pel- tier as understudy. The bridegroom is German and the bride French. BORNHAUPT COMBS BACK. Right from the war vicinity came Charles Bornhaupt, the foreign agent, who left Brussells the day before the Germans arrived, Bornhaupt taking away with him only his wife and the clothes they wore. With the Born- haupts on the boat was Gaston Palmer, who had relics of the warfare, also photographs. Mr. Bornhaupt has only decided up- on one thing since reaching New York That is to change his name, which suggests German birth, although Born- haupt is a native Russian. Marck's Lions Sailing. (Special Cable to Variett.) London, Sept. 30 Marck's Lions, still in Russia, are arranging to sail to America on the Archangel to join the Charles B. Dil- lingham show. SAILINGS. Reported through Paul Tausig & Son, 104 East 14th street, New York: Sept. 30, Parry Smith (New York). San Francisco, Sept. 30. Sept. 29 (for Australia), Mr. and Mrs. George Wirth, Miss J. and Mrs. A. Stutt, William Haskill, Wallen Trio and Little Hip (Ventura). (Bpeoial Cable to Varibtt.) London, Sept. 30. Oct. 3, Ching Ling Foo (St. Paul). Oct. 7, Piccolo Midgets (Baltic). Oct. 17, Jack Lorimer (Campania). LORCH FAMILY PRISONERS. The Lorch family, Germans and acrobats, who toured in America last season, are reported to have been taken as military prisoners by the English at Sheffield, where the act was appearing at the Empire, about three weeks ago. While the turn was on the stage, the authorities searched their belong- ings in the dressing rooms, and at their lodgings, according to the story brought over here on lately arriving boats. The English accused the Lorches of having incriminating snap- shots among their possessions, and placed the whole group under arrest. The searchers are also said to have claimed that they found among the pa- pers in the trunk of the understander of the Lorch act, a letter from the Ger- man Government informing him he would be under a salary of $100 yearly, in times of peace. USING WAR FOR BUNK. London, Sept. 20. There are—and always will be—peo- ple ready to take advantage of all con- ditions. London is already dotted with "wid- ows," whose husbands have been "killed in battle" and are now "starv- ing with their children." It remained for a trio of "slick guys" to put over a good one a few nights ago. They appeared at a West End hall, one a carefully dressed Eng- lishman, the other two as Belgian sol- diers. The "Englishman" got to the manager of the house and was per- mitted to go upon the stage and pre- sent the other two as wounded heroes of the war who had slain innumerable Germans. "We won't take up a collection in the audience for these heroes," said the "Englishman" from the stage, "but the two men will stand outside the house as you pass out, and anybody wishing to contribute will be thrice blessed." The "bunk" netted $110. "HULLO TANGO" CLOSING. (Special Cable to Variety.) London. Sept. 30. "Hullo Tango" closes at the Hippo- drome Saturday, and Jack Xorwortb opens at the Pavilion Monday for a three weeks' engagement, with the Moss tour to follow. ACROBATS SHOT AS SPIES. Two members of the Allison Trio, a German act that appeared over here ? few seasons ago, are reported to have been shot as spies in Russia.