Variety (October 1914)

VAKI1TY PROGRESSIVE HOUSES AND SHOWS TAKEN BY COLUMBIA CIRCUIT Eight Progressive Attractions and Seven Progressive Theatres Going Over to Columbia's Extended Circuit. Some Extended Shows to Be Dropped, and Second Circuit Increased from 30 to 36 Shows. According to persistent rumors an- other upheaval in burlesque is immi- nent. For several weeks it has been noised about that frequent conferences have been held between the heads of the Columbia Amusement Co. and the officers of the Progressive Circuit. The outcome as far as can be learned, is that the Columbia will take over the following shows from the Progressives: JoeOppcnheimer's "Fay Foster Show;" Sim William's "Girls from Joyland;" Tom Sullivan's "Monte Carlo Girls;" Charles Taylor's "Tango Girls;" Frank Calder's "High Life Girls;" Rube Bernstein's "Follies of Pleasure;" Jean Bedini's "Mischief Makers," and Sam Levey's "Charming Widows." Just what shows on the Columbia Extended will be affected is not known at this time. It is said the Columbia people are dissatisfied with some of the shows in the Extended division of their Circuit, and that it was only a ques- tion of time when these particular or- ganizations would have to be retired or replaced with more satisfactory shows. It is said the Extended Circuit will be increased from thirty to thirty-six weeks. Unless all present signs fail, the following theatres will be allied di- rectly or indirectly with the Columbia chain: Star, Toronto; Garden, Buffalo; Englewood, Chicago; Trocadero, Phila- delphia; Empire, Cleveland; Cadillac, Detroit, and the Savoy, Hamilton, Ont. The situation at Indianapolis is con- sidered easy of adjustment. Tom Sul- livan operates a theatre against the Heuck people in that city. Reliance is placed upon the friendly relations that have always existed between Mr. Sul- livan and the Heuck's to straighten out whatever may be necessary of adjust- ment there. Some time ago, it was rumored, that the management of the Folly, Detroit, had notified the Columbia Amusement Co. it wanted to get out of the con- tract, and that if the terms were not changed the shows on the Extended Circuit would no longer be played by it, and that the former stock policy would be revived. In view of this, if all these rumors are true, the Folly will pass out of the burlesque field. The Herman Fehr interests have taken over the Haymarket, Chicago, and the Star, St. Paul, it is said. While the latter house would naturally be included in the Columbia Circuit, the Haymarket would have to be operated independently on account of existing contracts between the Columbia Amuse- ment Co. and Hyde & Behman. By Friday it became settled about Times square the Columbia had ".nob- bled up" the Progressive Circuit or MifTicient from that chain to virtually put the Progressive as a burlesque cir- cuit out of business. The statement was made that Sim Williams' "Girls from Joyland" (for- mer Progressive) will play the Vic- toria, Pittsburgh (Columbia), next week, and the "Fay Foster Show" (Joe Oppenheimer) (former Progressive) will go over the Pennsylvania week n l one-night stands the Columbia shows usually take. Variety* is also reliably informed a new route for the Columbia's Extend- ed Circuit will be in operation by Oct. 12. This route is to include several of the present Progressive houses and shows, and will exclude the southern time on the Columbia circuit, except- ing Norfolk and Richmond. The de- cision to drop the southern time from the Columbia sheet was reached late this week. JUMPS TO COLUMBIA. Toledo, Oct. 1. "The Passing Review" abruptly abandoned its tour on the Progres- sive Wheel here last night and left todav for Detroit, where it will take up the Columbia Extended circuit, be- ginning at the Gayety. PROGRESSIVA CANS SHOW. Cleveland. Sept. 30. "The Pajama Girls" has been sum- marilv cancelled on the Progressive Wheel and is on its way to fill a list of one-night stands in the west. BURIESOUE SHOWS WIRING. It was reported in New York Wednesdav several Progressive Bur- lesque Wheel shows were wiring to New York about transportation to re- turn here. These companies were lo- cated along the Progressive line of travel. Tt is said several of the Progressive shows have commenced to pet wild cat bookings (booking independently). "Whirl of Mirth- Dropoed. Cincinnati. Oct. 1. Road managers in the Columbia Ex- tended division are anxiouslv waiting to learn whether some of their number are to be dropped and replaced bv road romnnnies recruited from the Progres- sive list. "The Whirl of Mirth." a Columbia Extended slj/>w plavincr at the Stand- ard here, received notice today that it would quit the wheel Saturday night. Burlesque Shows Settling. Cincinnati, Oct. 2. "The Follv Riirlesnuers." after clos- ine at the Standard last week, dropped out of the route under orders from hendnuarters. "The Whirl of Mirth" will have all hotel and transportation expenses paid to New York bv the circuit. "The Moulin Rouge Girl?" have also been guaranteed against any losses. "MARSH" ON THE FENCE Marshall P. Wilder stood or sat on the vaudeville fence Thursday. At the Marcus Loew office it had been ac- cepted all week that up to then Mr. Wilder had signed a contract to play en that time, at $400 weekly. Wednes- day afternoon it was even reported a "featured" clause had been inserted in the agreement at Mr. Wilder's request, but the office staff in the booking agency did not know Mr. Wilder had not signed until Thursday. The re- port there was Wilder had asked for a few hours to take the contract home to read. In the afternoon of that day Mr. Wilder was in the Orpheum Circuit headquarters. Asked if he had "signed with Loew," Mr. Wilder replied: "How do those ridiculous reports get out? Nothing to them at all. I had some little talk about returning to vaude- ville and the Loew people even got up a contract for me, but that's all there is to it. I showed the contract to Mr. Albee, and he said it was one of the best contracts he had ever read, tut I don't know what I am going to do. You know it's every man for him- self in this business." A big time act that was signed by the Loew people this week was Sophie Tucker, the "coon shouter." She is now playing the time, opening Thurs- day. Joseph Callahan and Bernard Daly, in "The Old Neighborhood." are an- other turn playing the Loew time. Mr. Callahan was of the original team in this piece (Callahan and Mack). Mr. Daly is the Irish singer who starred in "Dion O'Dare." Joseph M. Schenck, the general booking manager for the Loew Cir- cuit, has been west for about 10 days. He is expected to return to New York Sunday. GALVESTON GREETS PANTAGES Galveston, Oct. 1. The first Pantagcs vaudeville bill opened at the grand opera house here last night before a capacity audience. The show was: Cornelia and Wilbur, Maggie Smith. Kumbry, Bush and Robinson, Paine and Nesbit, Martha Russell and Co.; Harry Comer and Kalalhis Hawaiians. PANTAGES LASTS 3 DAYS. Ft. Worth, Tex., Sept. 30. Pantages vaudeville at the Byers last- ed three days last week, when it opened The house played to $200 gross, leaving Mitchell Greenwald, the Byers man- ager, with a loss of $930 on the three days' trial. He immediately discontin- ued. The Savoy here, playing stock, also suffered from the bad times in the south, closing last week, with the com- pany refusing to continue on the com- monwealth plan. NAVY'S DAUGHTER DIVORCED. Chicago. Oct. 2. Cecilia Wright, known as "The daughter of the American Navy." was granted a decree of divorce this week fiom Sir Thomas Anstrutht"- Barring- ten Woods of Whittingham Hall. Pres- ton. England. The charge was dc sertion. LOEW CHANGING REPORTS. Before Jos. M. Schenck left for the west last week, he decided to change the system of reports on bills from the house managers on the Loew Circuit. Hereafter the Loew managers will be instructed to send in a general summary of the acts, up to the closing perform- ance, instead of taking the Monday or Thursday shows as the basis. Mr. Schenck is said to have been im- pelled to this change through believing some acts give their best performance only when under the impression that show will be reported by the house manager to headquarters, thereafter during the stay in the theatre, not be- ing over particular as to how their act might run or be received. The direct cause is said to be Mr. Schenck seeing the same act on a Mon- day and Tuesday, hardly recognizing the act Tuesday as the same he had seen but the day before. MILES BUYS PITT. Pittsburgh, Sept. 30. C. H. Miles has purchased the Pitt theatre property, adding it to his thea- tres booked through the eastern Loew office. JOE MAXWELL IN U. B. O. After quite a lapse from big time producing, Joe Maxwell has returned to the United Booking Offices man- agers, taking in hand the big piece played at the Lamb's Gambol, "The Book of Life," by R. H. Burnside and John L. Golden. Burlesque Directors Meet Cincinnati, Oct. 2. Directors of the former Empire Bur- lesque Circuit held a five-hour confer- ence at the Havlin Hotel yesterday, but refused to discuss the nature of it. Those attending included George Rife, Harry Martel, Jim Fcnnessy, A. Clay Miner, Herman Fehr and Horace Mc- Corklin. Secretary Fenncssy denied the meeting had any connection with the merger of the Progressive Wheel. The managers left for their respec- tive homes last night. FIFTH AVE. POLICY. The policy of Proctor's Fifth Ave- nue theater underwent another change Thursday when the last half's bill opened. A show is given at 11 a. m. with another following at the usual matinee, and still another in the eve- ning. Six acts and pictures are played. CONSIDINE IN TOWN. A week or more will be the stay of John W. Considine in New York. Mr. Considine arrived Tuesday, so close to Oct. 1, it suggested Mr. Considine had dropped in to collect another install- ment of the purchase price of the Sul- livan-Considine Circuit that the Mar- cus Loew contingent paid. Mr. Considine stated he had no espe- r.'al object in coming to New York. it was merely one of his periodical visit's. "POOR PAULINE" OH, WHAT A HIT!