Variety (October 1914)

VARIETY COLUMBIA BURLESQUE CIRCUIT REPORTE D CUTT ING SALARIES Necessary to Protect Travelling Manager According to Re- port. Waiting to See Business Development. Taking Lessons From Vaudeville Managers. According to reports and rumors spreading about this week in the in- ner circles of burlesque, the Colum- bia Amusement Co. is about to follow the lead taken by the vaudeville man- agers in the reduction of salaries, to protect the traveling managers on the Columbia circuits. No confirmation or denial could be obtained in the Columbia headquarters, but it was indirectly intimated that some such plan was under considera- tion. One Columbia man, when ques- tioned about the proposed reduction, replied: "Burlesque is suffering like ev- erything else in the show business." The Columbia Circuit is operating around 70 shows and as many theaters. It has been reported since the opening of the season that business was gener- ally off along the burlesque line of travel. One traveling manager with a well-known Columbia show said the other day his attraction was $8,000 be- hind in gross receipts up to date as against the same period last season. It has also been said that for the first time in years among burlesque man- agers of the Columbia that they had been wiring in for money to move, al- though the cases reported in this con- nection have been few. The general depression arriving to- gether with the formation of the Co- lumbia's extended circuit, and the op- position earlier in the season, all com- bined to cause the burlesque attendance to droop. With the vaudeville man- agers seeking to retrench through ask- ing acts to agree to a reduction in salary during the hard times, the Co- lumbia company is reported to have agreed that this would be an excel- lent plan to follow in order that their traveling managers would not become financially embarrassed until conditions bettered themselves. Players in burlesque usually sign for 30 weeks and generally play 40 or more, consecutively, with no transportation nor commission. It is the consecutive playing that the burlesque magnates seem to think from reports should be the reason for the consideration -from their people. It is probable that only principals are contemplated in the pro- posed reduction. One Columbia manager, speaking un- officially^ said this week the great sup- ply of acts about at the present time gave them a field of plentiful material. The burlesque managers were receiv- ing offers from players at much lower figures than they were now paying, but were not inclined to accept these of- fers through the same people not hav- ing presented themselves at Previous times when conditions were better. Preference, if any. said the manager. should be given to the players \v:n> have consistently remained with Hn- burlesque managers, and these were the ones they wanted if they would meet the managers half way in the ef- fort to tide over. It was also reported that if the Co- lumbia placed the reduced-salary order into effect it would be very shortly. KEITH IN GRAND RAPIDS. A United Booking Office site scout is maneuvering around Grand Rapids in search of an available site for a new Keith theatre. The U. B. O. office is now supplying one Grand Rapids house with vaude- ville, but the limited capacity necessi- tates the erection of another. PRINCE PAUL TRYING AGAIN. Prince Paul de Clairmont, who has been widely acclaimed as the hero of Elinor Glyn's "Three Weeks," is to try to break into vaudeville. This time he has chosen a partner in the person of Mrs. E. B. Alsop, the 21-year-old bride of the aged Pittsburgh million- aire, who is at present seeking to have her marriage annulled. The team will offer songs and society dances. CHARACTER STORY ACT. A new act entitled "Mutterzolb and Son" is in rehearsal, to be ready for a showing in about a week. The act is based on the character stories which have been running in the Hearst Sun- day papers for several months, under the same title. Twelve Acts on Anniversary. Baltimore, Oct. 14 The Maryland theater celebrated its eleventh anniversary this week, with a twelve-act vaudeville program. It is the first time this city has seen such a lengthy show. Frohman Visits Palace. Charles Frohman, who seldom visits any theater, other than his own, watched the Palace, New York, per- formance Tuesday evening. Railroad Decision. New Orleans, Oct. 14. The Mississippi Railroad Commission has decided that railroads must attach the combination and Pullman cars of theatrical companies to passenger trains exclusively. The railroad people were cited to ap- pear before the Commission by theat- rical interests, with a view to establish- ing a precedent for the remainder of the country. Shea's Latest "Sunday." Commencing last Sunday, Harry Shea commenced booking a vaudeville performance for the one day weekly, into the Majestic. Brooklyn. The house seats about 2.400. It plays the Sabbath show at 10-15-25, Mr. Shea sharing with the house which holds the Stair & Havjin attractions during the week. SALARY CUTTING TOPIC. (Continued from page 3.) their agents, and the spreading opinion that seemed to grow stronger was that if the situation really demanded the cut as a salvation to managers and the great majority were accepting, no good reason could be advanced why the in- dividual should hold out, although an- other reason that presented itself to the acts was that just at present no better opportunity for work or time was in sight. Quite a number of acts were claimed to have voluntarily cut. One of these was Fisher and Green, who sent the following wire to their agent: Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 14. Gene Hughes Palace Theater Building, New York. We cut for the English managers, and surely we are under greater obligations to the United. In this case, you didn't even have to con- sult us. (Signed) Fisher & Green, Fisher and Green had 18 weeks. Im- mediately upon their cut being report- ed accepted, they were routed up to Aug. 2, 1915, inclusive of the Orpheum Circuit. Five hundred big time acts are esti- mated to have had a salary cut that averaged in money from $40 to $50 on each turn, but while this is the average cut it is understood that some of the headline turns were lowered as much as $500, and one act, Frank Keenan, is said to have voluntarily split his sal- ary in half. One or two big time managers have stated that they did not intend to profit by the cut in salaries, but would em- ploy the money saved by the reduc- tions on their regular bills to increase the quantity and quality of their vaude- ville programs, maintaining the salary limit as formerly and endeavoring in this manner to bring in more gross receipts at the box office. Chicago, Oct. 14. A ruling established and to take ef- fect immediately calls for a cut of sal- ary on all acts playing the "Associa- tion" and United Booking Offices out of Chicago. The reason given for this cut is the general state of business throughout the country. , LOEW WblTT CUT The Marcus Loew Circuit of popu- lar priced vaudeville theatres, extend- ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific, is not going to cut salaries, according to Joseph M. Schenck, general booking manager for the chain. "Prices for vaudeville acts," said Mr. Schenck this week, "are regulated by the supply and demand. This is the same in vaudeville as elsewhere. When the demand is .strong, prices tend up- ward, and this was the situation at one time. Producers were not encouraged, available material grew scarce and the acts .benefited accordingly. "Conditions have not been over good so far this season for us as well as for others in the show business. With hard times and the weather against theatricals, some vaudeville theatres might close, throwing a supply on tfic market. The many acts reaching here from the other side, through the war, have also made a full market to draw from at present, and naturally salaries are inclined to drop under those cir- cumstances. "But the Loew Circuit does not in- tend to change any existing contract. We issue a play or pay agreement, with no provisions excepting the usual one of cancellation for the customary rea- sons. We place the value on an act, which in our opinion, it is worth to us, without regard to what the act may have received elsewhere. Once the act accepts our contract, it is a contract. "Of course, we try to procure ma- terial for our circuit as cheaply as pos- sible. That is the case in nearly all lines. And that salaries of acts have been abnormally increased is not whol- ly the fault of the acts themselves, which are justified in securing all they can demand, if the managers will pay. I know of several instances when acts on our time, receiving a reasonable sal- ary and perfectly satisfied, have been induced away by extraordinary offers from others. One case rather recent is a single turn, receiving $60 weekly with us and playing at that figure for a sea- son. The 'single' was taken over by other managers at $175 and is n.iw le- ceiving $300, all within a short while. "It is easier for us to fill bills today than it was a year ago. Wc have a larger supply to draw from and prices are generally lower for acts." MEETING OVER 50-50. (Special Oabl0 to Varibtt.) London, Oct. 16. A meeting was held Tuesday at the Variety Artists' Federation offices to take care of the matter of dividing the excess takings of the Syndicate halls. The problem was adjusted and the halls will continue on the Federation's assurance between managers and art- ists the 50-50 proposition will be ob- served. The present arrangement running for 12 weeks expires Nov. 7, and it is rumored the managers will demand an indefinite continuance. The Federa- tion committee is taking the matter under advisement to be ready with a decision when the question comes to an issue. ARRESTED FOR PIRACY. Darrcll H. Lyall, manager of the Royal Manuscript Co.. of this city, was arrested yesterday on a secret Federal indictment charging a violation of the copyright law. He gave bond for $500 before Judge Hollindcr, pleading not guilty of the charge. Lyall is alleged to have sold a play called "Boss of Z Ranch" to four dif- ferent people, although it was original- ly copyrighted by Alexander H. Byers in 1909. Vaudeville Closes at Lynn. Lynn, Mass., Oct. 14. The Lynn theatre gives up at the end of the split week performance to- night. The Trimount Amusement Co. of Boston has found straight vaudeville as unprofitable as burlesque was. The future policy is undecided, but pictures may be installed by resident manager, J. R. Somes.