Variety (October 1914)

VARIETY aa PLAYERS DEMAND FULL PAY EXCEPT IN LONDON HALLS Declare Business is Normal in Provinces and Turn Down Managers 9 Proposals for Sliding Scale. Reductions Based on Salary. Agree to Cut in Capital, Where Business is Bad. (Speoial CabU to Vabibtt.) London, Oct. 28. The artists have received the propo- sition of the managers for the sharing plan on a sliding scale basis and have made a return proposal of fifty-fifty co- operation in the London halls and full salary in the provinces. The artists are now awaiting the managers' reply. At the Variety Artists' Federation meeting Sunday the managers' proposal was submitted as follows: The 50-50 split shall continue where the gross is more than $1,750; From $1,250 to $1,750 the managers shall take 55 per cent, and the actors 45 per cent.; Where the gross is less than $1,250 the split shall be 60-40. James Tate suggested the managers be approached with this counter pro- position: No reduction where the salary is less than $50; Five per cent, reduction in salaries from $50 to $100; Ten per cent, reduction in salaries from $100 to $150; Fifteen per cent, reduction in sala- ries from $150 to $200; Twenty per cent, reduction in sala- ries from $200 to $250; And 25 per cent, reduction in salaries of more than $250. All salary reductions to remain in effect only during the continuance of the war. The discussion became general fol- lowing Tate's remarks. It was pointed out business is normal in the provinces and the depression is pronounced only in London. This phase of the situation was gone into thoroughly and the final sense of the meeting was that it rep- resented the important point in exist- ing conditions. It was finally decided to put another counter proposition to the manager* on the 50-50-London and straight-salary- in-tho-provinces basis. The Federation will make a stand if the proposal is turned down by the managers, it is de- clared. It is worthy of note that within the last few days the English agents have changed their tone as to the need of new material. Probably inspired by the managers, they are now voicing the view that there is abundance of material available. Members of the Federation believe the threat of the managers to close their halls if the performers decline to accept the co-operative salary dictum is an empty one. It is pointed out that should the halls close, it is Very likely their liquor licenses would lapse automatically. time this week at Cincinnati, had to cancel when Kittie Morton suffered an attack of neuralgia. They were about to sign with the Loew Circuit last week, it is said, when the U. B. O. compromised with them on the "salary cut." They will play Indianapolis next week, booked by the U. B. O. Another act, Irene Franklin and Burt Green, reported close to signing with Loew, stopped negotiating the latter end of last week, and this Mon- day opened at the Temple, Rochester (U. B. O.). Bart McHugh's "Lawn Party," a "kid act," is said to have been with- drawn from the road through being unable to travel with profit at the sal- ary offered. Clark and Hamilton, the English turn, is reported about to become part of a road show through having been given a cut in salary from $800 to $500. Cincinnati, Oct. 28. Just before the matinee yesterday at Keith's, Carl. Byal received a wire of his mother's death at Findlay, O. He gave his performance, then broke down in the dressing room and left for home. Charles Howard and Co., on the Orpheum Circuit, closed at Winnipeg last Saturday, declining to accept the cut in salary made for the act. MORTONS PLAYING UNITED. Sam and Kitty Morton, schedule! to reopen on the United Booking O' rc- JUDGMENT AGAINST AGENT. In the case of Barney Fagan vs. Louis Pincus, the New York represent- ative for the Pantages Circuit, follow- ing August Dreyer's motion to have the verdict of a jury for $2,614.78 on alleged contract violation in favor of the plaintiff set aside, Justice Newbur- ger reserved decision and named a date for the attorneys on both sides to file briefs. Fagan, through O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll, brought suit, claiming Pin- cus agreed by wire to give Fagan 20 weeks on the vaudeville circuit. Pin- cus sent contracts for eleven but Fagan declined them and then sued for the agreed twenty weeks at $300 per. Pincus at the trial contended he was only an agent and that Fagan would have to look to Pantages for his money. Attorney Ryan, of Seattle, informed Fagan's attorneys the Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres, Inc., did not legally exist in a former suit that the O'Brien, Malevinsky & Driscoll firm instituted for Amann-Hartlcy against Pantages some time ago. Aware of this the lawyers held Pincus person- anly responsible. The main point arising is whether the cr^p should have been against the a- • it. If the judge decides that Pin- . is liable, a precedent will have been ^i-blished. TWO SUDDEN DEATHS. Two deaths among the profession early Monday morning at Bcllevue Hospital resulted in the Coronor hold- ing inquiries to ascertain their real causes. They were that of James Cal- lahan, formerly of Callahan and Mack and late of Callahan and Daly (Ber- nard), who died at 1 a. m. Oct. 26, and Harry Clinton Sawyer, whose demise came at 7.05 on the morning of the same date. Callahan, a few days ago, was re- moved to one of the Bellevue wards to recuperate, his heart and stomach having failed to work perfectly of late. Sawyer, formerly of musical com- edy, where he acquired considerable fame, later a "single" in vaudeville and recently connected with several pop circuit vaudeville agencies as an assist- ant booker, was reported as being with a party of friends the night be- fore he became ill at his room in the Hotel Taft. Sawyer was found unconscious in his room and shortly after removed to Bellevue died without regaining a nor- mal condition. As Sawyer had been despondent of late suicide was hinted at and the Cor- oner was notified to ascertain if pos- sible by autopsy whether there was poison in his stomach. Detectives are working on the case in an effort to find out Sawyer's move- ments prior to his death. Sawyer was unmarried but has an aged mother living in a small town in Oregon to which the body is to be sent for interment. LOEW BILL IN PROVIDENCE. Providence, Oct. 28. One policeman knocked out and two others roughed up will testify to the size of the crowd trying to get into the Emery theatre at its opening Mon- day night. It is estimated at least 3,000 people thronged the street in front and pushed and shoved and fought to get inside where there is room for only 1,800. Manager Martin Toohey opened the theater in behalf of the Emery broth- ers, and. after lugging away about two tons of flowers, called on Mayor Gainer for a speech. The Mayor replied and then the show began. The friendly audience liked the opening vaudeville bill, which was diversified and pleas- ing. The Emery will play Marcus Loew acts only and will change the bill twice a week. There will also be three or four pictures a night. The Emery is the most modern thea- tre in the city, and one of the best equipped. It is well situated and should he popular. JACK HENRY SETTLES. Jack Henry and August Dreyer. his attorney, split up $350 of David Kess- lcr's money this week, when Mr. Drey- er settled Mr. Henry's suit for $10,000 damages against Mr. Kessler. Jack thought he was hurt $10,000 worth in an automobile accident some time ago. Tt was Kesslcr's car and Kesslcr's driver. Henry's injuries, ac- cording to him, were bruises on the shoulder and an impediment in his left car hearing, causing him to lose much business with managers who didn't book on the right side. n SAM THALL'S "TAB" WHEEL Chicago, Oct. 28. Sam Thall, of the tabloid department of the "Association," has organized his department on the order of a burlesque wheel, and committees are sent on to see the shows in the same manner. The following is a list of the shows Thall is booking: Jack Trainor in "Watch Your Step"; Hal Johnson, in "Little Modiste"; Dewey & Rogers in "Safety First" and "This Is the Life, all Halton Powell shows. Max Bloom in "The Sunny Side of Broadway" "Dream Girl," "My Cinderella Girl" and "Whose Little Girl Are You?" Boyle Woolfolk's shows. "Fillies of Broadway" and "Adams & Guhl," owned by Dwight Pepple; "The Mas- queraders," owned by Johnny Galvin; "The Isle of Smiles" owned by New Alvord; "Fascinating Flora " owned by Minnie Palmer; and Edde De Noyer and Rose Danie in "It's Up to You." Hodges & Tynes, who are out in "A Night on a New York Roof Garden," have broken all records in the south and are playing repeats. Robert Sher- man has three dramatic tabloids out, consisting of the following: "Bought and Paid For," "Way Down East" and "The Squaw Man." Several other tabs are now in preparation which will be ready to open in December. They are being arranged by Woolfolk, Powell and Galvin. LOEW IN PORTLAND? Portland, Me., Oct. 28. It is understood Marcus Loew has made definite arrangements to bring his vaudeville into a new Portland thea- tre. The site named is that now occu- pied by the O. S. Furniture Co., on Con- gress street, almost opposite the en- trance to Keith's. A new house in Lewiston, Me., with which the Portland Loew theatre will split, is nearing completion. MANAGER ESCAPES THUQ8. San Francisco, Oct. 28. Jack Cluxton, manager of Pantages theatre, figured in an attempted hold- up that bordered on the sensational Monday night. Two thugs went after Cluxton as he was on the way to the bank with the day's receipts. Cluxton escaped injury and also saved the money. One of the stick-up men was arrested. 85% ACCEPT CUT. Chicago, Oct. 28. About eighty-five per cent, of the acts have acquiesced in the cut made recently by the United Booking Offices (Chicago) and the "Association." A few acts have gone away from their agents and are booking direct. BARRYMORE'S RECORD. Chicago, Oct. 28. Ethel Barrymore is promising to wreck the season's record at the Ma- jestic, where she is appearing this week as headliner. Business has been capac- ity during the week. With the return to health of Anna Arline (Adler and Arline) who was recently operated on for appendicitis, the couple will play the time they were forced to cancel through Miss Arline't illness.