Variety (November 1914)

12 VARIETY EQUITABLE CONTRACT NEARER; MANAGERS WEIGHING TURNS Legitimate Actors' Assh. Submits Its Ideas of a Mutually Just Form of Agreement with Producer. There may be speedier action on the proposed equity contract form sub- mitted by the Committee on Contract of the Actors' Equity Association to the Producing Managers' Association than expected. The managers recent- ly requested the Association to en- lighten them upon a few specific pro- visions in the contract. This has been done, with the managers practically agreed this week to return a definite answer within the next few days. The contract contains the "two weeks' notice" clause. It is also pro- vided rehearsals are to begin not ear- lier than 35 days prior to opening. Rehearsals are not to be paid for ex- cept as provided in the compensation stipulations wherein the actor re- hearses longer than four weeks, then fo£*tach. week's rehearsal in addition ttJT manager shall give an additional Hflf week's notice in order to terminate /the contract; except, however, that if under this engagement the actor has received two weeks' work and pay, plus one-half week's work and pay, for each week's rehearsals over four weeks, then only the two weeks' notice of termination shall be necessary. Exceptions are made in big produc- tions where 50 or more people are em- ployed. The actor must be prompt at re- hearsals. He must furnish and pay for morning, afternoon and eve- ning clothes customarily worn, wigs, shoes necessarily appurtenant thereto, but all other costumes, etc., and all "props" to be furnished by the man- ager. If the party is a woman the manager shall furnish and pay for all dresses, hats, appurtenances to costumes and all "props." There may l>r two matinees weekly <' •» tc ^e holiday perform- eve v. shows. All other ,.- «na' be paid for at the »* of a week's salary ■!• u-.-» ^e. j.* the weeks' notice" clos- uicrj!a» .f tour the manager shall pay the transportation of the actor back to New York. He must also pay* transportation to opening point, alscf paying actor's personal bag- gage up tfb 200 pounds. Regarding lost performances through unavoidable delays the actor cannot detAand compensation. Layoffs with- out salary are provided for the week before Christmas, Holy Week or both weeks <f desired. >n case of a dispute between actor and manager over the contract there nav be arbitration. son and the Chicago engagement is expected to help it financially. There were several changes in the company recently. Virginia Pearson, the stage manager, and the man ahead, Walter Duggan, received their "no- tices," but later Miss Pearson was re- engaged. Duggan was dropped only because the show management wanted Charles Philips back at his old job. Phillips' picture berth in the west was assumed by James Grainger and Grainer in turn hired Duggan, the last named not losing a minute's work. RECASTING SHOW. "Up Against It," the farce in which several of the treasurers of New York theatres were interested, was taken off a week ago after its engagement in Newark. The piece is said to have been a success, but the cast was not satisfactory. The intention is to re- cast and send it on tour again after New Year's. PEORIA HOUSE CLOSES. Peoria, 111., Nov. 11. The Majestic closes Nov. 15. Notice has been served upon the attaches by Henry Sandmeyer, manager. Reasons assigned, scarcity of shows and poor business. "EAST LYNNE" CIRCUIT. W. M. Gilman has stolen a march on some of his eastern brothers who have been talking for some time of organizing a stock circuit by forming one of his own in the west. He has a company of ten people playing a circuit in southern Illinois. His repertoire now consists of "Hello, Bill" and "East Lynne." The towns are Belleville, Masconta, Freeburg, Edwardsville, Granite City, Alton and Collinsville. Munro's "Cordelia Blosaom." "Cordelia Blossom," which recently closed at the Gaiety, is going out again but under different management and with a new cast. Wallace Munro has taken over the show for the road. WALTER SHOW CHANGES. The Eugene Walter show, "The Bet- ter Way," with Charlotte Walker, is re- ported considerably behind on the sea- ConaoUdating Louisville Theatres. Louisville, Nov. 11. Plans are under consideration here for the formation of a new corporation with a capital of $250,000 to operate picture houses. It is proposed to con- solidate the companies now controlling the Walnut, East Broadway, West Broadway, Crown, Ideal, Baxter and Alamo theatres. The last named will have its opening Nov. 14. F. J. Dolle, of the Broadway Amuse- ment Co., financially interested in sev- eral of the houses, is the moving spirit in the consolidation. Nearly all the dance places about town are complaining of business this week. The first two nights were off all over. The theatres felt the de- pression and the dance managers stated that they were hit just as hard as the show shops. One of the bigger places in the neighborhood of Columbia Cir- cle, along the rendezvous of the Mayor and his coterie of friends, is reported to be losing at the rate of $1,000 a day. The Broadway Rose Gardens has picked up a little in business since taken over by the new management, but this week also was hit by the lack of attendance. The New York Roof was away off Monday night, it being said that there was hardly a $50 gate that evening. Rector's, which has been getting the biggest play of any of the Broadway places, was also slightly off the fore part of this week. The af- ternoons there have been holding up, but the evenings have been hurt by the general depression. The Bun Jan is undoubtealy the most oriental of the Broadway eat places. The house uses Jap waiters. The caba- ret has Wilson and Le Nore. E. Case- mello and Mme. Anito, Billie Day, and Maude Vandaly. The music is fur- nished by the Bohemian Gypsy Orches- tra, consisting of four young women. The place has a medium sized dancing floor, used pretty much by the profes- sionals. Maxim's, on 38th street, has an at- tractive bunch of girls in the cabaret. The show is headed by Sullivan and Lovejoy, a dancing couple with the lat- est steps. The young woman dresses most daintily, always looking well in her gowns. Others are Francis Aim- house, Hazel Mann, Mildred Lezell and Carmencita. Elsie Loyt, an English singer, makes her first appearance in America here the latter part of this week. Bustanoby's 39th street place is let- ting is patrons have their fill of danc- ing by giving over the floor to them throughout the evening. One of the professional dancers here is a young woman who shows considerable prom- ise as a classic dancer, with the usual flowing garments. Bustanoby's is do- ing business through allowing the pat- rons the floor in preference to extra talent. The main ball-room at Reisenweb- er's, under the management of S. Mark Minuse, is getting the best play of the several dance rooms Columbus Circle has. A. Baldwin Sloane and Marion Morgan are dancing in this room and acting as host and hostess, assisted by A. Bertram Spencer. Dan Caller and his orchestra are furnish- ing the dance music. There is some- thing about this room in atmosphere that makes one feel right at home. Almost all of the guests are known to one another and much good-natured repartee is indulged in from time to time. Hortenae Zora and Lew Quinn are now appearing at the Broadway Rose Gardens. The team, lately organized, is presenting a series of waltzes that will win favor for them. Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Sebastian, at the Palace, Chicago, last week found their salary had been attached through Adolph Marks by Frederick Goldsmith of New York on a claim that they owed Edward E. Pidgeon $600 for a contract which he secured for them in Atlantic City last summer. Mr. Pidgeon secur- ed an engagement for the team at Barnay's Hotel there at $400 per week for six weeks. The dancers were also to receive lodgings and added income through the medium of lessons. They worked one week and then jumped their contract to come to New York and appear at the Hotel McAlpin. The Reed House, Erie (Pa.), this week opened a cabaret in connection with a new dance floor with Eleanor Harris and Chester Sinclair, profes- sional dancers. A bar was instituted by Billy Sane at the Broadway Danse Wednesday evening. Soft drinks were the only re- freshment offered before. Cincinnati, Nov. 11. A fox trot contest, the first in Cin- cinnati, is being planned by the man- agement of the Orpheum Winter Gar- den. Cincinnati, Nov. 11. Artistic temperament that stirred up a rumpus between Robert Emmett Donovan and Mary Marcus and put their dancing school in the hands of a receiver appointed by Insolvency Judge Warner. Attorney Saul Klein, the receiver, does not know how to do the modern dances, so he confesses that he has no artistic temperament and is capable of running the business. Donovan is a law student and the son of a fireman. He and Miss Marcus won so many first prizes at amateur dance contests hereabouts they signed a contract to educate the public feet. They opened the Walnut Hills Danc- ing Academy, in the Hotel Alms, in September. Many socially prominent people attended their affairs. Dono- van recently had his head shaved and this may have jarred his partner's ar- tistic sensibilities. Anyway, not know- ing exactly how it happened, the rea- son for the falling-out may just as well be blamed on Donovan's shining roof. Through Attorney Paul Connelly, for whom he worked as a stenographer, Donovan made the application for a receiver. Miss Marcus will conduct a rival school. She was also a stenog- rapher for Connelly. Don't forget the REGENT HOTELS when coming to St. Louie. Theatrical Headquarters.