Variety (December 1914)

VARIETY HAMMERSTEIN'S 0. H. POP BILL BRINGS PROTEST FROM PROCTOR Opening of Small-Time Vaudeville at Lexington Avenue Opera House Starts Something with Opposition Close by. Proc- tor Said to Have Threatened Legal Pro- ceedings. Hammerstein's Is Going to Remodel. The pop vaudeville policy that start- ed Thanksgiving Eve at Oscar Ham- merstein's Lexington Avenue opera house is said to have brought a pro- test from F. F. Proctor, who plays the same kind of a show at his 58th street theatre. The Proctor protest against Hammerstein booking the Lexington Avenue appears to have had no more effect than Hammerstein's own protest against the Broadway theatre, when that house, close by the Victoria, re- cently opened. The Broadway did not book through the United Booking Offices, nor is the opera house, now under the direction of Arthur Hammerstein, securing, its acts from the U. B. O., althcugh Ham- merstein's Victoria, the big timer, does get its bills there. The opera house is playing nine acts twice daily on a split week at 10-15-25- The seating capacity is 3,000. Night business has been very good, with the matinee light. Cut rate tickets are out in the neighborhood for the after- noon performances. "Special Nights" are Wednesdays (Try-outs) and Fri- day (Surprise). Among the acts playing the opera house since opening are Fields and Lewis, Truly Shattuck, Chadwick Trio, Conlin-Stcel Trio. Tluirsrlay Arthur Hammerstein and Mr. Proctor are said to have discussed the matter without any conclusion be- ing reached. It was also reported at the same time Proctor threatened to bring legal proceedings against Ham- merstein, alleging damage under the booking franchises, which limit ter- ritory, both have with U. B. O. It was said this week Oscar Ham- merstein had finally decided to re- model Hammerstein's Victoria thea- tre at Broadway and 42d street. The alterations will require at least 90 days. The orchestra seating capacity will be increased to 1,050. This will remove the box office from the 42d street corner, leaving that space avail- able for a store 36x36, for which a rental of $30,000 annually is to be asked. The Victoria meanwhile will necessarily close. Jan. 15 has been given as the date when the alterations are to commence, but April 15 seems a more reasonable time. HART SUING EDELSTEN. Besides having to display his birth certificate when accused of being a Ger- man, in London, Ernest Edelsten, the agent over there, will have to defend in action for an accounting and settle- ment brought against him by Max Hart, the New York agent. Messrs. Hart and Edelsten entered in a mutual booking agreement a few reasons ago for the interchange and placing of American and foreign turns. Everything seemed to be moving smoothly until Mr. Hart wanted his share of the commissions on the foreign bookings. Then came the suit. Judge & Priestly, English solicitors, have the Hart end to look after. TWO-ACT SEPARATES. Gertie Vanderbilt is again alone. She and her new dancing partner, James Clemens, have split, being un- able to get consecutive time at the money asked for the turn. MASON STAGING JAP ACT. Jack Mason, who did so much for Singer's Midgpts through staging the Httle ones' final song and dance num- ber^ h£S, been called in to give Mme. Sumfcc, the. Japanese prima donna, and her Geisha girls at Hammerstein's this wreV, a regular production en- vironment. The turn is under the direction of H. B. Marinelli. Celia Bloom Comes to Town. Celia Bloom, the Chicago booking representative for Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Circuit in the south, reached New York Monday. Miss Bloom will remain here about a week, making her headquarters in the United Booking Offices. UNITED'S MANAGERS MOVE. The suite on the northwest corner of the United Booking Offices floor in the Palace Theatre building is now oc- cupied by E. M. Robinson and his staff. Mr. Robinson, besides having charge of the bookings for many houses, is office manager of the agency. Three rooms are occupied by him as the new quarters. His staff of book- ers includes Ray Hodgdon, Johnny Col- lins, Harry Mundorf, Chester Stratton, Joe Goodman, Howard Graham (book- ing Erie), and Harry Carlin. The offices on the north side of the floor, vacated by Robinson, will prob- ably be given over to those in the United having no desks at present, with Dr. Lauder (E. F. Albee's son-in-law) likely securing one of the offices for his sole use. ACROBAT "SEES DOUBLE." Cincinnati, Dec. 2. Tom Kane^an acrobat, this week re- turned home to receive medical treat- ment for his eyes. He fell during his turn and a peculiar injury to the optic nerve makes him see everything double. Kane is the son of Police Lieutenant Michael Kane. STARRING LOUISE MEYERS. A musical comedy has been secured by M. S. Rentham, for Flo Ziegfeld. who wishes to star Louise Meyers next season in it. PREACHER-MANAGERS. Bowling Green, O., Dec. 2. Alfred VV. Place, a noted missionary to China, who has occupied prominent pulpits in the United States, has taken over the management of the Chidister theatre in this place. The house was recently purchased by his father, Rob- bert Place, a wealthy merchant. Fea- tures will be the policy. Hartford, Conn., Dec. 2. After a month of experience as man- ager of the Star here, Rev. Harry E. Robbins has retired from the amuse- ment business. Lack of knowledge of financing theatrical enterprises is given as the cause of the preacher's failure. LAUDER'S LAST WEEKS. Next week will be the final one this season of Harry Lauder's tour on this side. This week he is in Boston, and will play new England one-nighters for his final week. The Lauder show, under the William Morris management, played to $18,000, according to report, at Morris* New York theatre last week. The early part of the stay there started somewhat light, but picked up toward the finish, the house playing to $3,900 Thanksgiv- ing and $3,400 the day before. CHICAGO SCAMPER. Big White Rat Scamper in honor of our Big Chief, Frank Fogarty's visit to Chicago will be held at the Bis- marck Hotel, Thursday, Dec. 10, at eleven-thirty P. M. All members of the W. R. A. U. and A. A. A. who are in Chicago next week are invited to attend. Big doings. FILM ACTOR WAR VICTIM. Pathe press announcements this week recorded the death in the Eu- ropean war of Rene Alexandre of the Comedie Francaise, who had posed for Pathe cinema productions. Two em- ployees of the firm's Jersey City plant have been wounded in battle, Rene Monca and M. Tricot, who joined the French army upon the opening of the war. LABOR DISPUTE SETTLED. Portland. Ore.. Dec. 2. The new Orphcum opened Sunday afternoon after the compromise of one of the longest labor fights the city has seen. The settlement was effected in a conference attended by John W. Considine, owner of the Orpheum franchise. The boycott has been in effect since last May. Additional Sailings. (Special Cable tn Varihty.) London, Dec. 2. Dec. 5. Nella Webb (New York). Dec. 3, Mr. and Mrs. Granville Bark- er. Edward Laurillard, Joseph Lauril- lard, George Grossmith, Edna Gros- smith. Emmy Wehlen. Mr. and Mrs. James Blakely, Mr. and Mrs. Lauri DeFrece, Austin Hurgon, "To-night's the Night" Co. (Lapland). (Special Cable to Variety.) London. Dec. 2. William Nokes. formerly of the Moss Empire booking committee, is due in New York Sunday by the Me- ffentic. OUT AND IN. The Hammerstein bill looked as though a submarine had struck it Mon- day morning at rehearsal. Three acts went out. Williams, Thompson and Copeland were obliged to leave through a death in a members family. Albert Von Tilzer and Dorothy Nord were too near the top of the program to be satisfied. Lillian Shaw discovered she had a muffled voice. The Conlin-Steele Trio and the Farrell-Taylor Trio were placed in two of the vacancies, the other remaining closed. Adler and Arline played Monday at the Palace, but the double engagement they had for this week (Royal, Bronx also) prevented their continued appear ance downtown owing to the Palace's bill arrangement. Whiting and Burt went into the Pal- ace, New York, program Tuesday. At the Columbia, Grand Rapids, Mon- day, Irene and Bobby Smith, pro- gramed, did not play through illness. Howard and Syman got the job. The Sam Mann Players left the Hip- podrome, Baltimore, bill Monday, re- placed Tuesday by La Belle Titcomb. Wednesday Miss Shaw agreed to play the Palace next week. Upon Hammerstein's hearing of it, a protest was lodged, with a priority claim for Miss Shaw's services under the circum- stances. This was recognized by the United Booking Offices. Miss Shaw accordingly withdrew from the Palace, to fulfill her postponed week on "The Comer." Walter C. Kelly goes into the Palace show instead. BUNTINGS MAKE UP. New Orleans, Dec. 2. When the Emma Bunting stock opens at the Lyric, Atlanta, next week, George Whittaker will supplant Hay- den Stevenson as leading man. Mr. Stevenson has given excellent service, but he was only called in because Whit- taker and Miss Bunting quarrelled. In private life Miss Bunting is Mrs. Whittaker. NEW AGENCY FIRM. A new agency firm started this week, receiving a franchise for "the floor" of the United Booking Offices. Its mem- bers are Jack Henry, Treat Matthews and Oscar Steimel. Mr. Henry is well known among agents; Mr. Matthews was formerly with B. A. Rolfe, and of late has been booking in the U. B. O. Family Department; Mr. Steimel some months ago was connected with the H. B. Marinelli New York branch. REEVES BEFORE CAMERA. Billy Reeves, the English comedian, originator of the "drunk," is shortly to make his first appearance in pic- tures in a film to be made by the Imp (Universal). Reeves may become a permanent picture player. Headliners at Columbus. Columbus, O., Dec. 2. The vaudeville policy at Keith's has been changed, to permit the placing of a headline attraction on the weekly bills. Two Shows New Year's Eve. The Colonial is advertising two per- formances for New Year's Eve., the second to conclude at 12.45.