Variety (December 1914)

Vol. XXXVII. No. 2. NEW YORK CITY, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1914. PRICE 10 CENTS AMSTERDAM THEATRE RECORDS BROKEN BY NEW "B ERLIN SHOW" Charles Dillingham's Production of "Watch Your Step' 9 Jumps Ahead of "Merry Widow's" Receipts in Early Part of Famous Run. Big Advance Sale. "Debutante" Doesn't Look Too Good. Amsterdam Theater Records. The new "Berlin show," as Charles Dillingham's production of "Watch Your Step" is called along Broadway, started in immediately after its open- ing Tuesday night at the Amsterdam, to shatter all records for receipts held by the house. The holder of most is "The Merry Widow" which made its famous run at that Klaw & Erlanger theater. "Watch Your Step" opened to $2,800 with the newspaper scats off the count- up. Wednesday night the receipts were larger, with the probability the show will draw over $22,000 weekly on the eight performances. The advance sale this early is the largest the house has ever had. It is reported Mr. Dillingham is re- ceiving 55 per cent, of the gross at the Amsterdam, and that the "Step" show is costing the producer around $9,000 weekly to operate. His other huge success, "Chin Chin," at the Globe (Dillingham's own house) is likewise doing capacity there, about $17,000 weekly. Irving Berlin, the composer of the music and writer of the lyrics in the Amsterdam attraction, is said to have agreed before the premiere Tuesday that lie would furnish the score for the next Dillingham revue, to be produced between now and September, next. The other musical show opening this week, Monday, at the Knickerbocker ("The Debutante") with music by Vic- tor Herbert, did over $1,000 Tuesday and Wednesday night, attributed most- ly to the drawing power of the Herbert name. Otherwise not much hope seems to be held out for the Hazel Dawn show, which was not over-favorably noticed in the reviews. pheum changed management last week. Instead of seven acts, five are now offered at reduced prices. The Or- pheum Circuit will continue to book the house, the new managers only tak- ing over the lease. The Empress has discontinued vaude- ville and it is reported burlesque will start shortly. GREATER CITY CIRCUIT. J. Hambridge is organizing a dra- matic company to play New York City one night a week for the next 11 weeks with a dramatic stock company. The company is to play five nights each week. "Mrs. Dane's Defence" is to be the first production and the opening "stand" is to be the Hotel Plaza, New York City, Dec. 16. Following this 1 the company is to play Newark, N. J., Passaic, Brooklyn and one other town yet to be decided. Agatha Brown and Theodore Von Eltz are to play the leads with the company. SHOWS CLOSING IN LONDON. (Special Cnblr to Variety.) London, Dec. 11. "Miss Hook of Holland," playing at the Prince of Wales, "The Little Min- ister" at the Duke of York's, and "The Outcast" at Wyndham's will close Dec. 19. CAMPANINI ALLEGES SLANDER. Chicago, Dec. 9. Celofonte Cainp.ininl, director of the Chicago Grand Opera Co., has insti- tuted damage suit against Abraham Mussbaum. bandmaster of the same organization, for $50,000 for alleged de- famation of character. DULUTH ORPHEUM CHANGE. Duluth Dec. 9. Because of dull business the Or- Dancer Breaks Her Wrist. Los Angeles. Dec. 10. Julia Carle while dancing at the Or- pheum in the Gertrude Hoffmann act slipped and broke her wrist. UNIVERSALE LOSS. The Universal received a shock last week when on Saturday Walter Ed- win, the leading dramatic director for the Victor company, left the Universal company. The reason given for the sudden withdrawal was that Edwin and the management had different ideas re- garding making pictures. Edwin joined the Universal a short time ago coming from the Edison at the same time that Mary Fuller left that company to join the Universal as leading woman. The general opinion is that Miss Fuller will leave the Vic- tor shortly. Several other changes have been made recently in the force of directors at both the Imp and Victor studios. C. J. Williams, one of the Universal directors, is now acting in the same capacity for the Vitagraph. The new dramatic director to succeed Edwin is Lorimer brought from one of the coast studios. Al Hamburg is now produc- ing several new comedy pictures for the U. ROUTED CLOSE TOGETHER. Jamestown, N. Y., Dec. 9. Two "Peg o' My Heart" companies were 20 miles apart Dec. 5. The Virgie Carvel "Peg" was at Meadville and the Dorothy Mackaye company at Erie. BREACH OF PROMISE SUIT. Los Angeles, Dec. 11. A suit for breach of promise in which $10,000 is asked, has been filed by Nel- lie C. May, a well known coast picture actress, against J. H. Johnson, a local real estate operator. UNION MAN, MAYOR. Springfield, Mass., Dec. 9. Frank Stacy, former president of the local musicians union and of the stage- hand union was elected mayor here Tuesday. CAUSE TO CELEBRATE. (Special Cable to VAnTFTY.) London, Dec. 11. Mr. and Mrs. Dutch Daly celebrated their 40th anniversary Tuesday. Mr. Daly, an Amerirnn : has been in Eng- land nearly 25 years, and is reputed to have saved more money than any oth- er hall artist in England. LOEW'S ST. LOUIS HIP. Chicago, Dec. 10. Negotiations were in progress yes- terday to attach the Hippodrome, St. Louis, to the Loew Circuit through the big vaudeville house there becoming a regular stand for the Loew road shows traveling westward. Aaron Jones, of Chicago, is acting for the Loew Circuit in the arrange- ments. It is said a five-year booking contract will be entered into, and the first road show stop there Dec. 21. LOEW LOSES COLUMBUS. Columbus, O., Dec. 9. The Empress, a new house located in the south end of the city, changed from Loew's vaudeville this* week, to a straight picture show. PICTURE SERVICE RUMOR. A strong report was going about this week that there might be an af- filiation before long between a couple of the larger service corporations which furnish feature films to exhibitors. FIELDS' REVUE GOES ON. Lew Fields said this week he had fully concluded to proceed with his plans for a new revue, that may be ready some time in February. Mr. Fields is in negotiation with two well-known stage women, either one of whom, is an agreement is reached, will head the company. NAME K. & E. REVUE. The revue Klaw & Erlanger have in preparation may be called "Fads and Fancies." Tt will be founded on a pro- duction of that title Julian Mitchell saw when across the pond, and which he recommended to the firm. Paul Morton and Naomi Glass are said to have been engaged for the show. Another vaudeville team was offered a contract for $500 weekly, but asked $750. ROSS SAYS HE'S THROUGH. Asbury Park, N. J., Dec. 9. Charles J. Ross says he is going to quit the stage for good. The Ross- Fenton farm near here will reopen in January and be conducted as an all- year-round establishment by the com- edian.