Variety (December 1914)

VARlSTY •*M*MU*MMMa*BaB*« WARRANTS FOR CHICAGO AGENTS FOR VIOL ATING ILLINOIS LAW Chief Inspector of State Labor Commission Has Eleven Against Booking Agents Who Work Without License; Also Those Who Have Desk Space in Agents 9 Offices. No Names Given Out. Chicago, Dec. 9. R. J. Knight, chief inspector, Illinois Slate Commission of Labor, has issued 11 warrants which will be served upon booking agents who violate the law by working without license, issue receipts without the stamp that makes them le- gal and those who rent desk space from agents and work on percentage. None of the names is divulged but arrests are expected in the near future. EDISON PLANT DESTROYED. Fire reduced tfie Edison picture plant, West Orange, N. J., Wednesday night to ashes. The Edison loss is estimated at $7,000,000. Two million is covered by insurance. The fire originated in the inspection building, an exploding film being the immediate cause. The laboratory building, some dis- tance away from the burning ones, was saved. Within were the costly patents and inventions of the celebrated in- ventor. The Edison loss throws between 3,500 and 4,000 persons out of employment. The building containing all the Edi- son photoplays and which contained films, cameras and m. p. apparatus of immense value was a total loss. Charles Lawlor's Act Disbands. Charles B. Lawlor and Daughters have disbanded. The two girls, Alice and Mabel, will do single turns. NEW ACTS. Sam Baerwitz has produced a new act called "A Modern Faust." Jack Shepard and Marie Hyde in a new comedy skit, "A Quiet Stroll," by James Thornton. Mercedes Clark is to offer a new act shortly. Billie Smythe, formerly of Smythe and Hartman (now with Toby Claude) is producing a new act for Marie Hart- man in which she will use a male as- sistant. Mr. Smythe is also about to produce a sketch for four people writ- ten by H. V. Esmond. "The Yachting Party," a tabloid pro- duced by Jeannette Dupre, opened at the Olympic, Brooklyn, and has been booked. Zerah II, ''bottoming" at Hammer- stein's next week, is an English boy, a "lightning calculator." He recently tame over and was tried out at Ham- merstein's opera house. The Royal Ciasgoincs, at same house next week, foreign turn, booked in there by Jack Levy. Mrs". Bud Fisher, added to bill, formerly played as Pauline Welch. Now doing new single. Program will read, "Presented by Mr. Arthur Ham- merstein." Mrs. Carl Henry will appear in vau- deville with her brother, Billy O'Keefe, formerly of musical comedy. Act will be known as Mrs. Carl Henry and Brother. Mrs. Henry, when appearing with her late husband, was profession- ally known as Nellie Francis. TANGUAY'S RECEPTION. During one of Eva Tanguay's num- bers, entitled "Helly Everybody," the eccentric comedienne, at the Monday matinee at the Orpheum requested the audience, the banner one of the season, to record their opinions as to her re- turn by answering "Hello" after one of the song's lines which read: "If you like me and you're glad to see me back, say hello." The entire house gave a vociferous opinion in the affirmative. AGENCY FIRM IS OFF. The proposed new agency formed by Jack Henry, according to his state- ment, has been declared off. Treat Matthews and Oscar Steimel were the other members. The cause of the disruption is said to have been a private one, known only among the trio. RECORD STAGE CREW. The largest number of stage hands ever carried by a vaudeville act, and more than a traveling show usually needs, are in "The Slave Ship," first presented at Hammerstein's' Monday, where it was booked by Jack Levy. Ned Wayburn, who produced the act, engaged four electricians, seven prop- erty men and 11 grips, besides a stage manager. The cues for the mechanics cover several pages. Almost all lines of dialog ends with a cue for one of the stage hands'. It is the first production staged by Mr. Wayburn since his recent return from vaudeville. The act is asking $2,- 500 weekly for vaudeville time, ac- cording to report. ONE GOOD BARBER GONE. The present outlook in the shave 'em close market is that one good bar- ber will have gone after the week of Dec. 21, when "Sully's Barber Shop" is to be reproduced upon the Hammer- stein stage. Sully himself will be in the produc- tion. Loney Haskell made the arrange- ments with him. Loney started with $12.50 for the week's run. Sully noticed Loney wanted him and sent the figure up to $100. It's still there. After Sul- ly has the hundred in cold cash, it's almost a certainty the barber business will have to look out for itself, for Sul- ly will want to keep on acting. UNITED'S "CLUB" RULE. The following was sent out this week by the United Booking Offices, relative to "Club bookings," i. e.: private entertainments: Artists holding contracts booked through the United Booking Offices are prohibited from playing any club in New York or elsewhere, unless booked through our Club Depart- ment, or permission is given in writ- ing for them to appear elsewhere. A violation of this means the can- cellation of contracts. This has been brought about by Conroy and Le- maire, who, having a long route in the United theatres, accepted an en- gagement to appear at a club booked by Loew. Conroy and Lemaire were notified that if they played the Club, their time would be cancelled. They decided to retain their time in the United, and not play the Club. In the Marcus Loew program for this same club, the artists were an- nounced as coming "Direct from the Palace Theater," or, "Direct from Hammerstein's." (Signed) E. F. ALBEE. SOPHIE TUCKER SOLE HEADLINER Jos. M. Schenck, general booking manager for the Loew Circuit, sent out the following statement this week: Miss Sophie Tucker has been booked by me to headline all of my bills. Owing to a misunderstanding, the week of Nov. 16, at McVicker's theatre, Chicago, J. K. Emmett was billed above her. This occurred dur- ing the absence of Mr. Aaron Jones, woh alone was acquainted with the terms of our contract with Miss Miss Tucker. In justice to Miss Tucker, I wish to say that she is the absolute head- liner on all the bills she plays on in our theatres. Furthermore, she is fully deserving of the honor, as she is making good and doing busi- ness for us. (Signed) JOS. M. SCHENCK. FAIR DEPT REPORT. Chicago, Dec. 9. An unconfirmed rumor says the Western Vaudeville Managers' Asso- ciation fair department will affiliate with a big carnival company. TOMMY'S TATTLES. By THOMAS J. GRAY. Many never seem to realize people in show business are much good until they want to run a benefit. Revenge Note.—We always thought Gene Buck was a heathen, now we're sure of it. The "Joke Book" Gene re- ferred to had the following billing on it, "Holy Bible"—placed in his room by the Gideons. How could any one expect a feller who hangs out with "The Follies" crowd to know what a Bible looks like? (Can this be an alibi, Gene?) There is a bellboy in a Detroit hotel who had a very familiar way of saying "Right" to any orders he is given. Upon investigation we found out he used to be a top mounter with an ac- robatic troupe that stranded in the town. We can't think of a sadder sight than a chorus girl saying "Good-bye" to the John who carries her grip to the railroad station. What You Hear at a First Night "I heard it was very bad the night they opened out of town." "I just came to see the costumes; they tell me they're great." "Where does Georgie Cohan usually sit?" "They say the Big Punch is in the third act." "Do you know any of the newspaper critics?" "It's funny you always see the same people at opening nights." "Will you look at who She has with her tonight 1" "Can you imagine what I could do to that part?" "Well, let's go outside and hear them all pan it/ » Loyalty Note.—Harold Attridge al- ways wears evening clothes to the opening nights at the Shubert houses and a business suit to the K. & E. the- atres. Harry Fox says actors are foolish to help otic-arm men, they can't ap- plaud for them. Now that a Broadway theatre has a wagon with a picture machine go- ing up and down taking pictures and showing them at the theatre, it's get- ting more dangerous than ever for a married man to walk along the Gay White Way. THEATER ROBBERS. Reading, Pa., Dec. 10. Walter S. Howard of this city is un- der arrest upon a charge of stealing $250 fnun a Lancaster theater. Allentown, Pa., Dec 11. Stewart l)e Rolm, arrested for rob- bing actresses at the Lyric theater, was sentenced t<> a term of years in the Huntington Reformatory. MABELLE SHERMAN and ARTHUR UTTRY In Dainty Bits of Musical Comedy Direction, M. S. BENTHAM Additional Sailings. (Special Cubic to Vartbtt.) London, Dec. 10. Dec. 0, IVnnell and Tyson (Baltic).