Variety (December 1914)

VARIETY 11 NEW EQUITABLE CONTRACT MAY BECOME REALITY BY JAN. 1,1915 United Managers 9 Protective Association Has New Form of Playing Agreement Under Consideration* President Klaw Writes Actors 9 Equity Society That the Mat- ter Will Be Given Proper Attention. An equitable contract perfectly sat- isfactory to both the legitimate play- ers and the producing managers may be agreed upon any day although the matter is not expected to reach Anal agreement until after the first of the ne wyear. The Actor's Equity Asociation re- cently submitted a form of contract passed favorably upon by the board of directors to the United Managers Pro- tective Association and last week Marc Klaw, president of the Association, wrote the Actors' body the equitable contract matter would be given action within the near future although the theatrical conditions were so chaotic and unsettled that the subject could be taken up more conclusively later on. WOODS 12 FAIR WEEKS. Through a shrewd piece of booking foresight on the part of Vic. Leighton, who routes the attractions for the A. H. Woods office, that manager will have a number of his attractions in San Francisco at the Columbia while the fair is on. Twelve weeks of time are held at that theatre for Woods' attractions during the period the Golden Gate town will be flooded with visitors. One of the attractions' is Julian El- tinge in "The Crinoline Girl," which cpens June 15 for an indefinite en- gagement. The Eltinge show will start for the Coast immediately after its Chicago engagement. "SPOTLIGHT" AT HUDSON. When Richard Bennett and "Dam- aged Goods" close their four weeks' stay at the Hudson the new Selwyn & Co. show, "The Spotlight Man" moves in for an indefinite stay—;' This show, with Douglas Fairbanks, Zelda Sears, Edna Aug and George Sid- ney started rehearsals at the Hudson Monday. ACCIDENTS. Charles Scofield, comedian of the Crescent stock, Brooklyn, was hit above the eye accidently with a lamp during a performance of "Big Jim Garrity," last week, and was laid up for a time as a result. Hamilton Revelle, on his way to a rehearsal of "Secret Strings," was crossing Broadway at 42d street in the rain Monday when he was run down by Edith Taliaferro in her auto. Re- velle was only slightly injured. Forrest Huff, of musical comedy fame, whose voice has been getting a rest, may join a new Broadway pro- duction. Maude Hillman After Her Salary. Elizabeth, N. J., Dec. 9. By giving a bond to Maude Hillman, former leading woman with "The Traf- fic," the company which finished a three-day engagement at the Hippo- drome in this city last Saturday was permitted to go to Atlantic City where they are playing this week. "The Traffic" stranded in Wilming- ton two weeks ago. Upon learning the company was playing here, Miss Hillman had the box office receipts of Saturday's per- formance attached. The amount claim- ed as back salary was $108. As $99 was realized at Saturday night's per- formance Miss Hillman agreed to take $65 on account and let the troupe leave town, upon the manager promising to send the balance from the first per- formance in Atlantic City. "FOLLIES" DOING CAPACITY. Chicago, Dec. 9. Flo Ziegfeld's "Follies" has been do- ing capacity at the Illinois since open- ing there last week. The money limit of the house is $2,129 a day. This has been the daily report of the show to headquarters in New York. "The Fol- lies" is giving nine performances a week. For New Year's Eve the Illinois ad- mission scale has been advanced to $3. The show is here for four weeks longer. D'ORSAY COMES IN. Lawrence D'Orsay closed his "Earl of Pawtucket" tour of the Canadian provinces Saturday in Quebec. Re- turns not up to expectations. $30 DAILY NOT ENOUGH. Ted A. Wilkin, advance man for "Was She To Blame?" convinced that there was no profit in his show aver- aging $30 a day on its tour in Wiscon- sin, crossed his fingers on the state and mapped out a new route through Iowa. DIDN'T PAY SALARIES. Saturday night the stock at the Grand, Brooklyn, did not pay salaries. It was explained to the players there was nothing there to pay with. The company was being run by Harry Traub, Louis Bar and Abe Plhom. The Grand opera house management has taken the company over and it is continuing. ACTRESS OPERATED ON. Spokane, Dec. 9. Katherinc Herbert, leading woman with "Milestones" underwent an oper- ation in a local hospital Sunday for gallstones. The company played here last week and although suffering the utmost, agony Miss Herbert appeared for three performances. She is recover- ing rapidly. SHOWS IN 'FRISCO. San Francisco, Dec. 9. David Warfield in "The Auctioneer- opened to capacity at the Columbia and indications point to a sell-out on the week. Ruth St. Denis got a fair start at the Alcazar with prices ranging to $2. The LaLamar and Bosco Co., in mysteries, opened at Cort Sunday and registered $1,500. The show gave sat- isfaction. The Gaiety is playing pictures this week, the Kolb and Dill show having gone to the Morosco, Los Angeles. An- nouncement is made "A Stubborn Cin- derella" will be the Gaiety bill next week. SHOWS IN LOS ANGELES. Los Angeles', Dec. 9. Forbes-Robertson opened to a fair house at the Majestic and the outlook augurs well for a successful engage- ment. May Robson is at the Mason in "Martha by the Day." The show is doing nicely although Warfield's engagement at the same house took the edge off of her business. Oliver Morosco is still boosting the Children's Hospital benefit with stars as added attractions. SHOWS IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Dec. 9. Business has been slightly better in the "loop" theatres the past week. The "Follies" at the Illinois has been doing banner business and "Potash & Perl- mutter" is still keeping up a good gait. "The Candy Shop" at the La Salle is growing in popularity and looks as though it were in for a run. "The Misleading Lady" at Powers' has taken on a new lease of life and will be kept there for some time. At the Princess "Kitty MacKay" has been drawing a discriminating class of people, who like that sort of a quiet play. "Under Cover" and "A Pair of Sixes" still con- tinue to draw well and "Peg O* My Heart" at the Garrick is still a magnet of some power. Vaudeville houses are holding their own and the outsorting houses have also felt a little touch of prosperity. SHOWS IN NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans, Dec. 9. "Alma" popular prices is attracting fair houses at the Tulane. "To-day" is getting some business by reason of its sensational subject. Burlesque at the Dauphine is running along profitably. The Lyric stock is doing nicely. The Greenwall is not doing much with the feature film "Life's Shop Window." Smithson Putting on "Girls," Plans are on to produce "The Girl of Girls" about Jan. 1, arrangements being made by Charles A. Shaw, busi- ness manager. The piece was written by Edward Paulton and Oreste Ves- sella. The stage direction will be under Frank Smithson. Rehearsals have been ordered for the new show, "The Shoestring Philan- thropist." by Charles Mortimer Peck, in which Charles Grapcvvin is to star. "ON TRIAL" INFRINGED. San Francisco, Dec. 9. A 20-minute sketch called "Trial by Jury" played at the Loew's Empress last week as an added attraction by local players, was said about to in- fringe "On Trial," the Cohan & Harris, success at the Candler theatre, New York. The sketch was written by James McKeon, and produced by Jack Mc- Clellan. The principals were not pro- gramed. The act is not playing this week, and it is reported no bookings, have been entered for it. (The sketch referred to is revlewe* in detail under New Acts in this is- sue.) CLAIMING " KICK IN." Waterloo, la., Dec. 9. Charles Bachman, playing "The Get- away" last week, is reported having. left here after the local engagement for New York to institute injunction pro- ceedings against the A. H. Woods of- fices and Willard Mack to stop further performances of "Kick In," both at a show and a vaudeville playlet. Bach- man claims that he was given absolute rights to the Mack sketch while on the Pacific Coast and that privilege took away Mack's right to use it otherwise. Bachman says "Kick In" is an ex- tended form of his playlet, "The Get- away" and that its third act is actually the playlet itself. SHOWS CLOSING. Jamestown, N. Y., Dec. 9. "Oscar and Adolph," musical show, and "Don't Tell My Wife," comedy, hit the rocks in this vicinity last week. Kansas City, Dec. 9. The Shubert production, "Fannie's First Play" will close after this week's engagement at the Shubert here. The members of the company all will re- turn to New York. Bad business ap- parently is the reason. "The Beautiful Adventure," in which Charles Frohman is now star- ring Ann Murdock, closes its Chicago engagement Saturday night at the Blackstone, Chicago, and after laying off in New York all next week will open in Boston Christmas week. BRADY'S DAVIS' PIECE. William A. Brady placed Owen Davis' new comedy drama, "The Sin- ners" into rehearsal, Monday. The piece is intended for a hearing out of town about Jan. 1. John Cromwell and Alice Brady will be in the cast of the -new piece as well as a number of the players who were supporting Grace George in "The Truth." "The Sinners" is scheduled for production in Wilmington on Dec. 28. KLEIN'S NEW PLAY. Charles Klein's new play has been entitled "The Guilty Man" and will be produced around the first of the year hy Al H. Woods. It is based on Cop- \nc's "Les Coupable."