Variety (December 1914)

Vol. XXXVII. No. 3. NEW YORK CITY, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1914. PRICE 10 CENTS MANAGERS' ASS'N ON TRAIL OF SEVERAL PLAY PIRATES Attorney Lignon Johnson Has Evidence to Indict Five. Pirates Growing Bold, Using Plays Under Cover on This Side and Making no Pretense at Evasion on Other Side of Canadian Border. More complaints have been regis- tered against the play pirates on the road by managers and producers' to the United Managers' Protective Asso- ciation. Tuesday Attorney Lignon Johnson, of th<* U. M. P. A., received a wire from Salt Lake City, informing him a company registering at one of the prin- cipal hotels there was plagiarizing "Peg O' My Heart." Straightaway Mr. Johnson began the proper steps to put a stop to any further piracy and bring the company, manager and producers to justice. Attorney Johnson says that while no "blacklist" against actors in these pirating companies can or will be de- clared by the Managers' Association, that the law protects against the so- called pirates in such an ironclad way that he, in behalf of the Association, will fully deal with them. According to the law against alleged play piracy, it is possible to arrest the actors, managers and house managers, and the bill posters, if necessary, for participation in the alleged piracy, and along these lines it will be necessary to proceed to stop the wholesale play stealing. With due notification, any person sharing in the unlawful production of a play upon proof of piracy may be subjected to a $1,000 fine and a year's imprisonment. For the past week George Mooser, of the Oliver Morosco forces, has been seeking the whereabouts of the Gibney Stock Co., which has been reported as openly play'ng the "Peg" show, title, '»:.'"■;« rri| id all, without permission * l-.iv ri t ibute to the Morosco of- c '■'•' * i ntrol the exclusive book- " i' <t ucing rights to the piece '"■r States and Canada. As - f 1 Managers' Association can use all the resources possible it will endeavor to have the next session of the Canadian Parliament (January sometime) adopt drastic protective measures that will safeguard the play- wright, especially the dramatic play- wright, in the Canadian cities and prov- inces, the law at present not being very specific upon that point. Mr. Johnson is proceeding legally against five stocks, alleged play pirates, and he is taking steps to prevent fur- ther pirating. Arrests will likely fol- low indictments to be secured through- out the country. These pirating companies, it appears, travel in ramshackle cars or otherwise, sometimes travel under canvas, carry no billing, no routes, nor prearranged bookings, but jump about here and there, playing pieces that unquestion- ably appear to be plain play piracy. SUNDAYS BREAKING BADLY. The long stretch of bad "Sundays" since the season opened did not stop with last Sunday, when the rain pelted down all day. Early in the season the warm weather ruined the Sunday busi- ness, and since then it has been the in- clemency of that day. One "Sunday" manager said this week he had had but two Sundays so far when the receipts equaled those of last season. A New York manager who plays Sunday vaudeville shows is re- ported more than $6,000 behind to date this fall. NAT GOODWIN'S GROSS, $35. Winnipeg, Dec. 16. When Nat Goodwin peeked through at his matinee audience, he estimated the house at $37. It was $2 too high. The audience had its money returned upon dismissal. If you. don** advortlM In VARIETY don't pdvartlM at all. MIGHT HAVE KNOWN BETTER. Atlanta, Dec. 16. Juliet, after a stormy two days with the gallery at the Forsyth quit the bill in midweek. She appealed to the police in an effort to determine why the gallery at every performance vir- tually ruined her act. Two plainclothes men found the rea- son when they watched Juliet's turn from the loft. She changes costumes in view of the audience—that is, behind a large umbrella. She had a young negro holding the umbrella and from the gallery the color of her assistant could be seen, result—naturally, in this part of the woods: jeers and hisses. Manager Cardoza decided Jufiet had better retire from the bill and she did. GENARO AND BAILEY SPLITTING. After an association of 18 years, Dave Genaro and Ray Bailey, who are wedded in private life, will separate. The separation really occurred after the Tuesday night show at Hammer- stein's, where the couple started the week. Wednesday matinee Miss Bailey did not appear, and informed the man- agement she was "through." Mr. Ge- naro immediately took possession of the scenery used in the act, and col- lected two days' salary. According to Mr. Genaro, the separa- tion will be final. The act is as well known as any in vaudeville. It is but recently, says Mr. Genaro, any serious trouble between himself and wife oc- curred. Academy, Pottsville, Burns. Pottsville, Pa., Dec. 17. The Academy of Music here, the largest legitimate house in the coal regions, burned to the ground today. together with nine adjoining buildings. Marinelli License Rehearing. (Special Cable to Varibtt.) London. Dec. 17. A rehearing on the application for the renewal of the agency license for II. P.. Marinelli, Ltd.. has been granted. It will be heard Dee. 22. The license was refused at the last regular meeting of the Licensing Board, on the ground the agency was headed bv a German. HIP SHOW CLOSING. A ftport about this week said the Hippodrome will lose "The War of Wars," its present attraction, shortly after the holiday season. It is not mentioned what will suc- ceed that attraction, nor whether any preparations for a new production there have been made. One story is to the effect a pro- posal has been made to Marcus Loew to take the house over for an enor- mous vaudeville bill in the nature of a circus entertainment at popular prices. JUBY'S THEATRE PARTY. Winnipeg, Dec. 18. When the jury in the Grace Beggs murder case became restive at the prospect of being locked up for an- other night, they were taken in a body, under guard of two under-sheriffs, to watch last night's performance at the Orpheum. This is the first time such a thing has happened in Canada. WEEK ONLY IN ATLANTIC Atlantic City, Dec. 16. Keith's Garden theatre will open with a big vaudeville bill for one week only commencing Dec. 28, to catch the holiday crowd. Johnny Collins in the United Book- ing Offices is preparing the special bill. NOT SO FUNNY. Boston, Dec. 16. The Bowdoin this week had a lot of fun with Ethel Barrymore in the movies while she was playing Keith's by advertising "Why pay a dollar to see Ethel Barrymore when you can see her in pictures for a dime?" SUES FOR CRITICISM. Reading, Pa., Dec. 17. George D. Haage, a Reading musi- cian, brought suit heir today against the Reading Times-Telegram, demand- ing damages in $5,000 for the publica- tion of a musical criticism in that newspaper which he declares was un- fair and malicious. Haage was manager of a concert in which Francis McMillen appeared, and concerning which the alleged unfair comment was made.