Variety (December 1914)

VAfclBTY "\ M^^U^Mfa ^**^k ^k^ WRIETY Published Weekly hj VARIETY, Inc SUAE SILVERMAN. PnMmt Timei Square, New York CHICAGO Majestic Theater Bldg. SAN FRANCISCO Pantagea Theatre Bldg. LONDON U Charing Crosa Road PARIS 66 bit, Roe St. Didier ADVERTISEMENTS Advertising copy for current issue must reach New York office by Wednesday midnight. Advertisements for Europe and New York City only, accepted up to noon time Friday. Advertisements by mail should be accom- panied by remittances. _ — * ■ ,..— — — . - SUBSCRIPTION Annual *♦ Foreign 5 Single copies, 10 cents Entered as second-class matter at New York. Vol. XXXVII. ~~~ _ No. 3 Merry Christmas. Though it is not a Merry Christmas for everyone, brighter prospect* are looked forward to from now on. This prediction by those who make it is mostly based on the theory they could not be much worse. "Gloom" has pervaded nearly all news reports of the theatrical business since the season opened. So let's for- get it over the holidays anyway. The attention of the vaudeville play- ing fraternity is called to the Actors' Equity Association, a comparatively re- cently organized group of legitimate players, containing many stars in its personnel. Though but lately formed, with the object of promoting the in- terests of the actors it represents, the Equity association is about to conclude an equitable contract with legitimate managers, for its members (and prob- ably other legitimate players) to sign hereafter. On the Rati' page in a late issue of Variett, when the unrtamed writer was dealing with the "cut salary" proposi- tion, a powerful argument for ths com- plete organization of the vaudeville ac- tor was placed very simply, in three lines. It said the stage-hands and mu- sicians were not cut in salary, when the artists suffered, and stated these two ends of the theatre were organized. To offset this by argument of "scale," "wages," "skilled labor," etc., doesn't alter the fact—that the musicians and stage-hands were not cut. What could have happened to them without organi- zation? That is the vital question that should appeal to the vaudevillian, for he or she has seen the result. Do you want to make a New Year's resolution that means something to you? Join the Rats. That should be the resolve of every vaudeville player, man or woman, not a member. The actor can do nothing alone. What xvould happen if there should be an- other "cut" Leave vaudeville? Every- body together? How would places out- side be found for so many? Don't be wild in your reasoning or actions. Join the Rats—those that draw a large salary and those that draw a small, for all were "cut" relatively, and the big- ger acts naturally endured the greater loss. It's the big act that should rush for the Rats. It looks like a "revue" wave along Broadway. London had it for awhile, and it is still holding on over there. "Revues" calls for vaudevilhans. It would not be clubby to pass this time without expressing the \ compli- ments of the season, if not our regard nor respect, to our contemporaries. This takes in all of them, excepting the moving picture papers. The theatrical trade papers which tried by all the means in their power for two years to take advantage of a condition they had helped to bring about, may well be sat- isfied that they only had "Nemsey and Yllis" to answer for. These scavengers of theatrical journalism would have felt more bitterly had Varibtt, told a few truths about them and their poli- cies. The "Nemajy and Yllis" incident composed the*smallest part of what may be done with a theatrical trade sheet. Mae Murray opens the San Souci Christmas. "In the. Vanguard" closed after one week on tour. Elmer Booth has been engaged for "Me and Grant." Carrie Reynolds has recovered from her recent illness. The vaudeville player is represented by the White Rats. Were the White Rats as fully supported by the stars, and playing members of the vaudeville pro- yer Girl, fession, it would accomplish as muc perhaps more. Joe and "Buster" Keaton will be in the next Winter Garden production. Blanche flail has gone into stock at Bridgeport, playing leads. Audrey De Mar has left "The Quak- »» . Alfred Cross is going to New Britain to play leads in stock. Oh where, oh where have those "school acts" gone? The Marie Cahill-Richard Carle show opens at Syracuse New Year's eve- Frances McHenry is the new lead- ing woman in stock at Boyd's, Omaha. Omaha. Raymond and Caverly have been en- gaged for Klaw & Erlanger's new re- vue. { Dorothy Dalton is the new leading woman of the Keith stock, Portland, Me. If a 10-week contract with 3-cut periods included compiles a desirable route,, how long is a short circuit? Many an affectionate love scene on the rostrum is succeeded by a healthy skillet battle in the flat. Dr. and Mrs. Max Thorex reached New York Christmas, and are at the Hotel Astor. "The Mystic Bird" and Chris Rich- ards have been engaged, for the Ldew Circuit. Mary Elizabeth sails July 6, next, for Australia to play the Rickards Tour for Hugh Mcintosh. Corinne Barker has joined "The Crinoline Girl," replacing Lotta Linthi- cum in the cast. Theodore Von Eltz has been engaged by Winthrop Ames for the juvenile role in "Children of Earth." It's about as easy for a character man to tell his right salary as it if for a character woman to tell her right age. One shudders at the innumerable modern dancers who begrudge Andre Nemsey and Anita Yllis that "sweet" route. ~ The familiar locket and the mistaken identity climax are numbered among the seven eternal sketch themes of the glorious art. The Lee Avenue, Brooklyn, formerly a stock house, went info pictures Mon- day, the lessee being the Lee Avenue Photoplay Corporation. Some people's idea of popularity is to have the elevator man stop his car at the proper floor^ without being prompted. < — y One chap the salary cut didn't feize is the song bird who warbler-himself into chronic laryngitis for a silver lov- ing cup at a publisher's contest That "Experience is a good teacher" line was probably the idle thought of an actor who realized the possibilities of ten per centing, and realizing, pro- fited thereby! Marguerite Skirvin is now appearing in "The Passion Play of Washington Square," formerly Izetta Jewel's act. Harrison Ford and Louise Kent sup- porting. May Irwin will reappear next week in Chicago, playing a sketch called "She Just Wouldn't." She is to produce a playlet "It Couldn't Be Done" at the Standard, New York, today (Sat). No one was injured when-the Ferrari Lions "escaped" from the 86th Street theatre last week. The lion shot was valued at $100. It looked like a press agency plant that ran away from its promoters. And still another idea of class and extravagance is the man (or woman) with a Ford machine and a chauffeur. The Musical "Alvinos (brother and sister) are requested to communicate at once with Harry Marion, Agents & Managers' Association, 1431 Broadway. Hazel Dahl has joined "A Pair of Sixes" company. TOMMY'S TATTLES. By Thomas J. Gray. Bet you thought the first paragraph was going to say "A Merry Christ- mas." Almost did, too. Remember, when you were a kid, what a great feeling came over you on Christmas morning when you jumped out of bed and found a lot of things in your stocking? You feel the same way now when you call on your agent and he tells you he has booked you a week. The boys in the trenches may have spent a bad Christmas Day, but think of the people who had to do four shows. In Germany they're making so many bullets they're running out of lead. If the Czar keeps giving out all those Iron Crosses, Russia will be running out of iron. A minister suggested that every the- atre having children acting on Christmas Day should have a Christ- mas tree for them. He means well, but he doesn't know about all the school acts. What's the worst day in the year for an actor to hear some one sing- ing "Home, Sweet Home?" A waiter's Christmas Day is New Year's Eve. Harry Morrison is now ahead of "Twin Beds" for Selwyn & Co., having recently left the advance of Barney Gerard's "Follies of the Day." The Selwyn organization opened in Atlan- tic City Christmas day. Helen Hamilton, of rlamiltoti and Barnes, served papers on Haary K. Hamilton, juvenile of the Emma Bunt- ing stock, Atlanta, for divorce last week. The Hamiltons have a child who is living with Mrs. Hamilton's folks in Atlanta. With the salary cut, the several amalgamations, the non-payment reso- lution of the music men and the Euro- pean importations due to the war, the American actor has a perfect right to give the "bird" to all that bosh about a vaudeville Santa Claus. The 24-hour roller-skating grind at Madison Square late last week was won by Freddie Martin, of Milwaukee, and Frank Bacon, of Detroit, who estab- lished a new world's record of 293 miles. Martin won a 24-hour individ- ual race in Milwaukee last year. Eight teams finished. Announcement was made in New York Sunday Otto H. Kahn, the bank- er, vice-president and chairman of the Century Board of Directors, had re- signed from association with the organ- ization. He hac} contributed $75,000 to the venture in the hope of establishing permanently English opera on the American stage. Mr. Kahn is also chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Directors.