Variety (April 1915)

Vol. XXXVIII. No. 5. NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1915. PRICE 10 CENTS MANAGERS WAGE CONTROVERSY OVER CUT RATE TICKET ISSUANCE Frohman Statement Condemning League Ticket Reduction Stirs Up Veritable Hornets 9 Nest—While Theatre Men Have Variance of Opinion the Laymen Speak Mind in Print—Where Will It All End? Who is doing the most harm to the theatre, the "scalper" or the cut rate league ticket? This is a question that has been brought into the limelight by the statement issued by the C. F. Froh- man press department this week. There has been much discussion regarding the cut rate league tickets for several weeks past between W. A. Brady and Marc Klaw, with the former standing firm as the advocate of the "Moe Levy tickets" as a first aid proposition to empty seats. This has brought out that there were cut rate tickets to be obtained to a great number of the public that would not have been aware of the fact had it not been for the discussion. As a matter of fact, the use of cut rate tickets has been in vogue for a great many years, and, strange to say, Mr. Frohman, who now condemns the use of the tickets, was one of the first to take advantage of the proposition to distribute cut rate coupons by the People's League. They were used for the production of "Peter Pan" with Maude Adams at the Empire. Other managers who were associated with the Syndicate at the time also used these tickets. The method of the People's League was to charge the managers for the printing and distribution of the tickets. The charge was something like six dol- lars a thousand in ten-thousand lots. At the time the Shuberts saw the ad- vantage of this method of circulation of tickets instead of "papering," and organized the Wage Earners' Theatre League, through which they handled the distribution of their own tickets. At the time the cut rate scalping agencies which dotted the neighbor- hood of Sixth avenu • <rom 28th to 34th street were existir"**"^ purchasing in- C, Cn dividual passes from "pass grafters" and disposing of them. Later, with the event of Joe Leblang in the cut rate business there began a period of direct deals between the management of the houses and the cut rate agency, whereby there were one or two hun- dred seats a performance disposed of in blocks covering from two to three weeks. This branch of the business grew to be so great the Shuberts opened an agency of their own at 30th street and Sixth avenue, in direct opposition to the Leblang Agency, but the for- mer lasted only a few months. This season, exceedingly disastrous for many managers, has brought the use of cut rate tickets into more gen- eral circulation. The more general use of the cut rate coupons, the "scalp- ers" say, has had the effect of building up their business rather than to tear it down or to divert patronage. A holder of a cut rate ticket would dis- play it to a friend who had been a patron of an agency for years and the latter would tell of his experiences in the past, with the result that the agency would find a new client. Naturally, at the box office the treas- urer and his assistant will try to push certain seats in rows that are held out especially for the filling of sales that are accompanied by the coupon and with the cut rate agency getting their "regulars" out of the house before the window purchaser gets a chance at the seats the agency has the advantage of location. Within the last few weeks there has been a general fall-down in business, even at the cut rate agencies. One night last week Leblang took a man- ager into his uptown branch and (Continued on Page 6.) TANGUAY'S OWN SHOW AGAIN. It is reported that Eva Tanguay, who is at Keith's, Columbus, this week, is considering taking out her own vaude- ville show again next season. Propositions from several managers are said to have been received by Miss Tanguay, who has established a unique record for herself this season in regular big time vaudeville houses by the strength of her drawing power. The several offers, with the prospect of a much better condition next sea- son, are reported to have almost de- termined Miss Tanguay to again tempt the road with herself and company, as she did for two consecutive seasons. Columbus, March 31. Eva Tanguay, headlining at Keith's, this week is doing an act 33 minutes in length, wearing new costumes and sing- ing a new song called "Tanguay Spells Success," written by George Spink. Miss Tanguay says it is the best song she has ever had. Yesterday 18 extra chairs had to be placed in the orchestra pit to accom- modate some of the overflow at Keith's. This has never been heard of here before during a Holy Week theatrical engagement. $5 DRESS REHEARSAL. There will be two special perform- ances of "Nobody Home" at the Prin- cess prior to the public opening which takes place next Thursday night. The first performance will be an in- vitational affair on Tuesday night for the newspaper critics. On the night following Miss Marbury has invited 300 of her social friends to attend a dress rehearsal at 15 per seat. The entire 300 seats in the little playhouse have been disposed of at this price. «!«■ ONE-CENT MATINEE. Seattle, March 31. 'To-Day" gave one of the cheapest performances in the history of the show business here last week. There was a special penny matinee at which all women who presented a coupon cut from a local daily and one cent at the box office were admitted to the theatre. The house was jammed for this one performance. LARGE PRODUCTION HELD UP. The Charles Frohman office is in a quandary over the production of an "Alice in Wonderland" book, by Ed- ward Sheldon, that has been in the producing manager's desk for some time. It is in 11 scenes. The Frohman plan was to place it on the stage next fall, with Maude Adams in the lead. For the con- venience of Miss Adams and the Froh- man staff, it had been arranged the star should not play this summer, but remain near New York, in easy ac- cess of rehearsals. The "Alice in Wonderland" show at the Booth, opening last week, is what has held up Frohman proceedings. Mr. Frohman is at present reported undecided what course to take with the Sheldon piece in view of the other pro- duction by the same title, which was not over well received. TILTING ADMISSION. Chicago, March 31. The middle western towns with vaudeville playing twice nightly may shortly put a new admission scale into effect. It is the general rule to charge 10-20-30. The tilt will be to 35 cents, top. Some of the houses that may change policy to one show a night will make ♦he price 50 cents. KEITH'S SUMMER FEATURES. It is quite likely that following the termination of the regular vaudeville season in the B. F. Keith New York theatres, the house will take on a sup- plementary of feature films. One or two of the larger features that have proved their merit will be the first attractions, and the venture may be continued over the hot weather. No closing dates for any of the vaudeville houses has yet been set, it depending as usual upon the humidity. PROCTOR IN YONKERS. F. F. Proctor has leased from the A. E. R. Realty Co., via its president, Charles L. Robinson, the theatre in Yonkers, N. Y., which it is building there opposite the City Hall. The rental is said to be $20,000 a year for 10 years.