Variety (July 1915)

VAUDEVILLE EXPOSITION'S STATEMENT SURPRISES CALIFORNIANS Financial Report to Middle Last Month Shows Profit. Loss Expected Instead. Some "Zone" Shows Closed and Others Expected to. San Francisco, June 30. The Imposition Directors caused a sensation when they issued a report contrary to the general opinion which prevails in local amusement circles concerning the Expo's earnings since its opening. The report made its appearance fol- lowing a rumor to the effect business was so bad on the "Zone" the officials were considering the advisability of closing up the upper part of the "Zone" near the Van Ness avenue entrance because the people persistently used the Fillmore street entrance for en- tering and leaving the grounds. In- vestigation proved that the rumor wa9 empty, inasmuch as several of the con- cessions located on the eastern end of the "Zone" could not be closed owing to their contracts not having been vio- lated. It is said the Department of Concessions is considering ways and means to strengthen the eastern end sufficiently to draw business. Selig's Animal Show had to quit con- siderably behind after the Expo with- drew its support. Likewise "Our Girl's Frolic" stopped. Other shows arc said to be on their last legs. The buildings occupied by these will house new shows according to the announce- ments. A well versed railroad man expressed considerable surprise when he read the director's report and said: "I don't see how the Exposition is anything but the loser despite the report; for 48 per cent of the fair period has passed and eastern traffic west so far has only increased two per cent, above normal!" The report (to June 13) bears the signature of a reputable public account- ing firm and it reads: INCOME. Admission and ticket sales ..$1,210.(114.80 Concessions, revenue and collections.... ri.'lO.M'J.'JS Miscellaneous Income (m.OH.70—$2,.T72.811.78 EXPENDITURES. Operating expenses. .SlUniVOTOirJ Special reserve'. lltl,HlM.<i:i— $'j,:ni t WW.!K> Net cash Income. $flO,!>2-.».83 CAR OWNERS ORGANIZE. St. Louis, June 30. • The Car Owning Managers' Asso- ciation (Coma) is now a wide awake or- ganization with a complete roster of officers, over 100 members and a head- quarters in the Nulsen Building here. The object of the organization is to obtain by means of a united and con- certed effort, equitable rates and charges from the railroads. To be- come a member, the applicant must be a bona-iide car-owning showman. The Association proposes to hold two con- ventions, an annual gathering in Chi- cago the first Tuesday in December, and a semi-annual meet in New York. The initiation fee is $25. Thv Association was originally brought together May 5, 1915, when the railroads began to notify car own- ers of an increase in cartage rates. The increases forced a large number of shows to the store-house, the man* agcr being unable to break even with the exorbitant railroad charges. The showman realized that nothing short of a general united movement toward an amendment of the rates would have any effect upon the roads, consequently W. S. Donaldson, the present president, made arrangements for a preliminary gathering which resulted in the forma- tion of the organization. BARNES GETTING FRIENDLY. Chicago, June 30. Fred M. Barnes, the park and fair man, is very apt to complete arrange- ments in the. near future whereby he will become directly associated with the Western Vaudeville Managers' As- sociation, possibly to take charge of its park and fair department now under the management of Edward Marsh. A quiet working arrangement appar- ently exists between both principals for lately the "Association" has been sup- plying the fair agent with vaudeville acts, and in order to reciprocate Barnes has been slipping the W. V. M. A. agents some of his fair attractions wherever convenient. Whether this friendship will ripen into a permanent engagement for Barnes is problematical, but the atmos- phere is decidedly peaceful and an> sort of an announcement would not come as a surprise. BRAY RETURNS. Charles E. Bray returned from his European visit last Friday. He got within 10 miles of the French firing line, as close as any other American correspondent could go, said Mr. Bray,, who was the duly accredited war rep- resentative for a New Orleans daily, while abroad. The only horrors of the war as far as he could detect in his travels, said Mr. Bray, were on the battlefields. OPPOSITION'S EVEN BREAK. Jamestown. X. Y., June 30. Honors were even when Ringling Brothers played opposition day and date to 101 Ranch in Erie, Pa., last Friday. Both exhibitions stood them up at the matinee, while the evening performances drew capacity. Advertising honors fell to the Ring- ling show, for the country districts had but little Miller Brothers' advertising. But Jess Willard was the drawing card that packed them in for 101. If you don't advortU* In VARIETY, don't odvortlM. FAVOR RATS TITLE CHANGE. The announcement in last week's Variety anent the proposed change in the title of the White Rats organiza- tion and club was freely discussed in professional circles during the week, the concensus of opinion strongly fav- oring the move. It indicates that the recommendation of the officers and board of directors to be handed the general membership at the adjourned annual meeting to be held July 6 will be readily acceptable and the arrange- ments for the selection of a new title will be immediately made. Strangely enough the expected senti- mentality about discarding the original title was nowhere to be found, a can- vass among the oldest members of the Rats showing a universal inclination in favor of the move. This will be the most important feature of the July 6 meeting and if the suggestion is en- dorsed by the members in session, a committee will immediately be ap- pointed to receive the suggestions of the profession at large for a new title. The committee in turn will submit the pick of the entire collection to the board of directors and the board will then recommend the proposed title to the general membership for a final vote. A life membership in the orzaniza- tion goes to the one who sends in the selected name. Among names submitted this week were: The Amusers' Club. Wm. Huehn, Jr.; The Golden Actors' Union, Harry Fenn Dalton; Associated Ac- tors and Actresses of America, Joe Birnes; Actors' and Actresses' Associa- tion, Joe Birnes; The Golden Star's, Junie McCrce; Actors' Brotherhood, John Fenton; The Pros, of America, Chas. J. Ross; The United Jesters of America, Chas. ). Ross; The Foot- lighters of America, Chas. J. Ross; The White Roses of America, Chas. J. Ross; The Thespians of America. Chas. J. Ross; The Laurel Leaves of Ameri- ca, Chas. J. Ross; The Larks of Ameri- ca, Chas. J. Ross; The Mockers of America, Chas. J. Ross; Fraternal Or- der of Artists of America, J. C. Will- iams; Benevolent Performers of Amer- ica, John E. Sheehan; The Starlings, Bert Marion; The Golden Stars, Bert Marion; The Celebrities, Bert Marion; The Histrions, Gordon Wliyte; The Knights of Golden or The Golden Knights, Tony Williams; The Thes- pians, Josie Sadler; The Golden Knights, Bobby Gaylor; The Golden Stars, Bobby Gaylor; The "Goldenitcs, Bobby Gaylor. CASTLES COULDN'T RETURN. The Palace theatre was willing to give Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle a return engagement at the house next week, but the dancers could not con- veniently arrange to accept. They were at the Palace last week, during which time the house record for re- ceipts at the regular scale was broken. HARRY FOX Who will shortly appear as a headline attraction on the Keith Circuit in a sketch written hy William Collier. Playing in a vaudeville sketch, as Mr. Fox intends doing, is*a departure for the famous light comedian, who, heretofore, has appeared, when not engaged in productions, as a "single act," mostly upon the vaudeville stage. The lox sketch has hern named "Kvcry Move a Picture." There will he a cast of three people, with a special setting, CARL REITER MONOLOGING. Carl Reitcr, who formerly managed the Orphcum. Seattle, returned to the vaudeville stage this week after an eight years' absence. He opened at the Empress, Seattle, doing a monolog. He has a route over the S-C time.