Variety (July 1915)

B U R. L ^f_S QUE »y FREDERICK M. McCLOY Some years ago when Charles M. Schwal) was testifying before a sena- torial committee investigating the in- dustrial conditions he said, among other things. "Nature lias provided an abundance of raw materials and the needs of the times furnish a market for the finished product. All that is necessary to acquire the full benefits of these conditions is brains for the development of the first, and efficient salesmanship for the disposal of the other." A parallel case with this is the con- dition of the burlesque situation today. The directors of the Columbia Amuse- ment Co. and of the American Bur- lesque Association have assembled two great chains of theaters, all located in prolific territory, and the vast popu- lations that crave enjoyable entertain- ment at moderate prices represent the market that requires only properly di- rected salesmanship to secure abundant patronage. In these circumstances, it is squarely up to the producers and their employed executives to take ad- vantage of the provisions made for them by the heads of the two corpora- tions by developing attractive shows and by having their merits so exploited that box office sales to the limit of the capacity of the theaters will be the quick and ready response. Mr. Schwab and other important factors in the great industrial world cannot be expected to devote their time to the multitudinous details of their vast interests. Having provided the foundation and pointed the way to the completion of the structure that shall stand or fall according to the opera- tions of those to whom they entrust the fruition of their plans, their further participation is confined to the obser- vation and study of the efficiency dis- played by the builders as they proceed with the work. Precisely similar is the position of the men at the head of the two burlesque circuits. With com- plete power of supervision over every detail of the work now in progress for the coming season, which will be in full operation within seven weeks, those executives owe it to the institu- tion they represent and to themselves individually as business men, to famil- iarize themselves with the quality and character of the work being performed by the men whose achievements mean success or failure. The records show that in almost every instance an unattractive show at the beginning of the season remains unattractive to the end. The elimina- tion of old and played-out material is one thing that certainly can be ac- complished and its accomplishment is of first importance. Having made sure of this, and satisfying themselves that there will be no "cheating" in the mat- ter of equipment, the directors will have taken a long step in the direction of attractive shows. The subject of capable, energetic executives in the handling of theaters and companies and of the worth of advance represen- tatives admits of no discussion. The employment of men for those positions reflects the ability of employers to choose. If the work is improperly or ineffectively done, the blame must rest entirely with the employer. As Mr. Schwab says, "these things are simply matters of brains." This is the whole question in a nutshell, and upon it depends the results of the com- ing season in burlesque. FRANCHISE CHANGES. The Lew Talbott franchise on the American will next season be operated by William S. Clark and Jack Singer under the title, "Blue Ribbon Belles." It is said Bobby North and Aaron Hoffman will next season operate a show under the L. Lawrence Weber franchise which they sublet to Hurtig & Seamon, the latter returning it last week. The Harry Bryant franchise has been turned back to its owner by Hurtig & Seamon, who will next season confine their operations to three shows on the Columbia and one on the American circuits. RICHMOND IN DOUBT. A hitch has occurred in the arrange- ment that had been fully consummated by which American shows were to have played in Richmond, Va. When the city officials learned of the decision, they notified Jake Wells burlesque shows were undesirable in view of the experiences resulting from the en- gagement last season of the "Mischief Makers." Mr. Wells is now in Rich- mond to confer with the authorities. Meantime the American routes will be held up. Whatever the outcome re- garding Richmond, Norfolk will remain in the circuit. STOCK CIRCUIT. A. H. Moller has taken the manage- ment of the Haymarket, Chicago, and will open the house in August with stock burlesque operating in conjunc- tion with theatres in Milwaukee, In- dianapolis, Cincinnati, Academy, Pitts- burgh, and a few others to be an- nounced later. It is understood a liberal policy in the presentation of shows will be fol- lowed. MAJESTIC ON AMERICAN. The Majestic, Indianapolis, will be included in the American Circuit un- der a five years' arrangement made with the Pivot City Amusement Co. The American will also book its shows at the Colonial, Grand Rapids, for one week each. The house will be man- aged by Gillaghan & Harris. LEFT TO THE MANAGERS. Although the rule preventing the carrying of female dancers by the shows on the American will be rigidly enforced, an understanding has been reached by which managers of certain theatres i)h the circuit may, at their own expense, introduce this feature as an added attraction. NEW ENGLAND STANDS. Bridgeport, Springfield, Fall River, Worcester and Portland will be in- cluded in the American circuit under arrangement with P. F.» Shea. If you don't mdvTrtESHTVXIttfflV^' don't advertise. CABARETS The tangled free cabaret revue situ- ation at Coney Island may be adjusted by a compromise, under which the cabarets down there using a revue with members changing costume during the running of the show will agree to se- cure a license, probably concert at $50 annually. Under the rulings in Man- hattan and based upon Magistrate Krotel's opinion, restaurants have been called upon by the authorities to take out a $500 theatrical license if desir- ous of continuing with the revue show. Mayor Mitchell and License Commis- sioner Bell, along with the Corpora- tion Counsel, intend to shortly draft a measure that will define and disting- uish a restaurant performance, classify- ing such attractions under their proper license heading. The biggest thorn in Brighton was the "Splash Me" revue at the Shelburne. It is said to have brought a clash between Reisenweber's, which has the Shelburne, and the Brighton theater, under George Robin- son's management. The Shelburne starts its first show at 7.30, closing it about nine. This looked like a direct attack upon the theatre across the way which commences its night perform- ance at 8.15. A further complication was that Reisenweber's has the Casino, adjoining the Brighton theatre and owned by the same company, but Reisenweber's seemed to be trying to divert its business to the Shelburne. Manager Hertz of the latter place re- ceived a violation complaint last week for playing the free revue without a license. The compromise will probably be the outcome of that. The Appellate Term of the Supreme Court handed down Monday a decision in the action of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers against the Faust Co., reversing the opinion of the lower court, which gave Faust's restaurant on Columbus Circle a verdict in the matter of the Society seeking to recover the monthly rental agreed upon for the use by the res- taurant's orchestra of musical selec- tions held under copyright by mem- bers of the Society. This is a side is- sue of the general question which came before the United States Circuit Court in the matter of the John Church Co. vs. Hilliard Hotel Co. over the hotel using a Sousa march. The U. S. Court decided that when such copyrighted music was employed by a hotel or- chestra in a hotel that charged no ad- mission to its place or concert, there could be no application of the copy- right protection, in favor of the music publisher. Thereupon Faust's, which had made a previous agreement with the Society to pay it a monthly rental of $10 for the use of copyrighted music, refused to make further payments, resting upo•* the U. . Court decision. The AppeV Term says that the specific contract between the Society and Faust's was not affected by the Circuit Court's decis'on, and that as a contract unqualified, it must be fulfilled. Nathan Burkan represented the So- ciety in the legal proceedings. San Francisco, June 30. Abraham Wise, orchestra leader, was shot ajid killed at his ranch near Porterville, Cal., June 21, by J. C. Withrou, who was in charge of t' e place. From all accounts it seems that Mrs. Wise and Withrou had att n led a picnic nearby and returned u on a motorcycle to find Wise waling for them. It is said Wise ca.led both into a tent they had been li. ing in and censored his wife for accompanying Withrou to the picnic. Withrou at- tempted to calm Wise and Mrs. Wise walked out of the tent, leaving the men alone. Later Wise followed Ms wife, and knocked her down, dragging her back into the tent, where he drew a rcrolver and pointed it at his wife as if to shoot her. Withrou then drew a revolver and shot Wise dead. Withrou is in jail pending the coroner's verdict Wise recently resigned from leading the orchestra in Tait's Cafe, a position he had filled for the past three years. Bessie Clayton left the New York Roof Saturday, after two weeks there, though it was expected she would re- main all summer. Miss Clayton's stay failed to increase the business accord- ing to report. She appeared there un- der a guarantee. Monday night an ex- hibition of wrestling became the new feature of the Roof's show, with George Lurich, who competed in the Tournament, as the principal exponent of the Greco-Roman style. "Played By A Military Band" is the Halsey Mohr-Ballard MacDonald num- ber used for the big finale of "Splash Me" at the Shelburne, Brighton Beach. Shapiro-Bernstein Co. publishes the piece. Marceline, the Hippodrome clown, has found a new way to occupy his time, having purchased a French res- taurant and cafe at 230 West 38th street, where the clown handles the culinary department. Castles in the Air closed Saturday for the summer, and with it the Gentz- Benedek revue, "Look Who's Here." Paul Benedek says he will reopen the Roof in the fall. "The Midnight Frolic" on the Am- sterdam Roof is due to be succeeded June 12 by another Flo Ziegfeld revue production. The Glorias have been engaged to dance at the Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, over the summer. Fred de Bondy of the Marinelli office arranged it. Shanley's will reopen the old Du- rardo place on the Albany road in Yonkers.