Variety (July 1915)

8 B \J R. LLSQUE B * FREDERICK M. McCLOY It is evident the executives of the Columbia Amusement Co. are planning more carefully and thoroughly than ever before to give the managers every possible advantage in the matter of routing the shows. During the past month the itineraries have been ready to give out half a dozen times only to be recalled for revision when it was discovered a jump could be shortened or a shift made that would more evenly distribute the desirable time such as holiday and fair weeks and the in- numerable occasions of unusual local affairs that draw crowds of strangers to the various communities. Intimate familiarity with such con- ditions covering every point on the circuit enables the department pre- sided over by General Manager Scrib- ner to arrange the routes so that all may equally share the advantages thereof. For example, New Year's week has no unusual advantages what- ever in Boston and New England gen- erally, although it is one of the best elsewhere in the United States. On the other hand, Holy Week is regarded as the worst in the season at all points except New England where (on ac- count of Patriot's Day, which usually comes in that week) extremely large business is practically certain. Many similar instances may be cited such as the value of Washington's Birthday in the United States and its lack of benefit in Canada, all of which are reckoned with in laying out the routes. It is in the application of this expert knowledge that the general manager's office strives to give the companies an "even break," and, to more perfectly accomplish this, the routes have been gone over again and again, entailing a volume of physical exertion and nerve-racking calculation that can obtain commensurate return only by equal effort and activity upon the part of the managers in whose interests the work has been done. The question is, are those managers trying to contribute their share to the efforts that are being made for the success of the coming season in bur- lesque? Have they provided them- selves with new books of the desirable kind that will furnish attractive enter- tainment, and are they planning pro- ductions that will be fresh and bright and appealing to the eye? Is it their intention to employ competent and in- dustrious executives ahead of and back with their shows so that public interests may be unfailingly and convincingly directed to the attractions they have to offer? In brief, are the managers doing the things they failed to do a year ago, and that alone were responsible for the serious "knock" burlesque re- ceived last season and that resulted in "breaking" 75 per cent, of them? It is impossible to dodge the issue. Last season's bad business was due to bad shows with incompetent and inefficient exploitation as a strong running mate. And if these conditions, for which the managers alone arc to blame, arc to continue, the efforts of the executives of the Columbia t° secure profitable routing will have been without avail, and the twenty-one days rule will have to be enforced as never before. With the new season still six weeks away it might be well.for certain producers to take a good, long think for themselves in an effort to keep on speaking terms with the cities en the circuit rather than experience constant companionship with Broad- way from Thanksgiving Day on. For, at this writing, it certainly looks as though "cheating" will have short shrift the coming autumn. CONTRACT JUMPING. Two cases of contract-jumping have come to light recently. F. W. Ger- hardy had a contract with John Lorenz who, without notice threw up the en- gagement and accepted a contract from Jacobs & Jermon. Jim Barton, the tramp comedian, af- ter signing a three years' agreement with Wm. Roehm, went over to the Jacobs & Jermon management Both Gerhardy and Roehm will seek to en- join the actors. MANAGERS PLACED. George Chenet will next season man- age the Corinthian, Rochester. Joe Howard, formerly of the Jacobs & Jermon staff of managers, will next season be located in charge of the Gay- ety, Philadelphia. Henry P. Nelson, the German come- dian, has forsaken the stage and will be installed as manager of "The Yan- kee Doodle Girls" for T. W. Dinkins. STOCKS OPENING. Stamford, Conn., July 7. William Malley's stock opens at the Alhambra July 12 with Gus Forbes leading in "Bought and Paid For". Jeff de Angeles at Lancaster, Pa,, Monday inaugurated a summer season of musical comedy at the Park theatre with himself as star. The starter this week is "Floradora," with "The Royal Rogue" as the second bill. Among those playing are Harlan Briggs, Charles Bowers, Edna and Genevieve Temple, James Merrick. Portland, Me., July 7. The Portland Players reopened at the Jefferson Monday after two weeks' recess, with "The Man From Home." Florence Rittenhouse has succeeded Frances Nielson as leading woman. Philadelphia, July 7. A stock organized in New York this week which will open at the Knicker- bocker in August under the Millcr- Barbier management. STOCKS CLOSING. The Rumsay Players, after an un- profitable season at the Lexington opera house, closed Saturday. GRAND, BOSTON, RETIRES. A deal has recently been entered into between Dr. Lothrop, Charles H. Wal- dron and George Bachcller by which the Grand, Boston, will retire from the burlesque field. It is said dramatic stock will be in- stalled there next season. SHAKESPEAREAN ACTORS NOT. According to no other authority than E. H. Sothern himself Lee Shubert is said to have expressed an opinion re- cently to the effect that actors who had gained world wide fame and experience in the acting of various Shakespearean roles were not capable of appearing successfully in modern roles. It is known that Mr. Sothern and Julia Marlowe are to be under the Shubert management next season and pre to produce and appear in three modern comedies at the Shubert theatre. A short time ago Mr. Sothern called on Lee Shubert and the man- ager asked the star who the latter had iii mind for roles in the productions. Mr. Sothern is in the habit of en- gaging his own companies and he in- formed Mr. Shubert the players were under contract. The manager then asked that the list be submitted to him. When this was done, Mr. Sothern declares the manager stated: "This is all wrongl Why these are all Shakespearean actors, they'll never be able to play the parts. Shakespearean actors will never do for modern comedies." Nevertheless the cast engaged by Mr. Sothern still remains engaged for the plays. RAILROAD RATES ADJUSTED. At a meeting between several mem- bers of the Theatrical Managers' Asso- ciation and several railroadmen repre- senting the Eastern and Central Pas- sengers' Association, held in the A. H. Woods office last week, the railroad representatives compromised on the ruling which went into effect June 1, providing that traveling theatrical com- panies would Have to purchase forty tickets before entitled to the free use of a baggage car. Under the compromise a new rate will become effective Aug. 15 which will provide a free car to all com- panies buying 25 tickets. This will be the same rate in effect previous to the Passenger Associations adopting the suggestion of the Inter-State Com- merce Commission for 40 tickets. The managers however have to pay two and a quarter cents a mile per capita in- stead of two cents as heretofore. Twenty cents a mile is the charge that has been fixed for an additional bag- gage car. ORPHEUM CIRCUIT'S START. The reopening of the Orpheum Cir- cuit theatres after the summer rest is marked for Kansas City Aug. 15, after which the houses will resume in rapid weekly succession. Eddie Darling, the booker of the B. F. Keith vaudeville houses in New York, has decided to stick to his desk all summer. He is placing the bills at present for the Prospect and Bushwick, Brooklyn, also Keith's at Washington and Boston. These four big time theatres will remain open throughout the summer. If you don't advertise In VARIETY, don't advertise. SHUBERT8 "ALONE AT LAST." One of the first musical productions of the new season to be made by the Shuberts will be the Lehar operetta, "Alone at Last/' for which they have had the rights for over a year. The new piece will be placed into rehearsal late next month. LEE LIKES CHICAGO. Chicago, July 7. Lee Shubert was in Chicago Satur- day and Sunday, leaving Monday for St. Louis. This trip was the first the manager has made here in 12 years. LOTS MORE IN NEW YORK. Chicago, July 7. Billy Fogarty at the Majestic this week is enrolling a number of mem- bers for The A. K. Club. THEATRE'S ROOF CAVES. Cedar Rapids, July 7. The roof of Vic Hugo's Majestic fell in last night. The house was closed. No one was injured. Richmond and Norfolk Withdrawn. Richmond and Norfolk have with- drawn from the American Circuit al- though it was understood Jake Wells had made an effort to overcome the objections of the Richmond authorities to burlesque in that city. BURLESQUE OPENINGS. The official opening (Aug. 80) of the two burlesque circuit*, with names of attractions, alto place of opening, follows: COLUMBIA CIRCUIT. "Maids America," New York (Columbia). Dave Marlon's Boston (Casino). "Merry Rounders," Albany. Wataon-Worthe, Montreal. "Roseland Girls," Syracuae-Utlce, "Strolling Players." lay off. "Cflrl Trust," Buffalo. "Madcap Maids," Toronto. "8odal Maids." Detroit "Sporting Widows," Chicago (Star A Garter). Rose Sydell's, St Louis. Fred Irwin's, Kansas City. Manchester's, Omaha. Harry Bastings', lay off. "Star A Garter/' CM _ .. -licego (Columbia). "Follies of Day," Toledo. Sam. Howe's, Columbus. "Bostonlans/' Cleveland. "Behman Show," Pittsburgh. "Tourists." Washington. "Rosy Posy Girls," Baltimore. Billy Watson's. Philadelphia. "Liberty Girls/' Peterson. "Golden Crooks," Hoboken. "Gay New Yorkers," Bronx (New York). "Bon Tons," lay off. "Gypsy Maids/' Hartford. Ben Welch's, Boston (Gaiety). "Puss Pubs," Providence. Gus Hill's, Brooklyn (Empire). Al. Reeves', Harlem, New York. "Globe Trotters," lay off. "20th Century Maids," Newark. "Million Dollar Dolls/* Brooklyn (Casino). AMERICAN CIRCUIT. "Hello Paris." Fall River. "CrackerJacks," Boston (Howard). "Tip Top Girls," Portland and Worcester. "American Beauties," Springfield A Worcester. "Military Maids." Brooklyn (Star) . Charlie Robinson's. New York (Murray Hill). "Cherry Blossoms," Jersey City. "High Life Girls," Philadelphia (Gayety). "Review of 1916," Wllkes-Barre and Scranton. "Auto Girls." Blnghampton and Schenectady. "Charming Widows," Rochester. "Hello Girls," Toronto. "Beauty, Youth end Folly," Hamilton. "Follies of Pleasure," Detroit. "Cabaret Girls," Grand Rapids. "Big Craze," Chicago (Bnglewood). "Broadway Girls," Milwaukee. "Tango Queens," Minneapolis. "September Morning Glories." ."t. Paul. "Merry Burlesquers," Kansas City. "Yankee Doodle Girls," open week. "Record Breakers." St. Louis. "Monte Carlo Girls," Chicago (Gayety). "Joyland Girls." Indianapolis. "Americans," Louisville. "Mischief Makers." Cincinnati. "Girls from the Follies." Cleveland. "IT. S. Beauties." Penn Circuit "The Tempters," Baltimore. "Darlings of Paris," Philadelphia (Ttocadero). "Lady Buccaneers," Trenton. "Frolics of 1015." New York (Olympic). "City Sports." Brooklyn (Gayety). "The Blue Ribbon Belles" will open one week later at the Gayety Brooklyn,