Variety (January 1916)

VAUDEVILLE LOEWS NEW BOSTON ORPHEUM CELEBRATES OPENING THIS WEEK New Theatre on Site of the Old Orpheum Cost $2,000,000. Has 3,400 Seating Capacity. Box Offices on Three Streets. The Greatest Popular Priced Vaudeville Theatre in the Country. Boston, Jan. 19. The opening of Marcus Loew's $2,- 000,000 Orpheum will occur tomorrow (Thursday) night. The new house, erected on the site of the old Orpheum by a concern known as Loew's Bos- ton Theatres Associates, has a seating capacity of 3,400. It is declared to be the most lavish financial outlay in the history of the theatrical business on a house intended primarily and exclus- ively for pop vaudeville. A fully equipped library and read- ing room for patrons is one feature. The color scheme is ivory and white, combined with pastel shades of rose and blue, decorations being of the Adams period. $78,000 worth of Alaskan marble is said to have been installed. The proscenium is entirely of small gilded glass panes with hid- den lights. Growing vines and flowers surround the rotunda with a marble fountain playing in the rear. Waiting rooms will accommodate 2,000 waiting people while the perform- ance inside the theatre is going on. Small time prices will be continued, with acts playing three a day from 10 a m. to 10.40 p. m. Edmund Hayes and Co. will be the feature act-of the opening bill supported by Bessie Rem- ple in "The Cheaters," Frank Morrell, Marie Fenton, Cadets of Gascoyne. Casting Mellos. There are box offices on three streets which surround the Orpheum. •ODD" CONTRACT COMPLAINT. Commissioner of Licenses Bell in New York is reported muchly inter- ested in a complaint lodged with him through The Actor's Union, of which Harry De Veaux is president, relating to a duplication of contracts between the Old South and Washington the- atres, Boston, and a vaudeville act known as the Three Merry Bellboys. fallowing the engagement of the act »n Boston, salary was tendered it less len per cent, commission. The act de- clined to accept, stating not over five per cent, was to have been deducted. The act asked that the house con- tracts, supposed to be exactly the same as its own, be shown, and when this was exhibited, a member of the turn noticed, according to his allegations, that the house contract called for $15 more in salary than the agreement held l>y the act. The act told the theatre management it would consent to receive the amount of salary tendered, provided they were permitted to retain both contracts. This was agreed to, and upon the act presenting its version to the Actor's Union, along with the two agreements, Mr. De Veaux laid the matter before the Commissioner, who had jurisdiction since the contracts are said to have been issued in New York. KEENEY FLUCTUATING. Frank A. Keeney was again fluctuat- ing in his booking connections, accord- ing to rumors early this week. Mr. Keeney has been securing vaudeville bills through the Amalgamated agency (Moss) of late. Previously he had booked through the Sheedy agency, and it was the story he intended returning to Sheedy's. Though with the Amalgamated, Keeney has entered into no contract with that agency. A. B. C. PRODUCING. Chicago, Jan. 19. The Affiliated Booking Corporation has added a producing department to its office and will stage sketches for the circuit, the first being a 24-minute comedy called "Trimming the Rubes/* with a cast of eight people, all prin- cipals. The piece will start for the Coast following its premier at the local Em- press. The A. B. C. will also produce a number of tabloid comedies in the nedr future. OBERMAYER SUICIDES. In a letter received by Charles Bornhaupt, the foreign agent in New York, the information was contained that B. Obermayer had committed sui- cide by severing the arteries in his arm ai Munich, Germany, about Dec. 2\ last Mr. Bornhaupt's letter came from Pierre Lamp, Jr., an agent at The Hague. It gave no other details, ex- cepting Obermayer had left about 60,- 000 marks ($12,000) and there was no known reason for the deed. Foreigners in New York who knew Qbermayer believe he had been or- dered into service and chose suicide in preference. He was about 45 years of age and well known in variety circles on both sides of the ocean. He had been an agent for years and was the first to import English "girl acts" for American vaudeville and burlesque, from the Bell and Tiller schools in London. Obermayer was a bachelor, well liked, with a perfectly clean record. The report of his untimely death caus ed genuine sorrow among the New Yorkers who knew him. It is a little over two years since Obermayer re- turned to this side on a visit About two weeks ago Variety re- ceived a postal card from Obermayer saying the variety business in Munich and throughout Germany was very good, but that the scarcity of foreign acts was sorely felt. The letter said nothing to indicate the writer was de- pressed. MRS. CAMPBELL'S TOUR ENDING. The tour of Mrs. Patrick Campbell in "Pygmalion" is to be brought to a close in about three weeks. There is a new production under consideration for the English star. A. K. PEARSON offers vaudeville's most costly gown production. CATHERINE CRAWFORD NEW ACTS. Booth and Villarreal (reunited). Marguerite Haney in "Self," sketch. "The Doll Rack," with Cummings and Gladyings. Lillian Shaw, new act by Blanche Merrill. Lorenze and Fox have separated. Ed Fox is with Leon Miller. Laddie Cliff, again in a single turn, first at Palace, New York, Jan. 24. Harry Clarke, formerly with Norah Bayes, in single act. "Handicap Day at Sheepshead Bay," racing sketch, with Tod Sloan; Ethel Breth in support. Rifel and Fairfax, sister act. Ethel Whiteside's Musical Revue, with five new people in the cast, re- opened this week at the 81st Street. Almont, Dumont and Coe. The last named closed with "Within the Loop'' at Chicago, Saturday. Geo. Sidney in a vaudeville conden- sation of the play, "Children of Today," originally written by Sam Shipman and Clara Lipman (Lewis & Gordon). May Elinore (formerly Elinore Sis- ters) and Violet Canficld (formerly Canfield and Carleton) in a new double act. Ed. F. Reynard is preparing a new ventriloquial production in which he will return to vaudeville. Mr. Reynard has sold his previous one, "A Morning in Hicksville," to Dave Rafael. "The Masked Prima Donna" (by Arthur Klein) is a proposed vaudeville act. Mr. Klein says he is going to mask a foreign singer of note and have her wear the facial covering at all times. B. D. Berg, the vaudeville producer, has Harry Carroll and Ray Goetz asso- ciated with him. Berg's latest act, "The Maids of the Movies," mus : c by Joe Goodwin and book by N T Grant- lund, has been booked over the Middle Western time. Johnny Ford who has been directing the orchestra for Eva Tanguay during her recent middle-western trip, will return to vaudeville as a single at- traction Jan. 24, when he will rein- troduce the comedy act in "one" which served Tommy Gray for a vehicle dur- ing his brief sojourn in the two-a-day houses some time ago. "A Musical Festival of 'Hits'" from the many successful Victor Herbert operatic scores. Mr. Herbert is direct- ing rehearsals. Production by Harri- son Brockbank. Now engaged, Mayme Gehrue, Louise De Lara, Phyllis Davies, Haigh Jackson, Gilbert Wilson, Lillian Pike, Mr. Skedden (M. S. Bent- ham). Beautiful Models Pretty Dances and her FASHION GIRLS, in a miniature Musical Revue Gorgeous Costumes Catchy Music A $10,000 Beauty Show. At these split week houses played a full week to houie records: New Portland Theatre, Portland, Me., Gordon's Olympia Theatre, Boston, Mass., Emery Theatre, Providence. R. I. For open time see GOLDBERG & EPSTIN. All gowns worn by Miss Crawford designed and made by MME. ROSENBERG ACTOR WONT BE STARRED. Conway Tearle established a prece- dent this week, when in signing a con- tract with the backers of a new reper- tory theatre to be inaugurated here shortly, he crossed out a clause stating he was to be starred. The theatre selected is in the heart of the city and the promoters have taken a two-year lease on it. Mr. Tearle is to be the chief player and principal advisor for the repertory theatre. If you don't advertlao In VARIETY, don't advortiao.