Variety (March 1916)

VOL. XLII, No. 1 NEW YORK CITY, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1916 • By^fSW'ln'c. PRICE TEN CENTS SONG SELLING INNOVATION STARTED BY HENRY WATERSON Tried Out Successfully in Chicago This Week. Estimated from 10,000 to 15,000 Stores Throughout Country Will be Displaying Globe System Music Shortly. Mutually Co-operative Between Stores and Distributor. Waterson Operator of Many Large Enterprises. Chicago, March 1. With the formal introduction of the Globe System, Inc., in Chicago this week, the music trade was unexpect- edly treated to one of the most gigan- tic surprises of its history and one that may eventually turn the entire retail music trade entirely over, for the Globe Co., a corporation controlled by Henry Waterson (of Waterson, Berlin & Snyder), has perfected a system for the universal distribution of sheet music that promises to. direct its des- tiny in new commercial channels and guarantees the publisher an advan- tageous display and a decidedly con- venient method of bringing his catalog before the general public. The plans of the Globe System were carefully kept under cover until its agents had lined up over a hundred lo- cations throughout Chicago where a list of the song market's successes were displayed on specially prepared racks. The agency was supplied with a stock, of the music and last Sunday the Chicago Tribune carried a page display advertisement, announcing the catalog titles and the stores' names and addresses where the music could be purchased. Monday a brisk sale was reported throughout the city and the scheme was officially decided a success. The stores selected had not previously carried sheet music. The Globe System in itself is wholly a distribution organization and when completely launched will be repre- sented in every city in the country and will total in the neighborhood of 15,000 agencies. An advertising cam- paign has been arranged to stimulate sales and the music will be exploited through local newspapers and national magazines, the daily papers carrying in addition to display announcements of the numbers a list of the agents' stores. A uniform price will be charged for all music released through the Globe Co. The entire country has been mapped out in districts and four or five central distributing centers will handle the or- ders for the separate zones. In Chicago the agencies are all held by druggists, the transient buying pub- lic patronizing the drug stores carry- ing the most promise. The rack occu- pies but little space, but is constructed to carry several hundred copies of sheet music and a window sign desig- nates the agency as an official selling location. One can readily see the pos- sibilities of this latest Waterson idea, for the music trade faces a universal shift in headquarters if the scheme de- velops as expected and it may even- tually give the Globe Co. a jobbing monopoly on the business, for with 10,000 to 15,000 locations under the di- rect control of one organization the possibilities are unlimited. The work of perfecting the Globe System has been going on quietly, but quickly for the past two months under the personal supervision of Henry Waterson, and while the initial expen- diture represented a small fortune, Waterson pluckily gambled the amount on his opinion. The present catalog of the Waterson, Berlin & Snyder firm, as a selling proposition, protects the Globe System from a standpoint of supply value and Mr. Waterson has a reserve supply of numbers ready to follow. Several other publishers have signified their willingness to co-oper- ate with Globe Co., through placing (Continued on page 8.) PALM BEACH PLAT. Palm Beach, March 1. Some high play is being indulged in here by the New Yorkers, with roulette favored. Within the past month several large losings have been made, without any one big winner being reported. One of the best-known of the pro- fessionals around, a woman, is said to have put $9,000 into the box in two nights of play against the wheel. One of the humorous incidents com* ing out was of two men against the table and when quitting, one had won $800 and the other lost $165. The loser let loose a loud wail against leaving any of his money behind him the winner told him to keep quiet, he would win it back for him. In trying to recover the $165 the $800 winner returned that amount to the bank, along with $3,600 of hit own moqey. ... More handsome gowns and dia- monds may be seen nightly in the popular gaming room of the place than could be caught any one evening at a Fifth avenue baH.. MARTIN BECK'S DANCING ACT. Following one of his early ideas on what biggest vaudeville wanted, Mar- tin Beck, general manager of the Orpheum Circuit, is directing the pro- duction of an extensive classical danc- ing turn in which will be centered the Morgan Dancers, increased in number to 18. The act will be ready in about four weeks. Mr. Beck is responsible for the vau- deville appearance this week at the Palace, New York, of the Lamb's Gambol sketch success, "The River of Souls." "COHAN REVUE" IN CHI. Chicago, March 1. Unless the handwriting on the thea- trical wall does a Brodie, the "Cohan Revue of 1916" (now at the Astor, New York), will be the summer attraction at Cohan's Grand opera house here. The show is understood to be in line to follow the Blanche Ring piece, "Jane O'Day from Broadway." If you doo't aetortU la VAMKW. doa't adrertlee White Rats New* will be found on Pages 14-15 "BEN HUR" AT MANHATTAN. The conference in the Amsterdam theatre building between A. L. Er- langer and Lee Shubert, which took place a week ago, was regarding the placing of a Lenten revival of "Ben Hur" at the Manhattan opera house for five weeks, prior to Easter. The details have been settled and the production will occupy the Manhattan stage begin- ning the Monday after Ash Wednesday. "Ben Hur" was not sent on tour this season as its managers did not feel the production would draw sufficient busi- ness necessary to keep the big com- pany going. The Manhattan has had a very hard season of it thus far. The big Drury Lane melodrama fell down extremely hard at the opening of the season and other than the wrestling tournament there has not been an attraction at the house that turned in enough to pay expenses. "In Old Kentucky" ctosed there Saturday. BIG "PEACE" SKETCH. The producing department of the U. B, O. is said to have lined up the pro- duction of a peace propoganda sketch said to have 15 important speaking roles. In addition there are also a number of minor parts which, with the neces- sary supers will make the company number at least 100. TANGUAY QUITTING "GIRL" Albany, N. Y., March 1. When "The Girl Who Smiles" com- pany arrived here today, it was learned that Eva Tanguay, the star of the or- ganization, had given her notice to the management on Monday. Miss Tanguay will leave the show after the engagement next week in Detroit. Miss Tanguay declared the work was entirely too hard for her, and that she preferred vaudeville to dashing across the continent at the head of a musical comedy company. "The Girl Who Smiles" with Miss Tanguay as the attraction drew capacity business here.