Variety (April 1916)

VAUDEVILLE T FRED HALLEN says: TO THE PROFESSION THE PUBLIC AND MY FRIENDS This article was published in "VARIETY" week of March 24th, under the signature of Harry Mountford. FACTS VERSUS FICTION This is the tercentenary of William Shakespeare. "Neither a borrower nor a lender he, for loan oft loseth both itself and friend," said Shakespeare. Prohahly if we hadn't loaned Fred Hallen money, he would still be our friend. A very wise man—William. And Now for the True Facts of the Case Nine years ago, 1 was seriously ill in Denver. A short time after that my wife was stricken with appendicitis. Operation; hospital, etc., in California. At that time T met Mr. Joseph Madden, who kindly asked me how my financial condition was. 1 told him that I thought I would be able to pull through all right. He was on his way to New York at that time. About three weeks after, I received a letter from the White Rats enclosing check for $100, through the kindness of Mr. Joseph Madden, thoroughly unsolicited by me. T acknowledged the favor with thanks and said that just as soon as 1 was in a position, I would pay the numey back—which I did. That was NINE years ago. At that time Mr. Harry Mountford was NOT in the organization and was not known to the organization. If you will kindly read his article, you will see that he emphasizes on the "WE" loaned him money. Taking the credit to himself. At that time and six vcars prior to that when our order was founded, the principle was A BENEVOLENT PROTECTIVE SOCIAL ORGANIZ- ATION to Irclp the sick and needy with good feeling for each other and malice for none. That was FIFTEEN years ago—and also NINE years ago. What is the order today? Shades of poor George Fuller Golden, Ezra Kendall, Henry Lee and many others! If they could sec the once beautiful order in the state of chaos that it is today—and for what? To GRATIFY THE AMBITION OF ONE MAN who places himself on a pinnacle as a CZAR and wishes everybody in the profession to worship at his shrine. If I asked for $100 today, IF I WAS IN THE ORGANIZATION, do you think 1 would get it? NO! Nor anybody else. The treasury is utilized to send tho Czar touring through the coun- try-living in Pullman-Palace drawing room cars—the finest suites in the first ilass hotels and living on the fat of the land—and who is paying for it ? THE ACTOR. I told you the truth in niv article in "VARIETY" two weeks ago of what I went through and what I know. So take warning -The captain that you have placed in charge of the vessel is steering it on the rocks. And now as Mr. Harry Mountford has seen fit to quote Shakespeare in his article, 1 will also take that privilege: Iago: Work on, My medicine—work! Thus Credulous Fools are caught; All Guiltless meet Reproach. "A very wise man—William"! Sincerely yours, Frederick Hallen, (HALLEN AND FULLER) As information : I was one of the organizers of the White Rats. I paid dues to the Wliit« > Rats for about 12 years. 1 was a White Rat when no Englishman was running it but I borrowed $100, and although I paid it back, as an organi/er and a dm- payer and without every having made or tried to make one dollar out of the White Rats in any way or by any means, I a|n>li)j'i/e to all good White Rats for having accepted what was a i'a\<>r at the time. PANTAGES ANNEXES MONTANA. San Francisco," April 5. With the acquisition of some time through the state of Montana, Alex Pantages proposes to perfect some method to arrange for the transporta- tion of baggage over his circuit with- out additional cost to the artist. • The Montana towns annexed by the Pacific Coast manager will be arranged to run as consecutively as possible to keep down railroad jumps and will be- come a part of the regular Pan route out of Calgary. The new Pantages theatre in Min- neapolis is scheduled for a July open- ing. Chicago, April 5. The Alex. Pantages Circuit will tack on Great Falls and Anaconda, Mont., as split-week propositions, and a full week for Butte. These affiliations will close the week's layoff between Calgary a*nd Spokane on the Pantages Circuit. IN AND OUT. Laddie Cliff replaced Eddie Leonard at Keith's, Philadelphia, this week. The Misses Campbell did not like their position ("No. 2") at the Palace, New York, retiring before the Monday matinee, with Nonctte substituting. Reine Davies thought her billing at the Colonial could have been improved and did not open Monday, Juliette Dika securing the place. Harry Brooks and Co. arc replacing Moon and Morris at the Bushwick for this week. Anna Chandler on a hurried call re- placed Kramer and Morton at Keith's, Portland, Me., Monday. It was given out in Atlanta Monday illness was the cause of Sophie Tucker leaving the Forsythe bill there after the Monday matinee. Monroe and Mack failed to appear at the Palace, Chicago, this week. No act was added. "The Littlest Rebel" was not in readiness to show at the Greeley Square Monday. Isabella Miller and Co. were impressed. Jessie Standish did not open at the Boulevard the first half. Belle Oliver got the spot. Nip and Tuck cancelled the Seventh Ave- nue Monday through the death of Nip's wife. The De Vrics Troupe took the date. Webb and Burns had illness, cancelling their National (first half) date, with Anthony and McGuire sub- stituting. The Franklin, Saginaw, Mich., is fiooded, and "Little Wivies," a tabloid, may be unable to play the last half there. MIDGETS WITH SHOW. Auburn, N. Y., April 5. Singer's Midgets, heading a vaude- ville road show under the management of John C. Fisher, played here last week at the Auditorium. The troupe is playing week-stands through New York state, this week in Amsterdam,.and Utica next week. NEW ACTS. Paul Decker and Co. in "The Twist- er," by Frank Mandel, author of "The Only Girl." Rosamond Carpentier and Edwin Maynard in the company. (Edw. S. Keller.) Henry Chesterfield, sketch with mat- rimonial theme. Cast includes George Clark, Harry Cansdale, Maud Palmer and Terrell and Elsie Neimeyer. Henry Hickey and Allen Lee have been engaged for the new *act Cato Keith has in preparation for Jessie Mae Hall. Jack Waldron in a dramatic sketch by Will S. Dillon with Joseph Bingham and Ruth Hall in the cast. Ward De Wolf in a girl act with six choristers and two principals besides himself. * Emma Lowry in "Five O'Clock," by Michael Landernan, author of "The Fridc of Race." Joseph K. Watson in "Barnum Was Right," comedy sketch. Blanche Babette, single. Nina Moms, in a sketch, with four people. Rosa Crouch and Max Burkhart, two- act. Helen Ware in new sketch (Max Hayes). Nettie Wilson (formerly single) with Charles E. Walt, two-act. Jack Gordon, in a new Hebrew mon- ologue, by James Madison. Rose Coghlan and Co., new sketch. U. B. O.'s H0B0KEN HOUSE. A theatre to be erected during the summer in Hoboken will be operated next season for vaudeville by United Booking Offices interests. The new house is to replace the pres- ent Strand in that city, which is now booked through the U. B. O. The North N. J. Mortgage Co., which is behind the Strand, will erect the structure, covering a plot 120 by 149, adjoining the Strand. A part of that building will be included in the new theatre that is to have a capacity of 2.200. VIOLATION FINE, $50. The manager of Fox's Bedford, Brooklyn, convicted of a Sunday viola- tion through the efforts of the Sunday Observance League, was fined $50 in the Court of Special Sessions. BOSTON'S NEWEST. Boston, April 5. The Central Square, just completed, will open April 24 with pop vaudeville, booked through the U. S. Vaudeville Managers' Ass'n. The house has a seating capacity of 1,800. PROSPERITY(?)—OR TRADE? B. S. Moss has a new Fiat. New Bedford House Opens. New Bedford, Mass., April 5. The Olympia opened Monday. It has a seating capacity of 2,800. The house is being booked by Ben Picrmont of the Shcedy Agency of New York. Lee Harrison left Australia March 29 on the Ventura and will reach New York about May 1.