Variety (October 1916)

VAUDEVILLE MUSIC PUBLISHERS EXPECT PROS PEROUS NEW SEASON Summer Not so Good for Trade. "Payment Sy*tem" Cutting Down Profits. Symposium of Opinions from Pro- fessional Managers Agree Better Times are in Sight. If current market conditions and the optimistic expectations of the majority of the larger music publishers in the east can be accepted as a criterion, the coming season promises to be one of the most successful from a commercial standpoint and profitable from a finan- cial angle that the popular music in- dustry has experienced in recent years. During the summer months most of the larger publishers were forced to operate under an enormous expense, contracted principally through the "pay- ment system/' which necessitated the expenditure of large sums to insure the popularization of the catalogue numbers. This was never balanced by actual sales since the financial condi- tion of the west argued against the purchase of popular songs. Sales were in the minority and mighty few songs, if any at all, approached the established selling records. Where the million copy sales were registered, the profits were generally eclipsed by the expense incurred in the "making. With the arrival of September the song market showed a noticeable in- crease in activity and the sales for the month were credited with topping the sales for the same month during 1915 by a peat margin. The publishers, with his favorable omen, are looking for- ward to at least a temporary relief from the sales "famine," and while at the present time there seems no plausible way satisfactorily to eliminate the "pay- ment system" and still maintain compe- tition to a profitable degree, they feel the sales for the coming months will at least balance expenditure if not ac- tually passing them. At the Waterson Berlin & Snyder firm, Max Wliislcw", the professional manager, pointed to the summer rec- ord of his firm and declared he looked forward to a record breaking fall and winter business, arguing their estab- lished catalogue, in addition to the list of new members selected for exploit- ation, prevented any possibility of a let- up in activity. Mose Gumble, professional supervisor of the Remick Co., was particularly san- guine. Gumble's instrumental suc- cesses during the summer were the talk of the trade and in addition the regular Remick catalogue, because of its quantity as well as its quality, eliminates the posibility of despair. Louis Bernstein was equally buoyant as to the future prospects, having esti- mated sufficiently far ahead on the com- ing months to increase his staff and enlarge his catalogue. The Shapiro- Bernstein professional staff is now one of the largest in the east. Mack Stark, general manager of the Kalmar-Puck-Abrahams Consolidated Co., is also preparing for an active cam- paign after marketing one of the big- gest selling hits in years in "America, I Love You." The latter firm has a limited catalogue and will center its attention for the time being on a quar- tet of numbers from which they expect big results. The Leo Feist Co. has gone steadily along in its well systematized manner, grinding out one seller after another and keeping its professional rack plen- tifully storked with desirable members. Two of the old established produc- tion firms recently invading the profes- sional field are Jos. W. Stern & Co. and T. B. Harms & Co. The former with L. Wolfe Gilbert in charge of its professional end, has shown a spurt of progressiveness and from the profes- sional standpoint now ranks up with the biggest. Gilbert has contributed a {goodly number of hits to the Stern cata- ogue and this has been enlarged to some extent by the purchase of estab- lished successes. The Harms Co. emerged with two big numbers, one ( "They Wouldn't Believe Me") being transferred to the Remick firm after popularized. With a fund of production numbers at hand the Harms organization shows little fear of existing conditions, selling only high class >ongs at production prices. Harry Von Tilzer is very optimistic regarding the outlook for the coming season. He bases his opinion on the general prosperity of the country and the fact September was a record-break- er for sheet music sales for that time of year. At the Broadway Music Corporation (Will Von Tilzer), Mr. Friedman, gen- eral manager, looks for a big season, for the reason there has been a good start, every publisher having one or two good sellers, which creates a healthy market for all catalogs. Joe Hollander, general manager for the Joe Morris Co., also anticipates a big winter, saying his firm enjoyed a record summer, adding that several of the other publishers with whom he talked all felt the outlook for the year was very promising. $100,000 DAMAGE SUIT. An action asking for $100,000 dam- ages was started this week by Walter Rosenberg against the American Bur- lesque Association (American wheel) and its officers. The contention of the complaint is the plaintiff held an American wheel franchise for the district in which are located the Garrick and Daly's theatre, with Rosenberg entitled to a choice in his discretion of the two. The complaint alleges that April 28 last Rosenberg notified the American Association he elected Daly's, but that the American refused to furnish its at- tractions to that or any other house under the Rosenberg's alleged fran- chise. This is the second damage suit brought against the American bf Rosenberg, the other having been set- tled out of court through an adjustment of the same franchise under which the present suit has been commenced. . Daly's is now under Walter Rosen- berg's direction, and will play a war picture, "Fighting Before Verdun," commencing this Sunday, the picture people renting the house. NEED ANOTHER HOUSE. The American wheel is badly in need of another New York theatre, accord- ing to show managers who claim the present route does give them the op- portunity to make the required money around New York owing to railroad jumps. The American has the Olympic in Manhattan, with the Star and Gayet.v Brooklyn. ' Shows at the Olympic jump to Scran- ton and then back. Last season the American had the Garrick and Yorkville, as well as the Olympic, with a short jump to Jersey City. AGGRESSIVE MANAGER. Cincinnati, Oct. 4. The new manager of the People's, Charles McDonald, who formerly had -uie concessions at the house, is making an aggressive campaign. He wants four vaudeville turns weekly and offers feature acts from $300 to $350. Business is picking up rapidly. The house advertisements now carry a per- sonal note. They are addressed to "Dear Friend" and signed "Your Pal, Charlie." JOWM CASE UP. Allegir.£ 1 of contract, Harry Tolson is 8UHK . ..- Marion for $1,5 The case was listed tor trial Monday in the Supreme Court. Jolson claims a play or pay contract for Marion's last season's show, and alleges he was dis- mbsed at the end erf-seven weeks. - - INDEPENDENT'S TRIO. Three additional theatres were listed on the books of the Independent Bur- lesque Circuit last week by Hubert Heuck, the Gotham, Brooklyn; Baker, Rochester and the Avenue, Detroit. Phil Adams' Resignation (Tho following ia a copy of the tmttor of retignation a«nf by Phil E. Adam* to the Wh*t» *?«*• Actor*' U*ion) After publicly apologizing in the columns of "Variety" to the White Rats Actors' Union for playing Oklahoma City, I was very much elated to know I was once more a member in good standing, with my dues paid until April, 1917. Received many handshakes from my brother artists, telling me I did right and that my path in the future would be laden with roses—ROSES, they are, dead ones though, and not a particle of odor to them. Right now my FUTURE is at stake, MANAGERS will not book me, and WHY? For publicly apologizing to Mr. Harry Mountford and the White Rats Actors' Union. MR. HARRY MOUNTFORD and MR. JOE BIRNES KNEW what would happen to me, as soon as the Managers read my apology. WHY did they ask me to do it? They KNEW as I KNOW NOW. WILL THE WHITE RATS ACTORS' UNION pay me my salary, or rather my present weekly income the rest of my life? NO. WILL THE WHITE RATS GUARANTEE me forty weeks' bookings each year? NO. CAN THEY tell me from whom I can secure work? NO. CAN THEY TELL THE MANAGERS THEY MUST PLAY ME? YES. BUT WILL THE MANAGERS DO IT? NO. If I have to earn a living in SHOW BUSINESS and belong to some organization, I don't want that organization to take my broad and butter away from me, as the White Rats Actors' Union has done. Therefore, I hereby resign from the White Rats Actors' Union. (Signed) PHIL. E. ADAMS. WAITING FOR SALARY. Chicago, Oct. 4. 'The World Beaters" burlesque, sponsored by Washington, D. C, cap- ital, with Hal Turner, manager, is still in the city after playing the Haymarket last week. The members are in salary arrears. Turner is said to be in Washington, but no word has been received as to the further movement of the company. Some of the girls have gone to work for Art. H. Moeller's own show which as in Cincinnati last week. Hastings' New Leading Lady. Harry Hastings "Tango Queens" last week at the Olympic, New York, and in Scranton this week has undergone several internal changes. Monica Red- mond joined this week as leading woi»"\n, replacing Daisy Lewis. Tom Coy j remains with the company as a featured comedian. BURLESQUE PROSPERS. Chicago, Oct. 4. According to the statements of man- agers here the burlesque business is the best in years. THE MYSTIC BIRD. The Act Wonderful. The Canary Caruso. The Mystic Bird has headlined all ';ills over JLbc W,. V, .M. A. and Pantages Circuit act again headlines season oi 2915 and '17. Return dates over the above time. The Mystic Bird, dc-tared by all managers and agents to be the GREATEST BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION that has ever gone over their circuits. Receiving the highest praise from press and public, ai.d declared to be the great- est vaudeville novelty in America today. Com- ing East soon. OUT OF "NEW YORK." El-nest Otto left "Hello New York" Saturday. Earl Gates, doing several bits in the snow, will double in Otto's part. Chas. Yaeger leaves the same show this Saturday. UNION SQUARE NEW COMPANY. The Union Square theatre stock at that theatre over a year disbanded Sun- day. The principals were Bert Wes- ton, Dewey Campbell, George Bren- nan, Chas. Douglas, *May Shirk pnd Bessie Rosa. The new company replacing it has Leon Stevens, Brad Sutton, J. X. Fran- cis, George Walsh, Martin Guild, Adelaide Benson, Norma Brown, May Leavitt and 18 chorus girls. They open Monday. "Taxi Girl" Too Parisian. St. Louis, Oct. 4. "The Henpecks," a "conservative" musical comedy so to speak, was car- ried over into Monday night by the Park Opera Co., the occasion being a benefit performance for the Church of the Redeemer. "The Girl in the Taxi" opened Tues- day evening. After viewing^ the latter pastor Duckforth decided it was too Parisian for his church members, thus the change. If you don't advartlaa la VARIETY, don't advartlso.