Variety (December 1916)

VAUD ZIEGFELD PREVENTS ACTOR FROM PLAYING U. B. 0. DATES Vaudeville Agency Retaliates by Forbidding Performers Hold- ing Its Contracts to Accept Legitimate Engagements Even When There Is No Interference With Two-a-Day Services. A misunderstanding that may event- ually develop into a grave business . feud between the United Booking Offices and Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., was created this week when the legitimate producer, armed with a contract calling for the exclusive services of Eddie Can- tor, forced that individual to withdraw from the Colonial program after the initial performance. Cantor is sched- uled to open with "Canary Cottage," when that production arrives for its New York run sometime next month. Meanwhile he is booked for the winter with Ziegfeld (in "The Midnight Faolic"), who will not permit him to accept any vaudeville engagements. The action resulting in the with- drawal of Cantor was closely followed by an order eminating from the Zieg- feld headquarters, which threatened to eliminate Rock and White' from the Palace bill next week, the team being booked for a second week by the Pal- ace management. (They are in the same Ziegfeld show.) Wednesday negotiations were under way beween the team and Ziegfeld toward a tem- porary release in order that the Palace* engagement could be played, but it was generally understood in the event Zieg- feld should enforce his contract and prohibit his principals from the oc- casional "dash" in vaudeville, the U. B. O. might take steps to prevent the big time vaudeville headliners from ac- cepting contracts from any legitimate producer who would not favor a tem- porary release in such cases. MORE OKLAHOMA ARRESTS. Oklahoma City, Nov. 29. Although there is a rumor the ex- ample of B. H. Powell, manager of the Folly, who beginning last Saturday rec- ognized the musicians', stage stands' and operators' unions with the sanc- tion of the White Rats Actors' union, would be followed by other members of the Theatre Managers' Association, nothing to substantiate it was learned today. The managers of the. Liberty, Lyric, Empress and Majestic seem determined that nothing will induce them to waver in their determination to fight the quadruple alliance to the end. The Folly, which always has been the favorite theatre of unions, played to capacity and more Sunday night. Pickets had been withdrawn as a result of the understanding reached by Man- ager Powell and the strikers. Mr Powell has not recognized the White Rats, nor has he any intention of doing so. His arrangement was with the musicians, stage hands and opera- tors, all of whom he will employ. It is the policy of the house to book all good acts it can get, whether Rats or not. Two of four pickets stationed in front of the Overholser theatre, where the Overholser Players, a stock aggrega- tion, opened last Sunday night, were arrested on complaint of Manager E. C. Mills, who charged them with dis- turbing the peace. Those arrested a/e P. Walker and Joseph Campbell, and thev will be given hearings later this week in police court. Mills set forth in hi* complaint* ftgainct the pickets that they wr- '• ? ing lou d and unhe- ■•vr.'.w.'.vtknSTli.■;**'■ Ti prospective paTfonV of the house. The «tr?Ver« denied the a11efya*ir n. As a result of the road order issued to members of_ the musicians' union^ the union orchestra with the Don Carlo Grand Opera Company, which played the Overholser last week, refuted to work and the operas were sung to piano and prgan accompaniment Notwith- standing, however, the session was good and the company got away in good shape. Although every effort was made to persuade the orchestra to work, it was without avail. The leader was deter- mined, explaining it would be a viola- tion of union rules to work under the circumstances, and all others of the big aggregation were of a similar opinion. The musicians did*not participate in any way in the activity of pickets in front of the house during the three days' engagement, but the majority stood outside and watched what tran- spired. Full bills now are being played at all theatres here. Managers of the Lyric and Liberty say they are securing more than enough acts of merit without fur- ther expenditure than was the rule be- fore the strike was ordered. The strikers, however, point to the Folly as an example and declare they have the managers "on the run" and will stick close to their heels until they consent at least to grant the long sought audi- ence through which it is hoped to se- cure adjustment of the difficulty. This may be on the same basis, if it happens, as the Folly did, without the Rats being included. Chicago, Nov. 29. Frank Gusinverg, Patrick King and Joseph Gorman, business agents of the Electrical Union, No. 157, were arrested here Monday on charges of disorderly conduct for an alleged attempt to have the picture operators of the Casino, on West Madison street, desert a rival union to Join the one represented by the defendants. Chicago, Nov. 29. A Mr. Shoemaker, one of the special writers of the staff of the New York "Call,'' a Socialistic newspaper, arrived in Chicago this week after a prolonged visit to Oklahoma City. Shoemaker plans a series of stories anent theatrical conditions and will study the local union situation as a basis for his articles. Chicago, Nov. 29. There is much talk here about a pro- posed plan said to be under way to in- duce Charles Hodkins to attend to the bookings of the Liberty, Oklahoma City, along the same lines on which the talent is supplied the Folly in that city. Chicago, Nov. 29. Word came this week that acts re- fused to work on the same bill with Haves, Mosher and Hayes at the Lin- dell. St. Louis, uirjfl Deputy Organizer Searjent straightened out matters sat- isfactorily. Failure to force Hayes. Mosher and Hayes out resulted in all the Rats but two walking out for the second sljow. Takes Pantages Into Iron Belt. Chicago, Nov. 29. W. F. Kelley. operating the Temple Circuit of theatres in the iron belt of Michigan has ar range for h*& T/"n^tf. ironwood", Mich., to play the Pantages road show, startine Dec. 15. Kelley .viiJ jjf.£ five Pan acts. Kellev has lieen ectting his acts from the Richard Hoff- man books on the Association floor. LOEWS 9 HAMILTON, CAN. Hamilton, Can., Nov. 29. Marcus Loew has arranged to build a theatre in this city, located on the principal street to seat 3,000. The plot is 172x145. It will be ready by Sept l p 1917. '■* ■ 'The estimated cost is $500,000 with local capital intereatcd. Hamilton now has the Temple, play- ing big time vaudeville. It is on the Canadian circuit chain. Another Boston "Sunday" House. Boston, Nov. 29. The Gayety is the latest of the local burlesque houses to install vaudeville Sundays, a 10-act show booked by Fred Mardo playing there. The Gayety plays Columbia bur- lesque shows during the week. It has heretofore been giving pictures Sun- day. Strand, Newark, Pop Vaudeville. The Strand, Newark, owned by Max Spiegel and playing straight pictures, has been taken over by Frank G. Hall, who will install a pop vaudeville policy. The U. S. Vaudeville Managers' Assn. will book the shows. TAB CALLED IN. Chicago, Nov. 29. £. P. Churchill produced "The Movie Kids," which opened last week. The tab has been recalled and Churchill instructed to strengthen it before the Association route can be given. Association emissaries looked the show over and pronounced it in bad shape. VAUDEVILLE IN CUBA. Havana, Nov. 29. Plans are being formulated to play vaudevilU in the Campamor. a theatre built last year. If successful, 12 weeks will-be available through a circuit of the other cities on the island. , Dumb acts, musical turns and singers with the numbers translated are wanted. Leaa Scenery Wanted. Chicago, Nov. 29. Road vaudeville managers want more ' entertainment and less scenery in their tabs. Several managers have written to the Association that unless the tabs cut down the excess scenery which re- quires extra stage hands they cannot play them. South End Taking on Vaudeville. Boston, Nov. 29. Loew's South End (formerly the Co- lumbia), formerly playing straight pic- tures, is being altered to one balcony, replacing the three it had and will re- open about Feb. 1 with vaudeville, at 10-15. NEW ACTS. Taylor Granville and -Laura Pierpont (Mrs. Granville) in two acts, each heading one, both written by Winchell Smith and John L. Golden (Harry Weber)-. ; Coral Melnotte (formerly of Mel* notte Tw ; «i) and Jack MeGdwan (hus- band of IZittie Watson—Watson Sis- ters), two-act "Love and Pretzels," a comedy sketch, with George Arvine and Caro- line Wade. The Leilokelanis, six (four men and two girls—sisters) in Hawaiian produc- tion (Charles Bornhaupt). Otis Harlan and Co. (including Marion Ford) in sketch, "Prepared- ness," by Grace Bryan (Max Hart). Rita Gould in an act by William B. Friedlander. Ned Nye and Billy Inman in 'The Crazy Idea" (Jo Paige Smith). IN AND OUT. Dorothy Jardon replaced Norah Bayes as the headline at Keith's, Phila- delphia, this week. Lew Madden and Co. are at the Ma- jestic, Milwaukee, this week as origin- ally billed. Eddie Cantor did not open at the Colonial Monday. Milo substituted. Lillian Calvert stepped into Loew's, New Rochelle, N. Y., program Mon- day when illness obliged Marie Russell to cancel the engagement. "A Day on the Ocean Beach" and "Help Wanted" filled in the vacancy of the first and second halves, respec- tively at the Lincoln Square this week, left by the departure from the Loew Circuit of James and Bonnie Thornton, who were booked for the full week. PROCTOR'S TWO-A-DAYS. Albany, N. Y., Nov. 29. Proctor's theatre here and in Troy are now playing but two performances daily, six acts each to a bill and split- fin g the week. The programs of late have been somewhat strengthened up by. the Proctor booker for these houses, Carlton Hoagland, of the United Booking Offices. The Leland, this city, and the Gris- wold, Troy, are under the Proctor di- rection and playing the popular brand of vaudeville, as the larger nouses have a scale running to 50 cents. Proctor's, Yonkers, N. Y., also booked by Mr. Hoagland, is playing but twice daily, six acts. FITZGERALD CA8B POSTPONED. The case of Harry Fitzgerald, charged with a violation of the license ordinance, was postponed again Tues- day on the aoplication of the complain- ant. The case will come up for a hear- ing next Tuesday in the East 57th Street Court Defore Magistrate Groehl. The postponement was occasioned through the injury of James Timony, who is jointly representing James Oliver, the complaining witness, and the License Bureau. Timony fell down a flight of stairs in the White Rats' clubrooms last week and is confined to his home. * *—-+•**— FRANKIE FAY. A*ficted by 1KW-IK DASH A tremendous sensation on the Loew Circuit. Looking for a tremendous (hit agent) on the big circuit. POLrS BLIND. The report circulated last week that the Poli nouses might shortly return to stock is said to be a blind to offset the trouble in these houses of late with the union stage crews. It is reported the Poli houses do not intend shifting from vaudeville and In- ternational Circuit shows unless neces- -i r . 7 r. if v Ht - T vUV t3 f _F 2-ci-t-O (13 ~ ^■U.'li^ji ' an agreement can be reached between the management of the theatres and the unions. If this agreement cannot be brought about stock probably will be i nstalled.