Variety (December 1916)

i VAUDEVILLE ■nirm.1 IRENE FRANKLIN REPUDIATES "PLEDGE'' RATS WISHED ON HER Statement She Would Support Actors 9 Strike Was Unwar- ranted. Rats Disregarded Published Correction. Comedienne Disapproves Mountford and His Policies. "The reason I haven't said anything about these matters/' said Irene Frank- lin Wednesday, referring to the White Rats making use of her name, "is that I thought everyone understood. "I am not a White Rat, neither is my husband, Burt Green, who resigned from the White Rats just a year ago. He was a life member. His resigna- tion was sent in long before the Na- tional Vaudeville Artists was organized. The National Vaudeville Artists pub- lished a list of officers and committees. My name was among them. The White Rats called me up and asked if I had joined that society. I said I had not Then they asked me if they could men- tion that I replied I had no objec- tion. The next I heard about it was an announcement signed by me in Varibtt saying I had not joined the N. V. A., and the same advertisement said I was a member of the Rats, which I never have been, nor did I pay for that advertisement nor know anything of it until I saw it in the paper. "Then they got me into a mess again in St. Louis. While I was standing in the lobby of the Jefferson hotel there one day, speaking with Rob Wagner, manager with our shov (The Melting of Molly') a man came up, said he was from the St Louis 'Times' and wanted to know if I was going out on strike. *I didn't know it was sick,' I answered, jokingly, not getting what he was talk- ing about He seemed to know more about the White Rats thafi I did and told me about every thing he could think of. I listened, said I wasn't in vaude- ville at present and not interested, and the next thing I knew 'The Times' pub- lished a story saying if the White Rats went on strike I would not play in vaudeville while they were out. I had said no such thing or anything like it and fortunately Mr. Wagner was able to corroborate me. I calUd up the dramatic editor of 'The Times,' ex- plained it to him and the paper re- tracted the statement the next day, also apologizing to me and T understand it fired the reporter who so wrongly re- ported my remarks. "The funny part of it to me is how the first story in 'The Times' was rushed all over the country and no at- tention paid to the denial. I can't un- derstand who was so much interested in getting a statement from me in print that I wouldn't return to vaudeville if the White Rats went on strike. I wasn't even thinking of vaudeville. We are laying off with the 'Molly' show hoping to get an opening in Chicago and we are perfectly satisfied to take a good rest until we do. "I am tired of the Rats making use of me. When I returned to New York and found out what had happened the second time I thought it was about time for me to speak up. I should have clone it the first time, I suppose. "The Rats knew neither myself nor Mr. Green was a member, although they refused to accept Burt's resigna- tion. Burt never could agree with tlic Mountford policy, thinking it all wronp and sent in his resignation last Decem- ber. "I hope this will set me right. I don't want people to think we arc anarchists,When we are not. I thought KEITH'S RIVERSIDE OPENED. B. F. Keith's Riverside theatre at Broadway and 96th street opened on time Monday night, after a temporary injunction given Oscar Hammerstein by Judge Tompkins in Newburgh, N. Y., had been stayed through an or- der (pending an appeal to the Appel- late Division) granted by Judge Staple- ton, of Brooklyn. The argument on the appeal from Judge Tompkins' order will probably be made the second week in January, before the trial of the action upon which the temporary injunction was based is reached. Mr.- Hammerstein al- leged the Keith interests wer4 forbid- den from acquiring more New York City big time vaudeville theatres through an agreement entered into some years ago by the Keith people and Percy G. Williams. That was at the time Williams entered the United Booking Offices, when the city was ap- portioned for franchise booking pur- poses among the several managers in- terested. Hammerstein was not among those who signed the document, al- though he at that time was operating the Victoria. Williams asked that Hammerstein be given an agreement of immunity from opposition under a United Rooking Offices franchise and this was done in a separate agreement later in the same day the first one was signed between Keith and Williams. In his application for an injunction Hammerstein claimed he was consider- ed of the original agreement through having received a supplementary one of the same tenor. Since the agree- ment was made by Williams he dis- posed of his New York theatres to the Keith faction. Keith some time ago purchased for $225,000 the right from Hammerstein to book the Palace, New York. The Riverside was formerly a Wil- liam Fox pop vaudeville house. It seats 1,900 on two floors and has been made over into what amounts to a new theatre. The stage is 33 feet in depth. About one of the largest seating capac- ities in the city is in the orchestra. The nouse opened to a capacity audi- ence notwithstanding the uncertainty of the premiere, through the Hammer- stein injunction having been reported in the dailies. The stay was obtained late Saturday night, after the Keith legal department had worked night and day upon the papers following the granting of the Hammerstein restraining order. The first advertisement of the River- side's positive opening Christmas night was Christmas morning. When the cur- tain went up at eight o'clock only standing roorr was selling and an or- der shutting that off was given a few moments after. And number of mem- hers of the booking offices with their families were unable to secure seats. Dr. Louder was to have had first charge of the new Keith theater, but was taken ill just before the opening day. In the emergency John J. Mo- loney. Elnjer F. Rogers and I. M. Sam- uels lent assistance, with Mr. Rogers also sending some of his Palace thea- tre staff to see nothing went amiss. The Riverside was leased by William Fox to the Keith people after the lat- ter had sccilrcd a site on West 96th street near Broadway, where they in- tended to erect a mammoth Keith thea- tre for vaudeville. Fox had two thea- tres in the Broadway-96th block, the other the Riveria. An arrangement was ■ -..v.. .■. v»-m ,; v i .:.. •••►i»rrt'\; ...£.. «4^«v. ■. ■»■-**»-■ /'ivdc and.d»d not-build, Fox retair.ing the other. The addition of the Riverside gives B. F. Keith twelve theatres in Greater New York, seven playing big time vaudeville. Five of them are in Man- hattan. SUNDAY TRYING BUFFALO. Buffalo, Dec. 27. Billy Sunday, the evangelist, will open a four weeks' meeting at the In- ternational Ball Park, Jam 6. The evan- gelistic meeting has not attracted much attention lately, largely due to -the holi- days. It is not expected Sunday will remain over the four weeks, although the meeting may be extended to eignt should he prove a large enough draw- ing card. The ball park in which the revival will be held is being put under a roof, and a large restaurant for the out-of- town people built in connection with it. Garry Simon, president of the local baseball club, resigned his position last week. Simon is the head of the Simon Brewery. It is reported, although de- nied, it was on this account his resigna- tion was sent in, owing to the park be- ing given over to Sunday. H. 0. H. REOPENS. B. F. Keith's Harlem opera house on West 125th street, after repairs, re- opened last Saturday, again under the management of Harry Swift, playing pop vaudeville booked by Lawrence Goldie in the United Booking Offices. Commencing this week Mr. Goldie is placing the pop vaudeville bills for Proctor's 125th Street theatre, in addi- tion to the other Proctor houses on the Goldie books. MRS. MICHEL'S BENEFIT. An entertainment and ball will be held /Wednesday evening, Jan. 3, at the Manhattan Casino, Eighth avenue and 155th street, for the benefit of Mrs. Charles Michel, wife of the agent who is now serving with the French army. When Michel's loyalty took himi across the water to fight for his coun- try, his agency business in New York was undertaken by his wife, who re- mained here. Mrs. Michel made a brave fight, but the odds were too heavily against her. Recently some of her friends insisted she allow them to take the opportunity of giving the affair to relieve her from financial anxiety until her husband is enabled to return from France. She re- luctantly consented and the affair will probably accomplish its object if the show people around who knew Michel very well see to it that this chance to aid his wife is not neglected. Michel was known as a foreign vaudeville agent in New York and was liked. IN AND OUT. Conroy's Diving Models could not open at Keith's, Cincinnati, through having shipped their tanks by freight, reaching there too late. Bob Dailey and Co. filled in. Dazie did not open Monday with her new act at the Palace, asking the en- gagement be postponed a couple of weeks or so until she was satised the act was in readiness to be show. May- hew and Taylor substituted. Bessie Remple and Co. and Devine and Williams were added to the bill at Keith's, Toledo, Monday, replacing Jones and Leigh. The Remple act was booked in from Chicago and Manager Pearlstein, of Toledo, secured Devine and Williams when it was found Jones and Leigh could not appear. As the bill was running seven acts (through DeBiere being on it) both of the turns were retained, giving an eight-act show. Davy Jones reported ill in New York Sunday. Hal and Francis did not open at the Fifth Avenue Monday because of sick- ness. Fox and Ingraham who were to replace them also failed to show. Bar- ney Gilmore and Marion Shelly filled . S.i!?-»er and North, owin^? to _ill- ness, had to leave the American, Chi- cago, bill the last half last week. Kirbv and Rome failed to report at the Palace, Chicago, Monday afternoon. No substitution was made for the re- mainder of the week. MONTREAL THEATRE TAX. Montreal, Dec 27. The Province of Quebec, which in- cludes this .cityj. will levy, a theatre .wa* tax, as has been done in the Province of Ontario. The tax may go into effect about May 1. No date has been set It will be from one cent to 10 cents on each theatre ticket sold, according to box office price, and the tax will have to be collected from the public A system, of coupons will be arranged. Race tracks in the Quebec province will be taxed $1,250 daily for a meet or given the alternative of paying four per cent, of the money taken in and paid out by the Paris mutuels on each race. The intended tax is to be devoted to the $1,000,000 contributed by the Prov- ince of Quebec to the Canadian Patri- otic Fund. In this city four theatres are owned, by the Canadian Theatre Co. They are the Princess, Orpheum, Gayety and Francais, FITZGERALD CASE IN. The hearing before Judge Groehl on the complaint to adjudge Harry Fitz- gerald an agent within the meaning of the Agency Law has practically been concluded. Judge Groehl held the last hearing Wednesday. The proscjition pre- viously had asked to introduce copies of original letters written by Fitzgerald to the complaining act, Six Tumbling Demons (James Oliver). The court agreed the copies might be submitted but intimated he was in doubt as to their admissability through having no bearing upon the managerial contract Fitzgerald made with the act, for the latter to pay the manager so much weekly. Attorneys fot the prosecution dur- ing the argument seemed to admit that without these letters admitted and ac- cepted as bearing out the testimony of their witnesses, they did not seem to have much of a case against Fitzgerald. Briefs are to be submitted and final argument made tomorrow (Saturday). ALEC FISCHER RETURNS. Alec Fischer, brother of Cliff, re- turned to New York last week on a Dutch liner. Alec came here direct from Berlin, where he was the only li- censed American theatrical agent in the city, Alec being a naturalized U. S. A. citizen. Alec said he had only come over to look his brother Cliffs Montmartre over, having heard so much about it. While absent from Berlin the Fischer agency there will be looked after in a general way by Prof. Max Reinhardt, who is now supervising the Winter- garten, Berlin. Franz Steiner, former director of the Wintergarten for many years, now has the Apollo, Berlin which is playing vaudeville and op' eretta. Vaudeville Doesn't Open at A. C. Atlantic City, Dec. 27. The Cort (formerly Savoy) did not open with vaudeville Christmas Day, although it had been advertised. The serious illness of Dr. J. B. Thompson, the hotelman who now controls the house, caused an indefinite postponement. The Cort was to have been booked by the U. B. O. Theatre Robbed of $735. Chicago, Dec. 27. Ycggmen early yesterday robbed the boxoflice safe of the Englewood thea- tre, securing $735, the receipts for Christmas of "Girls From the Follies." PoU, Playing ^eridan a Week. .«.«. jvteruian, Conn., uec."2/, The Foii theaife here that ordinarily plays combinations and stock is taking on a viudcville bill for the full week. Theie is a chance the policy may be continued if current results are satis- factory.