Variety (June 1917)

VAUDEVILLE N. V. A. PERFORMANCE BIGGEST EVER G IVEN IN VAUDEVILLE Financial Returns Surpassing Expectations. Show at Hippo- drome Sunday Night Has Great Variety and Numbers. Program of Over 250 Pages. The first annual performance of the National Vaudeville Artists, to be held Sunday (tomorrow) night, at the New York Hippodrome, has already far sur- passed the anticipations of its promot- ers. The returns promise it will be the biggest thing of its kind vaudeville has ever had. A finishing rush gave impetus to the selling of tickets and program space, with the result the performance finan- cially is an assured success. The sou- venir program is of over 250 pages. No estimate has been given of the tickets sold, but there has been a vast quantity disposed of, with the sale of the one dollar exchange ticket reaching huge proportions. The Vaudeville Managers' Protec- tive Association has worked in har- mony with the N. V. A. on the affair, and the latter will further aid the per- formance by assisting to secure the best show obtainable. Pat Casey will have charge of the stage, assisted by Mark Nelson, with R. H. Burnside, the Hippodrome's gen- eral stage manager, promising to be present* Ben Roberts will conduct the orchestra of 25 pieces. Artists volunteering will be given a limited stage time for appearance. Com- binations are to be effected that will be impromptu turns. BRATS GOING ABROAD. Not delighted at the prospect, Charles E. Bray sees no alternative but to make another trip to Paris, starting about June 16, with Mrs. Bray. It is necessary to sail across the ocean at this time to secure a further series of the Travelogs the Orpheum Circuit has featured in its houses the past season. The last installment was obtained by Mr. Brav in person, likewise on the other side. The Brays are in New York now, after closing the New Orleans Or- pheum for the summer. Mr. Bray re- mained in that city over the whiter looking after the house and arranging for the building of the new Orpheum, which will start in the fall. He will probably return to New Orleans this week, coming back to catch the French boat at this port. Mrs. Bray is pleased at the ocean voyage just now, scenting an element of danger in it. Her husband takes the opposite view, that the danger is minimized but that personal comfort will have to be sacrificed under present conditions. Chicago. Mav 31. Martin Johnson, who handles the Orpheum Travel Weekly, sailed from 'Frisco Wednesdav fpr Australia. He has chartered a schooner and will start out from Svdney for a voyage to the South Sea Islands, where he will take over 60,000 feet of pictures. Mr. John- son was with Jack London on the "Stark" when the latter made his first visit to the islands. EDDIE CLARK FEELS "DAMAGED." Fddie Clark who swears he is a play- wright has brought an action against Va*it»,tv to recover $2S,000, the -amount' Hark claims he was damaged through Variftt publishing March 23. last, a re- nort Clark had tried to hold up mem- bers of the "You're in Love" at the Casino, to contribute toward the price of two boxes Clark purchased for the White Rats ball a few days before. Clark also swears in the complaint he bought some box seats and gave them to the people of "You're in Love" without asking or accepting anything in return. The complaint further says Variety, "well knowing the plaintiff (Clark), de- servingly enjoyed the respect and esteem of his neighbors, associates, ac- quaintances and friends and of the com- munity in general, wickedly and ma- liciously intended to injure Clark in his good name/ fame and credit to bring him into public scandal, to nold him up as an object of hatred, ridicule and contempt, to cause him to be sus- pected that he was guilty of bad taste, stinginess, hypocrisy and miserliness and to harass and. annoy him" and a lot of other things. . The article in Vabibtt referred to said: "Eddie Clark, who is connected with 'You're In Love' at the Casino, is said to have reserved two boxes for the members of that company for the White Rats ball last Friday night, then sent each member a bill for a propor- tionate share of the cost. The last re- ports were the principals had refused to be held up." Gark also swears he is interested in the management and profits of "You're In Love. "Edward Dark" as the complaint de- scribes the defendant, was born Issy or Isadore Baity. He is a Hebrew and has been in show business a number of years, going on to the stage from the race tracks. When known as Issy Baity, the present "Gark" was a fre- quenter of the tracks throughout the country and it is said it was his experi- ences on those tracks that assisted him to a stage debut where he did a race track tout in vaudeville. Under the name of Edward Clark he also has an action pending against the United Booking Offices and associates, alleging he has been prevented from appearing in vaudeville through a con- spiracy, although in the Marinejli suit, Clark, when testifying, was obliged to admit that his acts were "shown" in U. B. O. houses but could not secure bookings. Nourishing his grievances against vaudeville managers who did not think his act was -suitable to their stages, Clark joined the White Rats. During the recent White Rats strike he was one of the organization's principal agi- tators. It was during the White Rat troubles that the order held the ball for which Clark swears he bought some tickets and gave them away. Clark is credited on the Casino pro- gram with having had something to do with the writing of "You're in Love," a musical piece. Keeney**, Newark, Straight Vaudeville. Keeney's, Newark, discards feature films next week, the house returning to the former policy of six vaudeville acts. The feature film, however, is mak- ing money for Keeney's. Brooklyn house, but it seemingly kept many away from the Newark show. Starting next week Danny Simmons, Moss' of- fice, will add two more acts to the Newark bill. GREENWOOD IN TOWN. George B. Greenwood, from Atlanta, has been in New York, and is confer- ring, according to report, with vaude- ville people here. Mr. Greenwood has been a vaudeville a gent at Atlanta for several years. ANNOYING "REPORTS." An incident concerned with bookings in the United Booking Offices cropped up there this week and displayed what a series of annoying moments to book- ing men and acts may be caused through an agent starting a "report." to vent a grievance or a spite. It is but one of several similar occurrences that appear to grow more frequent, and the U. B. O. bookers would be well pleased if the "report" practice stopped. Two of the U. B. O. agents had a controversy over an act The agent losing the turn mentioned casually the act "would be kept out of vaude- ville" and several like remarks, which reached the act of course, as the peeved agent expected they would. The act had been pencilled in by Johnny Collins for the Brighton thea- tre next week. ("Pencilled in" is not an absolute booking, merely tentative, pending final arrangement of bill, but often becomes permanent). The agent having the turn informed it that the Brighton booking had been set, in which he acted within reason. Through the Brighton bill unex- f>ectedly taking on a high-priced head- iner- for next week, there was a "re- arrangement of the first program lay- out and the tentative booking was re- moved by Mr. Collins, to average the cost of the bill. This "cancellation" as the aggrieved agent termed it, was claimed to have, been caused by his efforts, and as a, proof of what he had stated, that the act "would be kept out of vaudeville." The act's agent, despite its protests (the act believing the other agent had sufficient influence to accomplish what he claimed), insisted the act go direct to Mr. Collins and receive the proper explanation, which Collins made to it. The U. B. O. booking staff think that possibly this may happen even more often than they hear about. They sug- gest any act given reason to believe they are "out" without anything more than hearsay in confirmation, or an act subject to the whims of more than one agent, should call on or call up th*e booking office for a statement concern- ing their standing through any book- ing made. ONE LOEW HOUSE CLOSING. The only theatre on the Marcus Loew circuit in the east scheduled to close over the summer is the Majestic, New- ark, ending its season this week. The remainder of the Loew eastern theatres will go through the hot weath- er with their usual policy, vaudeville or pictures or both. Interested in Cinema New House. Cincinnati, May 31. The Palace Amusement Co., which will operate the proposed Palace Thea- tre, at Sixth and Vie streets, the largest house in the Ohio Valley, was organized Saturday, with the followng officers: John P. Harris, Pittsburgh, president; E. F. Albee, New York, and Isaac Lib- son, Cincinnati, vice-presidents; Ben L. Heidingsfeld, secretary. Libson, who now manages five pic- ture houses operated bv the Harris- Keith film interests in this city, will have charge of the Palace. W. H. Mc- Elfatrick, New York theatrical archi- tect, accompanied Mr. Albee to this city. McElfatrick designed the Grand opera house and Walnut street theatre, in Cincinnati. Tenants have been notified to vacate by July 1, when the work of razing buildings on the site is to begin. Vaudeville in New Palace, Flint Chicago. May 31. The new Palace now beine built by W. S. Butterfield at Flint, Mich., is to be the vati^cvill* hotrse there, bockrnes being switched next se&scr. from the Majestic, which will take care of road attractions and pictures. The Garden, also a Butterfield house, will have a straight picture policy. The cost of the Palace will approxi- mate $100.000. POLICE OUT FOR MANAGER. Portland, Me., May 31. Chief Bowen of the Portland Police Department has sent out a general alarm for Charles V. Kirkland, one of the owners of "The Girls from Happy- land," which played at the Greely last week. Kirkland, who comes from Utica, N. Y., disappeared Saturday, taking with him several hundred dollars of the money of the company, and owing back salaries to the members. William Foss, principal comedian, and who was half owner of the show with Kirkland has taken the company to Brunswick, where they are playing this week. \ BURLESQUE ASS'N OFFICERS. The Mutual Burlesque Association, composed of only franchise holders on the American burlesque circuit, elected officers yesterday (Thursday), with I. H. Herlc selected as president, Blutch Cooper, vice-president, Barney Gerard, secretary, Charles Franklin, treasurer. The officers, with Sam Levy of De- troit in addition, form the board of di- rectors, who have the sole direction of the association's affairs. - AMERICAN MEETING. George Peck, general manager of the American Burlesque Association, has called a special meeting for house man- agers and producers of the circuit for June 4 in the offices of the circuit. Mr. Peck wants to go over the plans for the coming season with the pro- ducers and managers. The regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the American wheel was held Friday, this week. CHAS. BARTON ILL. Charles Barton, the burlesque man, is confined to his home in Fordham, suffering from gallstones. The doctors are undecided on the advisability of an operation at this time. NEW "BURLESQUE WONDER SHOW." Of the five shows Hurtig & Seamoi will have on the Columbia burlesque circuit next season, one will be an ill- new attraction, named 'The Burlesque Wonder Show." Among the new titles for burlesque shows for next season will be "The Aviators," which will be used in con- nection with one of the Harry Hart shows on the American Wheel. ■ BAKER'S TWO SHOWS. • Charles Baker, who holds the Ameri- can Wheel franchise for "The Temp- ters," has been granted another fran- chise on the burlesque circuit for next season and will operate two shows. PANTAOES AND ST. LOUIS. Unless present forecasting goes awry the Pantages Circuit will have a house in St. Louis before another snow flies. When asked about St. Louis, Walter F. Keefe, who handles the New York bookings for Pantages. said nothing had developed beyond St. Louis might be on the circuit at some future time! \^hen asked if there was any possi- bility that Pantages was after Joe Er- ber's theatre, East St. Louis, Keefe admitted, that if such a theatrical move was in the air that he was not aware of it. Erber's is booked by Eddie Shayne in the Chicago W. V. M. A. offices. Mr. Keefe may go west about July 1. Empress, Cincinnati, on International. Cincinnati. May 31. According to rumor, the Empress will pass from the Sullivan & Considine vaudeville hands next season and will be used by the International Circuit as a pop priced legitimate house, Chicago men who financed the re- cent limited engagement which termin- ated with the closing of "Her Unborn Child." by the police, are said to be back of the project and are convinced that Cincinnati can support a theatre of this character.