Variety (June 1918)

" ■ VAUDEVILLE MANAGERS SEEK INFORMATION ON NE W RAIL WAY TARIFF Roads Prepare Installation of New Increase in Transportation Rates June 10 As Amusement Industry Clamors for Enlightenment on Proposed Advance. U. M. P. A. Seek Conference with Washington Heads. INTERSTATE STAYS OPEN. The Interstate Circuit in the south will remain open this slimmer with one exception. The Majestic, Dallas (formerly the Opera House there), will close June 29 to admit of extensive repairs. The Majestic, Dallas, which burned during the winter, has not been restored. Up to Wednesday the tariffs cov- ering the increase in rail rates were still unavailable, with the railroad of- ficials as much in the dark as anyone else. The new rates become effective next Monday (June 10). Ticket agents were unable to quote rates, even though the new regula- tion sets a flat 3 cents a mile rate and 3 x / 2 cents per mile for Pullman or sleeper passengers. The reason for the many .questions yet unanswered is that the government has not given out the base mileage between various points. Base mileage is the number of miles allowed by the government for mail transport. It is assumed some such basis will be set- tled on to equalize the fares between points covered by different roads, whose actual mileage varies consider- ably. If the straight 3 cents a mile were applied to roads regardless of the difference, traffic would naturally flow to the road of shortest mileage. After a meeting between railroad men and government officials Tuesday a number of points were practically settled on, although they are not of- ficial. Baggage cars arc to be sup- plied theatrical companies with a straight fare purchase of 25 tickets, which is the number now required, but the party rate of course has been discontinued. Tourist tickets to the coast will not be done away with from present indi- cations, but there will be no summer rates as usual each year, and the in- crease on the tourist rate will ad- vance in a measure proportionately with the flat rate increase. The tour- ist increase is expected to be not less than 20 per cent, over present figures. The present tourist round trip from New York to coast is $157.14, including the war tax. From Chicago to the coast the tourist rate for return trips is $118.80, including war tax. The tick- ets used by professionals going over the Orpheum, Pantages and Ackerman- Harris circuits are somewhat higher since they take in the north Pacific coast. The United Managers' Protective As- sociation met Tuesday and a committee was appointed to confer with director general of railroads McAdoo, who was wired for an appointment, but who is at present recuperating at a health resort. The managers were of the opinion the rail increases would seri- ously hinder road shows and that in light of the past season's poor touring results, many attractions could not go out. The committee is Marc Klaw, chairman ; Geo. M. Cohan, Lee Shubert, David Belasco, Oliver Morosco, Mor- ris Gest, Winthrop Ames, Henry W. Savage, J. Howard Rcbcr (of the training camp activities committee), Sam Scribncr, Sam H. Harris, Jos. L. Rhinock, Gen. Emmctt Newton. The flat increases will establish first and second class travel in this coun- try for the first time, since there is a separate rate for coach and Pullman passengers and different colored tick- ets may be sold for each class. The percentage of increase is^ so high that behind it is seen the government's aim to eliminate all but essential travel. In many portions of the country the increase to V/ 2 cents per mile is an advance of 75 per cent, for in western states the rate has been 2 cents a mile for party tickets. The figures quoted on tourist trips docs not include the extra fare trains, but many of them arc being taken off. There are now but two coast trains daily on the Chi- cago and Northwestern. The Overland Limited, the California and the San Francisco and Los Angeles Limited which were extra fare trains have been discontinued. Fast trains on other roads have also been ordered taken off. INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE'S WORK. With credit being given to all of the theatrical interests, allied and working independently in behalf of the Red Cross during its recent drive, it now develops that the work of the Indus- trial Committee was the most amazing and "unusual" of all the different branches working under the auspices of the Allied Theatrical and Motion Picture Team. This committee raised $80,023.69, which came only from the employees of the professions, trade and industries listed by the Industrial Committee. The motion picture employees ted the list with $63,938.69. The next largest amount of pledges was re- ceived from the National Vaudeville Artists, which was closely followed by the film exchanges of Greater New York. The next in line was the music publishers and the manufacturers of musical instruments. The employees of the Marcus Loew theatres were followed by the wigmakers and costum- ers and the employees of the Shubert theatres. Big returns were also made by the Metropolitan Opera House, the employees of the William.Fox theatres and motion picture theatres and the Cinema Camera Club. PLIMMER'S AIRDOMES. Two airdomes playing vaudeville are opening up out of town. One is called the Park, starting in Water- bury, Conn., Monday with a five-act split week bill. The seating capacity is 1,800. It is managed by Charles O'Burke. An airdome also starts at Kingston, N. Y., June 17, and after one week of the Sue Higgins stock, plays vaudeville, with a show similar to Waterbury. Both airdomes will be booked by Walter J. Plimmer, now booking the Taylor, Adams, Mass. Out of the 27 houses booked by Plimmer, 17 have discontinued vaude- ville for the summer and are playing pictures. MO SCON I BRpS. PLAN NEW ACT. The Mosconi Brothers will leave Bessie Clayton's act at the end of the week. They plan the production of a dancing act of their own, in which they will probably be assisted by a girl stepper. One of the brothers was discharged from military service ^because of spinal curvature. The other brother, Louis, has been placed in the limited service class, which calls for a clerkship, and is liable to call. "ROOSTER" DECISION. The Arbitration Committee of the Vaudeville Managers' Protective As- sociation and the National Vaudeville Artists has decided that in the mat- ter of Torcat's Roosters and Kurtis' Roosters, anyone may employ roosters upon the stage, but that there are three tricks performed by Torcat's Roosters, original with and belong to Torcat, to the exclusion of anyone else attempting them. ROUTES HELD UP. In the hooking offices this week it was reported there had been a hold up in tlie issuance of routes to acts through the transportation problem. Acts negotiating generally wanted the extra transportation included in the salary or to have themselves protected in some other manner against the ad- vance in traffic rates. Managers and players are awaiting the outcome of any conference the managers may have with the authori- ties. TABLOIDS FOR PROVIDENCE. Providence, June 5. It was made known here last week that Nixon & Zimmerman have com- pleted negotiations whereby this city will be made a member of their new tabloid circuit next season. Jus* where these shows will be produced has not been settled. ' FOX'S TWO-A-DAY. The Rivera closed on Sunday for the summer and this week the two-a-day policy* was started in some of the Fox houses. Houses on that time now plaving two shows daily are the Audubon and Crotona which continue three-a-day on Saturday and Sundays and the Ray Ridge and Jamaica. The Ridgcwood and Bedford will also revert to the two shows over the hot spell, but the City and Folly will re- tain the all year threc-a-day policy. OFF ASSOCIATION FLOOR. Chicago, June 5. George Mence. an employe of the "Rechler & Jacobs agency, has # been ordered barred from the Association floor in the Majestic theater building for headstrong tactics and a too zeal- ous application of his representative prerogatives. Tie will be disciplined thus until the powers that be feel he can tone down. Managers Take Vacations. Although the Prospect has been closed a week its manager, William Raynor takes up the management of the Hamilton, with Manager P. J. Mc- Ciuire taking a vacation. The Flat- bush closes Tune 16, and Manager Edwin F. Reilly and Raynor will alter- nate with the Jefferson and Regent while their respective managers - Arthur Smith and Kmil Groh—enjoy a month's vacation. WHITE RATS' INVESTIGATION. What may be the last hearing in the investigation of the White Rats finan- cial affairs, in the matter of the peti- tion of Goldie Pemberton, for some was held last Friday before referee Lewis Schuldcnfrei. It was the 9th session in the inquisitorial proceedings* ordered by Supreme Court Justice Mitchell. There may be a session this week wtih new witnesses present, but up to Wednesday that was not definite. The first session was held late in October, 1017. Continual postpone- ments have strung out the investiga- tion long past the period when the referee's report was expected to have been returned. The last previous hearing was eight weeks ago. And now the semi-final curtain on the affair is drawn, because <»f the avowed intention of Harry Mountford of being absent from the city for some time—until "September or December." The "stalling" tactics on the oart of the White Rats officials and the Rats' attorney, had in view a defined object, which is now fully recognized and ad- mitted by those on the petitioner's side. They knew that in the event of an adverse referee's report, or if it could be staved off until after the American Federation of Labor Con- vention, the chances of retaining the White Rats charter, which again comes up for consideration before the con- vention, would be strengthened. Without the charter, the Rats union is a dead issue; with it, that group of "officials" and their handful of sup- porters, figure they have a fighting chance. To Joseph J. Myers, the Rats' attor- ney, is given "credit" for most of the many postponements. He went so far as to furnish a toothache as a cause for continuance and got away with it. Mountford admitted that he would be in the city frequently. But in spite of that and that there are other wit-, nesses to be examined, there was no definite date set for the next session. It appears that the petitioner's side desired to complete Mountford's testi- mony before going ahead. There wai a hope that this would be accomplish- ed last Friday. But it was not, and though a number of interesting points were brought out, there are many things yet to be taken up with Mount- ford. He resumed the stand, although the cross-examination of Will J. Cooke had not been completed. Mr. Myers was absent because of a court trial. He consented to Mount- ford being examined in his absence, providing the matter of the missing Rat books was not gone into during the session. Alvin T. Sapinsky, attorney for the petitioner, in examining some of the records, came across a typewritten list of names of the strike levy, or what purported to be such. He re- marked to the referee that those lists, which Mr. Myers had made such a fuss about, having claimed that they were wanted by booking interests for black- list purpose/, had been in possession of the referee all the time. My^ers' claim of abuse of those lists there- fore was not justified. When vouchers and checks snowing payments to var- ious persons were taken up, Mount- ford asked that the names of the per- sons concerned be impounded. This the referee allowed conditionally—for the present. Mr. Sapinsky scratched the surface of the financial dealings of the Rats during 1916-1917, which was the strike period. Although the time was short in which to examine the witness, he brought out the fact there was a petty cash account of $2,000 always on hand at the Rats. Many withdrawals from that ac- count were made and at the end of the month, Mountford would reimburse the petty cash account with a check. Attempts to get at just how many sums were expended met with little success, since the itemized vouchers were missing in almost all vital points. Some 27 of these checks, many minus the detailed voucher statements, were offered as exhibits and made part of the record. The witness at times displayed abso- lute familiarity with the expenditures taken up, but he could not explain the reason for the wholesale disappear- ance of the vouchers. At one point he made reference to the claimed raid upon the Rat headquarters on 54th street, and the referee demanded a fuller explanation of the alleged "rob- bery," which the witness in part gave. It transpired later that there had been more than one robbery, Mountford ex- plaining that certain data was taken during "the first robbery." Mountford frankly admitted bribing a person in the employ of the U. B. O. during the strike period. This came about, when Mr. Sapinsky was going over one of the few detailed vouchers (Continued on page 18.)