Variety (September 1918)

T-fr:-:-!- V AUDXVI ARTI STS* FO RUM ^ aj i.. ie»i Ld bir^S^. ■»• writ" wh® dttfilaitM a letter to ^ ,*^bSw^M^^T^eara h«o. wUl not ba agaia fennltted tha ^iftatteges af it. Chicago, Sept. 14. Editor VABiBTif : I noticed in the Pittsburgh notes m VARiBTr that the Hawthorne Minstrels would play the Kenyon, Pittsburgh. This act has not been in existence since May, 1917. At that time the scenery, costumes, trunks, etc., were sold to Laura Booth, but not the name. The Hawthornes. (Billy and Amy.) Camp Sheridan, Ala., Sept. 10. Editor Vakiety. ^ ; . iu.. I am now at Camp Shendaii, in the Base Hospital sick, and n^ot working with my former partner, Franci^s. He is at present around Chicago and using my name, which I have had for the last ten years. Wora. Philadelphia, Sept. 12. Editor VARiBTr:, I wired you today, upon my return from the West, relative to the article in last week’s VABisTr concerning myself and the action of the Philadelphia -managers in raising admissions. The story is a canard and apparently the work of our opposition in an en- deavor to injure us and I am surprised that VABiETy would be a party to it. There is absolutely no foundation to the story. I never pledged myself m the matter, in fact, two weeks before the price raise was scheduled to go in effect, I told the members of the Association (theatrical managers) 1 would not join the movement. Further, I told the members of the Association it was not an Association issue, but rather a neighborhood matter and upon this basis I stood “pat.” Fred G. Nixon-NirdUnger. MRS. JAS. CONNORS’ SEPARATION. Jennie Connors, through her counsel, Frank J. Rinaldi, has filed suit for separation against James Connors, in vaudeville. Answering to her charges, the defendant, through his attorneys, Henry J. &• Frederick E. Goldsmith, enters a general denial; , In her affidavit, the plaintiff alleges that since their marriage, March 26, 1917, her husband has wilfully negl^t- ed, aimsed, and mistreated her. Be- cause she is unable to support herself, having been under the care of the physician in a hospital during the past five months, Mrs. Connors is emiming $50 weekly alimony, out of the $150 weekly she alleges her husband says he earns, and counsel fees. When the papers were served on Connors early this week announcing the case was to come up Sept. 17, he wrote his attorneys, asking them to postpone the trial for a week or so. The trial is now scheduled for Sept. 24. Accompanying the letter, Connors mailed a statement from Wilmer & Vincent, of the Colonial, Utica, where he is now playing, stating his salary to be but. $62.50 weekly. POTSDAM IN BOOKING OFFICE. Within a short time Charles Pots- dam will transfer from the manager- ship of Loew’s American theatre, to the post of chief assistant to Jake Lubin in the Marcus Loew booking agency. ■ , . Mr. Potsdam has been at the Amer- ican for several years. He has grown to know all of the Eastern big and small turns. At different times he has produced and managed acts. It is said Mr. Potsdam could have received an agency franchise in the Loew of- fice, but was informed by Joe Schenck and Mr. Lubin they thought he could be of more value to the circuit in the booking department. It is possible that Eugene Meyers will succeed Mr. Potsdam as the Amer- ican’s manager. HEAVIER BllirUPSTATE. Proctor’s, Albany arid Troy, playing a split week of two shows daily, is commencing to increase its programs for the.season. . Valeska Suratt, Stella Mayhew and Andrew Mack are among the future headlines in those towns that were booked this week by Arthur Blondell, ' who is temporarily looking after the Proctor upstate bookings during Johnnie Collins’ recovery. The other ' of the Collins houses are being cared for by Harry Mundorf and Charles An- derson (in the E. M. Robertson of- fice) during Mr. Collins’ absence. Farnum, Lewis & Gordon’s Booker. Ralph G. Farnum has been appointed general booker for Lewis & Gordon, following the departure of Max Gordon and Milton Lewis into the Service. A1 Lewis continues as the producing and executive head of the firm. Mr. Farnum has been of late with Max E. Hayes’ office and was pre- viously with Harry Weber. Max Hayes is placing the sketches of the firm, taking those on in addition to his own bookings. Pat Garren in Charge at 23rd Street. H. R. Beatty is leaving the 23rd Street as manager arid going to war via the Canadian Army, with Pat Gar- ren looking after managerml duties down there. WHERE MUSICIANS STAND. Rochesfer, N. Y., Sep. 18. A subject of discussion among thea- tre men is the future of the orchestra in the theatres. Practically all of the theatrical musicians registered in the draft the other day, the great majority being under 46. Although the amuse- ment industry has been classified as essential it is feared the draft boards will rule that men in the orchestras are not essential to the industry. In fact it has been intimated that a number of musicians are alreadyv considering the matter of looking up jobs in the munition plants. Some of them_ admit they may not wait for any action by ^e local boards. It has been suggested that orchestras composed of wome.i will replace the men in most of the theatres. There is some talk of reducing picture theatre orchestras to one piece, a piano, and some radicals even go so far as to state that the piano ought to be an automatic one. It is not thought that such sweeping changes will go into effect at present. Orchestras-may be considerably reduced for the afternoon shows and enlarged at night. Many picture houses may struggle along in the afternoon with a piano, but every house will endeavor to have a well rounded orchestra in the evening. Several theatre men are making ef- forts to sign up musicians of the gent- ler sex. • Association Booking ItnperiaL Chicago, Sept. 18. The Imperial, St. Louis, which for- merly played combination shows, is now on the book of Charles Freeman (W. V. M. A.), and beginning Sept. 23, will play week stands. Robert Wayne Managing Alhambra. Robert Wayne has succeeded Harry Bailey as manager of the Alhambra. Mr. Bailey having entered the service on Sunday. ■ Mr. Wayne is a former actor. For some time he was assistant to Harry T. Jordan, manager of Keith’s, Philadelphia, but recently assigned to the Keith New York office. WITH THE MUSIC MEN. Jos McCarthy and Jimmy Monaco are writ- ing togetner again. The muBlo ot "Some Night" at the Harris, and "Fiddlers Throe" at the Oort, is being published by Wltmark ft Sons. Robsrt Haring, tha singer, is on the Harry Von Tilisr stafl. Harry 0. Page, ot Memphis, head ot the Page ft Handy Co., has been in New Tork this week, surveying what the New York offloa ot the firm, lately opened, bae been doing. Tom Franklin, known in the cabarets, la now oonneoted with the Wltmark proteaeloBal staff. Amy Ashmore Clark, the llbrettlet, is in charge ot the new concert proleseional de- partment ot Artiauslo. Halsey K. Mohr haa traneterred his song allegiance trom Sbaplro-Bsrnsteln to the Joe Morrla staff. Louis Bernstein bad received up to Wed- nesday no confirmation ot tha report Jimmy Hanley had been promoted to a lieutenancy, although Mr. Bernstein said he would not be surprised to bear it by mall trom knowing Hanley's modesty, and also mentioned be bad heard was in line tor promIRdli. Mr; Bern- stein mentioned another ot hie tormer writing staff, Joe Qoodwln, who had developed Into a model soldier. Joe was recently in Nevr^ork on a lour days’ leave, the only one of bis regiment Just before it Bailed for France to receive a furlough. Joe asked permlseton ot his captain to apply to the colonel when the captain vetoed a pass through the strict ruling laid down. Qoodwln interviewed the colonel and convinced hie superior the two songs he had in mind must be taken down in . Now York or there would result a terrific loss ot money tor him in the future, it he came back. .The colonel couldn't understand what Joe was driving at so gave him a pass. Mr. Bernstein said Joe waa the best liked man in hla com- pany and bad refused all opportunities tor advancement, saying he wanted to Stick with the privates. He aleo sidestepped an oppor- tunity placed before him to be permanently stationed in or around New York. Joe an- swered be had enlisted to be a soldier Intended to go all the, way, right Into France. Borne kid, that Joe Goodwin turned out to be. Mrs. William Hamilton, vlce-preeldent oC the Navy Club at 600 ^ifth avenue, bae Issued an appeal for mueio tor the III and wounded sailors aboard tbe U. -S. Hospital Ship, "Mercy," now a Naval Base Hospital. Pop- ular songs are tbe only amusement allowed the patients for frequent entertainment. Rec- ords will also be very aooeptable. Dither both may be sent Mrs. Hamilton, care ot Club. Tbe JazB Band of tbe Jenkins Colored Or- phan Asylum recently started a fund for a new addition to tbe asylum by the 10 or 12 pieces stopping in front ot tbe mueio pub- llsbing housea, playing their latest bit, and taking up the Contribution offered when tbe object of the visit was made known. The mueio houses are a bit worried over the draft prospects. Many ot. the firms have had their Btaffe depleted and their organisations disturbed by enlistments or calls through the ' first draft. With the 18-46 in effeot; with 82-86 or 87 to be first called, what the future win leave in the operating forces bnly tho future will tell, The final of the Animated War Song Con- test at tho Fifth Avenue, New York, will be decided nest Tuesday nigbt (Sept. 24). The contest is running nightly this week until tonight (Friday). Tho animated portion Is giving the song men an excellent opportunity of seeing the various pictures Side, by side, as it were, and they are .enabled to note the different effects the eeveral pictures have upon tbe audience. RAJAH Who, after three years in retirement, has returned to the stage in a new routine of ®'‘®^JAH"re«^^^^^ drawing attention of tho critics. She is dne In New York at Christmas time. LOEW OUT OF CHARLOTTE. Charlotte, N. C., Sept. 18. The Strand, playing Loew vaudeville (booked only) for three weeks, dis- continued it this Saturday. The Grand opera house, South Beth- lehem, Pa., playing four acts on a split week, will start with Loew’s vau- deville Sept. 23. Burtis’ Theatres at Auction. Auburn, 'N. Y., Sept. 18. To close the estate of the_ late'Edwin C, Burtis, Auburn millionaire, the en- tire Burtis holdings will be sold at public auction the latter part of the month. Two Auburn playhouses are included in the property, Burtis Grand and Cor- nell theatre. John N. Ross, head of^he Ross ty Company of New York, ii executor of the estate. The Napoleon of Fandom. CHA8. ALTBOFf