Variety (April 1920)

yARIfifY 23 ■- AS TO STAGE DIRECTORS There hias.been some comment on my action in placing stage directors in the different theatres that I represent.. Ref- erence has been made in notes in the trade papers that it was done to antagonize the stage hands, itc, and all kind of reasons have been offered, except that for which I placed them there—for the good of the artists, to look after their comfort; to see to their baggage, their dressing rooms, their music, their every comfort back on the stage; to see that they receive what they want with as little friction as possible; also to have one head to go to, instead of running here, there and everywhere for what they want, which has been the general custom. . • — These men are in reality Assistant House Managers, and when back on the stage, they represent the manager. This, is an innovation, and innovations generally cause cHticisra, but if those who criticize would look into the other' > part of it, and report the benefits that the artists are receiving, they woud help to carry out the spirit of these improved conditions in vaudeville, instead of trying to create misunderstandings. . I refer particularly to VARIETY, which' had a squib in last week about a Stage Manager leaving, giving ds a cause that he was peeved at my putting a Stage Director in at the Riverside theatre. The man received an offer of a position which he considered better than the Riverside, and accepted it, which was the business thing to do, and as far as I can learn there was no thought in his mind of anything else except to better himself. , The letters that I have received from artists in reference to these Assistant House Managers, and' th^ help that they have received since they were placed in the theatres, is encouraging, and convinces me that those who receive the benefits recognize what these men are there for. « £. F.ALBEE. ■m ■'■'.:*X' . -lis ARTISTS EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE "A TRIP TO HITLAND" '* ' ■ , ' With ■ ''■'■:■'■':■■' ■ ■.:'.'■ TEN OF AMERICA'S FOREMOST SONG WRITERS * ' ' » , • • * - \ ' ' Mr. E. F. Albee, '- En Route, April 24, 1920. , Palace Theatre Bldg., * . l New York City, N. y. Dear Mr. Albee: " ~ j We, the undersigned members of "A TRIP TO HITLANO," an act headlining the Keith and Orpheum Circuits for ]the past tiiiree months, take this means of expressmg our sincere gratitude and thanks to yourself and the following officials (of the above named circuits: Messrs. William Roche, Manager Palace Theatre, Chicago; Harry Singer, Manager Stiiite-. Lake Theatre, Chicago; Fred Moe, Manager Palace Theatre, Milwaukee; William Russell, Manager Rialto Theatre. St. Louis; Martin Beck, Manager Orpheum Circuit; George Gottlieb, of the Orpheum Circuit, and Mr. Mike Shea,.Manager of Shea's Theatres in Buffalo and Toronto, for their kind consideration and treatment extended us while playing their yaiious theatres. WUle playing the Palace, Chicago, Mr. Bernie Grossman, one of the members of this act, was taken in with appendicitis, and \was operated on at the American Hospital in that city, which compelled us to play the above mentioned theatres with nine members, instead of ten, and we want you and the other named gentlemen to-know how grateful,wo felt'in receivmg our full and complete salary in every one of the theatres mentioned. We aU feel that we can never show our appreciation to you and the above named gentlemen in the way we would Kketo. As this organization is run under Parlfamentary Laws, a vote of thanks to yourself and the above named gentlemen was" placed in our minutes, and the record of such will be one of the most pleasant memories in the lives of each member of "A TRIP TO HITLAND." tnd We hope to have the good fortune to play the theatres under your wonderful management for many years to come,; if all our wishes come true, you will live many years to direct this marvelous chain of Vaudeville Theatres. Sincerely yours, BILLY FRISCH SAM EHRLICH WILL DONALDSON. JIMMIE BROWN NAT VINCENTi BOBBY JONES AL. SIECEL BILLY BASKETTE LEON FLATOW BERNIE GROSSMAN "■"■ -4- H . . April 26, 1920. Gentlemen: Yours of April 24th signed by the entire company received, and I have turned same over to Mr. Beck to read, I am pleased to know that the desire on the part of the m anagers to see that the artists are shown every consideration is bearing such good fruit. I receive letters of a similar nature from all circuits in the United States and Canada. It gives the managers confidence. There is no single man or a small group of managers that is carrying on this work—it is being done by every manager in vaudeville. Thanks for your letter and kindly sentiment expressed therein. - With sincere good wishes, * Cordially, (Signed) E, F. ALBEE. /'A TRIP TO HITLAND" 1493 Broadway, New York, N. Y. » •V.B "i^ ^'' ^4^<i>'^':i^^<^i^^^4^H^4>^4^^^