Page 24

-1
THE SHOW WORLD
24
DANCER IS DESERTED
AND LEFT DESTITUTE
Bertha McDemus, a Young Girl, Falls in Hard Lines in St.
Louis-Gossip of a Missouri Metropolis
BY BASIL WEBB
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 3.-Bertha McDe-
ius, a 17-year-old girl, wto was asso-
ciated up to the time site felI sick with
the Greatest Unit-
ed    Consolidated
Shows, who lately
played Welston, is
1y ing   suffering
with pneumonia at
the house of Mrs.
.ohn  Hill.  She
was deserted   by
the show and was
left   witiout
clothes or money.
She had been em-
ployed as a dancer
in one of the side
shows, and when
she feell sick the
manager promised
to provide a room
for her aced le
failed to do it, and
she was found by
___Mrs. Hill tossing
With fever on a
tilthy cot in a tent
whcici ,li, .a 1  I kft standing on the
show grounds. Directly she is able to
be taken with safety from the residence
of Mrs. Hill, the Rev. Father O'Leary
of Notre Dame parish has arranged for
her to be placed in a hospital.
The ordinance permitting platforms in
the moving picture theaters comes up
this week, and the action of the house
of  delegates is being watched with
great interest both by the moving pic-
ture managers and also by the theatri-
cal managers, because they all consider
that if it will be possible to run some
vaudeville in conjunction with the pic-
tures that a far more serious opposition
will be given to the regular theaters.
The committee who were appointed by
the house to look into the new ordinance
have reported favorably and it looks as
if there was an excellent chance of the
bill passing. In the event of its pass-
ing there will be plenty of work for
the smaller acts of vaudeville in this
city, as there will be at least fifty the-
aters putting on vaudeville and requir-
ing from two to six acts a week. The
bill Is being supported by a managers'
association of this city, with H. Woer-
ner as president, Frank L. Talbot as
treasurer and Sam Lears as secretary.
Frank R. Tate has just returned from
a trip to New York, where he went to
look into the details of the new vaude-
ville house which he is building in that
city, and he reports that everything is
moving along nicely and the progress
is even faster than he contemplated.
Billy Inman, who is starring at the
Standard theater, is suffering from a
very severe cold, which he is afraid
of turning into pneumonia. He is con-
tinuing to work, but under considerable
difficulties.
Larry Thomas, the manager of the
local T. M. A. headquarters, is hustling
tremendously hard to make a success
of the buffet attachment. and is meet-
ing with surprising success. He has
only lost 119 pounds In the past month,
so ie is not doing so badly. Friends
of his on the road need not be scared,
for he still weighs 462 pounds.
0. T. Crawford will soon have his
new house on Grand and Easton open.
He intends to fight hard to make the
premier theater of the residential dis-
trict.
Joe Eertzog has just returned from a
trip to Chicago. He has had a week's
vacation from the Grand Central thea-
ter and he decided to go and dodge the
Lake Michigan winds. No, we don't
know who she was.
Jim Carrigien left for New York this
week to confer with the Film Import
and Trading Company. He intends to
make arrangements to buy extensively
for his new exchange.
The Harmonious Four, who are com-
posed of Messrs. LeRoy, McLeod. Mac-
Donald and Price, have secured    the
services of four female voices in the
persons of Misses Bridges, Smythe, Ja-
cobs and Chambers, and are putting on
a singing novelty at the Gem theater in
the shape of an octette with tableaux.
This act is making a great sensation
and the theater is packed day and night.
Fred Worrell, who has been all sea-
son with the Sells-Floto show, blew into
St. Louis yesterday looking very fat
and prosperous. He announces that he
has had an excellent season with the
circus, and that he has been engaged
for next season in the same capacity as
he was this season.    He intends to
spend the winter at his home in South
Bend, Ind., if nothing else should turn
up.
Oscar Dane has so much business with
his vaudeville exchange that he has
had to add two more offices to his
sumptuously furnished suite in the Ly-
ceum  Theater building. He has just
completed arrangements for his south-
ern circuit and now has excellent time
to offer.
William  H. McLaran has just been
appointed by  1ieanager Frank L. Talbot
as the press agent of the Gem theater.
This theater is now recognized by tie
press as one of the big theaters.
Frank Grandon, who was formerly in
the employ of the Biograph Company,
has been engaged by the Gem Film Man-
ufacturing Company of this city to help
in staging the pictures. The first dra-
matic picture staged by him, entitled
"Love and Law," was a distinct suc-
cess.
Blanche Walsh, who is playing at the
Olympic theater this week in "The
Test," had rather an uncomplimentary
house to play at the opening perform
ance on Sunday. Certain patrons in the
theater did not exactly like the play
acnd thev let the star and her company
know it. The newspapers have disagreed
about this current production ofBlanche
Walsh's; some of them have praised it
and others have roasted it. So there
you are.
Barney Rosenthal, of film fame, in-
tends to go to Chicago this week to
meet his brother, Jake. and confer with
him on a new vaudeville theater that
Jake is opening in Dubuque, Iowa. Bar-
ney intends to be in Dubuque on the
opening night and to sell the firstticket
from the box office, so that the house
will have luck.
Jefferson De Angelis, who is playing
at the Garrick theater this week in
"The Beauty Spot," tells a good story
on himself. He has just been playing
two weeks of one night stands over the
kerosene circuit, and he was much put
out by the fact that the employes of
the different houses would never show
up for rehearsals. So after conferring
with Jacques Krueger, he decided to
wire to the advance man, instructing
him in future to have the house man-
ager, the musical director, the stage
carpenter, the property man and the
electrician on the stage awaiting his ar-
rival. Next day they received the beau-
tifully laconic reply from the agent, as
follows: "He will be there."
J. W. M. Vidler, the sign artist at
the Lyceum and Gem theaters, has just
undergone a painful operation at the
hands of Dr. Cody. The operation was
entirely successful and he will be about
in a day or two.
Jack Walsh, the Italian comedian, is
in the city and reports that everything
is going along fine with him.
Jack Perry, with the Cherry Blossoms,
has grown six inches since receiving
the following epistle: "Hello, John'
You're still it. The best comedian on
the circuit. Glad to see you once more.
Shake." Signed, "Barnum." Jack was
always under the impression that Bar-
num has cashed in his checks long ago,
till he remembered that it was All Souls
Day, when the dead are supposed to
return to earth, so he simply took it
as a compliment from the grave.
Eddie Mack was playing at the Cen-
tury theater in Kansas City last week
and during the middle of his act the
monkey lee uses broke its chain and
ran amuck behind the scenes, where
the chorus girls were awaiting their
entrance.  The stage beauties broke
ranks and fled out into the streets. Big
Elsie, in her endeavor to get away
quick, fell over her pet corn, through
the stage door and started rolling down
hill. When she recovered she had torn
her dress to shreds and had landed in
Kansas City, Kan.
Carlyle and Perry, the capable sister
team, announce that they are going to
desert the burlesque field next season
and are going to assume the roles of
the Russell Brothers in "The Female
Detective."
Mabel Leslie, with the Cherry Blos-
som Burlesquers, claims that she is
very sick. She says that she is off
her feed, for all she can eat is about
eight steaks, five fried pigs' ears and
seven helpings of spaghetti. Billy Inman
agrees with Mabel that she has lost
her appetite, but also claims that she
must have found a horse's to take its
place.
Joe Callis has just closed a very suc-
cessful season playing carnivals and
fair dates with Cleo. the original girl
in red. He is now booking Cleo as an
additional attraction  with  burlesque
shows. Last week he played the Cen-
tury in Kansas City and broke all rec-
ords In that city.
Edith Miller. the dainty little bur-
lesque actress, has been ailing lately.
Several members of the company have
been treating her, feeding her on ele-
phant's milk. Edith has been able to
sell her Taylor, for she has developed
a trunk ofher own.
Barnum & Bailey in South.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.. Nov. 2.-Bar-
num & Bailey are billing for Mont-
gomery for November 13. featuring
Desperado, in his flying leap.-LONG.
MURDOCK NOT RUFFLED
BY ANY IDLE RUMORS
International Projecting and Producing Company Will Deal
With Foreign Manufacturers D rect.
A representative of the Show World
called upon Mr. Murdock at l11: office
in the Schiller building and requested
an interview in regard to the rumors
and statements made regarding the In-
ternational Projecting and  Producing
Company. Mr. Murdock stated he had
nothing particular to say at this time,
but when the proper time came, he
would explain many things that will in-
terest all parties concerned.
"Have Raleigh and Roberts a right
to arbitrarily break their contract?" was
asked of Mr. Murdock.
"The law does not give anyone the
right to arbitrarily break a contract
without paying the penalty, and you
can be assured that Raleigh & Roberts
will pay that penalty."
"Well, did you see Mr. Raleigh's af-
fidavit to the effect that he had sworn
in the Supreme court of the state of
New York that the International Com-
pany had no rights to the film 'Nero'?"
-Yes, I am very glad that Mr. Raleigh
made that affidavit, as ie will be called
upon later to answer in court for the
making of that affidavit. In the mean-
time it might help his present worry
a little to know that the International
Company had placed an order for that
subject. However, we are not trying
that case now, and I have nothing fur-
ther to say."
"Did you see the signed statements
by Mr. Ambrosio, and Mr. Sciamengo
of the Itala Company?"
"Yes, I also know that as soon as
those gentlemen stepped off the boat
in New York a letter not written by
them, but by others, was handed them
for their signature. They, having con-
fidence in these parties at that time,
signed the letter, not knowing to what
use it vas going to be put."
"We note that all of the representa-
tives of all the foreign manufacturers
have been with you in Chicago for the
past five or six days. Did you people
come to an understanding and sign new
contracts?"
"That is something that I am not at
liberty to answer. That news will be
given out in due and proper time."
"Then is it a fact that these meetings
that have been going on in your offices
and the attorney's offices were for the
purpose of making contracts?"
"Again I must refuse to answer your
question or any question pertaining to
the foreign manufacturers, as I have
given them my word I would not talk
on the matter until the proper time."
"We were given to understand that
the manufacturers and representatives
left town Sunday, but we learned today
(Thursday) that some of them are still
in Chicago and have been closeted with
you all week. What have you to say
regarding that?"
"It is true that a number of the rep-
resentatives went to Buffalo and Nia-
gara Falls for a visit and that some
of the members are still in town, but
you will have to pardon me if I refuse
to talk regarding the foreign manufac-
turers at this time. However, I think
you will agree that I do not look sick
or very much worried."
"Would you mind answering one ques-
tion, Mr. Murdock, as it would be of
great interest to the exchanges which
have written our office. Have Raleigh
& Roberts the right to cancel, for any
cause, the International contracts with
the European manufacturers?"
"For good cause I presume a court
would grant the right if the European
manufacturers proved that the contract
was broken or violated by us and Ral-
eigh & Roberts were authorized as their
agent to cancel it, for that reason then
they might act in the matter, but you
must understand that the International
company holds confirmatory agreements
from the manufacturers which binds
them and does not relieve them of any
responsibility, so that today the Inter-
national company holds contracts with
the European manufacturers just as
binding as if Raleigh & Roberts never
existed."
"The Alliance had a meeting last
week, Saturday and Sunday; did that
meeting have any significance regarding
the European contracts?"
"Oh. no; thatmeeting had nothing to
do with the matter. That was a meet-
ing called for the purpose of devising
ways and means to take up lawsuits,
and for the passing upon applications
of new members and the general rou-
tine of Alliance business."
"Is it a fact that the manufacturers
attended that meeting?"
"Well, no; I cannot say they attended
the meeting. They were in conference
with me in the La Salle hotel, where
the meeting was held, and in the eve-
ning became the guests of the Alli-
ance."
"Then what does all this fuss that is
being raised by certain publications
amount to anyway?"
"It merely means that the fact that
the International company insists on do-
ing business direct with the manufac-
turers has hurt someone who wanted
intermediary profits. You will pardon
me from    saying anythig further re-
garding the. matter at thisine."
PERMANENT OPERA IS
INSURED FOR CICAGq
Auditorium Is Leased by Capitalistald
Next Season a Company Will
Be Installed.
Chicago will have grand opera perm.
nently, beginning next season. John t
Schaffer, proprietor of the Chicago Eve-
ning Post, and Andreas Dippel oper
singer, have concluded all arrangements
and Klaw & Erlanger have signed over
their lease on the Auditorium, to take
effect after the present season isoier
Capital stock of over $500,000 i to
le paid in.
MAN MEETS DEATH IN
A BIG THEATER rIRE
People's Playhouse in Philadelphia De.
stroyed and Body of Isaac Taylor
Found in the Ruins.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 4.-The Peto
pie's Theater building was wrecked by
fire Saturday, and the body of Iaatc
Taylor was found in the ruins. Three
firemen were injured. The fire is su.-
posed to have been caused from a cigar
stump. The loss is estimated at $60,000
-WARE.
Female Ventriloquist Fights,
BUTTE, Mont., Oct. 29.-11onday's
Inter-Mountain prints a special trom its
Anaconda    correspondent saying that
Maxine Wells, a ventriloquist sio re-
cently opened at the Family theater
there, when closed after the first shoT
because Manager H. I. Raub claimed.
she hadn't made good. handed said man.
ager one straight from   the shoulder
landing it on Mr. Raub's jaw. Tiss
-Wells is said also to have filed suit fh
$30 for breach of contract and for at.
torney's fees. Tuesday evening's Intr
Mountain contains a letter from Miss
WVells saying she had a contract for
week's work at the Family in An
conda and complaining of the way sii
gle girl acts are sometimes handled
but not denying that she delivered t
said blow.-BILLINGS.
MacBurney in Recital.
Thomas N. MacBurney, the notej
taritone, will give a song recital is
Music Hall, in the Fine Arts building,
Thursday evening, Nov. I. The pro-
gram contains classical and modern se
lections, including the famous prologu
from "Pagliacci."
OPERA CHAIRS
t stmed
most
rated
Severd
ofinew
stock e.
19itabe
* ~siall,~c'
V'audev
and 31
Picturet
tersh
into l
theatr
yourcit
you'll
ablysee
Write  ,
bootleleo
seiP asd BelscOCoTh
submitted om
T uplication
AMERICAN SEATINC CO-
Chicago           215W  abac B Ael .
New  York           19 W.1sth St.
Boston H  n 0gFankog r c St
Philadelphia         1235 ArchSt.
Branches            Everywhere
ANY COMPANIES COMING A        A
WEST AS THE PACIFIC
COAST
and wanting to arrangedaes or0'
Night Stands or for a Leoardeknn
so by writing to j.    at Se'dranBe-
ager Unique Theater,capty SanBer
nardino, Cal. Seating Paaysr
Orchestra, 5 pieces. .e Plastd season,
large stock coenpanoie aymeaond
1uch as 1h Beo pabeTh Ra.,n
King ChmpHoliin gworth Sto k, The
cmpaigners and others.
We will be glad tohar th iao,"
agers who play theCosthsSslI