The evening times., 1899-01-07
ACTOR FRANCIS.
WILSON HESIlATES
The Comedian Not Yet in the
Theatrical Syndicate.
Several Conferences With Nixon &
Zimmerman.
The Star Not Satisfied With Limita
tions SuESesfed-N0 Remarkable
Inducements offered.

Notwithstanding the announcements to
the contrary, Francis Wilson, the operate
comedian, has not, it is said on excellent
authority, made terms with the Theatri-
cal Syndicate, also known as the Theatri-
cal Trust.
This is not to say that Mr.. Wilson will
not be absorbed by the syndicate, for the
compromise may yet be made.
An evidently inspired dispatch from
Philadelphia. which was recently printed
by local contemporary, read as follows:
II was announced today that Nixon ZnnmeF-
man, the theatrical managers, have signed a CON
tract with Francis Wilson, by which they be-
come managers OF and half owners in all OF that
comedians operatic business whatsoever. The
deal was made last night, during an accidental
meeting between Mr.. Wilson and the managers,
AT which the matter broached, and the cornei-
ian asked his price. Mr. Zimmerman
tonight stated that the contract will continue
for FIVE and onc-half years.
Since the combination OF theatrical managers
into what is spoken OF as the- Theatrical trust,
Mr.. Wilson has declined 10 place himself undcr
their control. Mr.. Zimmerman states that after
the comedian has fulfilled his existing contracts
with other managers, his business viii be con
trolled by Nixon & Zimmerman.
The dispatch speaks of the deal as though
1t had already been consummated. IL was
learned last night from most reliable
quarter that Mr. Wilson has not yet tied
himself to the syndicate and that there
is an excellent probability that he VIII con-
tinue to remain independent
Several months ago the so-called the
atrical trust made oyertures TO Mr.. Wilson
and since that time Ariel Barney, the
comedians manager has been to Phila-
delphia in consultation with these mem
bers of the combination.
Since leaving New York Mr.. Wilson has
been playing principally one-night stands,
and although his business has been good
in the aggregate il is understood that he
would welcome the booking of complete
circuit with longer engagements.
Mr. Wilson is therefore. ready TO so into
the combine on the condition that its man
ayers demonstrate TO his satisfaction that
his business will be augmented by the ar
rangement.
Although Mr.. Wilson's manager has
made several trips to Philadelphia this
week to confer with Nixon a. thinner
man. the latter have yet been unable 10
show convincing proofs that the comedian
will benefit greatly in pocket by coming
into their fold.
The towns where they have offered to
book the operate funny man are already
open TO him and he can secure dates there
at any time he may desire. Besides, they
lay down stringent rules for Mr. Wilson,
which are said to be distasteful 10 him and
which he is unwilling to accept.
He is now absolutely independent. 1t is
understood, from an excellent source, that
Nixon & Zimmerman, among other
things. desire to dictate his advertising
methods and the distribution of ltho-
graphs ard other paper; that they will not
permit Mr.. Wilson to bill himself as Law
ishly as he has been doing. and that they
will arbitrarily limit his newspaper space
according to their own notions without
consulting him. They would. also, in the
event CT his surrender. select the theatres
in which he is TO appear, and Mr.. Wilson
would have absolutely no voice respecting
his route.
1t can be authoritatively stated that so
lcng as these and other arbitrary condi-
tions imposed are insisted upox, Mr.. Will
son will hesitate to surrender himself to
the direction of Nixon & Zimmerman.
Their inability to show him largely in
creased financial returns, coupled with
limitations which he does not relish, will
tend to keep the star from making the ar
rangement which has been enormously
stated as already consummated II is
understood that unless generous conces-
sicns are made. the dicker between the
comedian and the theatrical syndicate will
go no further.
The telegram sent out from Philadelphia
on Monday should have announced that ne
gotiations between the members of the syn
dicate and the operate comedian had sim
ply been opened and not that Mr.. Wilson
had accepted the terms and agreed to sur
render himself and his ventures into the
hands of the alleged trust
Mr.. Wilson has done an excellent busi-
ness in Washington this week. having ap-
peared to large houses at the Grand where
he is playing in The Little Corporal He
is convinced that he has had a better pat
ronage than he would have enjoyed had he
been under the management of the syndi-
cate. That organization would not have
permitted him to bill himself as generously
as he has done and would have cut down
his advertising. He has also had the pub
lie sympathy for standing out against the
alleged trust, and that has brought him a
percentage of his Washington patronage
1t may be stated that thus far the Nixon
& Zimmerman combination and Mr. Wilson
are decidedly at odds. and that unless the
former makes new proposition, embody-
ing more liberties and tonng down the
somewhat onerous conditions already pro-
posed, the plan will fall TO the ground.
1t will require strong argument to con-
vince the operate comedian that he can
reap larger rewards through the arrange
ment discussed and that it will be wise for
tirely to the wishes of the alleged trust.