The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-20
SLAPOFFSKI
MEETS HARD
EXPERIENCE
Husband Of Prima
Donna Accuses
Manager.
Asserts Sam'l O. Posen
ViCtimized Noted
SOngStress.
Refusal to Sing in Ten-Cent
Theater Takes Strife to
Local Courts.

samI O. Posen. as he was known in
the olden days, AI. B. Curtis Of to-day,
has grappled in the courts with Elizabeth
Frances Slapofsld, the noted English
prlma donna now appearing al the Or
pheum. Before the judgment comes there
viii be told on the stand a tale astound-
ing 10 the histrionic world for Madame
and her husband are prepared for the
fray. Marie A. Curtis, wife of Saml o
Posen, his alleged successor TO a con-
tract under The terms Of which Madame
SlapOnsE was 20 sing, when he gave the
nod. up 10 January Is. 1907, sued Madame
yesterday for 5000 damages for breach
of agreement. 1t is alleged that Madame
SlapOffski repudiated the contract on the
1st inst, refusing TO accept an engage
ment 10 sing for seven days in Stock
ton and that hence her agreement to for
felt 5000 should she break the contract
is now in. full force and effect. But
Madame Slspofski and her husband,
Gustav, known for his genius as an ex-
ponent Of the great Wagner, have a de-
fense that is startling.
"Repadiate the agreement with Curtis?
OF course. we have, said Gustav Slapof-
ski last evening. My wife has been ter
ribly deceived. Poor little woman, she
was no match for them" and Madame
who was preparing in her dressing room
al the OrpheUm for appearance before
the fOotlights, nodded agreement with his
view. Madame SlapoffsH has given her
years 10 art. and it was evident from
the most casual observation that she
would stand as little show with one that
had rubbed elbows with American fren-
zied financiers as an icicle on the beard
Of Beelzebub. Slapofski continued:
BOOKED FOR TEN-CENT HOUSES.
Madame Slapoffsh has earned $1,000 in
nineteen working weeks and though
Curtis has received all of the money he
says she still owes him $40O. Here's
finance for you My little wife earn
ing all the money, receiving none of it.
and still in debt. And do you know why
we broke the contract? Because Curtis
booked her TO sing three times a day
for seven daYs in the Novelty IO-cent
theater at Stockton. Oh horrorsi Seven
days in Stockton, the star in a 10-cent
theater,
we met Curtis in Auckland, and
knowing nothing about him believed all
he told US He said he had entered into
negotiations with George Abbott TO pro-
ouee comic operas IN Australasia and
wanted Madame 10 be the prima donna
/ consented that she should come to
America TO sing in concert and see all of
the new comic operas, that she might Sc
lect those she desired TO present When
Curtis got her over here, however, he told
her that Abbott had repudiated his agree
ment and that Madame Slapoffski, being
without funds. would have TO sign a con-
tract to tour the United States, Canada
and British Columbia This was in May
OF 190f, and in October of that year Cur
tbs substituted his wife as the party of
the first part to the contract
Then the trouble began. I received no
letters from my wife and she received
none from me, though we wrote regular
ly. My letters were addressed to my wife
in care Of Curtis, and hers were given TO
him TO mail, so you can draw your own
inference. Finally, becoming alarmed, /
started for America to find out what was
the matter. I went to New York and
there I met Curtis. He told me my wife
was in New Orleans and we took the boat
for that city. he paying the fare as I
was without funds. When we drew into
the pier at New Orleans observed Mrs.
Curtis awaiting her husband, but my wife
was not there.
THREATENED WITH ARREST.
What does this mean. is my wife
ill?" I said to Curtis. mo he an
swered, 1T means that your wife is in
Omaha and that we've got you where
we want you, and unless you sign the
contract entered into by your wife with
my wife we will have her jailed for
debt and we will throw you into prison,
too OF course, I was alarmed, and
wanting to get TO my wife's side as
QUICKLY as possible i signed the con-
tract Then I asked them TO let me go
TO my wife, but they told me It was
impossible, as IL was against the rules
Of the theaters in America for husbands
TO travel with their wives Finally.
however, they gave me a ticket and 1
went TO my wife. when 1 heard of all
that had happened TO her.
She told me Curtis and his wife had
been maligning me and said that the
absence Of letters from me was due to
an affair Of mine with another woman
in far away Australia When I ac-
cused them Of their perfdy they told me
my wife was drunk every night and
didn't know what she was saying
Here was a pretty predicament 1 ac-
cused OF unfaithfulness, my wife ac-
cused OF inebriety But we had known
each other too long and their malicious
charges did not convey TO either Of us
even a suspicion of truth.
Then found how the financial mat
ters were going Madame Slapoffski
was receiving a salary of $500 a week.
Curtis took this, cut II in two, put $3.50
a week in his pocket and then paid
all OF the travelling and hotel expenses
for himself, his wife and Madame Slap
offski out OF her half-at least he let
her half go as Ear as It would. The re-