The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-17
POLI-KEITH COMBINE
VAUDEVILLE EXPERIENCES 4
NEW INNOVATION

Makes Local Manager Power in the
vaudeville Situation-Can Now Book
! FOrty-five Weeks--Keith Gets Out of
WOrcester-Division of Territory.
Another extraordinary turn in the big
vaudeville merger that has been flash
ed on the country has brought B. F.
Keith and S. 2. Poll into alliance. The
union was affected on Tuesday, and le-
gal papers have been drawn up and
signed by both that make the alliance
effective for the next ten years, and
possibly for a longer term.
1! means an end of the keen and
active rivalry that has existed for sew
eral years between these vaudeville
magnates, and the beginning of an era
of peace and business cooperation.
| Following so close upon the an
nouncement that Mr. Keith and F. f,
Proctor had effected a merger of their
New York and Jersey City interests,
| the news that Mr.. Poll has also made
an alliance with Mr.. Keith has created
the biggest kind Of a sensation. 1t is
occasioning no end of discussion and
comment in theatrical circles whers it
is regarded as even more momentous
happening in the consequences it en-
tails and the results it effects than even
the Proctor-Keith merger.
BY the terms of the arrangement en-
tered into by Mr.. Keith and Mr.. Poll
all the theaters owned and operated by
the latter VIII henceforth be booked
through the Keith agency in New York,
Mr.. Keith gives up the Park theater
in worcester, which he has been oper-
ating during the past season in opposi-
ton to Mr., Polls theater in that city,
and as an equivalent Mr.. Poll a5andons
his proposed erection of a new theater
In Jersey City, leaving the field theirs
to be occupied by the Keith-Proctor
forces. Mr.. Poll will however, build
his theaters in Scranton and Wilkes
Barre, Pa, where he expects to have
completed and ready for occupancy
early in the fall. The two magnates
have also agreed and contracted each
with the other not TO invade any of the
territory now occupied by either, ana
by further agreement Mr.. Poll con-
tracts not to enter any Of the territory
now occupied by Mr.. Proctor. In other
words, the alliance between Mr. Keith
and Mr.. Poll is an agreement not to
conflict hereafter in the matter of
booking or the acquisition of new ter
ritory, all the booking for the Keith,
Proctor and Poll theaters being made
through the Keith Office, and there be-
ing henceforth no competing theaters in
any city controlled by these interests
1t will thus be seen that Mr.. Poll
surrenders none of his identity or tho
prerogatives that he has heretofore en-
ioyed, with the sole exception Of agree
ing to withdraw from Jersey City in
return for Mr.. Kelth's surrender of
Worcester, and he has gained the ex-
traordinary privilege of having his
theaters made links in the chain Of for
ty-five tneaters now booked through
the Keith office. What this means of
gain to Mr.. Poll and the clientele he
serves in the theaters of his circuit
may easily be imagined.
Mr.. Polls circuit now includes New
Haven Hartford, Bridgeport and Wa
terbury in Connecticut, Springfield and
Worcester In Massachusetts,, and by
fall will include Scranton and Wilkes
Barre in Pennsylvania. He has d num-
Der Of other cities also In view. and
they will be annexed in due time, the
new arrangement making 1t asler for
him TO acquire new places, without
risk Of stirring up bitter rivalry in
powerful quarters.
AS one result of the alliance made
with Mr.. Keith, Mr.. Poll is brought in
to closer relations of friendiness with
Klaw & Erlanger and the big vaude-
vile forces In the west. Indeed, It was
largely through Mr.. Erlanger that the
way was paved for Mr.. Keith and Mr.,
Poll to get together and 50 arrange
their affairs that the alliance was ef-
fected sThe results Of the new ar
rsngement, 1t Is believed, will be made
Immediately apparent in all the Poll
theaters by a still higher grade of at
fractions than have ever been present
ed In them, as there will be nothing in
the way hereafter Of performers ac-
cepting Poli time without antagonizing
powerful forces as in the past. And