The San Francisco call., 1909-04-03
TRUST BOOKINGS
INDEFINITE AS
RESULT OF WAR
Manager Gottlob of Van Ness
Theater Unable to Give C0m=
plete List of Attractions
Sudden Uncertainty Believed to
Have Been Caused by Ac-
tivity of Shuberts

That San Francisco will be the cen
ter of hostilities in the war between
Klaw & Erlanger. the syndicate" and
the Shuberts, as told exclusively in The
Call last Thursday, is borne out by
the fact that the bookings for the
regular season at the Van Ness the
ater. the local trust theater, are indef-
mite, and that in the absence of
complete list of attractions no list at
all will be given by Manager J. ].
Gottlob
In the schedule of plays for the Van
Ness between now and September,
when the regular season begins, only
one Nine Nazimova, the Russian ac-
tress, is under the management of the
Shuberts. The balance of the list,
which includes Marie Doro. Billie
Burke. Otis Skinner, John Drew, Will
liam GiHett, Ethel Barrymore, N. C.
Goodwin and the Merry Widow" are
controlled by Klaw & Erlanger The
booking of Nine. Nazimova was ar
ranged before the Shuberts decided to
make a chain of theaters from New
York to the coast for their own stars.
GottIob Returns
j. ]. Gottlob, manager of the Van
Ness theater, returned Thursday night
from New York, where he went to ar
range with the theater kings for at
fractions for the regular season here.
He refused to divulge the names of any
of the stars who Will appear after Sep
tember, stating that the uncertainty of
theatrical bookings made it impossible
to give a complete list of the attrac-
tions for the regular season.
That this uncertainty is due to the
late activities of the Shuberts, who
control a large number of the popular
stars, who under normal conditions
would appear at the Van Ness, Gottlob
would not adult and the uncertainty
at this time is significant inasmuch as
heretofore the trust could tell with pre-
cision the attractions which would ap-
pear during the entire season.
Invasion Rumored in Gotham
Gottlob said that the rumor of Shu-
bert's intended invasion of the western
theatrical field was current In New
York when he left. but that it was de-
MED at Shubert's office. He said. how
ever. that the denial had no significance
as the proposed plans would not be dis
cussed in advance.
Gottlob said that he had no knowl-
edge of the details of the troubles be-
tween the theatrical forces, but be-
lieved that Klaw & Erlanger would
not refuse a booking to any recog-
nized attraction providing the terms
could be arranged. lie said that many
of the stars demanded higher percent
ages of profit than the trust would
allow and said that Mrs. Fiske was one
of those whose break from Erianger
was on this account
Mrs. FiSke Poor Attraction
For years Mrs. Fiske was a poor
attraction and had lost money for every
theater manager in the country" said
Gottlob yet she made demands for
better terms than Klaw & Erlanger
would give her. She then began her
Independent career under the manage
ment of her husband, and as she had
become better known, began to make
money. She has been very consistent
and the present arrangement appears
to be satisfactory. Her break with
Erlanger was simply matter of dis
agreement in terms"
BeIasco Trouble Personal
"Belasco's break was a personal mat
ter and the outcome of falling out.
don't know what the trouble is with
Faversham, but I may say that I don't
believe Klaw & Erlanger would refuse
him booking. 1t is not business The
so called trust has made the brinpine
Of attractions to the coast possible
Shuberts coming here with theaters Is
of no more Significance than a new de
partment store being started. 1t IS
competition, not war
Old Partnership Renewed
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call
NEW YORK, April 2-Edward II
Sothern and Miss Julia Marlowe have
decided to resume their partnership
which was broken in 1907. They viii
appear together on the same stage in
Shakespearean dramas. supported bv
players drawn from their present sepa-
rate companies.
The theater chosen for their reap
pearance is the Academy of Music. and
the date has been set for May Is. i'm
mediately after each fulfills the present
contracts arranged by their booking
agents. the Shuberts.
The greatest secrecy has been OBJ
served regarding the arrangement. IT
was said tonight that the two players
will act as their own managers.
One of the reasons why the stars
have wished to keep their summer
plans secret is that it is acknowI
edged generally that fhey mill \