Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-24
ILLINOIS is OFF
REGULAR CIRCUIT
Rock Island Again Entered in
Ten Invent Thirt
Glass.
PEOPLE GO ELSEWHERE
Davenport and Moline, However, VIII
Get Attractions Same as
Usual.

The announcement made by The
Argus two weeks ago that the Illinois
| theater was to be converted into a
stock company house, was officially
confirmed today by Manager R. H.
| Taylor. The Morgan Stock company,
which has been appearing at the local
Airdome the past two summers, will
| inaugurate the new policy, opening the
| 2Sth of this month.
| Thus the people of Rock Island are
required to go either to Davenport or
Moline to see the first class attractions.
| They had a dose of this medicine some
| years ago. At that time they felt that
they had passed the tank town degree,
and they got together and subscribed
their money to build a new theater
that would give the city a fresh start
in things theatrical. The Illinois was
the result.
Break with KIav & ErIaBGer.
Chamberlin, Kindt & Co. are the les
sees of the Illinois. They control
| houses in Davenport, Moline, and a
dozen other cities in this section of
the country Heretofore the firm book
ed through Klaw & Erlanger. Klaw &
Erlanger, it should be explained, are
commonly termed the theatrical trust.
They dictate the routing of the major
ity of the leading companies in the
United States. The Shuberts, a young
firm in New York, have for several
years been forming a combination to
fight the so-called trust They have
gained considerable Roadway, and to
day have under their control num-
Der of the more prominent stars.
At the beginning of the current sea
son Chamberlin, Kindt & Co. declared
for the open door" policy. In other
words, they informed Klaw & Erlanger
that they intended to so into the open
market for the attractions that they
would play on their circuit This
meant that the Shuberts were to com
pete against Klaw & Erlanger in the
houses in this territory that they for
years had first call upon in the matter
of booking arrangements.
Cancel All Bookings.
Klaw G ErIanger answered Chamber
lin, Kindt & Co that they would with
draw from further dealings with them;
that they would not accept the open
door plan All plays booked on the
Chamberlin, Kindt & Co. circuit were
cancelled by Klaw & Erlanger-that
is, all the attractions the routing Of
which they controlled.
The upshot of the breach is the bring
ing of the Grand in Davenport and the
Barrymore in Moline under the Klaw
& Erlanger banner. Klaw & Granger
declare they have no fight with the
Shuberts. They say in this territory
their war is with Chamberlin. Kindt &
Co. KIaw & Erlanger have contracted
to book their attractions for five years
/ in the Grand and Barrymore. That
means that for that period Of time. at
least, no company over which they
exert any influence will appear in any
of the Chamberlin, Kindt & Co. houses.
City Disseminated Against.
| Rock Island people are concerned in
/ the break only in so far as it effects the
| Illinois theater. They fail to under
stand why they should be discrimina-
ted against, for they can take ii no
other way when they see that the reg
ular road shows are TO be given by
/ Chamberlin, Kindt & Co to their Mo
/ line and Davenport patrons, as in the
/ past, while theatergoers here will eth
er have to be satisfied with ten-twent-
thirt or go to one of the neighboring
cities if they wish to see a good play
/ The position of Chamberlin, Kindt &
Co. is that there are competing houses
in Davenport and Moline, and they are