The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-24
BRADY READY TO
GIVE RICHMOND
STARS OF STAGE
Offers toBuyLeath Stock
andHave Open Door
Here.
REFUSAL MEANS
NEW PLAY HOUSE.
Formal Answer to Be Given To-
Day-Acaderny Declines to
Book Marlowe and Sothern
for Fear Of Offend
ing Klaw &
Erlanger.

William a. Brady. president OF tile
National Producing Managers Asso-
ciation Of America, virtually opened
the way yesterday for independent at
fractions at the Academy of Music
next season. Coming from New York
on a hurried trip, he submitted two
offers to Miss Monte Leath. who con-
trolls the majority interest in tha
Leath circuit. and will receive fnat
answer to-day. The acceptance Of his
proposition to permit the independents
to appear in the Academy will give
Richmond people opportunity OF en-
joying the best attractions on the
American stage to-day instead OF he-
Klaw & E,rlanger. the backbone OF a
ing forced to pay for such things as
| fading syndicate. elect to send
Best Town Closed.
Richmond is one of the ten I'M
| portant cities III the United States
! in which the syndicate has an abso-
lutte monopoly. Being the gateway to
the South. It occupies a unique posi-
tion. For years not theatrical man
aeer in the South dared offend Klaw
& Erlanger. They might not admit1it.
but people familiar with the situation
long ago found out that local man
ayers were helpless. that they had to
accept what was sent. and that X they
f,irted with independents they would
be cut off at the knees. That would
have meant many dark nights. But
lately there has been a rebellion.
Brady and a host of others broke
away from the syndicate. They orr
| ganized bigger association and they
now control more real big attractions
| than Klaw & Erlanger have on their
ltt.o ~ f~h.
mond, admittedly the best theatre
town Of Its size In the country be-
| cause Jake Wells had hooked in with
the syndicate.
Since the death Of Thomas G. Leath.
! head OF the circuit which bears his
name. negotiations have been under
way In New York Greanor Neal went
there some weeks ago, about the time
that New York newspapers were
printing that Mr. Wells had jumped
over to the Shuberts. But the local
people denied that there was anything
in the wind: they denied it last night
even when matters had virtually been
closed. Having inherited Mr.. Leath's
stock. Miss Leath had to be consulted.
and as stated above. she will give her
answer to-day. Mr.. Brady went back
to New York last night. leaving a.
representative to hear the report.
Brndy's Formal Offer.
Through Richmond represents
tive who was sent to Petersburg this
afternoon" said Mr. Brady to Tha
Times-Dispatch, two offers were
made Miss Leath: First. that she open
the door of the Academy OF Music In
Richmond and Norfolk to the inde-
pendents without, of course, barring
Klaw & Erlanger; second. that sha
name price which she would be will
ing to accept for her holdings, which
would make 1t possible for Richmond
| people to see 100 per cent. and not
| % per cent. of current attractions.
and, again, that II she barred the in-
dependents to accept notice that we
would lease or build theatres in Rich
mond and Norfolk in opposition to
| those which denied entrance to the in,s
| dependents. Miss Leath is coming TO
Richmond for conference with her
attorney. at which she, will name
| price for her stock or else agree to
lease the houses for q satisfactory
sum. From the information which
was brought me from Petersburg,
am confident that we will como to
terms"
Mr.. Brady emphasized the fact that
he was not attempting to drive any
body into line by threats of building a
theatre, I'VE would rather not build
for obvious reasons he said, "but IL
wa cannot get into the Academy.
right here at the gateway of the
South. we shall certainly lease another
theatre rebuild and enlarge II. and
enter this field.
Refused Two Stars.
You take the Academy Of Music.
for instance. know exactly what
kind of a contract it has with Klaw
& Erlanger. Klaw & Erlagner are
obligated to give the house the best
line of attractions which so out from
New York. This afternoon offered
to bring Edward II. Sothern and Julia
Marlowe to Richmond next fall. They
refused to give me date. i asked
why The lawyer told mo that II
| would break their contract with the
| syndicate You break It, said, and
I put the lawsuit on me. tell yoll.
| klaw & Erlanger have broken their
| contract with Won because they haSa
| not lived up to IT, inasmuch as they
| failed to give you the best line OF
/ attractions, as they agreed,
"Is there anybody who knows any,
| thing about theatre who will say
| that Marlowe and sothern are inferins
I to other starsea
Brady is a rnuch bigger theatrf.
| cal man than Marc Klaw or Abe Era
| LANCER. He stood the tactics OF thu
trust until he had to begin kicking
/ 1t to death, Some OF the leading pro.
| ducers have bolted the syndicate, untf
/ today the independents have moro
| than double the number Of ntgh-clasf Y
people a s5..
| How II Hurts ruhiic,
/ There Is one point which The Richf
In1cnd theatregoers Mil have to kast
/ in mind. and that Is that sincs lAs u