More Mergers

Cheese. Kraft Cheese Co. and Phenix Cheese Corp. solved the difficult matter of preparing cheese so that they could be sold in convenient packages, and together acquired joint rights to important patents. Others who infringed those patents were sued and defeated. That left Kraft's President James Lewis Kraft and Phenix's President Jason F. Whitney free to discuss the mergers of their companies. Last week President Kraft announced that Kraft Cheese had bought the assets of Phenix Cheese, that it was forming a new company (Kraft-Phenix Cheese Co.) worth roundly $20,000,000, that he would be chairman of the board, that Mr. Whitney would be president. Kraft Cheese has been developing a dairy industry in southern states (TIME, Dec. 19, et ante).

Burlesque. The burlesque industry locks wheels no longer. Last week the Columbia and Mutual Circuits, long competitors, merged in a holding company, the United Burlesque Circuit. Their 45 theatres and 45 revolving shows emerge as the only burlesque "wheel" in U. S. Aside from scattered, independent burlesque stock companies the field is clear to the control of the United.

Robust burlesque maidens and gentlemen in baggy trousers have been marching across U. S. stages these many years; marching, singing, telling jokes. Among them have been such major artists as Jim Barton, Clark and McCullough, Fanny Brice, the late Bert Williams, Belle Baker, Weber and Fields, David Warfield, Grace La Rue. Often the jokes have been off color; often the robust maidens have been elaborately exposed, so often that burlesque is often considered a rowdy industry. Sam A. Scribner, onetime circus man, fighting for years against unsavory shows, brought his Columbia wheel to a point of considerable respectability. In spite of this (perhaps because of it) profits were inconstant. Burlesque competition, movie competition, changing conditions in the whole amusement business forced changes. Colored shows, straight dramatic shows, strange hybrids he added to his wheel. Yet, owing to enmity of the Mutual, the gamble grew for each. Sam Scribner decided to stop trying to outclass the field and absorb it. This done, he becomes chairman of the United Burlesque board, will now devote much of his time to golf. President of the new combine will be able "Izzie" Herk, long a leader in the business, since 1922 head of the opposing Mutual Circuit.

Sterling Silver. Manufacturers are Reed & Barton Corp., of Taunton, Mass., Dominick & Haff, Inc., of Newark, N. J. and McChesney Co., also of Newark, N. J. (controlled by Dominick & Haff). They have merged.

Gears. Four of the oldest manufacturers of gears merged: Van Dorn & Dutton of Cleveland, Ohio Forge of Cleveland, William Ganschow of Chicago and Fawcus Machine of Pittsburgh. Called Gears & Forgings, Inc., their combined resources are $6,000,000, their combined annual output $7,500,000.