In May 1907, vaudeville manager Percy Williams left New York for Europe on board the German liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. "He is taking his large automobile and his chauffeur along," the New York Dramatic Mirror disclosed, "and in the machine, will visit the principal cities of Europe, and many of the smaller places, keeping his eyes open all the time for novelties to be secured for next season."1 Williams's departure came at a critical moment in the "vaudeville wars," during which US managers looked beyond North American borders for acts that would propel them past their local rivals. As a member of the United Booking Office (UBO), vaudeville's leading "trust," Williams represented his own interests as well as those of his associates. But he was not alone. The previous month, Clifford C. Fischer and Alfred E. Aarons, agents for the newly formed United States Amusement Company (USAC), had begun a similar European scouting mission, threatening the UBO's dominance by quickly signing several British headliners. In traveling to Europe with his automobile and chauffeur, then, Williams showcased his privileged hyper-mobility, projecting an image of constant readiness and speed.KeywordsLegitimate TheatreMass ImmigrationOcean LinerAmerican TheatreScottish SocietyThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.