San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

September Qth, 1899 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Snap Shots JUST OF PASSING INTEREST Florence Roberts Interviewed 44 f am fearfully busy packing" said 1 Miss Roberts to a Dramatic Review man last Tuesday morning at the hotel Savoy. "I leave for New York to-night and with that common failing, have put off making ready until the last moment." The same charm and magnetism which characterizes Miss Roberts' work behind the footlights pervades the personality of Mrs. Morrison of private lile and one might imagine her about to receive at five o'clock tea or performing some other social function, but the worry incidental to "packing up" seemed to rest very lightly on her shoulders. ' 'Tell me all about your new paper, ' ' she said. The reporter reviewed briefly the aims and hopes of the Dramatic Review. "I am deeply interested in all things pertaining to Drama" she said, "and hope your enterprise will be a grand success. There is certainly a broad field here for just such a paper." "I go to join Mr. Morrison in New York and we will rest at Peeksville on the Hudson for a few weeks before starting rehearsals for our regular fall tour, which closes in Portland, Or., the last of May. Then I play an engagement of eight weeks at the Alcazar without Mr. Morrison. Mr. Whittlesey will not be with the company the coming season, but joins us here in San Francisco for our Oriental tour, which follows immediately after I close my season at the Alcazar." "I am looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to the trip, for while I have played in almost every city of any size in America, my professional engagements have never taken me off the continent." "We will show at Honolulu, several places in Japan, possibly Manila and Australia and New Zealand." "Have you any new productions in view for the coming season?" was asked. "Mr. Morrison attends to that and though there are several in prospect I cannot say what they are with any certainty." Are you pleased with San Francisco and your reception here ?" "Do I like San Francisco?" exclaimed Miss Roberts, "why it is my home. I came here often when a child. My mother lives here. I made my first professional appearance on the stage where I have just closed such a successful engagement. I met my husband here. Do I like San Francisco ? There is only one city in the world for me and that is dear old 'Frisco." "The audiences here are uniformly kind and sympathetic with me, but on Sunday night last when I closed my season at the Alcazar the bond seemed so strong and the sympathy so pronounced I had a hard time keeping the tears from my eyes. After the curtain fell for the last time I was in my dressing room with Miss Thompson of the Call; the orchestra came outside of the door and played 'good-bye sweet heart good-bye.' I broke down completely and wept." California. Theatre Changes A complete transformation is being effected in the interior of the California Theatre and when it is reopened in about three weeks the public will be amazed at the change presented. The dividing line between the orchestra and dress circle has been removed, there will be a gradual slope from foyer to stage, and by this arrangement one hundred seats will be added to the capacity of the lower floor. Two new curtains and a complete set of scenery will be added, the house will be re-tinted and frescoed, a new switch board and electrical work will be put in place, and, in short, the theatre when completed will be one of the handsomest in the country. Manager S. H. Friedlander, is now East looking after his bookings which include the strongest attractions now traveling. During his absence, S. C. Oppenheimer, his business manager, is on deck looking after affairs. Paderewski's long-talked-of opera is now definitely announced for next November, at Dresden. The subject is Polish, and it is said that the music will be Polish in character also. . The pianist is shortly to make a concert tour in the United States, and if his opera proves a success in Germany, he hopes to make arrangements for its production in the United States. A NEW SINGER Fannie Francisco, better known to her San Francisco friends as Fannie Michelson, has been making for herself a most enviable reputation in Europe. She was a phenomenal success in Amsterdam, where she sang an engagement of nine months. She was invited to sing at the coronation of Queen Wilhemina, at Amsterdam, who afterwards invited her to appear before her at the Hague. The young queen was so pleased with the American singer that she presented her with a very handsome bracelet as a token of her regard. Miss Francisco will appear the coming season at Dresden. OUR LETTER BOX Persons wishing to reach members of the profession out west, whose addresses are unknown, may send letters in care of the Dramatic Review. A stamped envelope, plainly addressed, must be enclosed with application for each letter. After jo days letters will be sent to the dead letter office. Morris Meyerfeld, Jr. and Charley Schimpf, of the Orpheum , are telling one another what a money-maker is the vaudeville show business. They are tickled at the outlook, which promises big box office receipts They have just signed some more big hits, too. Fred Belasco is very well satisfied just now. His new stock company is all right and promises to be the most popular the Alcazar ever had. J. J. Gottlob caught in expressive mood— hoping for more Henry Miller seasons, and hence more prosperity and embonpoint. Joe Gottlob and Harry Morosco happened in the other day at a thirst quenching place when the following story of how he got revenge was told confidentially by Joe. He said that a lady wanted to see Clay Clement in the New Dominion that night, but she wanted to take her pet Fido with her. Joe, with that courtly suavity which has made the Columbia box office so popular replied that it was against the rules of the theater and though loth to do so, gave her a polite but none the less decided negative to the plan to have Fido share the delights of Baron Hohenstauffen. The lady left disconsolate, but during the day called again and tried one more appeal. "I told her," said Joe, "there was only one seat in the house provided for dogs and unfortunately that was already sold." She looked much surprised and a little hurt as she asked me which particular one it was. I pointed my pencil to "K, 9." "She understood and I've been bothered no more with piteous appeals about Fido." "PERSONAL €N10TES Mr. H. S. Duffield and Miss Phosa McAllister close with the Clay Clement Company this evening and join the Frawley Stock Company at Los Angeles, October 1st. Belle and Nellie Leemore are in town from Dawson with sacks worth close to $40,000. They have been doing the variety houses in the Klondike metropolis for the past year. Mr. and Mrs. Frank De Camp, formerly of Hagan's "Uncle Tom" Company, are visiting in Hanford, and we understand, are preparing to put a home talent play on the boards of that town. Hanford has many clever amateurs. News that Goodwin's pretty sisterin-law Gertrude Elliot has captured the attentions of Duke Somebody, suggests wonderful possibilities for the funny actor and his new family. In some of Goodwin's plays there has been a young man in fine estate, suddenly thrust upon him with counts and lords bowing themselves in and out in stage fashion. One can almost see a realization of such conditions in nearby days at Jackwood, the Goodwin home near London. With the beautiful Gertrude Elliot a duchess, Nat would be close to the throne. He and Wales might become friends and there might be a knighthood for the talented brother-in-law. The friends of Lillian Claye, one of the host of pretty California girls who have adopted the stage, will be glad to hear that her success in the East has been exceptional. For the past season she has been appearing with a stock company at Toronto, Canada, and the notices she has received has been all that could be desired by her warmest friends. Edward Levy— live up-to-date manager of a live up-to-date amusement enterprise. Its success is recognized everywhere. The Sacramento Record-Union speaks well of the Vroom Addison Company.