San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

September 9th, 1899 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Sol. Smith Russell is coming to the Columbia soon. Modjeska is to present a new adaptation of " The Ladies' Battle." J. C. Smiley a popular eastern manager will soon be here on a visit. Maxine " Elliott and Nat. Goodwin will be seen at the Columbia this season. Everybody is pleased to hear that Janet Waldorf has made a decided hit across the Pacific. Cal. A. Baknett a popular sketch artist in the East, is expected out West in a month or two J as. A. Herne will direct the rehearsals of the dramatized version of the "Children of the Ghetto." Maurice Grau, the operatic manager, has been made a Knight of the Legion of Honor, in recognition of his work in behalf of French art. W. R. Da 1 ley has shown his shrewdness by booking his company at San Diego for Christmas week and at Los Angeles for the New Year week. The friends of Geo. A. Watson, an actor of more than average ability, are grieved at his suicide in this city last week. He was to have played a part in "Ingomar." Though the death of young Juanita Terry, a niece of her husband, it would appear that Sibyl Sanderson will come in for an additional slice of the Terry money. Stockwell must be tickled at the big business he is doing with "A Midnight Bell" in Oregon and Washington. Max Steinle, as Martin Tripp, has received much praise for his work. Carrie Roma, for a long time a favorite with Tivoli audiences, has been engaged as a prima donna by an Italian opera syndicate. She has been singing in London with great success. Ernest Hogan, certainly the funniest man of his race on the stage, who is particularly remembered here on the coast as the bright particular star of Black Patti's Troubadors, writes from The Antipodes that he is all kinds of a success there. Miss Lulu Snider, soprano soloist of The First Congregational Church and sister of Charlotte Beckwith of the Tivoli, was married last week at the Colonial to Spencer J. Johnson, Jr. of Chicago. Immediately after the ceremony the happy couple left for their future home in the Windy city. We note by an associated-press cablegram the wreck of the transport Morgan City, off the coast of Japan. In addition to the soldiers bound for the Philippines, on board of the ship was the Dramatic Review's Manila correspondent, Mr. T. Epstein. As all hands are reported saved the only result to readers of the Review will be a slight delay in our first letter from "New America." Eddie Foy has a protege, a Portland, (Or.,) boy namedYVilliam Davenport Harrison, whom he thinks is the coming billiard champion. Martin Marcus, private secretary to Harry Rickard, the Australian Manager, is with his chief on his present visit to the States. The Dewey Stock Co.. of Oakland will be strengthened next week by the addition of Messrs. Mack and O'Malley, late of the Clay Clement Co. Josie DeWitt, the talented singer and violinist, is a member of the company presenting "Hotel Topsy Turvy" this season. Beautiful Octavie Barbe is also in the cast. Mabel Love, well known in this city, is now appearing in the East with great success under the name of Eleanor Kent. Her voice, well adapted for .the stage, and a striking figure that makes a sensation in tights, have won her speedy recognition. E. J. Holden, Manager of the Dewey Theatre, Oakland is also representing the authors of 169 up-todate plays, including Melodrama, Farce Comedy and Costume Plays. Among them are all the plays of Chas. T. Blayney and H. D. Gillette. They can be secured on royalty by addressing Mr. Holden. Georgie Stewart, who was the model for the California Venus at the San Francisco recent Midwinter Fair, is a little backward. She is at present with the De Wolff Hopper Company in London, and a letter which was received from her in this city yesterday states she has had several marriage offers from scions of the British nobility. Blanche Bates is resting in Los Angeles, preparatory to commencing active work in the "Children of the Ghetto." In the meantime Israel Zarwell, the author, has arrived in New York from England with a large number of plates of Jewish characters that will be utilized in staging "Children of the Ghetto," which promises to be the quaintest character play ever seen in America. While every personality in it will be strikingly Hebraic, but two characters will speak in Jewish dialect. All other parts will be "straight English" in the reading of their lines. Harry Rickard, wife and two daughters of Sydney and Melbourne have been in town for a short time, before proceeding East. Mr. Rickard is the theatrical magnate of the colonies. I Ie has the Tivoli in Sydney and two houses in Melbourne. The object of his trip is to select American vaudeville talent, the best to be had. "American artists have been very successful in the colonies," said Mr. Rickard, "but only the best of them will go. I was here four years ago, and made some very good selections. I shall remain in San Francisco for a short time, and then go to Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia." The brilliant success of last season, " The Christian," will be seen at the Columbia. Al. Onken, manager of the Coeur D'Alene Theater, Spokane, Washington, will arrive here on the 15th, Clay Clement will give his final performance of "The Bells," at the Columbia Theatre, on Sunday night. Eddie Foy has been a tremendous success at McVicker's Theatre, Chicago, in the production of " Hotel Topsy Turvy." Sol Smith Russell began his season last Monday at Brooklyn. He comes across the continent this season for the first time in six years. Robert C. White, well and favorably known to the amusement-loving public of this city, will act as treasurer at the new California Theatre. Modjeska has begun her season in the Southern part of the State, and the reports are that her work and accompanying success are as great as ever. Mrs. Fred Riche, wife of the popular Montana manager, is hereon a visit to her sister Mrs. Walterstein, wife of the well known manager of fhe Olympia. Miss Hattie Quimby, a San Francisco girl of great dramatic promise, is with the Clay Clement Company, at the Columbia. She is sure to be a success in time. C. S. Desky, one of the managers of Honolulu Orpheum is on a visit to this city, combining business with pleasure. He has booked enough strong acts to run into the holidays. Rhys Thomas and Bernice Holmes have signed with the Castle Square Opera Company and will go to New York at once for the coming season. Both are popular singers and have been heard to advantage at the Tivoli. Gottlob, Marx & Co. are at present negotiating for a holiday attraction for the Columbia, which will prove an immense drawing card. It is the greatest of its line in the world, and the holidays will take on an additional importance by its presence. Everybody in the business who knows Harry Campbell, formerly treasurer for Manager Friedlander, of the California, will be pleased to hear that he is now in charge of the box office at the Grand. He will be well liked by the patrons of that popular opera house. Willie Collier will use exclusively this season his new play, " Mr. Smooth." This amusing concoction is the work of the star himself, and from all accounts at hand, he has succeeded with more than ordinary success in turning out a first-rate laugh provoker. When Sousa's new opera, "The Bride Elect " is presented at the Columbia Theatre, the celebrated composer's two latest inarches, " Unchain the Dogs of War" and " Hands Across the Sea," will be introduced with great effects. Klaw and Erlanger are directing the tour of this opera. There are already on hand at the box office of the Columbia Theatre enough orders to fill the greater part of the house on the opening week of Modjeska. This star is a great favorite here, and the promise of some new and elaborate productions by her has been received, with indications of much pleasure by theatre-goers in this city. • Snap Shots Mark Thall never loses his good nature. Ask him about that trip to New York and he'll tell you of the new plays to be brought out for the beneiit of his Alcazar patrons. Walter Morosco takes his chiefest pleasure in trailing along behind his eight blacks— the finest team in the country. Our artist has caught him all ready for a spin in the park. Melville Marx, the Heau Brummel of Pacific Coast managers, is thinking of a day off— a day away from business cares and other matters that tend to bring on wrinkles and gray hair. John Morrisey— don't for a minute think this is his usual pose. It is merely a pipe dream of the artist's, who Imagined that the Orphcum's manager might well look gay and jaunty after the Orpheum's successful benefit for the soldiers' reception fund.