San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

September 23rd, 1899 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Of a Per ^ Bob McGinley, of Bob and Eva McGinley, well known here, is now a Master Mason. They are to appear in the East soon. Lillian Russell is going to do imitations. She proposes to caricature Josephine Hall when she exhibits herself at Weber & Fields. Corinne has secured ' ' The Little Host," which she will give an elaborate production this season. Junius Howe will be the manager. Emma Darrell, prominent in the Eastern States in juvenile leads, arrived here last week. She proposes to make her home on the Coast. Now comes E. H. Sothern, who wishes to snatch honors from Henry Miller, with his conception of Hamlet. Next spring is the time set, at the Knickerbocker, New York. Ethel Brandon, who used to shine with Osbourne & Stockwell years ago during the first popularity of the Alcazar, is playing in the Dreyfus drama, "Devil's Island," in Brooklyn. Marie Barnard, one of the best examples of fine singers on the grand opera stage who is credited to California, was married at Newport Tuesday, to Frank Russak, a New York broker. Rumors are wafted across the continent that Laura Millard, in former years a Tivoli favorite, will study in London, in furtherance of a long cherished ambition to make a try at grand opera. Looking back over a file of Philadelphia papers of '97, we notice that Edith Mason, Thomas Persse and Anna Lichter were singing together. This year finds them well established favorites in San Francisco. Manager Leahy has not yet announced the names of any members of the Tivoli's new light opera company, but it is believed that he has several first-class singers already selected. His new company promises to be the best he has had in years and that is saying a great deal. Charles Hovt, the playwright, who became seriously ill the latter part of last season, and who was taken to Florida, where he remained until strong enough to be removed to his home in New Hampshire, has returned to New York. He is fully restored in health and prepared to resume his work with several new plays which he was compelled to abandon when sickness prevented their completion. Mildred Holland, the wellknown actress who played for several seasons in "Two Little Vagrants," has started a diamond-back turtle farm on Long Island. Maud Caswell had her bathing costume photo in the Sunday Telegraph of New York on the 10th. Needless to say, Maudie was pictured with bare legs, a straw hat and a smile. Harry Woodruff and Charles A. Bigelow have been engaged for Anna Held's production of "Papa's Wife," the new musical comedy by Harry B. Smith and Reginald De Koven. Herman Perlet will be the musical director. Frank J. Nugent, professionally known as Wm. Redmond, a member of Primrose and Dockstader's minstrels, eloped from Derby, Ct., August 18th, with Margaret Menton, a nonprofessional, and was married in New York. The Jessie Bartlett Davis opera company will include William Philip, William Broderick, William Pruette and Harry Brown. Several operas will be sung weekly. Miss Maud Odell who will play "Miladi" with James O'Neal i:i "The Musketeers" this season has been leading lady of the Castle Square Theater Stock Company in Boston for the past year, making special hits by her clever acting in several productions. Miss Eleanor Giusti, last season prima donna with the Bostonians, has been engaged for the part of Rozalie, in "Davy Jones," and will make her first appearance with the Boston Serenades in that operatta at the Park theater to-morrow night. •Manager W. J. Ei.leford writes that he is recovering from an attack of malaria. He spent sometime at Duncan springs. He says that his business is doubly that of any previous season. He has a better company than ever before and is deserving of all success. Chauncey Olcott's company for this season, in "A Romance of Athlone," will include Daniel Gilfeather, Etta Baker Martin, Dustin Farnum, Luke Martin, Paul Everton, Olive White, Mabel Wright, Richard Malchien, George Brennan, Mrs. Lizzie Washburn, Charles R. Gilbert, Argyle Gilbert, Louise Marcelli, Marguerite Diamond, Frank Bonn and William J. Jones. Barton Hill is a member of McKee Rankin's company. Frank Curtis, manager of the Clay Clement Co. left for Honolulu on the 20th. The Neili. Stock Company is coining to the California. Among the good people who lately signed will be John W. Burton, formerly with the "Dear Old Charley" Company. Thomas Seabrooke will head the George Lederer Company that will tour this country in "The Rounders." Dan Daly and Michael Gilman will head the company to present the same play in London. Miss Mary Linck, now at the Tivoli, who was prominent last winter in the American Theater production of Mignon and La Gioconda, will make her re-appearance with the Castle Square Opera Company early in the season as Amneris in Aida. Miss Bessie Tannehill has been engaged as character comedienne. Thomas Persse, of the Grand, has a rare pet called a marmoset. The little animal has the body of a squirrel and the face of a monkey and is a native of tropical South America. He does not find the climate of San Francisco exactly to his liking, and is quite savage with everyone but Mr. Persse, who handles him without fear. Dr. J.T. Callahan, the well-known playwright author of "The Ordeal of Two Sisters" which had such a successful production at Morosco's last season, has achieved another triumph with his blank verse play, "Anne Boleyn," in England. Julia Marlowe is thinking seriously of giving the latter play a production in this country. The Doctor is at present sojourning at his mines near Sonora, Tuolumne county. Nora O'Brien who will play the Queen in support of James O'Neill in "The Musketeers" made her professional debut as a joint star in the legitimate four years ago with Charles B. Hanford and E. B. Spencer. The following season she went to England and played in support of Wilson Barrett with whom she remained two years. Last season she made a most favorable impression in support of Charles Coghlan in "The Royal Box," and also with Mr. O'Neill in "The Musketeers" at the Broadway Theater. Manager Samuel Friedi.ander of the California Theater is "getting on" in New York. He received all kinds of well-deserved complimentary notices, especially from the dramatic papers, all of which told of the big success of the California since it was re-opened under the management of Mr. Friedlander. The Review told of the improvements several weeks ago. During Mr. Friedlander's absence, Mr. Oppenheimer, the treasurer, was in charge of the Theater's affairs. The California will be re-opened October 1st with "A Yenuine Yentleman." W. A. Belasco of this city is playing with "The Heart of Maryland" in the East. Annie Meyers, last year's Tivoli soubrette, is appearing in a big burlesque production in Washington. Ida Mulle and several other people well known in San Francisco are in the cast. A letter from New York says that Ernest Hastings and Gretchen Lyons were seen strolling dov\n Broadway as though they owned the village. Hastings has signed with Stuart Robson for the season. Marcael Perron of the Tivoli recalls many incidents of the early career of Sibyl Sanderson. His father was the stage manager for her first production in the city of Brussels, he himself being one of the cast. On his return from his present tour, L. R. Stockwell will organize a company to make a tour of Australia, playing the "Midnight Bell," "A Temperance Town," "The Magistrate," and a comedy now being prepared for him. Annie Meyers, who used to smile on Tivoli bald heads, would hardly be suspected of having a daughter bigger than she is. She has, however, and the young lady is appearing with considerable success in Baltimore in benefit performances. Friends of Leslie Morosco will be pleased to hear that he has struck a good place as light comedian in "When Smith Met Jones," now playing to successful houses in the East. Burt Morrison, another San Franciscan, has signed with the "Telephone Girl," Miss Laura Crews, ingenue of Stockwell's " Midnight Bel'" Co., is doing particularly well, and one of the company writes that she has made a hit in every town where the company appeared. Miss Crews is a very talented actress and her success is well deserved. San Francisco dramatic talent is in great demand in the East. Among the people from this city engaged to play in Lewis Morrison's companies are Prank Fanning and Margaret Kane and Miss Adams, "Faust" company No. 2; and Howard Scott,' Frederick the Great. " Hakky Corson CLARKB still has faith in "What Happened to Jones " and will soon be seen out West witli a new company of players. He has engaged Jno. Fraser Crosby, Jr., to plan the role of Richard Heatherly. Clarke has added "What Did Simpkins Do? " to his repertory. Geokc.k Oshoi rni:, a San Francisco favorite, is in the cast of "A Stranger in Strangeland," which is to be seen at the Manhattan Beach theater, New York, very soon. Joseph R. Grismer is conducting rehearsals. The comic complications arise from the adventures of an American Indian taken to Bagland in the advertising interests of a patent medicine.