San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

3 THE ENCORING CRANK Of cranks there is always a surfeit, They come to the front in each class; Not caring for others' opinions, They anger, perplex and harass; And though there's a host of these terrors, There's one who keeps in the first rank; The theater patrons all know him, For he is the encoring crank. A song may excite his strange fancy, And then there's wild clapping of hands Until the performer he's forcing Must yield to his selfish demands. But one repetition won't please him, For he will keep calling for more Till people are mad and disgusted, And the throat of the singer is sore. And oft when by sentiments noble The people are visibly stirred, The crank will break in with his plaudits, And then not a word can be heard. He'll wait for a climax that's tragic, And then keep pounding away Until he brings back the glad actors And spoils the effect of the play. A difficult dance will arouse him, And oft he will force a recall Until the exhausted performer Is breathless and ready to fall. He heeds not the scowls on some faces, Nor catches the wearied man's groan, But acts as though all the performance Is just for his pleasure alone. Idealistic Staging K letter from New York says that ^* the stage of the Broadway Theater has practically been made ready for the forthcoming production of Ben Hur at that house. The drama based on the novel of General Lew Wallace will have its opening presentation on the night of November 27. The cast has been chosen and the principals have been studiously rehearsing for six months. Owing to the immense weight that the stage must bear, especially in the chariot race scene, when more than 200 persons and nearly a score of horses, besides four heavy chariots, will be seen at one time, it became necessary to tear out the stage entirely and make it over. A deep foundation of cement and stone was laid, and upon this there now rest many immense iron pillars. Across these are heavy iron girders, and surmounting these is the mechanical apparatus by which the most important part of the chariot scene is produced. In the chariot race the horses will appear to be going at tremendous speed, and, indeed, their legs will move just as though they were tearing along, but in reality they will not move forward a peg. Underneath the stage eight racing machines have been built, and in the race the effect of reality will be realized by the revolving of massive cycloramic scenery. It is promised that the intensely electrifying scene in the circus at Antioch will be given with all of the effect the written description calls for. There will be four four-horse chariots in the race. It is declared that the finale of the contest, when BenHur forces his rival into the jumble of wreckage made by the broken chariots, will be a most thrilling climax. Here are the actors who will give life to the tale of BenHur; Walker Whiteside, William S. Hart, Edmund Collier, Frank Mordaunt, Henry Lee, Grace George, Corrona Ricardo, Mabel Burt, Mary Shaw. NEW PLAYS Chris and the Wonderful Lamp, an extravaganza, the book by Glen MacDonough, music by John Phillip Sousa, was originally produced at the Hyperion theater, New Haven, Ct., Oct. 23. Sherlock Homes, done into a play by Conan Doyle and Win. Gillette, was originally acted at the Star theater, Buffalo, N. Y., Oct. 23. Martha Morton's new play, A Rich Man's Son, was produced by W. H. Crane at Wallack's Theater last week. The play is taken from a German comedy called Das Grobe Hemd. Mr. Crane has secured the American and English rights to it. Anew sensational playentitled Midnight in Chinatown is being given at the Academy in Chicago. Scenes are laid in San Francisco. The principal scenes are Meigg's wharf, view of San Francisco Bays a mountain health resort, and a street in the Chinese quarter, showing procession, and an opium den in the slums. A comic opera is being written by Julian Edwards, Frederic Ranken and Kirke La Shelle for a new prima donna. Its title is to be Princess Chic. Undoubtedly this announcement will arouse a good deal of curiosity. Production will be given some time in December. David Belasco's new comedy, Naughty Anthony will be produced at the Herald Square Theater early in January, following the run of the Zangwill play, The Children of the Ghetto. The piece is an original farcial comedy, the idea of which is based on an old play. Its scenes are laid at Chautauqua, N. Y. Among the members of the cast already engaged are Mr. William Elton, Mr. W. J. Le Moyne, Mary Baxter, Claude Ceilingwater, Maude Courtney and Olive Redpath. Joseph Arthur, author of Blue Jeans, The Still Alarm and other successes, has written a new play called Johnny, which Liebler and Company will produce December 15. In this comedy Mr. Arthur deserts the familiar Hoosierland, where the scenes of most of his plays have been made, and will give his version of life in New York. Augustus Pitou tried a new play called The Gunner's Mate, at Plainfield, N. J., last week. The scenes of the second and third acts of the play are laid on board the United States cruiser New York. The musical comedy, A Chinese Romance, which was written by Mrs. Chu Fong, wife of the manager of the Chinese Theater in New York, will be tried in Poukeepsie on November 13. It is written in English, the music having been furnished by Robert de Yere. Drink Good Coffee Make it in our Ideal Coffee Pot and its always good RATHJEN BROS GROCERS TWO STORES 21 Stockton St. ' I heme Main 5522 3253 Fillmore St.— "Phone West 152 ATTENTION Theatrical Companies We have just received a large consignment of the popular Delia Fox.... Theatrical Trunks The strongest anil most convenient trunks made Traveling Requisites < of all kinds ' <■ WILL & FINCK CO. 818 820 Mark et St., s. f. ><S*gxS><S*S><}x3><S><S>^ W w GoldcnRulc Bazaar. T 1 CALIFORNIA'S LAHOCST--AmERICA'S ORAMDEST STOBE One of the grandest displays of Holiday Merchandise in America The big store's Annual Doll Show Include, a Japanese Tea Garden— a nlerht In Venicethe sidewalk, of San Francisco— watching the transports Irom Telegraph Mill— "Taking Tea with Mama"— The Lawn Party and many other enchanting tableaux (or little (oiks. The big mechanical circus (rom Paris, has eleven ll(e-like moving figures and the band plays real circus music Marvelous mechanical toys — electric railroads, canal, etc.. Santa Claus' Dally Keceptlonj. r*. A.k or uno lot IS. Hoi. <*Y Mtu«nf«t-» LtlU E-^i kookUt wh,th |h*i SOW itukU f.lU loofckl und hint! for Mother, Father, Sir Brother. Sweetheart, friendi MISS E. MciNTIRE SCIENTIFIC PAI.MIST. Hours, 1 to 5 P. M. Sundays excepted. No. 121JS I,e,avcnworth Street, near Clay. Ladies only. Telephone Easj 264. New Alhambra Theater TWO WEEKS BEGINNING SUNDAY, NOVEMBER I9TH, 1899 Jacob Litt's Massive Melo-Dramatic Production THE FAVORITE DRAMA 7th GREAT YEAR IN OLD KENTUCKY THE SAME AND ORIGINAL, CAST ELABORATELY DISPLAYED WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW SCENIC OUTFIT. Six Beautiful Thoroughbred Kentucky Racers THE WARMEST BUNCH OF PICKANINNIES EVER CONGREGATED. THE LARGEST Show Printing J-Jouse WEST OP CHICAGO Headquarters for Agents and Managers The Recognized Theatrical Exchange of the Pacific Coast DOES A General Booking and Managing Business Companies organized, routed and booked. Eastern companies booked on the Coast. Play and Lefral Department. Theatrical Investments offered and show enterprises promoted. Conducts the Great Western Vaudeville Circuit CHICAGO OMAHA SAN FRANCISCO Office, Rooms 26-27-32-37-38 j. LOW HHLLETT 40 ELLIS STREET Manager