San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

4 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW April 1 8, 1908. Novelty Theatre An event of unusual theatrical importance will be the reopening of the Novelty Theatre a week from Sunday night, April 26, when Clyde Fitch's international society comedy success, The Truth, will be presented for the first time in San Francisco. Managers Loverich & Lubelski have negotiated with Martin Beck, the well-known theatrical man, who controls the American rights to the play, which, by the way, has been translated into four languages, and a splendidly equipped company is coming direct from New York to give a careful and intelligent presentation of this American author's masterpiece. Katherine Gray, well and favorably known here, will head the list of players as Becky Warder, who has inherited the unfortunate habit of ' prevarication from her father. The supporting company will be the best obtainable in New York, and after the run of Truth several equally strong plays will be produced. Seats will be ready Thursday morning at the box-office of the theatre. Fed Actors in Lyric Lobby Not until 2 o'clock Monday morning of last week did the rehearsals of Don Quixote end in the Lyric Theatre, New York. They had been begun at 10 a. m. on Sunday, and the keeping of the company in the playhouse so long led E. H. Sothern to give two "lobby parties." Actors, musicians, stage hands and other persons engaged in the production had to be fed, and as there was no time for the players to dress and leave the theatre for meals, Sothern arranged with the Knickerbocker Hotel to send over two complete meals. These were served in the lobby of the theatre. Two great sign boards across the front doors hid the proceedings from the public eye. More than 150 persons enjoyed Sothern's hospitality. First came the women of the company, then the masculine actors, then the musicians, stage hands, property men and electricians, and finally the supernumeraries. Much delay was caused by the fact that the "supes "didn't want to leave the tables. Several of the noble Spanish knights were caught carrying away rolls and cold meats in the silk pockets of their costumes. Successful Benefit forT.M.A.,No.47 A crowd that packed the biggest theatre in Spokane from dome to pit greeted the first annual benefit performance of T. M. A., No. 47, Tuesday afternoon, April 7. The greatest aggregation of talent that has ever been brought together in that city ap peared and made up the program, which consisted of thirty-one specialties. The entertainment lasted from half-past 1 until half-past 6, at which time the vast audience, tired, but still enthusiastic, left the big Auditorium well satisfied. All houses having performances that afternoon were closed for the occasion, and acts which would otherwise have appeared in their own respective houses contributed their services to the benefit. At high noon a procession, consisting of members of the order, peace officers, several automobile floats in which rode various theatrical people, and a band of forty pieces, paraded the principal streets in honor of the affair. And such an entertainment ! Of the vaudeville houses, Frank Wilson, bicyclist, at the Washington, and Sharp Brothers, dancers, at the Fantages, carried off the honors. The excellencies of each of these acts were noted at once, and they were obliged to respond to so many encores that they finally concluded for want of breath. Jessie Shirley and three members of her popular stock company, now in their fourth year at the Auditorium Theatre, appeared in a most delightful dramatic playlet. No number on the program was more enthusiastically received. Willis R. Hall, leading man of the Columbia Theatre stock, selected several members from the company, and produced a comedietta that went with a scream. Mr. Hall proved his right to the reputation of an A 1 light comedian as well as a leading man. One of the real hits of the show was the Clancy song, sung by Frank Lalor and chorus of the Comin' Through the Rye company, which was at that time filling a three nights' engagement at the Spokane Theatre. Several other members of this company appeared to splendid advantage in various specialties. The lady honorary members of the T. M. A.'s made themselves generally popular and useful selling flowers, candies and programs. Sufficient money was secured from these sales to cover all expenses of the entertainment. Order No. 47 will realize approximately $1,500 clear from this, their long-to-be-remembered first annual benefit. A Budding Prima Donna Vera de Bassini, the gifted twentyyear-old Italian child of song at the National this week, comes of a famed opera singing family. Her grandfather, Achille de Bassini, was a friend of Verdi, the great composer, in his earlier years, and an opera baritone who won decorations from crowned heads and was the creator of several roles in Verdi's operas. Her father, Signor Alberto de Bassini, who has the honor of having Verdi as his godfather, also won fame as a baritone. He made his debut twenty years ago as Mae Gerald R. Lumley Frank E. Presents Keane=Montgomery Supported by the Incomparable LUMLEY COMPANY A Sterling Attraction of 15 Artists. Producing the Latest Eastern Successes Managers send open time TOM D. BATES, Address Dramatic Review Advance Representative. Beliserio. at the Grand Theatre, San Carlo of Naples, creating a furor. He afterwards repeated his success at the Scala of Milan and at the leading opera houses of Rome. Turin, Paris, Venice, Geneva, St. Petersburg and Lisbon. He also sang with Patti in London. Vera de Bassini was born in Florence, Italy, and came with her father to New Vork at an early age. Her grand voice, her grace, her artistic talent are hereditary. Culture and vocal training have perfected a girl of twenty into a prima donna, now schooling in vaudeville to take that position in opera next season in the Fast. Henry B. Harris Buys the Hudson Theatre For a sum said to be in the neighborhood of $700,000, the title of the Hudson Theatre property at Nos. 139141 West Forty-fourth Street, New Vork City, passed Wednesday, April 25, into the hands of Henry B. Harris, making this manager sole owner of the playhouse. The Hudson, which is one of the most beautiful playhouses in America, has a frontage on West Forty-fourth Street of fifty feet, running through the entre block, with its stage entrance on Forty-fifth Street. Mr. Harris is also the owner of the Hackett Theatre on West Fortysecond Street, which he bought last year for $400,000. Personals PniLii* HASTINGS will be in charge of the publicity department at the Novelty Theatre, starting with the Katherine Gray stock season. Fkank Bacon of San Jose, who has been identified with the stage on the Pacific Coast for many years, is now conducting a stock theatre in Omaha, Neb. E. F. Braddock, who has conducted the theatre at Oxnard for several years, has become a partner of Theodore Marston in the National stock company. GOLDSTEIN & CO. COSTUMERS Goldstein's Hair and Wig Store, Make-Up. Play Books. Established 1876 819 & 821 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco Mrs. Charles E. Leonard, mother of Lillian Russell, died in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Schultze, in Rutherford, New Jersey, April 0. Mrs. Leonard was in her eighty-first year and death was due to general debility. Mrs. Fiske is booked for the Coast She will play in the Belasco Theatre, Los Angeles, June 22, 23 and 24, displacing the resident stock company for those three days. She will present her own company in Rosmersholm. Mrs. Fiske will also be seen in San Francisco. The Greatest Stars of the Stage use Chas. Meyer's THEATRICAL Grease Paints and CHARLES MEYER'S EXORA Face Powden EXORA Rouge EXORA Cream These preparations have been standard in the prole ssion since ■870. Use ihem for best results. Catalogue and Samples sent Free CHARLES MEYER 2G-28 Union Square, hew York W. S. DONALDSON THEATRICAL EXCHANGE 5 13 elm st., st. louis, mo. Can place competent people in all Lines, we Now Have a permanent Exchange in St. Louis, list your wants in Our Bulletin free. send for copv of bulletin. C. F. Weber & Co. Formerly of 526 Market St.. San Francisco Opera Chairs School. Church, Bank and Lodge Furniture, Post Office Cabinet!. School Supplies. 1151 POIK ST.. cor. Sutter SAN FRANCISCO 210-212 No. Main Street LOS ANGELES 4^R0CHE&H0EBER WHAT AGENTS NEED Henry's Western SiufClif Theatrical Guide Giving population of coast cities, names of theatres, amount of paper required, newspapers, size of stage, and other valuable information. Price, $1.00, on sale at our office, mailed on receipt of price. BARTON SSS5^ ROBT. Q BARTON, MY3T* AND PWOff FRESNO, CAL. HOME OFFICE WHERE ALL COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. The Leading First-Class Theatres between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Main Lines of the Southern Pacific BAKEESFIELD Bakersfield Theatre, Just opened. Fine, big1 theatre, equipped to play any show. KLAW & ERLANGER. FRESNO Well, you all know the money-making Barton Opera House. This year beating all previous seasons. Directors STOCKTON SAN JOSE Hew Victory Theatre. Big house, big stage, everything comfortable and elegant. Town booming. R. G. BARTON, Manager Tosemlte Theatre (P. A. Oiesea, Manager). — One of the handsomest theatres on the Coast. Business improving all the time..