San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

January 16, 1909. THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Los Angeles Turns Out Banner Benefit for Italian Sufferers Los Angeles. Jan. 14. — The engagement of Kolb and Dill for a six weeks' season in their musical successes is officially announced by Manager ( )liver Morosco of the Majestic. They open in April. Agnes Rankin, formerly leading woman with the Ulrich and Hotchkiss stock companies, and who became Mrs. J no. Maxwell about two years ago, is the fond mother of a son and heir. News of the happy event was received here this week. The Hobart Bosworth Institute of Dramatic Art, with an initial enrollment of 75 pupils, opened its handsome new quarters in the Majestic Theatre Building, Monday last. "'Sis Hopkins" is to be discarded by her originator. Rose Melville, after this season, and Miss M. is looking for a new vehicle. Good chance for some clever playwright. Chas. Giblyn and Henry Stockbridge are responsible for the book and lyrics of a new musical comedy. In Wyoming, which is to be produced at the Burbank shortly. Robert Francis Kirkpatrick is responsible for the music, which is said to be of a superior nature. On Tuesday afternoon a gigantic benefit for the Italian earthquake sufferers, arranged by the Examiner, took place at the Auditorium. Dick Ferris was stage manager, which is equivalent to saying that the performance moved off without a hitch. Incidentally it netted $6,200 for the sufferers in Sunny Italy, which was the point aimed at. Detailed comment on the different features of the programme is impossible, since it was over six hours long. Suffice it to say that every feature was a stellar one, from the final appearance on any stage of Mine. Modjeska to the auctioning off of a fancy cake and a basket of fruit donated by the Hotel Alexandria. The programme was as follows : Selections by combined Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra and Women's Orchestra of Los Angeles, numbering 130 musicians, under the direction of Harley Hamilton ; organ solo by Bruce Kingsley Gordon ; Lewis S. Stone and the Belasco Company in an act from The Heir to the Hoorah ; a duo of solos by Helen Goff ; Mme. Modjeska, assisted by Lovell Alice Taylor and Ernest Phillips, in the sleep-walking scene from Macbeth ; Mme. Gadski, of the "heart voice," in two selections ; Nat Goodwin and Edna Goodrich-Goodwin, assisted by Harry Mestayer, A. Byron Beasley, John Burton and Louise Royce, of the Burbank Company, in an act from When We Were Twenty-One ; Murray and Mack, in some of their funmaking; an act from The Lion and the Mouse, playing at the Mason this week; Herr Ignaz Edward Haroldi, violin virtuoso, in solo work ; Florence Stone, assisted by Margo Duffet, Carroll Marshall and Wm. Desmond, of the Burbank, in an act of Zaza ; the Marquis Ellis Quartette ; La Monaca and his Royal Italian Band, in selections; Edwin Latell, from the Orpheum, in a monology and banjo solos ; the Philharmonic Male Quartette; an act from The Holy City, at the People's this week; little Ollie Walters, in dainty songs and dances; W'enzel Kopta, violinist, accompanied by Lillian Adams; Mrs. Jas. K. Con nor (Ida Eckert Lawrence), in an original selected reading: the I Hack Sisters, in a repertoire of songs and dances, and the Examiner Newsboys' Hand. An astounding feat of memory was shown by Florence Stone in connection with the presentation of the act from Zaza. There was no manuscript of the play in the city, and Miss Stone wrote the entire fourth act of the play from memory, in order that the programme might be carried out. MASON — The return of one of Henry B. Harris's companies In The Dion and the Mouse is the event at the Mason Opera House this week. The company is practically the same that was here last year. The part of Shirley Rossmore is now played hy Kdna Archer Crawford; Clifford Leigh is the Hon. Fitzroy Bagley; George O. Morris is Judge Rossmore. Paul Kverton is still in the role of John Hurkett Ryder, the roaring financial lion whom the clever little mouse sets free from all his ethical difficulties. Mr. Hverton's interpretation is a strong one, and one feels genuine pleasure in seeing it again. Miss Crawford was distinctly good as Shirley Rossmore. So much has already been said about The Lion and the Mouse, its phenomenal success is so well known to every theatregoer, that further comment on this finely constructed, thought-compelling play is heardly needed. The supporting company is hardly all it should be as regards the minor roles. MAJESTIC — Those who enjoy "a little nonsense now and then" may travel down Broadway this week and drop into the Majestic Theatre, where Murray and Mack are presenting a musical nonsensicality called, for some reason or other. The Sunny Side of Broadway. Murray and Mack, being the stars, naturally provide much of the fun of the piece, but they are clever enough to know just when to stop. The sum total of the amusement offered is not gigantic. BKLASCQ — Lewis S. Stone and his associate players are meeting with popular approval this week through their presentation of Henry Miller's former success. Heartsease. Lewis S. Stone makes an excellent Eric Temple, while Miss Oakley lias many opportunities for effective work as the daughter of Lord Neville. Ben Graham is a capital Lord Neville; Leslie Preston is a gracious Lady Neville, anil Charles Ruggles has. a felicitous character part, that of an Irish army captain who has much difficulty in summoning sufficient courage to propose to the adorable Alice Temple. charmingly impersonated by Beatrice Noyes. Richard Vivian and James Applebee find about the same range of expression in the roles of two eccentric old Londoners. BURBANK — A big revival of Sporting Life, with a real prize-fight and a real horse-race featured, is standing them up, figuratively, at the Burbank this week. Incidentally, that fight looks like a real one. Wm. Desmond, as Lord Woodstock, meets, through the courtesy of the Los Angeles Amateur Athletic Club, Cliff Reuman. amateur champion middle-weight Chas. Eyton is referee and Freddie Welch is timekeeper. As for the play, it is, of course, a big scenic success and is capably presented. Mary Hall is Mrs. de Carteret; A. Bvron Beasley, her husband; John Burton, old man Cavanaugh; Harry Mestayer, his son; Alice Lovell Taylor and Margo Duffet, his daughters; Henry Stockbridge, a bookmaker, and dainty little Fay Bainter, just herself. They all make good, and the piece looks good for a fortnight. . . ORPHKl'M — The Orpheum offers an excellent bill for the week, with four new numbers, including Edwin Latell in his admirable musical sketch. His skit is termed Dull Care, Winsor MeCay's Dr. Bunion giving color to the title. Mr. Latell's delightful foolery is most enjoyable. The Four Franklins are well known to Los Angeles audiences, having frequently appeared with different organizations, hut their present "flying" act is one of the best in the repertoire of these clever acrobats. Eva Tavlor appears in a well-written sketch, called Chums, and the Majestic! Trio is as funny as ever in a new blackface skit. Gus Edwards' Blonde Typewriters, held over from last week, make their usual hit. Harry Tate and his companv in their sketch, Motoring, do not seem to have worn out their welcome. EMPIRE — Hanlon and Clifton are presenting a clever head-balancing and acrobaticact at the Empire this week. It alone is an attraction strong enough to warrant a visit to the little Third Street playhouse. Helena Alford is a plumpish young person whose rendition of Rainbow and a few "imitations," during whic h she sings other popular numbers, pleases the houses Immensely, while Harrow and his lay figures. through the performer's ventrlloqulai efforts, contribute a diverting ten minutes. Illustrated songs by Vlor and Nellie Hill, motion pictures and one of Al Frank's farces. My Papa's Coachman, complete a satisfying' program. FISCHKR'S -After the operatic brll« Liancv of The Pagoda. Mr. Alphins Two German Angcds at Fischer's this week is a decided change. His playlet tells of the misadventures attending two rich Germans, who make their first venture into the theatrical field by undertaking the financing of a stranded I'ncde Tom's Cabin company for a tour abroad. The play takes place on shipboard. Max Bloom and Frank Vack have the title roles. Ben Dillon is the manager of the stranded company, of which Libby Blondelle and Nellie Montgomery are the leading woman and soubrette. respectively. Aubrey Carr Is the captain of tne snip. A suggestion of the "briny" is to be found In the titles of the song offerings: On the Mounding Main. Yo Ho. Little Girls, Yo Ho, If Columbus Hadn't Saile I Across the Sea. and Hail the Gale. Miss Montgomery's 1 Used to Be Afraid to Go Home in the Dark, but Now I'm Afraid to Go Home at All is a novelty, as is Walks the semi-tropical offering of Miss Blondelle. GRAND — Penis llartman and company are continuing to please with It Happened in Noriuand for a second week, the while preparing for a generously humorous and tuneful presentation id' The Tenderfoot, whic h fed lows. LOS ANGELES— Mme. Marzellas foalhere 1 performers sieal first lienors from the humans at the Los Angeles Theatre this week. The birds. cockatoos. parrots, pigeons and ravens, have been skillfully trained, and the feats they perform are receive 1 with lively appreciation, a feature of the act is a flight of pigeons from the rear of the theatre to the stage, wdiere they alight caressingly upon the hea 1 and Shoulders of their fair trainer. Douglas A. Flint an 1 company present a farcical sketch, entitled The Mixers, in which an automobile ride, a sporty husband and a jealous wife are the chief ingredients. Palfrey and lloeder perforin several astonishing feats awheel. Kenyon and Healey sing a number of "popular" and familiar songs, and Fannie Frankel proves herself the possessor of a strong soprano voice. UNIQCK — The Gibson ('.ill. as presented by the Armstrong Musical Comedy Company at the Unique this week seems a success. Ethel Davis as the Gibson girl makes a decided hit in her impersonation of Fav Templeton in Forty-five Minutes from Broadway. Will Armstrong, as usual, is humorous in his Irish comedy. Lillian Southerland is well cast and receives liberal encores for her rendition of Isn't It Great to Be a Soldier Man. Madalene Holly has a topical song, while Jack Curtis and Edward Armstrong do their share in keeping the audience in a cheerful frame of mind. George Rehn makes his bow this week in Dutch comely character songs, and his reengagement with the company adds largely to its strength. WALKER'S — The bill at the Walker Theatre this week is headed by The Thoroughbred and the Lacly. exploited by Harry M. O'Connor, Alice Saunders and Fred Elliott, Elliott being the feature of the act with his Rube character. The Five Pattersons do statue grouping in bronze, and present a number of very effective poses from the classics. The Two Elwoods dance and sing and Edna Elwood does some pleasing boy characters. Mario David. Italian singer; Sylvestro. aerialist. and Ida Wharton, soprano, complete the list. New motion pic tures are shown. C. M. EMERY. San Bernardino. Jan. 13. — At the Opera House (Mrs. M. L. Kiplinger, mgr.) 7, Murray & Mack pleased a good-sized audienc e; 15[ Rose Melville, in Sis Hopkins; 18, Chas. B. Hanford and Marie Drofnah. in Winters Tale, though for some reason Mr. Hanford's advance agent chooses to vary Shakespeare's title and the production is advertised as The Winter's Tales. Good houses are promised for both productions, as this is the first appearance of Sis Hopkins here, while Mr. Hanford is always a favorite. At the Unique, Manager Leonard lias a good vaudeville bill for the week, which gives way one night (I'D to Edmund Carroll and company in Walker Whiteside s comedy drama. We Are King. J. E. RICH. Carl Berch Writes: Antioch, ('al.. Jan, 13 — Have reorganized and will continue plaving three-night stands. Will have same company, with the exception that Ross Miller replaces Charles Burnison. Am going over the same territory where 1 was successful some six years ago. Will be ahead of show myself. Spotlights Elmer Ballard and wife open at the Empire soon in their sketch, A Night Out. Mace Greenleaf succeeds Robert Warwick as leading man of the Valencia Stock on February 8th, opening in The Prince Chap. Charles Place has leased the Unique Theatre in San Jose for three weeks. Jim Post and his company closed there last Sunday night. SlONEV Diamond, the Mullally Sistcrs, Paul Harvey, Merle Stanton and Wm. Silk constitute the chief members of Manager Anson Hurlbut's Santa Rosa Stock Company. It is reported that Jim Jeffries and five acts of vaudeville will play around here and in the North as a one-nightstand show, at the conclusion of his engagement at the Wigwam in this city. The big hit of Pantages' bill this week is A Night with the Poets. The audiences arc enjoying it immensely, and particularly well docs the reading by Clinton Lloyd make a hit. The quartette singing, too. goes extremely well. Personals E. Lawrence Walker, manager for Charles B, Hanford, is headed this way on his annual trip. Mr. Walker has been Mr. Hanford's manager for the past nineteen years, longer than any other manager in the country has even handled one star or attraction, llr knows every theatrical man and newspaper critic in the country, and his annual visit is always a pleasure to his many friends. Mr. Walker never forgets a fsvor and has a most remarkable memory for facts of all sorts. He can recall, apparently without the slightest trouble, just what Mr. Hanford ] laved in a town four, five or even tui years ago, tell who was the manager at the time and who the dramatic man was who wrote up the show. In the last act of the tragedy. Here Comes the Black Prince, staged at the Cineograph Theatre at No. 1 18 Court Street, Los Angeles. John I-".. Drew on the night of January 5 grabbed the villain's knife, as the latter was about to "stab to death" the leading lady, and was severely cut. The curtain was rung down when Drew fainted at the sight of blood. The audience, thinking it was all a part of the play, applauded heartily. Drew was taken to the Receiving Hospital, where his wound was dressed, and then was taken to the Clifton House at Xo. 231 North Broadway. He was unable to finish his week's engagement as the hero of the drama. Leslie Forrest, "the villain." accompanied the injured man to the hospital. The leading lady, who also fainted, was taken to her home, where she was attended by a physician. Florence Roberts and her supporting company, in The House of Bondage, were put to flight Thursday night in Medford, Ore., by a fire that originated under the stage of the local theatre. The fire was entirely in the rear of the theatre and the audience of 700 was kept in ignorance of it until every precaution had been taken that there should be no panic. When the flames were discovered, Miss Roberts and her fellow-players escaped through the rear exits into the street. As the troupe fled. Miss Roberts forgot her purse and, against the remonstrance of friends, dashed back to her dressing-room and recovered it. She was forced to make her way through blinding smoke, but was not injured. The fire was extinguished by stage hands, who chopped a hole through the floor and fought the flames with snow and water. David M. Hartford, new stage director at the Belasco Theatre, Los Angeles, who succeeded William C. Masson and whose first work was shown in the production <>f The Heir to the Hoorah last week, has had twenty-seven years' experience in theatrical work. He went on the stage when only eleven years old. He comes direct from Waterbury, Conn., where last summer he was stage director at Jacques' Theatre, and in the fall occupied a similar position with the Auditorium. For the last fifteen years he has been in stock, often playing the lead and acting as stage director as well. In this capacity he was in Rochester four seasons, Cleveland three seasons, Toledo one season, Detroit two seasons, Milwaukee one season, Winnipeg, Canada, two seasons, Omaha one season, and Waterbury one season.