San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

2 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW April 24, 1909 The Cleverest Clothes for Men AT Rosener's CLOTHIER TO THE PROFESSION 57 Powell Street, opp. Flood Bldg. Formerly Van Ness and Eddy No Nevada Divorce for Virginia Harned Reno, Nev., April 19. — 5u(lge Pike of the Washoe County District Court today announced his refusal to entertain jurisdiction of the celehrated proceedings beg-un last July by Virginia Harned Sothern, the actress, for divorce from her celebrated husband, E. H. Sothern. Judge Pike's decision, it is conceded, settles beyond question the fact that Virginia Harned Sothern can not secure a divorce from her husband unless either she or her husband comes to the State and takes up such a residence here as proves conclusively the bona fide intention to remain here. The particular point settled is that on complaint filed by a non-resident plaintiff with process served on a nonresident defendant who happens to be temporarily in the State, no jurisdiction is secured for the purpose of allowing a divorce decree. Such was Mrs. Sothern's case. She never came to Nevada, so far as can be learned, contenting herself with signing her petition in the East, forwarding the same to Nevada, where it was opportunely served on Sothern while he happened to be in Reno. Mrs. Sothern relied on a part of the divorce law which allows a decree based on service On the defendant in the county where he "may be found." Judge Pike declares that this means "where he may be found as a bona fide resident of the State." Fischer Has Leased the Victory Theatre E. A. Fischer, the popular musical comedy manager, is to reestablish a theatre in this city. In fact an extended lease was signed on Thursday by Mr. Fischer, whereby the Victory Theatre on Sutter Street, between Fillmore and Steiner is transferred to him, and the playhouse will hereafter bear his name. Prefering to wait until conditions became normal, Mr. Fischer immediately after the fire secured a house at Los Angeles, which he has conducted with marked success for three years. But his faith and admiration for San Francisco never wavered and at the first opportune moment he accepted to return to his first love. It was at his O'Farrell street theatre that Mr. Fischer introduced the popular comedians Kolb and Dill and other stellar lights enjoyed lengthly and remunerative engagements under his management. The new company, headed by Ben T. Dillon, will open on Monday, May 3. in Chas. Alphins' successful laugh creator Poppyland. Up to last week it was figured that Mr. Fischer would take over The Novelty Theatre, but a hitch occurred at the last moment and the deal was declared off. Arthur C. Aiston Back in New York Arthur C. Aiston has returned to New York City after a ten weeks' Western trip, and is now located in his new office in the Long Acre Building at 1505 Broadway. In the same building are located the offices of Stair & Havlin, the United Booking Offices, Litt & Dingnoll, Al H. Woode and many other important theatrical managers. On his trip Manager Aiston stopped at nearly every important city between New York City and Seattle, going thence to Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, Lincoln, St. Joseph, Kansas City, St. Louis and thence direct to New York City. lie closed between forty and fifty contracts for his plays to be presented by the various stock companies between now and the first of August, besides meeting hundreds of old friends in nearly every one of the towns visited. Manager Aiston is now at work on his new production, As the Sun Went Down, by George D. Baker. The tour will take in a visit to California and the Northwest. The Orpheum The program for next week at the new Orpheum will be headed by Lillian Mortimer, a clever actress who has starred with great success in the East in several plays of her own composition. For her present vaudeville tour she has written a thrilling little play of life in a little village in Virginia, entitled Po White Trash Jinny, which affords her a splendid opportunity to present an excellent character sketch as the title role. She is admirably supported by an excellent company, which includes that sterling actor, Guy Durrell. The Four Amatis Sisters will reappear after quite an absence and are sure of a cordial reception. They present a musical offering that is unique and charming and one of the quartet. Gisela, is said to be the possessor of the widest range in the world, covering three and a half octaves and extending to B over high C, or, to be more technical, B Altissimo. The Amatis Sisters play on different pianos at the same time, and their programs include selections by Yon Weber. Flotow and Wagner. Knight Brothers and Lillian Sawtelle will contribute a singing and dancing act of an eccentric character. The dancing of Miss Sawtelle is delightful, and more diverting comedians than the Knights are not in existence. Next week will be the second of Grigolati's Aerial Ballet and their latest flying novelty, Butterflies and Doves. It will be the last of Margaret Moffat and company in Awake at the Switch ; Arcadia ; Paul Sandor's Miniature Cirque, and of the Dublin Minstrel, Frank Fogarty, in his quaint, humorous and human observations. A new series of motion pictures will pleasantly close a delightful entertainment. Alcazar Theatre The heart-warming epic of youth, Old Heidelberg, will be revived next Monday evening, with a cast that would assure a successful run even if the play were not equipped with the most elaborate scene settings ever provided for the production. Old Heidelberg was adapted from the German for the late Richard Mansfield, whose most successful vehicle it was. Its story treats of an episode in the career of Prince Karl of SaxonyKarlsburg. It is a time-honored rule of the court that the heir apparent to the throne must spend at least one year of study at Heidelberg, and when young Prince Karl, who has been reared in seclusion, arrives at the famous university with his aged private tutor, all the pent-up vigor of his youth comes out and he becomes a real boy and falls in love with Kathie, the pretty daughter of an innkeeper whose establishment is frequented by the students. The lad's real identity is kept a secret from all except the college faculty, and he is reveling in his new-found freedom when the death of the king calls him to the throne. Kathie is left behind, broken-hearted, but soon after he has been crowned his yearning to see her impels him to return to Heidelberg, where he finds that his former happy life there can never be repeated. All the old familiarity of his fellowcollegians has disappeared, and he is treated as a king by all who meet him. So he bids farewell to Kathie and the boys and goes back, a dissatisfied monarch, to rule his people. The scene of his parting with the girl is the prettiest bit of sentiment ever staged. American Theatre The last performances of Right's Might, the interesting play by Frank McGlynn and Jack Gleason, will take place this Saturday afternoon and evening, and at the Sunday matinee I. P. Wilkerson's Minstrels of Today and Musical Comedy Company will inaugurate a summer season which promises to be decidedly interesting. The very best burnt cork artists obtainable have been engaged, and for the opening program the end men will be Al Jolson, late of Dockstader's Minstrels and one of the best comedians ever seen in San Francisco; Emil Subers, "The Georgia Sunflower," well known here from his clever work at the Orpheum ; John H. King, fresh from Cohan & Harris' Honey Boy Minstrels; Tod Bloom, a renowned fun-maker ; Eddie Mazie, very popular here, and the Forbes Brothers, one of the best singing and dancing teams before the public. The vocalists who will be heard from the charmed semicircle are Matt Keefe, a San Francisco boy who comes covered with Eastern triumphs with the Honey Boy Minstrels ; Will Oakland, the contratenor who made such a hit here last season with Dockstader's Minstrels ; Tell Taylor, the favorite baritone, who sings his own songs, and Frank Figoni, the basso. The cast for About Town, described as "a whoop in one act," and which is a condensation of one of Lew Field's greatest successes, will include several names prominent in musical comedy, including Lou Anger, German comedian, late of Lew Field's company ; Robert Wilson, a singing comedian ; Charles Flynn, who plays Irish comedy roles, and Edward Castano, also from Field's show. Ella Smyth, the prima donna soprano of the aggregation, promises to create a sensation here. She is just one inch under six feet in height, is possessed of a brilliantly cultivated voice, pretty face and stunning figure, and has in addition a splendid stage presence and lots of ability. Anna Golde ,the soubrette, was one of the big hits of The Girl Behind the Counter, and is as dainty in her work as she is clever. There are twenty comely and shapely girls in the chorus, which has been carefully drilled by Stage Director Bobby Harris. Val encia Theatre The last performances of J. M. Barrie's delightful fantasy, Peter Pan, will take place this Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings, and on Monday night If I Were King, dramatized by Justin Huntley McCarthy from his popular novel of the same name, will be staged on an elaborate scale. If I Were King will serve to introduce to San Francisco, Paul McAllister and Florence Oakley, the new leading man and woman of the Valencia stock company, and to reintroduce an old, tried and true favorite, George Osbourne. Mr. McAllister comes direct from a series of New York dramatic triumphs, Miss Oakley is one of the best of America's younger leading women, and Mr. Osbourne may safely be said to be the most popular actor who ever appeared in this city. The rest of the cast will include all of the Valencia favorites, with Grace Travers in the important role of Huguette de Hamel. Numerous supernumeraries, a wealth of stage accessories and forty-five distinct characters are employed in the production, which will be the most elaborate yet attempted by this thealre of great achievements. Stage Director George F"oster Piatt says so, and he is a man of his word. Hoyt's always welcome A Texas Steer will follow If I Were King at the Valencia. Hotel St. James Cor. Van Ness Ave. and Fulton St. San Francisco, California Headquarters for Agents and Managers Half Block from Van Ness Theatre. Friars meet at the St. James every Friday night. F. P. SHANLEY, Manager, formerly of New York