San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

17 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW April 24, 1909 At Valley Forge Is a Box-Office Winner This Week at the Broadway, Oakland The season for regular traveling attractions was opened at The Macdonough, Monday evening, when Dan Sully and company presented a western comedy, entitled, The Match Maker. Mr. Sully is an actor of ability and gives the principal role a good rendition. The play will continue the balance of the week and will give way to Otis Skinner for a three-night engagement. At Ye Liberty Salomy Jane is drawing fairly good houses and is giving general satisfaction. The play, which is founded from Bret Harte's story of the same name, contains many characters familiar to California history. Landers Stevens as the gambler and Katherine Mulkins as Salomy Jane had the two principal characters, and sustained them well. Henry Shumer as Colonel Starbottle, Geo. Webster as Yuba Bill. Elmer Booth as Red Pete, E. L. Bennison as Low and Lillian Elliott as Lize Heath were all responsible for some fine character work. The scenery, especially that of the famous redwoods, was exceptionally realistic. Mrs. Temple's Telegram will follow. Manager Guy Smith is wearing a continuous smile these days, and well he might as the Broadway is packed at every performance. Valley Forge, a drama relating to the American revolution, is the offering, and is given a good presentation. The members of Smith's stock company, which is headed by Al Ilallctt and Priscilla Knowles, jack Bennett and Roy Clement, also do good work and are entitled to special mention. A tableau scene depicting Washington crossing the Delaware makes an immense hit. The Eight Melanes, holdovers from last week are still the big hit at the Orpheum although this week's new comers comprise some good numbers. Joly Violetta and The Parisian Dancers receives many encores. The other numbers are S. Miller Kent, Charles Matthews. Step, Mehlinger and King, Messrs. Gordon and Marx, Miss Adeline Dunlap, Frank McCormack, The Four Casting Dunbars, A Picture. Pat Conway's Band has made such a great hit at 1 dora that the management have extended their engagement for six weeks. The following fine program is making good at the Bell and resulting in packed houses: Little Hip. Mueller & Mueller, Ann Crew Co., Atlantic City Four, Tom Dugan, Wartenburg Bros. The Bach festival will take place in the Greek Theatre, Berkeley, the 22A. There will be nine soloists and one hundred and twenty-five voices. It will be one of the musical events of the season. Admiral Bob Evans spoke at Ye Liberty on the 20th and gave an interesting talk on naval affairs and and the entertainment was the best that the Club has ever given. Mana2 1 st. Every seat in the house was sold their annual concert at Ye Liberty, prospects. The Orpheus Club ' gave ger Bishop, who has left town for a short vacation, announced prior to his departure the following future plays: The Prisoner of Zenda, Alabama, The Great Divide, and The Road to Yesterday. LOUIS SCHEELINE. Correspondence Marysville, April 17. — At Marysville. April 17. Lillian Russell in the racing comedy. Wildfire, played to a packed house. The company, scenic effects and all were first class, and Miss Russell as the dashing widow was superb, and Wildfire made a decided hit here. On Monday evening Norman Hackett as the star will be seen in Classmates, which is an American drama worth seeing. MARCUSE. Eureka. — Margarita Theatre (Shaw & Girton, mgrs.) — The Raymond Teal company is still playing to capacity business, changing plays every third night. This iiimiiany is marked as the strongest seen here for a long time. This week they are presenting Too Rich to Marry. The Swedish Singing Society is booked for 27th. Empire (Jas. Van Sant, Jr., mgr.) — Vaudeville and moving pictures to good business. Charles Royal and wife are presenting a very pretty sketch. Goodhure, a banjoist, was also good. Moving picture houses all doing well. Spokane, Wash., April 16. — Florence Gear appeared at the Spokane Theatre in Marrying Mary, 10-11, to good-sized audiences; good show. Clyde Fitch's latest and most successful comedy. Girls. 15-17. is surely a winner. Girls is delightful, and the girls themselves are delightful. They pleased four good-sized audiences: 18-19, The Right of Way; 20-21, Harry Beresford. The Light Eternal, played by the Jessie Shirley company at the Auditorium, was well patronized. Miss Shirley took the part of the Princess Artemia and George D. McQuarrie as Marco Valerius. The rest of the company were well cast. Next, Charley's Aunt. The Russell Brothers and Andy Rice share the honors at the Orpheum this week. Others are the Frederick Allen company; the Delmore Sisters; McGinnis and Clifton; Francini Olloms; the Five Juggling Normans, and moving pictures, to big business. Mme. Nadje was topliner at the Washington. Others were the Elite Four; Mildred Grover and Rick Richards; Cowboy Williams; Fox and Crystal, and moving pictures. Large audiences witnessed the good show at Pantages. Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Lucas, topliners; the Four International Comiques; Hoyt and Marion; the Marathon Comedy Four; the Del Costa Duo; Wm. D. Gllson, and moving pictures. The moving picture houses all report business improving. SMYTH. Vancouver, B. C, April 12. — Phenomenal success marke i the production of Rob Roy at the Empress Theatre during the week ending April 10. in which the members of the Scottish Dramatic and Musical Associations collaborate I with Walter Sanford's players. At the fall of the curtain at the matinee on Saturday, Mr. Lamberton addressed the members of both companies as follows: "Ladles and Gentlemen — I have to assume a now role in addition to the one in which 1 am presently clothed. On behalf of the Scottish Dramatic and Musical Association, I have to ask you. Miss Vane, to accept a little memento of our work together during the past week. It has been a genuine pleasure to us all to have been associated with Walter Sanford's players in this production in which you have filled, to the unboundel satisfaction of ourselves and the public, a role difficult even to an actress of Scottish birth and much more so to you. We ask you to value our little gift, not according to its cost, but as a token of our appreciation of the way in which you have adorned and portrayed the part of Helen MacGregor. Rob Roy, instead of being entwined with a garland of roses, as is described in the drama, is now crowned with Myrtle. In asking you to accept this memento I do so in the double role as vicepresident of our society and as the oldest clansman of the MacGregor. Sons and daughters of Gregarach. three cheers for the wife of our chief." Mr. Lamberton, who was made up to represent a patriarch with snow-white hair, then handed to Miss Myrtle Vane a very pretty Scottish brooch, set with a cairngorm and Scotch pebbles cut in the shape of thistles. Miss Vane, who was much surprise 1 by the gift and its unexpecte iness. warmly thanke 1 the donors in p'easing terms, stating her intention of wearing the brooch at the evening's performance. Three cheers (and a tiger) for Mr. Sanford's leading lady closed a very pleasant little ceremony. THE BROADWAY OAKLAND, CAL, FORMERLY NOVELTY GUY C. SMITH, Manager SUCCESS UPON SUCCESS Large Audiences pay tribute to tho Successful presentation of AT VALLEY FOEGE Next week, the powerful dramatic social study A Human Slave BV( -rungs: 15c. 25c. 35c. 50c. Wednesday and Saturday Matinees: 10c and 25c Astoria, April 19. — Astoria Theatre (F. M. Hanlin, mgr.) — Saturday evening, the 17th, Lillian Russell and her company produced the racing comedy. Wildfire, to a very large audience, and all were loud in their praises of the cleverness "of the production and the popularity of the actress. Lillian Russell proved that she has many admirers in Astoria. The play is a splendid one. filled with modern repartee and strong characters. Miss Russell is seen to excellent advantage. She is wonderfully attractive and is always greeted with enthusiasm by her large audiences. Next Saturday the great and only Norman Hackett in the popular play. Classmates, will be the attraction, followed the next evening (Sunday) by Black Patti in the comic opera. The Blackville Strollers. SELIG. Tacoma, Wash., April 13. — The Right of Way at the Tacoma Theatre. April 4-5. with Guy Standing and Theodore Roberts as costars, was one of the finest attractions of the season. Well acted, adequately staged. It was thoroughly satisfactory from every point of view and enthusiastically received by representative audiences. The company had the misfortune while en route from Portland to have their baggage-car broken into, and suffered the loss of costumes and properties to the value of several hundred dollars. Harry Beresford. with a capable supporting company, appeared here 11th in an enjoyable comedy, entitled Whose Your Friend. The lines were clever and Mr. Beresford sustained the excellent impression he had made on former visits to this city. The Tacoma will remain dark until the 23d inst., when it will reopen for the two nights' engagement of Lillian Russell in her racing comedy. Wildfire. Another April attraction will be Norman Hackett in Classmates, 28. Whatever the McRae players produce is sure to be well done, and last week's bill was no exception. Shakespeare by a stock company at popular prices is a bold undertaking, and the Star players deserve all the good things said of their work in The Taming of the Shrew. Mr. McRae played the part of Petruchio, using the Booth vesion. and as he and Miss Oswald (the Katherine) have often appeared in this play on the road, they were on familiar ground. Miss Oswald made a captivating Katherine. and her delivery of the epilogue could not have been better. Too much praise cannot be given to Ed Lawrence, who, in the role of the servant Grumlo. added to his already long list of clever characterizations. Another good bit of character work, assisted also by clever make-up. was furnished by Robert Webb Lawrence as the tailor. Allen J. Holuber as Hortensia. John McCabe as Baptista, Denton Vane as Lucentio and Thomas Sullivan as Gremia. deserve special mention for their work. The rest of the large supporting company was suitably cast. Realism is the predominating note in this week's bill. Shore Acres, from the opening scene on the farm, with its pigeons, postman's horse and cart and little boat drifting into the harbor, to the last scene, where the stockings are filled on Christmas eve. Of course, the piece de resistance was the turkey dinner in the second act. Manager McRae had provided the real thing for all the accessories to the dinner scene, which went big. John McCabe carried off the honors in the role of Uncle Nat Berry, and was the kind-hearted, lovable old man to the life. Sharing honors with him was Robert Webb Lawrence, who as Martin Berry gave a forceful and masterly representation of the part. Erha Robeson as Ma Berry caused much laughter, as did Ed T awrence in the role of Joel Gates. His four-year-old son. Teddy Lawrence, who appeared as Maudy Gates, was the recipient of much applause. Miss Oswald gave a vivid portrayal of the voting daughter, Helen. Denton Vane and Bertha f'orlray. as two of the children in the Berry family, were clever. The whole company, in fact, deserve the greatest eve lit. Miss Van Tassell as the family "help." Mr. Holuber as the young doctor, Mr. Percival and Mr. Sullivan as the captain and postmaster, are all worthy of special mention. Next production. The Prisoner of Zenda. E. F. Stafford, for a number of years resident manager of the Tacoma Theatre, was in the city this week renewing old friendships. This season he is manager of The Mills of the Gods company, which plays at the Tacoma 25-26. The big act at the Grand th's we<?k is May Ward's Eight Dresden Dolls, nicely costumed and with tuneful songs well sung; the act is a winner. The Meeh Trio do some wonderful hand-balancing and weight lifting. Norton and Russell in a series of lightning changes and V. L. Granville in a playlet portraying six or seven different characters were interesting features. Gaynell Everett was giod in clog dancing. Next week: Nita Allen and company in a one-act comedy; Quaker City Quartet; Lewis and Young, singing and dancing AUSTA PIERCE Characters At Liberty for Summer Stock. 1210 Cedar St.. San Diego. Cal. Imperial Amusement Co. Star Theatre, Portland, Oregon S. MORTON COHN. Pres.; MELVIN Q. WIN3TOCK, Gen. Mgr. Acts of every kind are requested to write in. quoting lowest salary in first letter. Satisfnctory booking for right acts at right figures. comedians; Bonnie Gaylord; Frank BushGeotge F. Keane, song illustrator. At the Pantages, Rafayette's dogs were a whole show in themselves, going through a series of clever tricks that were marvelous. Harland and Rollison pleased with an eccentric musical act, including some good Imitations. Morgan and McGarry's dancing act was enhanced by the singing and acting of six chorus girls. The Chartres Sisters also sing well. Scott and Wilson provided some amusing comedy and Bert Vincent singing My Dream of the U. S. A. completes a good bill. April 19 — The Four Dordrens. team of acrobats; Caesar RivoM, in impersonations; Alton and Oleaer, in The Sacrifice; Slgnor St. Clair, harp soloist; Quigg and Nickerson, musical artists. A H. WILL OPEN APRIL 15th Hart's New Theatre, San Mateo A NEW, MODERN HOUSE The Only Good One-Night Stand between San Francisco and San Jose. Excellent Sunday Night Stand Capacity. 600. Write for Open Time CHAS. E. HART, Manager Andrews Opera Chairs General Seating School — Church — Rank Office and Steel Rod Kurniture Purchase direct from manufacturer THE A. H. ANDREWS CO. Pacific fit Jo. . San Francisco Irjjo. Sew lorK. lacoma SCENERY The Chas. F. Rosa Scenic Studio Undersell any studio or individual In America. Write for a "special" estimate. Studio, Van Ness Theatre, S. F. Hotel St. James, Van Ness Ave., at Fulton St.. San Francisco MISS E. MATTINGLY Official Stenographer and Typewriter to Theatrical Agents and Managers Theatrical Typewriting Plays and manuscripts copied. Press work and mimeographing. J. B. REIGHLEY Theatrical Hauling Promptly Attended To Telephone Market 1601 660 Guerrero Street, Bet. 18th and 19th Opera, Folding and Assembly Chairs Full Line See Samples at 770-776 Mission St. Bet. 3d and 4th Sts. SAN FKANCtiCO The Whitaker & Ray Co. No Pirating OK Morrison's Faust As I have secured the rights to Morrison's Faust, and will present it with an elaborate production in the West next season, I hereby warn all stock or road managers against producing this play. W. C. GORMAN. Do you contemplate going to HONOLULU? If so, communicate with J. C. COHEN PROMOTER OF AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISES Managing HAWAIIAN OPERA HOUSE and ORPHEUM THEATRE, Honolulu. H. T. Both houses thoroughly equipped and stage capable of handling any show.