Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY Byers and Herman. Pantomime. Imperial. An anti-climax spoils what otherwise would be a capital pantomime offering, running fourteen minutes. The curtain's rise shows a setting with a trick back of the usual pantomimic sort. A clown has trouble with unimated pictures, until at last a picture of a skeleton drops from tin- wall ami proves to be the second mem- ber of the team. There is the usual clowning with contortion diversions wind- ing up with the chase through the scene traps. There is a dark change to a gaudy and badly painted scene of the transfor- mation sort in which the clown does some bounding rope work, while the other, in a new costume, offers more contortioning. The second section of the offering is un- important. It should be possible to offer the rope work in the middle of the act. even though the contortion member might not then be able to change his dress. Then with the trap chase for a rousing finish they would have an act that would possess appeal for others than the chil- dren, whom the work particularly inter- ests. The tricks are well worked out, the scenery does not stick and there are all evidences of careful preparation of the turn. The trouble at present is that the good effect gained is lost through the slow working of the second part. Other- wise the act is good for almost any house. Chicot. Fred and Mae Waddell. Comedy Juggling. Pastor's. There is too much comedy in this act. More juggling would serve to place them higher on a bill. The tough girl of Miss Waddell, while it gains laughs, is grossly overdrawn. If the girl can juggle clubs that department should be worked out. No success will be had of the present combination. Simc. Ethel Fuller & Co. "A Moral Suicide." Gotham, Brooklyn. t»* Fuller, who has been devoting her time and talents to stock organizations up to this time, suggests in her first vaudeville venture that she posse.s>es signal ability as an emotional actress. She has been fortunate, too, in hor selection of a vehicle. In "A Moral Suicide" she has a story of great dramatic value and unusual human interest. She gets it across the footlights with its points clearly worked out and adequately presented in the short space of seventeen minutes. It is unfortunate for Miss Fuller that she is compelled to make her debut in so remote a house as the Gotham, where the New York managers seldom penetrate. The narrative of the sketch has to do with Violet Vane, an actress in love with Dick Lenox, an artist of aristocratic fam- ily. They have it all fixed for the wed- ding bells when enters Kthel Selby, a col- orless young person who is engaged to l>ick. She explains that Dick can never marry the actress and persuades Violet, a la Trilby, that her marriage to Dick '"can never be." Violet gets the drift of the argument, and by way of discourag- ing Dick in his purpose of making her his wife, simulate* a "morning after hold- over" and tells him that she has been playing with him. At the close of the scene Dick departs, presumably to wed the colorless young person. Miss Fuller displays careful training and has a voice of pleasing quality. She rather suggests Mrs. Fiske in her methods. Her support is inferior. Roland G. Edu- ards as the artist ran very much to padded shoulders and high tragedy of the sort that is usually found in melodrama of the Theodore Kremer sort, while Edith Eduards is herself as colorless as the part she plays. Chicot. McCREE TAKING NO CHANCES. Junie McCree, who is to open at Proc- tor's Fifty-eighth Street Theatre March 12 in a reincarnation of "The Dope Fiend," which he first made known to Broadway on the New York roof some seasons ago, completed his company this week. It will include John P. Wade, formerly in vaudeville with Clay Clem- ment; Henriette Ross, formerly with the Frawley stock organization, and Zella Frank, a niece of Marie Dressier, who was the soubrette with the original Mc- Cree company. MISS SEVILLE RECEIVES AN OFFER. Lillian Seville, the English singing comedienne, who made quite a success upon her opening in New York some time since, has just received a consignment of new material from the other side and will soon be seen in a revised bunch of songs and comedy dances. She recently returned from South Africa and has received an offer from Hyman Brothers, who control a chain of houses in Johannesburg and other cities in that part of the globe, offering her a return engagement. "FRED RAY & CO." Juliet Wood, who has been for five years associated with Fred Ray, the team having been known as Wood and Ray, or Ray and Wood, has left, and Ella Collmer, formerly of the Proctor Fifth Avenue Theatre Stock Company, will replace her. This week has been spent in rehearsals, the first appearance of the new member will be at the Twentv-third street house next Monday in the same travesty, the billing hereafter reading "Fred Ray & Co." For next season Mr. Ray has a new act in preparation, and will open Sep- tember 3 at Svracuse. Another addition for that will be Louis Benton, who stands »J feet 2 inches in height and weighs 102 |»ounds. Mr. Benton will essay the part of a Roman gladiator, in costume. REMICK'S BAD MEMORY. Will D. Cobb, the song writer, wagered with Jerome TT. Remick last Summer that "Dear Old Georgia" would not sell 200.000 copies by January 1 last, the loser to pay for a suit of clothes. Tritely Mr. Cobb wrote Air. Remick, jokingly reminding the Detroit man of his loss, and suggesting that an order for the clothes be returned. Mr. Remick replied by Saving that while he was extremely pleased to hear from Cobb, that he must correct the impres- sion the "Wordwright" had of the wager. It was not that the song would not sell that number by January 1. but during the life of it. Cobb's answer to that was very brief. It read, "If that is the case, you may buy me the suit when wc meet in hell." NEW NAME FOR NEW YORK ROOF. While no definite plans have been set- tled upon for the coming roof season at the New York Theatre, it has been de- cided that the name of Wistaria will be dropped, and another selected. For no two consecutive seasons thus far has the roof here been called the same. A straight vaudeville bill will be most likely given again, with some big feature, as attractive as the "Red Domino" proved to be last summer. WILLIAMS INSISTED. Rigo, the Hungarian violinist and for- mer husband of Clara Ward, of Detroit, will open at the Alhambra, one of the Percy Williams theatres, on Monday. Rigo arrived here during the week, and when Mr. Williams saw him, the Hun- garian complained of a lacerated finger, stating he did not think he could play. "Just direct then," said Mr. Williams. "I no direct," replied Rigo. "My finger bad. If I play, it make me cry." "If you don't play, it will make me cry," remarked Williams, and the joke sounded so good to both of them that Rigo assented at once. WEBER & RUSH IN BINGHAMTON. The old armory in Binghamton will be remodeled by Weber & Rush to resemble a theatre, upon which $30,000 will be spent. The firm don't say that much; their figure is twenty. You may judge for vourselves, but Weber & Rush will be in Binghamton, even thought it doesn't cost them anything. STRANGE. The CMeers Sisters played the New- York Theatre about three weeks ago, dis- playing in the lobby a gilt frame, in which were laid medals and gold pieces. After the performance the frame could not be found. No particular person is suspected, but it is strange, as the value is about $250. BIG SALARY FOR THE "DOMINO." Le Rouge Domino, "The Girl in the Red Mask," has been booked for two weeks at the International Theatre in Chicago. commencing March 5. The weekly salary will be $1,SOO. This extraordinary price is rendered necessary by the amount spent by Luescher & Werba. the managers, for advertising. One hundred and titty stands have been shipped out to the Windy City, which will be billed like a circus, besides the special newspaper advertising, which will be paid lor by Iviiescher & Werba. Whether the act will «..ntinue further along the line of the Sullivan-Oonsidinc eireuit depends to a certain extent upon the reception given at the International. EVERYTHING BUNCHED. Wilson and Shea, of the Knickerbocker Theatre building, announce that early in March they will put on a new musical, spectacular and electrical novelty at TTur- tig & Seamon's with fourteen people and a quantity of new music that is calcu- lated to make 'em pucker up their mouths and whistle in spite of themselves. Florence Saunders, who was under- study to Mine. Schumann Heink. is to ha\e the principal female role of the musical comedietta, which is in three scenes. YOUNGSTOWN'S NEW BURLESQUE THEATRE. The new burlesque theatre in Youngs- town, Ohio, opened last Monday under the auspices of the Columbia Amusement Company (Eastern Wheel). Fred Irwin's Big Show is playing the lii-t, week there. Irwin's other burlesque cmopany, The Majesties, opened the new (iayety at Baltimore a few weeks ago. WILL ARCHER—DON'T ShOVE. Will Archer will come in the continuous in a single turn opening on March 12. M. S. Bentham is attending to the de- tails. JEANETTE DUPRE, S. A. Ten weeks is the time for which Jea- nette Dupre has bound herself to Tom Miner as a "special attraction," to be placed by Mr. Miner with any of his road shows that needs the support of Miss Dupre's beneficial presence. STELLA TRACEY. "Johnny Jones" will lose Stella Tracey shortlv, for M. S. Bentham has booked her for forty-eight weeks over the Or- pheum, Keith and the other allied cir- cuits. What Miss Tracey is to do has not been made public property, nor the date of the first appearance. DAS PROGRAMM STILL INDIFFER- ENT. The official organ of the International Artisten Loge, Das Programra, carries another page advertisement of one of the numerous copy acts of Rice and Preroet. This time it is "Rece and Privoat," who bill themselves as "American Eccentrics in 'Humpsti-BumstiV A LARGE ROYALTY CHECK. Raymond Hubbell, the composer, re- ceived a check from Charles K. Harris, the music publisher, for about $8,000 as his royalty to January 1. GRACE TYSON'S BIRTHDAY. Hal Davis and Inez Macauley, together with Will Powell, also of "Pals," were en- tertained recently at New Haven, Conn., where both companies were playing Poli's. Miss Tyson had a birthday for the oc- casion, and received many presents, but ft race did not state her age, which was quite disappointing to the many who re- membered her in a substantial manner, expecting that in appreciation the secret would be divulged. MAYNE TO REMAIN. It has been said that Frank Mayne, who is appearing in Owen Kildare's sketch called "The Tipster" would join the Joe Weber company, but Mr. Mayne takes exception to this and says he will con- tinue in vaudeville. THE PULLMAN GIRLS. A new act soon to l>e presented by l.uescher ft Werba will probably be en- titled The Pullman Cirls. The settiug will be a Pullman sleeper, the whole side of which will be exposed to the audience, displaying the berths in various stages of undress. It \\\\\ be staged by Gertrude Hoffman, and the music will be supplied by her husband, Max Hoffman.