Variety (Nov 1906)

u VARIETY Tls Chat. I. Harris Caarlar Drvotti to the interests of Songs and Singers. Address all communications to OH At. K. HARRIS, 81 W. Slat It.. N. T. (Meyer Cohen, Mgr.) Vol. 4. New York, Not. 17, 1906. No. 14. MlM Maud Courtney. who has sung herself Into tbe hearts of the American ss well as the English public, re- tained to this country several weeks ago. It la a fact well known that her mall was flooded with letters and she was also hon- ored with personal calls from eTery Mu- sic Publisher In end near New York, and, of all the songs and manuscripts submitted to her. It waa hard for her to select one on Its merits. After looking them all over and not finding any- thing to suit. Miss Courtney called at our office and when shown "Somewhere" accept- ed It at once and la now using It In her repertoire. Like many others who are looking for god. aonga, Miss Courtney knows a good thing when ahe sees It. "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them," no doubt the beat sou'. Mr. Harrla has ever written in the way of a descriptive child story, will no doubt be one of his greatest successes, if the num- ber of favorable re- plies received from prominent singers Is any criterion to go by. The slides are a positive revela- tion. The laat slide of this song, showing where the child Is leading her parents, brings forth thunders of applause when thrown upon a screen. illustrators should lose no time in ordering s set of these slides it once. CORRESPONDENCE 'Unlaw otherwise noted, the following reports ere for the current week. ClilGAGO, ILL*. By FRANK WIESBERG. VARIETY'S' Chicago Office. 70 S. Clark Street. MAJESTIC (Lyman B. Glover, mgr. for Kohl A Castle. Monday rehearsal 0).—Novelty rules this week*. We here seen many handcuff manipula- tors during the last few years but none approach- ing Houdinl. who heads the bill this week snd Is a great drawing card. The Zingari Troupe please greatly. Frank Gardner snd Lottie Vin- cent in "Winning s Queen." were entertaining. Edward Clark and the "Winning Widows" make their first appearance here, it Is a nest "girl act." The Basque Quartet In operatic selections won merited favor. Mme. Bens and her dancing horse gsve sn Interesting and refined perform- ance. Mayme Remington and her four "Buster Brownies" have an excellent specialty. Rleff Brothers are novelty dsneera, and Ida O'Pay Is pleasing In banjo and vocal selections. The Four Rlanoa provoked laughter. Hawley and Les- lie pleased with singing snd dancing. OLYMPIC (Abe Jacobs, mgr. for Kohl * Cas- tle. Monday rehearsal 0).—Msy Boley snd "Pol- ly Girls" nave the same diverting act seen at the Majestic some time sgo. Hickey and Nelson are absurdly smuslng In "Twisted and Tangled." The Manhattan Comedy Four have splendid voices that blend harmoniously. Their selections were appreciated and tbe comedy created laughter. The Lncanla Trio show some daring acrobatic feata and Zlska and King returned with their en- tertaining comedy and magic. On the bill are also Violet Dsle. O'Ksbe Jap Troupe, Alice Lewis, Wahlund and Tekla Trio, Black and Jones, Pan- America Four, Zanfretta and Mansfield and Nor- man Martin. HAYMARKET (Wm. Newklrk, mgr. for Kohl Ac Castle).—The array of artists consists of Wil- fred Clsrke and company, Hyama and Mclntyre, the Proveanles, Vernon, Manning's Entertainers, Lillian Shaw, Hickman Brothers, Paul Barnes, Ernie and Honeggar, Cassad and De Verne, Lil- lian Ashley, Douglas and Douglas and Ratto Brot hers. NOTES.—Helena Fredericks has recovered from her severe Illness and left for Lakewood, N. J., where ahe will rest for seversl weeks, after which ahe will resume her Interrupted booking.— Florence Reed, the daughter of the late Roland Bead, who appeared at Proctor's last season, is now leading woman with tbe company at tbe Chi- cago Opera House. The stock company at the Cblcagc Opera House hss so firmly established •taelf that there Is no possibility of the bouse returning to vaudeville In the near future.—The Majestic Musical Four played at the Valentine Theatre, last week. The "Miss New York, Jr." company, In which they are featured, laid off last week.—Mrs. Fred M. Barnes, accompanied by her mother, daughter and maid, left for a two months tour of Europe. They will visit tbe prin- cipal capitals before returning.—Two vaudeville performances were given at Orchestra Hall for the benefit of the crippled children of Chicago, under tbe stage direction of Kerry C. Mesgber. Four thousand seven hundred dollars were cleared. Those who volunteered were Walter C. Kelly, O'Kora Japanese Wonders, Weston Sisters and several others playing here.—Albert Campbell, formerly manager of the LaSalle Theatre, haa his eyes on tbe New Theatre In Vsn Buren street, snd If the terms sre agreed upon we will probably have s music hsll tbst promises to be original along the lines planned by Mr. Campbell. The New Theatre has not proved a successful venture as an endowed playhouse, and tbe thirty-five stockhold- ers who are financially Interested In it are begin- ning to feel the disadvantages of losing money. A dramatic stock company Is now holding forth there.—Tbe Bijou Theatre at Racine, Wis., tbe newest addition to tbe Jones-O'Brien circuit, opena Ohrlstmaa weak.—Walter F. Keefe brought with him from his hunting trip In Wisconsin much game and entertained at a duck, dinner E. F. Car- rut hers, E. P. Churchill, B. 0. Hsymsn, J. A. Stensrd, Kerry C Meagher and Frank S'ater.— Manager Kobold of tbe Dominion Theatre, Winni- peg, Canada, was In the city looking up some sets for his house.—Welter C. Kelly unavoidably missed two performances at tbe Olympic last week. He was so hoarse he could not speske above a whisper.—Chas. J. Burkhardt will sue sn omni- bus company here for running over his French bulldog "Stump" on one of the crossings. It wss first believed that be lost sn eye and Burkhardt was almost ready to replace It with an artificial one when the doctor advised him differently.— Bert Shepard leaves for Europe In about two weeks. He Is booked In London at the Oxford, Canterbury and Tivoll.—Chris. C. Brown Is tbe re- iplent of a handsome silver-mounted cane and mbrella. Herbert Alblnl, tbe magician, was tbe cheerful giver.—There waa a Woman's Convention at the Sherman House laat week. The aggrega- tion represented nearly every little hamlet in the middle West, and none of tbe women appeared accustomed to city life or system of hotels. A middle-sged woman approached Bert Levy, who had his coat collar up to his ears and waa about to enter the elevator, and asked blm if he knew whether or not Mrs. Brown had come In. He said he did not know her and referred ber to a clerk for tbe desired information. Her answer was, "Why, aren't you the Janitor?" Mr. Levy quickly pulled down his coat collar and went up to his room.—Mack Edmonds, formerly of Edmonds and Healey, has Joined Harry Haley. They win be known as Edmonds and Haley, and are now on the Qua Sun circuit, with tbe Jobn Amnions time to follow.—Houdinl was locked up In a cell at the Central police station Sunday night and had no difficulty In releasing himself.—Billy Beard closed with Haverley's Minstrels to go in vaudeville.— Baker and Wardell left "Tbe Bachelor Club Bur- lesque" and Joined "Black Crook, Jr." for the bal- ance of the season.—E. F. Carruthers, general manager of the Inter-State Amusement Company, leaves In about a week for the South. CINCINNATI, 0. By HARRY HE88. VARIETY'S Cincinnati Office. 107 Bell Block. COLUMBIA (H. M. Zlegler. mgr. Sunday re- hearsals 10:30).—The bill this week, excepting the act of Anna Eva Fay, is the most attractive ever offered to a Cincinnati audience. Twelve acts and tbe bioscope compose a show that Is tbe talk of the town. The opener. Carter and Blu- ford, colored, made a favorable impression. Eme- lle Brenner (first time here), phenomenal baritone singer, sweet voice. Klein. Ott Brothers and Nicholsons, musicians, are entitled to a front seat as clever musicians, running a close second in regard to Jules Steger. present "Tbe Fifth Com- mandment." tbe brightest vaudeville offering In years. Kelly and Kent are doing the old act but It went big. Braatz's dogs, very good. Kemp's historical views, presenting views of Indians In Arizona, one of the most entertaining acts ever seen in vaudeville. Chris Bruno and Mabel Bus- sell are clever. Fields and Ward in "A Business Education," very funny. Four Melvlns, acrobats, are great. Anna Eva Fay holds over another week. Next week: Cecelia Loft us, Edwin Stevens, McWaters and Tyson, Billy Van, Carlln and Otto, Camllle Comedy Four, Dixon Brothers snd Paul Spadonl. OLYMPIC (Daniel F. McCoy, mgr. Sunday re- hearsals 10).—Tbe bill Is noted for its single turns. Maude Courtney, singer, excellent; Bessie Wynne, comedienne, real bit of tbe show; Stuart Barnes, songs and monologue, meritorious; Majes- tic Trio, colored, do a grotesque dance that Is a winner; Mile. Emmy and her pets, appreciated; Bell-Prevost Troupe, acrobats, fine; George Tba- cber and Charles Ernest, minstrels, the best act of its kind ever seen here; Mile. Dazle, premiere danseuse, Is tbe greatest dancing act ever brought to Cincinnati. Next week: Wm. H. TLompson, Thomas Q. Seabrooke, Fields and Hanson. PHILADELPHIA. By GEORGE M. YOUNG (Sinks). KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr. Mondsy re- hearsal 0:80).—Arnold Daly Is the Keith man- agement's anniversary week headllner and the second Installment In "name" features. It Is only a short period since Daly declined to fill an engagement at a local playhouse because the price of sests did not suit his fancy. This week he Is sppearlng twice a day at a popular scale. "How be Lied to Her Husband" la the aketch used. It la not new here. Daly's drswlng pow- ers were attested by crowded houses. What por- tion of Shaw'a lines were grasped by the audi- ence were enjoyed. Daly Interprets the puppy- love of s boy too composedly to give proper understanding to tbose who hsd not seen Shaw's "Candida." He has excellent support in Isabelle Urqubart and Perclval T. Smith. A clever wire walking act was shown for the first time here by the O'Meers Sisters and an assistant not nan.ed on the program. Their tricks are well executed but do not differ from tbose used by other wire walkers. Dsve Lewis wss also a newcomer, and was disappointing only In the fact that most of his monologue wss old, having been used slmost In Its entirety by Sam Bernard when that comedian last appeared In this city as a vaudeville enter- tainer. Lewis possesses everything but material. There were six single sets on tbe bill, snd of these tbe honors went to Bsy Cox. "Tbe Dixie Girl" hss a lot of bright stuff, some old snd some new, but sll good, snd she received a hearty welcome. Carrol Henry and Nellie Fran- cis withdrew from tbe "Thoroughbreds," which played the Trocadero last week, and made a successful debut here on Monday. They depend upon much that Is familiar, but worked It up In good shape and pleased. An acrobatic monkey shown by Alllnel proved entertaining. The Kra- tons, colored, took the place of Campbell and Kenny, doing a hoop rolling and club Juggling act of more than ordinary merit. Gertrude Mans- field and Caryl Wilbur repeated their sketch, "61 Prospect Street." The playlet is good snd the players fill their characters capably. Seymour and Hill also won favor with a familiar comedy Ned Wavburn's Training School For the STAGE HOW TO MAKE UP TAUGHT BY MAIL If you are on the road, and want to know how this important part of your performance ahould be attended to, WRITE FOR PARTICULARS. Personally oonduoted by toe moat ■mosaafnl stage director in the world. NED WAYBURN, IIS W. 42cJ Street. New York acrobatic turn. Taylor Uolmea appeared In an indifferent monologue and Clifford and Burke again showed tbelr blackface specialty, with a new song aa tbe only change. Carl Herbert, magician, and Kitty Stevens, character changes snd dancing, helped to entertsln. Huehn, a musician, won his place as the opening number by a specialty that waa without the slightest merit. TROCADERO (Fred Willson, mgr.).—An olio that compares favorably with any seen in this city this season Is tbe strongest feature offered by Miner's "Americans," who entertained here this week. "Mixed Pickles," which Is given In two sections, proved good only In spots. The msln fault Is thst there are too many comedians snd the show suffers. There Is no one playing "straight" and the ability of two or three clever workers among the principal girls Is allowed to go to waste. The plot Is taken from Frank Daniels' "Little Puck" and pleases In some re- spects, but it could be brightened much with the material at band. Stripping to tights Is a novel- ty In tbla show and when the girls do reach this stage cheap dressing spoils tbe effect. It ap- pears that all the expense has been put on the tinsel bodices, snd cotton tlgbts sre used. The balance of tbe dressing Is cbesp but looks well, the gingham school dresses making a decidedly neit appearance for the schoolroom bualness. All the men work hard to please, but need something better to work with. Will H. Wsrd appears only In the burlesques, which Is new for him. Olga Roller, who is good looking, should be nsed ss principal boy and Gladys Clark snd Mse Mel- ville kept on tbe stage more. The former does all she has to do very well and tbe latter ap- pears clever enough to do better hsd she more scope. There wss some carelessness apparent In tbe dressing among tbe principal girls, which Is easily remedied. The chorus girls sre willing workers snd In the majority good looking. The absence of the beefy variety helps In appear- ance-*. Melville and Roller open tbe olio In a specialty out of tbe ordinary for a "sister act" and it proved entertaining. The Barlows showed a breakaway ladder act of tbe familiar sort. In addition to doing tbe bulk of the work in the burlesques, Clark, Hlgglna and Bergman pleased exceedingly well wltb singing and dancing. This act Is a strong number. Marie Stuart Dodd played several violin selections cleverly. Almost all the numbers In the burlesque were well pre- sented. CASINO (Ellas A Koenlg. mgrs.).—Billed as the latest satire of tbe day, "Two Married Bachelors" serves as the medium to Introduce Rice A Bar- ton's "Big Gaiety" Extravaganza Company aa the week's entertainment. If there la anything older being used on the road this season than the theme upon which the title of "Two Married Bachelors" la based It has not come to the notice of the writer. There Is not half enough work for the chorus to keep the members out of mis- chief behind the scenes, snd the time Barton and Bert Baker use up In both acts might well be given to something more attractive. The lack of singing numbers, of course, ssves money In cos- tuming, but as this Is one of the strongest fea- tures of a burlesque show the quality Is lessened. Even the numbers tbst are used, with one or two exceptions, sre poorly dressed. Annie Dunn Mullen, Kste Prior, Masle Aleene, Tessle Burns and Edyth Hamilton all take part In the bur- lesque without attracting much attention, and Amy Nelson leads one or two numbers with s rasping voice. Bert Baker opens the olio with a strong number. His "Tad" character is decided- ly clever and were he to eliminate tbe expectorat- ing on tbe stage be would bold a place among the leaders In his class. There was some fair Juggling by the Two Ashtons. Lemuels. Mona- han -and Cook rejuvenated some old-time min- strel stuff, one of tbem singing In clever style. Aleene snd Hamilton do an ordinary "sister act." Neither can dance, but get In wltb their singing and appearance. Plnard and White present a musical act which suffers only from the alleged comedy. The music is above tbe average and with some comedy Ideas worked out the act would be much improved. BIJOU (W. Jennings, Mgr.).—The "Washing- ton Society Girls," with practically the same out- fit and material as seen earlier this season, re- turned this week. LYCEUM (J. G. Jermon, mgr.).—The "Boston Belles," headed by Clarence Wilbur and with Frankle Bailey and her curves as an added fea- ture, are playing a return date this week. BOSTON, MASS. ORPHECM (Percy Willlama, prop.; Dave Robin- son, res. mgr.).—Hohnen Brothers In a comedy bar act seemed to please everybody. Avery and Hart neter went better. The Four Mortons broke the record for hits. The Fnys on their second and last week are as interesting as ever. Bert Leslie In "Hogan'M Visit." very laughable. Joe Welch has a bran-new dialogue. Jewel's Manikins de- serve a world of praise. The Five Majors, fair musical act. KEITH'S (E. F. Albee. gen. mgr.).—The Four Haweys, slack wire, best of its kind. Edwards Davis in "The Unmasking," scored heavily. The Six Cuttys are always liked, and Jim Morton's monologue rounds out the top of a very good bill. Ford and Gehrue worked hard. Emerson and Baldwin, Jugglers, fslr. Win- sor McCay, interesting. The Three Donals were minus one, who met with sn accident, and were obliged to cut the act. The rest of tbe bill consists of The Three Perry Sisters, Bemier and Stella McNamee, clay modellers; Julia Redmond and company in an ordinary aketch; Alexis and Scball also appeared. THE ROUNDER. ALBANY, PROCTOR'S (Howard Graham, mgr. Monday rehearsal 10).—Julie Ring and G. Roland Sar- geant in "A Quiet Life." good; Emma Francis and her Arabs, pleased; Quaker City Quartet, ex- cellent; Three Renards. acrobats, good; James Harrlgan, Juggling, good; Mabel Sinclair, ven- triloquist, excellent; FitrGerald and Tralnor, good; Demonio and Belle, grotesque dancing, comedy and singing, laugh producers. KM- P1RI (Tuos. R. Henry, mgr.).—Fred Irwin's "Big Show." well presented. GAIETY (H. B. Nichols, ngr.).—The "New London Gaiety Girls" go with a dash and much laughter. MARTEL. ALPENA, MICH. MALTZ (Steele A Denlson, mgrs.),—Mysterious Caesar, magician, very clever, cabinet trick a big hit; The Renaldoa were well received; Marie Heclow, dancer, clever; Chas. Heclow, comedian, a fair hit; Edith Prockuow, soprano singer, made good. GEO. J. OUELLKTTE. BALTIMORE. MD. MARYLAND (F. C. Schonberger, mgr.).—Bo- rani and Navaro, comedy acrobatic act, fair; Lester and Acker In "The Little Immigrant," well received; Francis piper, musical Juggling act, excellent; Murray and Lane, operatic comedy sketch, very good; Herr Orals' baboons, very good; Lew Sully, humorist, hit; Paplnta. Myriad dancer, excellent. ALBAUGH'S PALACE (J. Albert Young, mgr.).—Lea Ferraris, dancers, rery good; Pauline Cooke and Msy Clinton, "Shooting Stars," excellent; James McDonald, songs snd parodies, well received; Hope Booth In "The Lit- tle Blond Lady," liberally encored; tbe Hacker- Lester Trio, acrobatic cyclists, fair; Grace Camer- on, very good; Royal Japanese Troupe, well re- ceived. NEW MONUMENTAL (Sam M. Daw- son, mgr.).—"The Merrymakers." GAYETY (Wm. J. Ballauff, Jr., mgr.).—"The Gay Morn- ing Glories." TRAYMORE CASINO (Frsnk Keidel, mgr.).—Mabel McKenxle, songs snd dances, fair; the Buckleys, musical act, good; Al Hall, songs, good; Myrtle Nelson, songs, good; Frankle Wallace, songs and dances, very good; Mollie Burtlno, songs and dances, good. SYLVANCS. BUFFALO, N. Y. SHKA'S (M. Shea, mgr. Monday rehearsal 10). —"That Quartet." many encores; Ned Nye and his "Rollicking Girls," big hit; Cllffe Berzac's Ponies, cunning and showed good training; Edmund Day and company in "The•Sheriff," good; the Willis Family, fine; Katie Rooney, good; Kidman and Khanno, good; the Labakans, acrobatic grotesques, good. DICKSON. CLEVELAND, OHIO. KEITH'S (H. A. Daniels, mgr. Monday re- hearsal 11).—"Starlight," a big electrical ballet, heads the bill this week. Louis Simon, Grace Gardner and company's farce, "The New Coach- man," won the applause of the bill. Others on the bill were Hedrlx and Prescott, singers and dancers; Jack Gardner, blackface comedian; Devor and Miller, comedy acrobats, Mouller Sisters, triple horizontal bar experts; Toby Claude, diminu- tive comedian; Alf Grant and Ethel Hoag, "A Little Bit of Everything." LYRIC (C. II. Peck- ham, mgr. Monday rehearsal 11).—Leon Morris headlines tbe bill with bis wonderful trained animals. Vlnie Daly, clever comedienne; Mrs. Tom Thumb and company of Llllputlaus, bit. Other acts were: Carson Brothers, acrobats; Doyle, dancer; Swift and Buckley, Francis Wood, I/eah Russell In "Tbe Belle of the Ghetto" con- cluded the bill. EMPIRE (Geo. Cbeoet, mgr. Monday rehearsal 11).—The "Rose Hill Folly" burlesque company provided the entertainment, presenting a three-act musical farce entitled "The Billy Goats," In which Geo. W. Rice did most of the funmaking. STAR (Drew A Campbell, mgrs. Monday rehearsal 11).—Rellly A Woods' show. * WALTER D. HOLCOMB. DAVENPORT, IA. FAMILY (Wellington Martin, mgr. Monday rehearsal 10:30).—Frank Markley, banjo virtuoso, excellent; Roger snd French, songs and dances, good; Kathryn Martyn, illustrated songs, good; The M cCarvers; Sheck Brothers, acrobats, hit. The LjMM Brothers, the musical butchers, who played this house last week, have signed with Barlow's Minstrels and they will Join that com- pany Dec. 1. ELITE (Chas. Berkell, mgr. Monday rehearsal 11).—Tulsa, change artist, good; Bobby Rankin, comedy musical act, good; The Lees, csblnet set, good; Joe Whitehead and