Variety (April 1909)

14 VARIETY THE WOMAN IN VARIETY By THE 8KIKT. Wow! HE muit have said something awful when SHE did what SHE did to him. I hear HE didn't say anything about SHE either, but SHE'S sister. What SHE did to HIM was only to slam HIM all around the telephone booth of the United Booking Offices after dragging HIM in, taking care to close the door of the booth. SHE did hand it to HIM and I always thought they were so friendly, too. It all happened the other day. u Acton Davies, of the Evening Sun, re- viewed the reappearance of Vesta Tilley at length when the English male impersona- tor opened at the Colonial. Mr. Davies said among other things: "There is but one Vesta Tilley and but one Marie Lloyd." When Marie's sister, Alice, read the notice, she remarked: "That is what I have al- ways said about Marie, and I am going to send this notice to her." A fetching, checked tailor-made suit, and a small turban to top off the costume, with Annabelle Whitford in between, vis- ited New York for a few hours Sunday while en route from Baltimore to Boston, where "The Follies of 1908" are playing this week. Annabelle, the most stunning of them all. would reduce much enlarged- headiness if some of the "show girls" who have their mirrors made to order could see how it is to own a bunch of natural good looks and have real brains behind it. What do you know!" or "Who do you know?" are either of the two prime in- terrogations apparently now required for admission to the ranks of a "girl show." From what I hear, "Who do you know?' has the call by a couple of Marathon dis- tances. I have heard a great deal this season about some of the girls in musical comedies, and who they know. From re- liable sources, several are quite well ac- quainted with some influential people, in theatricals and out of theatricals. Those outside the pale of the footlights with young ladies on their visiting lists dis- porting themselves behind the electrics stand an excellent chance of becom- ing financially interested on both sides. This is one grand season for the "friend of mine." There were other days when the chorus girl who couldn't draw her salary was not looked upon as one of the great actresses of the future, but '08-'09 has it over any past session for managers receiving credit as expert choosers, with themselves always first, even at the sac- rifice of a principal part. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hart occupied a box at the Anna Held show the other night, hav- ing just returned from abroad. Carrie De Mar, who is Mrs. Hart, said abroad she saw no more gorgeously produced produc- tion than "Miss Innocence." The eightenth century costume Anna Held is wearing in the second act of "Miss Innocence" is charming, and Miss Held never looked better. It is a pale blue taf- feta with the bodice a pointed basque; the skirt, exceedingly full at the hips, is caught up at the left side, revealing a pink petticoat. With it is worn a shirred hood with the daintiest of pink flowers adorning it. Miss Held has lost her "Teddy Bear" song and is singing instead "I Have a Feeling." It is of the kind Miss Held is capable of singing well. Chas. Bigelow is singing Gus Edwards' new song, "My Cousin Caruso." When Mr. Edwards sang it at Old Vienna, At- lantic City, I thought no one could sing Gus' song like himself. I changed my mind when hearing Mr. Bigelow. I feel almost certain Mr. Edwards has one of the hits of the season in this song. Wills Holt Wakefield is convalescing at the Gregorian, whiling away the time studying maps for a suitable country home location. When it became known Miss Wakefield wanted a country place every real estate dealer in New York swooped down upon her. A few seasons ago when Joe Hart was putting on a review at the New York Roof, one haughty chorus girl who was "called down" for being late replied: "Mr. Hart, I'm sorry I'm late, but the service at the Waldorf is so slow." She is still in the chorus—still at the New York Theatre—and still living at the Waldorf. Roller skating is something of a fad With Blanche Ring. During Miss Ring's engagement at Young's Pier, Atlantic City, she could be seen gliding about the rink daily. (Miss Ring sings far better than she skates.) The women who had the honor of ap- pearing on the first Plaza program were Edith Helena, Saharet, RoseBotti, Juliet? Rose Meyer (Royal Musical Five), and very nearly, I was going to say, Julian El- tinge, but Mr. Eltinge is so manly that, unlike other impersonators in that liar, you never forget he is a man. Mr. El- tinge's costumes made the rest of the women's dresses look like a bargain sale. The "Brinkley Girl" costume is a marveL The dress a white satin directoire trimmed! in buttons or brilliants, was nearly covered' by an emerald green cape lined in pale- blue. In the Oriental dance Mr. Eltinge closely resembles Rajah. In the black bathing suit made princess, Mr. Eltinge is simply marvelous. Can't you imagine Mr. Eltinge climbing out of those tight frocks, exclaiming, "Thank Heaven, I'm not a woman?" Janet Bayes, of "What Will Happen Next?" is most becomingly gowned in a brown chiffon dress, quite the prettiest frock worn in that sketch in some time. Probably velvet is the Morrisey Sisters' idea of elegance on the stage. They make three changes: first, brown velvet; sec- ond, green velvet, and last, black velvet, all having ornamentations of brilliants. The three costumes are shabby and ill- fitting. In a most horrible shade of pink Daphne Pollard makes her entrance, and it is quite n relief when she changes to the pretty little white dress. Miss Pollard makes all other grown-up "kids" look like thirty cents. PARIS NOTES BY EDWARD 0. KBHDSBW. ffifel Paris, April 13. The Olympia is playing to capacity and Manager Marinelli is beaming. The revue is well worthy of the occasion, and with Ethel Levey in a leading role all the American colony is flocking to see this production. A new scene was added on Thursday, dealing with the postal strike played by Miss Levey and the comic Vil- bert. The Folies Bergere was also full, Chris Richards being the draw for the British crowds. The popular dancer will return to this hall in May, 1910. The Moulin Rouge enjoyed its share of the holiday rush as well, for all visitors conscientiously see the famous Red Mill, now a fashionable music hall, as they were wont to see the Morgue in former days. It was from the top of the Morgue that Houdini jumped into the Seine last Wednesday, and freed himself in the water from handcuffs placed by a French detec- tive. He is the great draw of the month at the Alhambra. Mr. Le Cointe, present manager of the Scala and Eldorado, has opened a new con- cert hall named "Chantecler" in the Ave- nue Clichy. As I have already ststed, Foray, the chansonnier, takes over the Scala September next. fault in criticising a new production be- fore it is presented to the public. Mile. Fagette has a well-known name but we do not often see her on the stage. She was once at the Ambassadeurs, and then the object of a cruel skit in a revue at the Parisiana. Mile, is now before the public, in a case she brought against the manager of the Comedie Royale. Engaged to play a certain role in "Lea Deux Courtisanes," which was withdrawn at the last moment, she refused to rehearse another, and asked $386 damages. The court gave judgment in her favor, which is a precedent for a delicate point in theatri- cal laws in this country. M. Franck has not yet mounted "The Merry Widow" at the Apollo Music Hall. It is still promised for this month, yet it would seem that a very long run is not anticipated, as the operette "Jockey Club " by V. Hollaender, which is due at the Westens Theatre, Berlin, shortly, is spoken of as a successor in the fall. The Apollo is at present closed.—The question of constructing a theatre in the Rue Cam- bon is again mentioned, and it is said that the necessary money has been found.— The case commenced by the late Victorien Sardou against Le Matin for publishing a critique of a new piece from the dress rehearsal, previous to the premiere, will be brought before the French courts by hi* widow June 12th. The courts will have to decide whether a journal commits a Trust to Valeska Suratt's returning to Hammerstein's with costumes more start- ling than ever. Her first on Tuesday, a goTd gown, was worn before, but nothing like it has been seen on the stage. Mise Suratt's black velvet "Gibson" gown waa very much copied, but she need not fear for this gold one. It must have cost a small fortune. The second, a white broad- cloth lined in cerise, is beyond description. But I don't care for the "colored mam- my's" kerchief worn with this dress. The last, a short costume, made entirely of black-headed fringe, is the most startling piece of dressmaking work around here. The foundation of this frock is simply a slip of palest pink, which leaves nothing for the:imagination. The woman of Tyler and Ward is very good looking, and is wearing at Hammer- stein's this week a princess gown made of silver sequins over am* orange chiffon foundation. Another interesting case will shortly be heard to decide whether a singer, playing at a local hall, has a right to sing in pub- lic in a night cafe or supper room after the theatres are closed. There is evidently going to be an at- tempt to revive the roller skating rink in the French capital. I bear indirectly that M. Ellis, of the London Olympia rink, was here recently looking over the ground, and visited sites in the Rue Royale and the Avenue Victor Hugo, among others. The Elysee-Montmartre has advertised skating for some time, but there are not many at it whenever I have looked in at this little ball and concert room. FIGHT APPEAL. Rankin D. Jonesy general eounsel for the Empire Circuit Oo. (Western Bur- lesque Wheel), was in New York th» week preparing to fight an appeal in the Court of Appeals upon- the reversed' judg- ment which gave the Empire Co. $60^,000 against certain Buffalo parties. The orig- inal decision favored tire Buffalo 1 people, tout this was reversed. During his presence m the city Mr. Jones likewise looked over the testimony in the Sullivan-Kraus-Empire Circuit suit which is on before a commission. Catch "the schoolroom" at the new oftTcee of the United. It's large enough for more than one teacher. There was a largely attended hearing on the Voss Agency Bill at Albany Wednes- day before the Senate Judiciary Committee^ HEADLINERS NEXT WEEK. . NEW YORK. Pauline?, Alhambra. Vesta Tilley, Orpheum. Gould and Suratt, Greenpoint. "Circumstantial Evfdence," Hammer- stein's. Annette Kellerman, Fifth Avenue. Fred Karno Co., and McMahon's "Water- melon Girls" (joint), American. Jack Lorimer, Joe Welch, Rice and Cohen. Felix and Caire and Katie Barry fall sharing top line), Plaza. Charles J. Ross, and Saharet (joint), Fnlton. CHICAGO. Eleanor Gordon and Co., Majestic. Julian Eltinge, American. Fiske O'Hara and Co., Olympic. Jack Johnson, Haymarket.