Show World (June 1907)

June 29, 1907. THE SHOW WORLD edy, recently was presented with suc¬ cess In Chicago while The Home- u! which was the joint work of p. r : Wood and Mr. Samuels, also a bnicago author, met with success en of numerous dramatic and musical playlets used in vaudeville, among them being “The Debutante,” “The Eshah” and “Fifty Years Hence.” She is a credit to the Chicago colony of dramatic authors. Mrs. W. A. Clayton, better known as Kathryn Glenn, a vaudeville ac¬ tress of note on the Orpheum circuit, is a daughter of Col. William Light- foot Visscher and author of several strong playlets, one of which, The Matador, has been booked solid in vaudeville for the coming season. She is a woman of ability and a com¬ poser of no insignificant merit. The plays of Marjorie Benton Cooke, also a Chicago writer, are attracting much attention. Miss Cooke is a well known entertainer and has written ker is a prolific writer, whose most successful plays are Dora Thorne and Thorns and Orange Blossoms. T. S. Denison, a play publisher, is author of a score of dramas which are quite popular with amateur players and many of which have been seen pro¬ fessionally en tour. Paul Potter was for years a report¬ er on the Chicago press and his earl¬ ier dramatic work was done in Chi¬ cago. Harry B. Smith began his ca¬ reer here years ago when he wrote extravaganzas with David B. Hender¬ son. James B. Runnion, now dead, wrote many excellent plays for the old McVicker’s theater stock com¬ pany, several of which still hold the boards. There are in addition to the play- Dollar, has turned away many a dol¬ lar from the box office because of its drawing power. He wrote The Plunger, which was long used by Oliver Doud Byron, and his Piney Ridge and Kidnapped scored real hits. GEORGE HARRISON. As manager of the Bijou Vaudeville theater at White City, Chicago, George Harrison is meeting with unqualified success. Mr. Harrison is a valued mem¬ ber of the Western Vaudeville Man¬ agers’ Association staff, and this cor¬ poration books all the attractions for this theater. Mr. Harrison has an en¬ gaging personality and is popular among vaudevillians. When not acting, Higgins makes his home in Chicago. Philip R. Kellar, an editor on the Chicago Examiner, finds time occa¬ sionally to write spirited lyrics and he is author of an excellent musical comedy, Mr. Robinson Crusoe, which will be produced next season. He is author also of A Modern Miracle, a musical comedy, and Lucky Liz, a drama. Associated with him in his work is Robert H. Moulton, a strong and witty writer. Mr. Kellar will be heard from shortly. Stanley Wood is a veteran play¬ wright whose work has attracted at¬ tention. He is author of Black Vi¬ pers, The Homeseekers and Dr. Dope. This latter production, a musical com- There are few women playwrights living in Chicago, but chief among these is Grace Griswold. She has written several meritorious plays and sketches, but her best known work is Billy’s First Love, which was pro¬ duced by Valerie Bergere. She is a talented writer and will be heard from in the seasons to come. Mrs. Frieda P. C. Hall, wife of O. L. Hall, dramatic editor of the Chicago Journal, is the brilliant author and composer of “The Voyagers,” a two act musical comedy produced at the La Salle Theater in Chicago in 1903 and which made the first long run at that playhouse. Mrs. Hall is author several strong sketches which have wrights named, several dramatists in been printed by Charles Sergei. She Chicago whose work has been suc- is a writer of excellent monologues, cessfully produced. Harry L. Newton and is a good reciter. She is the only is author of numerous sketches well woman who has been honored with known in vaudeville. Elwyn A. Bar- the title of “The Daughter of the ron, an old Chicago writer, now in Press Club,” by the Chicago Club. Harriet Monroe is a writer of lit¬ erary plays of high merit and her work, notably a ‘ playlet of the Res¬ toration period entitled, “A Court Comedy,” is much admired. Annie Mitchell, who dramatized Under Two Flags, is a writer of signal ability. Prof. Louis Block, a well known Chicago educator, is author of a book of plays of high merit. Lem D. Par- London and manager for E. S. Wil¬ lard, is author of Mountain Pink, a highly successful play. Burns Man¬ tle, dramatic editor of the Chicago Inter Ocean, Ms written a number of excellent sketches, but with becoming modesty he makes no claim to dis¬ tinction on this account. Frank L. Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, is a writer of note, and W. W. Dens- low is responsible for several notable creations. Messrs. Pixley and Luders, of Prince of Pilsen fame, belong to the Chicago colony. All of the writers named have done much by their skill to elevate the American drama and as every sea¬ son produces a new crop of dramat¬ ists, the list promises to be an ex¬ traordinary one within the next few