Show World (February 1909)

10 THE SHOW WORLD February 27, 1909. LEAN AND HOLBROOK SCORE BIG SUCCESS. CHICAGO NEWS NOTES Constance Skinner Says “Just As They Are” Are the Nicest Characters They Have Yet Offered. Cecil Lean and Florence Holbrook, who were long favorites at the La Salle the¬ ater, are appearing at the Majestic this week In a vaudeville sketch and It can¬ not be disputed that they get a hearty reception at every performance. The ap¬ plause commenced before the preceding t was off Monday night and continued until lots of folks were disgusted. The hold Lean and Holbrook have on the Chicago public is remarkable and un¬ explainable. They came to Chicago un¬ known and are comparatively unknown yet outside of this city. It is to be re¬ gretted that such a popular pair left the La Salle theater and it would be inter¬ esting to know the causes which impelled them to leave that house. It is reported that Mr. Lean says that according to agreement the “parts” to suit him and that the “parts” i present play, The Golden Girl, were the _I for him and Miss Holbrook. It would appear that the authors of the play knew the requirements of this team, aft¬ er providing them with vehicles time and time again, and if the parts did not fit, it would seem to be a mistake made on purpose. However that may be. Lean & Hol¬ brook are a success in vaudeville in Chi¬ cago. Constance Skinner, in reviewing the performance says: “Cecil Lean and Flotence Holbrook ‘just as they are’ are the nicest characters they have ever pre¬ sented. And how well they play the parts, “Miss Holbrook is, if possible, prettier and daintier in this role than in any of her others. Her delicate witchery of facial play, her refined comedy and her sweetness make ‘just as they are’ a very delightful little drama. “Whatever these two players do— whether is is ‘just as they are’ or any¬ thing else—they seem to be perfectly happy and to want every one else to be. Now, this sort of sunny good-will and buoyant harmony make the finest atmos- i contact with, in a the- _ elsewhere. If, as many assert, the theater is purely for rest and tainment, then the Lean-Holbrook act fills the need; for nothing is so restful as sunshine and harmony, and nothing so entertaining as happy, clean comedy. “The two sing half a dozen songs of their own make, with two comedy num¬ bers for Lean.” AMY LESLIE FIGURES IN EXCITING EPISODE. tained. THINGS THEATRICAL. E. R. Harris, of Dayton, has purchased the Family theater at Findlay, Ohio, from H. S. Vail. Burdi Bartram has been engaged for the soubrette role in Fatty Felix, which takes the road shortly under the management of J. W. Williams. The play is by Broken Idol to go on Tour. —A Broken Idol enters its twenty-eighth week at the Whitney Opera house on March 1, and > weeks later will go _ _ _ phenomenal business the attraction is being favored with at the Van Buren street playhouse would seem to justify its making a longer stay in Chicago but the management has decided to play a few of the smaller cities surrounding the western metropolis and a selected few of the week stands an opportunity of view¬ ing the production before it goes into t>—^ ' The Chicago Plays Return Date. —The Royal Chef made such a big hit at the National that a return date has been arranged. To Produce Shore Acres. —Charles B. Marvin will produce Shore Acres at his stock houses in the near future. Morris Leaves Town. —William Morris left Tuesday afternoon for New York on the flyer. Rehearsal Next Week. —Rehearsals for The Phantom Detective will begin next Monday at the Academy. The company will open March 7. At Piney Ridge Next. —The next of¬ fering of Klimt’s Players at the Bijou will be At Piney Ridge, which will be presented next Monday afternoon. At the Academy. —On Trial for His Life will be next week’s production at the Academy. This is an Al. H. Woods’ pro¬ duction. Spring Show at Great Northern.— The last four weeks and perhaps longer. Goes to Buffalo. —Charles H. Saunders, „„„ had been in Chicago for about a month, left last week for his home at Buffalo, N. Y. Kendall Coming. —Ezra Kendall comes to the American Music hall next week. Stella Mayhew and Sidney Drew will be seen at that house in the near future. Yorke & Adams to Return.— Yorke & Adams will return to Chicago shortly, appearing at the National, where musical comedies are said to be doing around $5,000 on the week. At the National.— When Knighthood Was in Flower comes to the National next week. Grace Merritt heads the com¬ pany. Others prominent in the-*- William Clifford and Dorothy Lee. Harry Dull Coming. —The Flower of the Ranch will be the attraction at the Na¬ tional week of March 21. The company is managed by Harry Dull and Frankie Drew is featured •- **— """* week when Mrs. Fiske leaves the Grand after the Wednesday night performance and George Arliss begins an engagement New York, Feb. 24. Amy Leslie arrived here last Saturday from Chicago and figured in an embarras¬ sing episode in police court Sunday. She and her husband. Frank Buck, were in an auto with Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., when he was pinched and it took him two hours to find a bondman to put up $100 for his appear¬ ance. With this exception Miss Leslie’s visit has been very pleasant. She is at¬ tending the Broadway shows at every op¬ portunity and finds time to write reviews although she is constantly being enter- Rejolned Company.— Andrew Boehler returned to The Royal Chef last week. At last reports, Mrs. Boehler, who was injured at Traverse City, was on the road to recovery. Mrs. Flske’s Route.— Mrs. Fiske goes to Milwaukee the last half of next week, to Cleveland week of March 8, and to the Adelphi in Philadelphia week of March Gone Back West. —Frank Adams and Will Hough have returned to Coronado Beach, Cal., evidently being satisfied with the way The Prince of Tonight and The Golden Girl are running. Big Business.— It is reported that the Star had the biggest week in its history last week. People were turned awav at nearly every performance. The bill Some beautiful postal cards are being sent out to attract interest to the Majestic theater at Colorado Springs, Colo. W. J. Ferguson is a newcomer in the cast of The Girl from Rector’s in New York. Edna Aug has made a big hit in New York, her first appearance in that city since her notable success abroad. Irene Romaine, who formerly resided in Madison. Wis., made a big hit when she appeared at the Majestic in that city re¬ cently. Ezra Kendall will appear at the White Rats’ benefit at the Grand in Chicago next particularly strong, including Ethel May, The Mystery Girl. Advertising Dodge. —A man on stilts proved a fine advertisement for Thurs¬ ton at the Great Northern. The man in the air was watched by just as eager a crowd here as he would have been in a country village. Getting Ready. —Ada Lewis retired from Nearly a Hero last Saturday night to prepare for her starring tour under *' direction of Leibler and company. Joby- Howard replaces Miss Lewis, who will seen at the Grand next month. Little Nemo Coming. —Little Nemo will only stay five nights at the Nixon in Pittsburg in order to get to Chicago *- time for the opening at the Colonial. March 7. The Saturday performances in the Pennsylvania City were cut out. Ed Lampson Here. —Ed Lampson, who „„„ has a nickel theater in Kansas - and two at Leavenworth, was in Chicago for a few days this week. It was the first time he had been in town for sev¬ eral months. His many friends will be glad to know that he is prospering. Organizing Company. —George O. Brown tween Chicago and Texas where it will play airdomes. Oliver Martell, who has been engaged as advance, left the city sr day. Boston for a summer production will be taken out intact ,...„ Otis Harlan in the stellar comedy role will be required for the transportation of the effects and the company will special Pullman cars. The indications from the box office of the Whitney are Candy Sellers are Comedians. —The candy sellers at the Orpheum and Bijou Dream on State street are comedians. The Orpheum fellow has ready wit and his patter is laughable. The Bijou Dream boy has not been so long at the business and his work is a little crude as yet. Chicago Favorites In the West.— How¬ ard Hickman and Bessie Barriscale, for¬ merly with the Bush Temple theater, are this season members of the Alcazar stock company in San Francisco. Helen Reimer, also remembered in Chicago, is a member of the Orpheum stock company in Phil¬ adelphia this season. Company Going Out. —The Phantom Detective which closed its season tem¬ porarily a few weeks ago, will reopen again at Milwaukee, March 7. Tommy Smith and Pearl Evans will once more head the company. A brief spring tour ared c will a MORRIS MAKES BID FOR EVA TANGUAY. Offers Her $2,500 and at That SI Up Her _ _ _ _ _ _Thief was a little late in reaching Chicago, but when it arrived it scored a substantial hit. Kyrle Bellew, Herbert Kelcey and Effie Shannon are among the players. While Powers’ theater has had an excellent line of attractions this season, business has not always been good and it is pleasant to relate that The Thief is doing well. Morris House Doing Well. —William Morris is well pleased with the business the American Music Hall is doing. While the matinees have not been capacity, with the exception Of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the total receipts have been en¬ couraging every week. The bar contrib¬ utes quite a sum each week which, added to the door receipts makes the venture a very profitable one. Opera at Music Hall. —Joseph Sheehan, the grand opera tenor, and a company of twenty singers will give thirty-five min¬ utes of opera twice a day at the Ameri¬ can Music hall, beginning next Monday. Associated with Mr. Sheehan as princi¬ pals are Gladys Caldwell, Veronica Con¬ don, Louis Lavalle and W. J. Jorgenson. The third act of Martha will be given, with The Last Rose of Summer inter- At Ten Cent Houses. —Among the acts appearing at the five and ten cent houses this week none are going better than Nel¬ lie La Vere, who is doing her male im¬ personations. Tom Finnegan is deliver¬ ing the same old monologue made up from Ezra Kendall’s Good Gravy and Madison’s Budget of years ago, but his dancing is good. Lem A. Ward & Co. have a sketch which is fair. The Boston Trio have a splendid act for this class of houses. Corinne Sumner is making a hit with her song Naughty Eyes. Midweek Change of Bill. —A midweek change of bill is very unusual in a Chi¬ cago theater. It will take place next Week for Ffty Weeks Has Not Yet Made j nd to Accept. ■ Eva Tanguay, who toured the one-^HI stands for a long time before she the niche of the profession in which® belonged, has been offered $2,500 a week for fifty weeks, according to a report which has not been denied. . ■ It is. William Morris who has madi offer and the total, $125,000 is ss’” ‘ the largest sum ever handled in i ville deal between manager and a Harry Lauder is said to have $3,000 week, but his contract did i half so many weeks. It begins to look like Eva Tant. the greatest feature in vaudeville., is now with the United and it is thj they will meet the Morris offer ' than to lose her. She is now playii^ big houses in the east where costly _needed to fill the tl Twenty-five hundred dollars a lot of money, s .... _ _„,_ that n_, less fortunate vaudevillians cannoi how much it really is. It goes tc however, that' there is always a chang the right person and that instead of j on the decline the day of vaudevillj just commenced. FIRE MARSHAL GETS I Chicago Chief Reminds Picture Exhibi¬ tors of Ordinance Passed Last Year and Says All Must Live Up to Its Terms. Chief of the Fire Department cago, James Horan, has been acti ' the past week reminding moving®. authoritative quarters that the firs tion of this ordinance referrim matic take-ups may soon bt .. but otherwise, the ruling is effective which will complete that week and in¬ clude the week following, nine nights in all. Mrs. Fiske is having a very success¬ ful season, at t-he Grand and it is thought that George Arliss’ Devil will attract big crowds. Mrs. Fiske goes from Chicago to Milwaukee. At Bush Temple. —Faust, the play made from the immortal love story by Goethe, will be offered at the Bush Temple the¬ ater. the week of March 1. This is one of the classic stories of all literature, and will be offered with the full strength of the Thanhouser company and with nu¬ merous additional players. Adelaide Keim will be seen in the role of Mar¬ guerite. The nlay offers many opportuni¬ ties for scenic splendor and Manager Thanhouser announces that he will take advantage of every one of these. Enqaped for Sins of Society. —Joseph Brooks has completed the cast of the Sins of Societv and it contains the following names: Dorothy Donnelly, Louise Closser Hale. Louise Rutter, Biiou Fernandez. W. L. Abingdon. Florence Edney. Lillian Col¬ lins. Elsa Payne, Leslie Kenyon, Edwin Lester, William Evill. Frank Dekum, Clares Flemming, Lucy Sibley and Vin¬ cent Clive. The last two mentioned are members of the original Drury Lane com¬ pany. The company will be seen at Mc- Vickers this summer. White Rats’ Benefit. —The performance to be given at the Grand Opera house next Sunday night for the benefit of the White Rats will include Alexander Carr, William Gould and Valerka Surratt. John C. Rice and Sally Cohen, Felix and Caire. Grace Cameron. Rigo and his orchestra, the Seven Belfords, Sidney Grant. Blake's Oomedv Circus, the Zanzigs. the Roval Musical Five, William .T. McDermott, the Six Abdallahs. Saona. Bobby Gavlor, and Herbert Cvril and Arthur Hahn. The seat sale indicates that the affair will be a great success. S. & C. Players at Music Hall. —There does not seem to he such a wonderful difference between the quality of the acts which appear on the various circuits. Ouite a number of the Sullivan & Con- ordinance Is given in full: “Your attention is herebv called ■ ordinance passed by the City Councj approved by the Mayor, July 17, lfl “The following is the ordinan* ’■ ordained by the City Coia the i City of Chicago, ‘Section 1. That it s or device in the City of Chicago unless the same shall be equipped as fr”^“ “Said moving picture machine vices shall be equipped with a.., matic take-up with an adjustab! and said take-up and magazine af_ doors and openings thereto shall ba closed while said machine is in p tion and the same shall be equippei an automatic fire shut-off — 1 and lower fire guards. “That the distance of the i combustible materials shall _ „ than twelve (12) inches, and thai rheostat shall be placed or ‘ tals securely screwed to t... shall be properly encased and pi galvanized iron e_ ‘That said moving picture devica ’ be equipped w’*’ ™ matic light shutter, such proved by the Fire Marshal. . "Section 2. That all the require of Section 1 herein shall be su' ‘ the approval of the Fire Mars that it shall be his duty ’ provisions of Section 1 and ... moving picture machines and appaf upon the installation of the sev J paratuses and devices provided Section 1 herein, and six (6) tir ing each and every year thereafter^ “Section 3. Any person or coi who violates, neglects or refuses ply with any of the provisions * dinanee shall be fined not .._ twenty-five nor more than two hundrei dollars for each _ “Section 4. This ordinance shall MB full force and effect within ten (10 J|m from and after its passage. “The above being full information the subject, you will' be require^ — hereby ordered t„ _ its provisions within twenty days.'* “In addition to the foregoing tlP lowing regulations and precautiohL matter of public safety, shall be oB “All rheostats must be p operator’s room. ..... .. aoors gjjaii sw ing outwari at the American Music hall and while they have not been headliners in all in¬ stances the acts have been well received. T.ast week Sidney Grant, the Wartenburg Brothers and Zav Holland appeared and this week The Royal Musical Five are seen at. that house. All of these acts have recently appeared on the Stair, Sul- lHn & Consldine circuit. Another "Oz” Play. — Arrangements were made recentlv whereby Bailev and Austin will appear in the leading narts of Frank Baum’s latest creation. The Oz- man of Oz The Studebaker Theater eom- panv, an incorporated organization, with C B. Dillipvham and W. F. Connor as its officers, will produce the piece at the Studehaker in, the spring of 1910, for an indefinite run. This will have permitted Bailev and Austin to finish their contract with The Top 'n the World. The Ozman Of Oz bids fair fr, a..r„a*S Mr. Ban — s sue. eessful spectacle. The Wizard of Oz. Mr Baum will have for his associates Manuel Klein, who will write the score, and Arth¬ ur Voeelin of the Hippodrome. New York, who will design the costumes and scenic and no obstruction permitted. "All locks, bolts hall be drawn during such time as : louse may be open to the public.® “Approved automatic clutch faste na v be placed on the inside of exitffl “The use of coal, gas or oil hcatej prohibited. "Admission within thf theater will be limited t Ion of any of the f... i will be cause for imq nd prosecution. "JAMES KORAljM "Fire U)| C. D. Peruchi has secured the ater at Tampa, Fla., and will Monday with stock. He now chain of theaters in the south. Hip, Hip. Hooray was given performance, under the new mai at Trenton, N. J., Feb. 18 and did not run very smoothly.