Show World (September 1909)

THE SHOW WORLD September I8|j 1909. ANTI-TRUST FILM CO. FILMS FOR RENT Machines For Sale WRITE FOR OUR BIG FILM LIST Anti-Trust Film Co., 79 South Clark St., Chicago, Ill. JUST OUT OUR NEW CATALOGUE _ containing Cuts and Prices of Stock Paper which can be crosslined to anv title. 400 ILLUSTRATIONS. The largest and most com- plete book of its kind ever published by a theatrical print¬ ing house. IT IS FREE National Ptg.& Eng. Co., D< a. 1 a H I v. MCO VAUDEVILLE GROWS TO A FINE MATURITY How the Early Pioneers Struggled Against Great; Odds^to Obtain the Advantage of^Today. By CHARLES Time certainly changes. A few short years ago an artist engaged in what s then known as variety, had to hide the fact owing to the odium attached to that branch of the theatrical pro¬ fession. Vari- L ety, although \ having many \ good acts, had I many skits that A. MORELAND. A few squibs picked up on the Chi¬ cago Rialto: The Western Vaudeville Managers’ dies to a variety house. In short the class of en¬ tertainment of- days ’of variety. occupy the entire eleventh floor of the Majestic theater building, and will be the handsomest booking offices in the country. Fete Mack and Clancey Twins, nov- the city negotiating for time. Harry Adler, eccentric comedian. Is playing at the Victoria theater, Logan Square this week. He will go east shortly. Levigne and Jaffie, singing, dancing and talking comedians, are resting in city. 1 par . ,, _ . .. .uh the cheap¬ est kind of present day tawdry burlesque shows. Today, dignified by the name of Vaudeville, with good clean bills, best artists, both those who play the two-a- day houses continuously and the legiti¬ mate artists who take a be tween-season flyer in vaudeville, one finds the general tone of entertainment much higher. The class of artists is better and the audi¬ ence made up of cultured, refined people. This change is due to the fact that several years ago the theater going pub¬ lic became disgusted with the poor, cheap farce-comedies and melodramas being dished out to them, but had no recourse, but must see this kind of a show, or none at alL Smart managers seeing the crying need, proceeded to make vaudeville a thing likable, clean and amusing, by engaging good artists and pleasing the public with real shows and acts that amuse. The managers of legitimate houses have profited by the advance in vaudeville, inasmuch as a number of stars have been gained from the vaudeville field. Writers of short skits have arrived and grown into real playwrights of worth through the med¬ ium of vaudeville. Among the most notable acts that I can recall, which have made good in vaudeville, and le¬ gitimate after being elaborated, are “The Chorus Lady," “The Roundup,” called “The Sheriff," “Squaw Man," “Billy," “The Governor’s Son,” “Running for Of¬ fice,” and many others of lesser note. quartette, are playing__ week, with Aurora, Ill., to follow. Norman, the Frog Man, is in the city Stars of Other Bays. Among the stars, David Warfield, Rose Stahl, George Cohan, Sam Ber¬ nard, Lillian Russell, Fay Templeton, and McIntyre & Heath, all arrived over the vaudeville trail. With this impos¬ ing array of plays and players that graduated from the continuous, one can¬ not help but smile at the pessimist who Insists that vaudeville is dead. As long as the play is the thing, vaudeville will be the next thing. One will go to a serious play and even a musical com¬ edy, sit two weary long hours to wit¬ ness, say, a real good play. Perhaps some few little lines by the acting of some individual in the cast are not to one’s liking. The evening is spoiled. On the other hand, at the vaudeville house, say an act is not to one’s liking, '' ! shortness of the stunt and some¬ thing good following puts one in tune to enjoy the rest of the bill, without the ever present had actor, or poor lines overshadowing the good. The crop of dramatists, including Edmund Day. Mil- ton Royal. George Cohan, James Forbes, and many more who have been disc- shaking hands with old friends. Billy McDermott, of Happy Hooligan fame, was overjoyed to see him. Charles Bell, singing comedian, opened at Winona, Minn., Monday, with Bijou, Appleton, Wis., and Marinette to follow. Billy Baker is rehearsing a new girl act called the “Ten Pony Boy Girls.” It will be booked over the big time under the management of Dan Blair. Bert Weston and company will leave for the East this week, to play Pat Casey’s time. He will return west in January to play the Interstate circuit. He says he has the only lady bagpipe player in America. The New Erie Theater, W. J. Swartz, proprietor, situated on the corner of Erie and Clark streets, opened its doors to the public Saturday, September 11. Vaudeville and motion pictures will be the policy of the house. I understand it will be booked by the Buchanan agency. BeBoy and Diamond, comedy singing sketch artists, are playing the Paul Goudron time with the Hodkins circuit to follow. Nancy Bee, singing and dancing sou- brette and harp soloist, is working in Terry and Maggie Ferguson, who have not been in Chicago for many years, ar¬ rived in the city Sunday, and are nego¬ tiating with the Western Vaudeville as¬ sociation for time. They are doing a three act with Lou Miller. Genero and Bailey, who played the American Music Hall last week, are lay¬ ing off this week. They open at Win¬ nipeg, September 20. Billy Wade, of Wade and Hastings, is reported to be seriously ill at 130 San¬ gamon street, this city. Van Hoven opens on the Interstate time at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27. He opens at the Fifth Avenue the¬ ater. New York, January 24, booked by Pat Casey. Musical Ba Moines write from Jack¬ sonville, Fla., that they are booked over the Interstate circuit commencing De¬ cember 12. They are playing a return engagement at Jacksonville. They open at Lyric theater. Mobile, September 20. Fat Casey returned to New York City Tuesday, having booked several acts for the eastern time. Harry Fields, with his “Napanee Girls,” are in Burlington, la., this week. Harry was in the city last week re¬ hearsing a new girl act for Jake Ster- e invited o Vaudeville association. Bee Barth, the monologue artist and man of many dialects, is at Forest Park this week. He is thinking very serious¬ ly of returning to his home in San Francisco. Eva Thatcher is in the city for the first time in many years. She will play DAVID LIVINGSTON & CO. ered through their respective playing and writing on and for vaudeville, are cause enough in themselves to make one keep on going to the vaudeville show— ju«t to see if one can find another “Chorus Lady" or “Squaw Man” in its infancy. Where in any other theater but one given over to vaudeville can one enjoy such sterling entertainers Preserving the ComedylDramatic Playlet ‘THE CATTLE THIEF’ Cissy Loftus, Harry Lauder, or George Fuller Golden, whose unique personali¬ ties and wit are shown to the best of advantage in vaudeville. These are but a few of the great artists picked at ran¬ dom from a field made up of acts that are great Variety is dead, long live Vaudeville! G. S. M0N0HAN or MONAHAN is WANTED REGARDING ACCIDENT TO WOMAN WHO FELL FROM RIVERVIEW PARK STREET CAR IN AUG., 1908 You will be well repaid if you communicate with C. C. WOODRUFF, 1313 Ashland Block, CHICAGO, or SHOW WORLD OFFICE. _ You. _ _„ spent on the North Side in the future in a cosy little flat. Ure ’ Vaudeville.—The first variety theater +v,o+ r remember in this countrv tn vrl vaudeville, waa In Sam Bavine is erecting a new vaude¬ ville theater at the corner of Orchard and North avenue. It will, open Octo¬ ber 1. It will have a seating capacity of 500. William Frankel will be the manager. Armstrong and Verne, the Australian comedians, sail for home in about five weeks. Have just received a letter from there saying business is booming in Aus¬ tralia. They are at the Criterion this e the word vaudeville_ i called Johnston’s Vaudeville rm. s „ was #yer theater, Joplin, Mo. thirty years ago. If „ - _ - „ w , uc before that time please let me hear from Herman Bieb and the members of his company who have been playing in “Done” at the Majestic theater in Mil- returned to the city Monday Faus Ba Fetrle has joined one of Jake Sternad’s acts for the season, play¬ ing the principal German part Bew Welsh is busy rehearsing a new comedy sketch entitled “The Banana Vender’s Troubles,” which he will in¬ troduce shortly. Harry Howard, of the Howards, In¬ formed me of a peculiar accident that occurred at his home last Thursday. ._ _ very successful week. The Mil¬ waukee reviewers received the playlet with enthusiasm, and gave it many kind words. The members of t garet Lyons, Charles Conway, NeM Harry and his wife __.... dine with friends and left _ early in the morning. His wife’s mother also left home about 11 a. m. He did not return until 11 p. m. at night. She had forgotten to lock the door of the cage which contained their pet parrot. Imagine her surprise upon opening the door to find the house was filled with gas. After the rooms had been aired the parrot was found dead upon the floor, and one of Harry’s dogs was also dead and the other one unconscious. It was immediately taken to the dog hos¬ pital and the last heard from it it was slowly recovering. It seems that the parrot opened the door of the cage, flew upon the gas fixture and in some way turned on the gas. They are all very thankful that it happened before they __ Peter Fellmann, A. E. Richardson and Yevette DeVon. Beroy Sumner, now a member of the cast playing "Going Some,” was former¬ ly starred in “Billy, the Kid,” a melo¬ drama, in which Joseph Santley, notv in “The Queen of the Moulin Rouge,” was also starred. Mr. Sumner is well known in Chicago. T. J. Shumate has signed t “A Hired Girl.” > Sproul left Chicago tl ' join tl retired for the night Marie Sparrow, after playing the southern time, has returned and will rest a few weeks in Chicago. Malroy Trio and Kid Kidders are booked solid until November .. George B. Reno and company left for his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues¬ day. They open at the Temple, Fort Joseph Sheehan Opera company. m. j». Smith will be seen this season with “A Hired Girl” company. M S. B. Coryelle and wife will be identi¬ fied with the Montrose Morton Stock company this season. O. E. Hallem has become a member of “ The Blue Mouse” company, m Allen E. Schrock left this week for Wichita, Kane., to join the Wolf Stock company. Theodore Gamble, who came to Chi¬ cago to become a member of the Bush Temple Stock, is in the city. He is at liberty owing to a misunderstanding upon the part of the management of that theater. Geo. A. Beane, who for years appeared in many of the Hoyt productions; and was a creator of many parts, including the characters of the Sultan in the “Sul¬ tan of Sulu,” has written a one-act playlet entitled “Mary and David” which he will offer in vaudeville this season, opening next week at Fond du Lac, Wis. Chas. B. Hawkins, once a member of the old but excellent Dearborn S" ' company, r ' - - ing comedians returned to the city Mon- Conners and Thompson, singing and dancing eccentric Irish comedians, are working in the city. The Murdo’s, a novelty dog act and rolling globe, are playing the fairs, booked by Ethel Robinson. Fox and Sommers, who have been spending the summer at their home in Saginaw, Mich., arrived in the city Mon- ... “The Old Homestead,” “Way Down East” and other success, is in Chicago. Becker and Mack have signed to pro¬ vide some of the comedy with “Miss Idlewild. Herbert C. Duce has been elected a member of the Chicago Press Club Frank Bamsdell is reheasing in this city v Dan Bobey, monologue artist, is in the city. He has several weeks booked. Ba Vigne Sisters leave for the East in two weeks to play the United time, booked by Pat Casey. They are clever girls and should do well. Grace Cummins and company, comedy sketch, were at the Haymarket last week. I caught the act Saturday night. I must say she has a splendid skit Con¬ sidering the bad place they had on the bill, closing the show, the act went very well. George Heard, Dolan’s popular cigar Bongley Taylor, formerly of the Froh- inan attractions, is in the city. ■ William T. Hays has closed with “Three Weeks” and arrived in Chicago this week. Bichard Kent will leave the city with “Just a Woman’s Way.” Sidney Fasco is engaging people for “Just a Woman's Wav.” “Just a’ Woman’s Way.’’" _ Art Elmore and wife will leave the city with "A Hired Girl.” Mr. Elmore will direct the stage. Faulus, monoiogist and eccentric comedian, is in Chicago signing people vaudeville act, “The Little Cor¬ poral.” William Jossey will be seen as leading man at the Imperial theater in St Louis Will Chatterton and May Detrone hi phis, Tenn., belle. Besides being a cigar to New York. Morris McHugh will return Temple and will open in the of “Facing the Music” production Walter McCullough arrived in the city Monday. Joseph C. Burba and Bessie Curley, formerly of Culhane’s Comedians, have joined “A Country Kid” company. Cyril Courteney arrived in Chicago Monday. He is negotiating to leave the city with a well known attraction. JHm Blanch Hazelton, formerly of “The Girl Over There” company and other at¬ tractions. is in the city and will go with “The World and a Woman” company, which will take the road this month un¬ der the management of Dave Ramage. Bouis Dean, formerly a Chicago stock favorite, and Madame Esther Demi, prima donna, known in vaudeville as the Deans, opened at the Grand Opera House at Pueblo. Colo., recently and will play over the Western Vaudeville Their act is claimed I novelty. i decided