The billboard (Oct 1910)

50 -IT >t <B rB i 1 l b p a p d l"~?-LONDON-LETTER."-A (Cdntlnaed Irom'pase 17.) Us a repatatloD as as aVIatOE as OB tbe state, Hat aByfaov tbe rDSb to see I<ocke's Xhe Man from tne Sea lias been sometblis eztraordlnaiT. Tbe play certalnlr IsDtst rate, at all events, me man Irom the sea, .Jan Bedlander, is a •ihoeoash-zolne anmbns. - In fact; one feels doabt- fol wbetlwr ne bad ever been near tbe sea at til. H» talks aboat his wandecins and hardships JL the most beantUoUj' poetic lasgnage that one :an ever- imagine, and drives one finally , to the »ncIns(on that all these lelsore moments of his 3avel8 most liave been spent in the penisnal of Ae most lurid type of penny novelette. All :he same, he is most interestinfr. And he Degins to be more so when, with all bis assomp- :ion of the binff J<auty of the sailor and his vaim hearted frlemlsblns for women, he silences 1 Tonne antl(iaai7 f ontlfez Fye. when the latter, ij eavesdionplns. discovers a secret reflecting m a woman's nonor. Tills happens tiiroagh a eimversatlon wiiicb - Bedland^ baa with ills old Australian friend, Daphne Averil, in wUeh it xassplres that she and her bnsband. Or. Averil, •re not iesally married. Fontifex passes on the oews which he had Heard to Ills friend Marion Lee, a qoiet little widow, devoted to good voras. whom, Bedlander, as a matter of tket, bad come' home to claim and marry. Uarion, bearing the story, finds her conscience torn between wbat she regards as her doty to society md her love for her friend Osplme. Conscience vlns, and Marion promptly maJces np tier mind B> go and tell the Dean. And Bedlander, know- ing how Uttle the Averila were to blame for the slight irreinilarlty in their alfairs. Invents onlte a diabolical scheme to prevent the effects of Marlon's disdosares. He -calls on Marion to say good-bye. And the leasia lie gives Is utraordinaiy. "I have," he savs, "a wife lITinE—4nlte mad but still livinK. KnowInK jonr views on snch sobjects, it Is of' coarse iselesB for me to ask yon to come and! share ay coral Island with me nnmanled." And nth luiB ootrageons lie, he so works on the uiections and nasslons of tZie woman that in 3>e end she falls into Ida arms declaring her- Mlf ready to follow bim all over the world. And then she learns that she lias only lieen tile nctim of a trick, bat for the moment,'she lias Tot herself in exactly a similar posltiOD to that >f Mrs. Averil. She realizes this, and Itaw ■» Ksled on the matter forever.™^ It's a remarlMbly Clever piece of wotIe. Ix>- lalne, faced wltlr an extraordinary part, and one m tbe surface quite unreal, somehow manages i» make it completely convinclnz. As Marlon, ;tbat great emotional actress, Nina Bonclcanlt— ;<een far too seldom these days in London—takes the bouse by storm. Beryl Faber' is -Inst as : .dever and polished as ever as Daphne, while ! vane Tempest did all tliat was possible With : Jhe part of Pye. Altogether, toe play was, and ' is, a hnge snceess, and looks like having an . aiormooa ran. A' bitter little war. which may lead to far- Kacblng coDseqaences, is jDst' now g(dnz'on iietweea tiie managers of the provincial tlieaties md the proin*Ietor8 of touring companies. - The latter are now-tlireatenlnff to retaliate on the nnmer for wbat tlwy allege to be nnteawoable creatment. The men wiio aecore a london snceess for Soaring porposes and tbe actor managers who "promote themselves la snccessfnl plays, liave Men complaining for tbe last two years against tbe methods of tbe ring of provincial managers, which dictate the - terms npon -wiiich companies shall tie accommodated in ute theatre* under tlieir controL Tile plaint of the •toarlng ''manager is, of coarse, that he takes all tne nreilminarv -ex- penses noon himself, carries praetieally ail tl» tlsk and reBponsibliltv. and simply tias to ac- cept wiiatever percentage terms the ring may Aoose to dictate. It is-stated- that recently me ring Intimated tliat tiiey woold not give more- tlian fifty per cent of the .receipts to touring companies, and tliat on Uiis account many of the old established proprietors of toor- tng cominnles have detramlned tn-retaliate by playing their attractioos- in toe local music Natarally there are many tonring managers ■whose attractions are so great that they can '»mmand what terms they please, and tlie same aay be said of some actor man "^ers, for they ire features of the season wbich no provincial manager, can afford to Ignore. Bat even the<< latter have, in several' instances, either 'Wlth- 4ra'wn -indefinitely from the provincial- touring Khemes or have reduced their 'vialta to tbe fiities to once a year- The reply of the resident managers to the protests that have been made against the terms Aey are imposing is tbst rentv^ rates and taxes Save - increased so greatly, and aB the inci- lentals of the upkeep of a theatre have gone 3p so mnch that they have been compeBed t» ■-ower their terms in their own interests. They <ay that it is not possible to pay tbe hlfrti per- centage which the majority of llrst-dass man- igers are in the habit of asking, and they see so fnn in keeping theatres open simply for :Iie benefit of tonring promoters. Matters have now reaiHled the point where the regular touring managers, having refused tdmittance to certain towns, tlie local ling of nanagers is promoting tonrs of ite own to iiU die gaps. Meantime, the public In the provinces is ■nffering for want of, good tiieamcal attrac tlons, and there are more second rate com-^ panies on the road In first-class theatres than ■rer before. There is, snd lias been for some dme. a dearth of real attractive plays In the province, and many of the good pieces, with Lcodooancceasi written'largely upon tliem liave lieen entirely ruined by bad acting. ^ This Is, sccounted for by the fact tiiat when a touring manager finds that he cannot Iwok at a higher rate than fifty per cent, be immediately casts his piece Just as cheaply as be possibly can. The piece snirets, tlie pnbUe soBen,. and. If he could only see It, the - icildeiit manager suffers. ' As I liave pointed ont, some of the touring managers liave taken* to obtaining an occasional license and giving their- plsys in the local music halls. But arrangements of this kind at best can only be spasmodic, and tlie suc- cess, if any, can onlybe- fOr the moment.. The probable consequence- of it: all will be that touring companies In England wiU prob- ably soon drift Into being a thing of the past. It Is useless to expect a man to undertake an tile onerous -risk of ^ long tonr for a mere fifty per cent—and in some cases even thirty-five per cent only is being offered. Tbe result of tbis cutting process will be that it being Impossible to go on tour and pay one's ww. there vriB simply: lie a' drifting bsck' to the days of tlie old stock seasons. Admirable as these were In their day, I think we have ad- vanced somewhat licyond that stage. _^ But tbe worst feature of the whole business is that unemployment is bound to become an Increasingly serious problem. With touring companies oat at the low percentage offered, the bread is taken out of the months, of poor actors and jictresses. And another effect-U that tbe country Is being, starved. At the moment quite half of the members of the profession who used to spend their time tonring tbe provinces, finding themselves out of employment, have taken to the cluemato- KraDb shows, and manage to earn n uymg ^Ikying up to the Smera." Ito these indeed tlM! picture shows have proved a veritable blessing. ; - ' ..' PARIlB LETTER. , (Cdbtinned from page IT.) biU of ieam Is In the. Society, one can see what s blow this would be snd that no aatbor wonld willingly lay himself open to It. This week, the one theatre in Paris not signing with the Society announced a play, vrtth- out giving the name of the .author. , Sevcial newspapers annonnced themselves as believing that such and such a playwright Oust giving one Initial of bis name, lest they be mistaken snd a libel salt result), and forthwith a well- known author sent letters' to all the papers, furiously and wildly denying that hO; bad, or ever would have, anything to do wltb tbe the- atre In question. The working of the Society Iremlnds me more of the Big I«agne baseball aBsodation than any other American concern. But without tear of contradiction there isn't a more powerful nor a more eflScIent one that is this French Authors' -'Society. Its agreements with the theatre are in the form, of hard and fast con- tracts, and it has a way of compelling every man to stand by his. contract, wonderful 'to be- hold.' The French don't fraternize well In big bunches and gobs, and in most associations over here—trades nnlons, etc.—^there is a conglomer- -atlon of . factions, each -working against the others, perfectly amazing to see. But there's no :frIctIon -with the Antbor*', Society. It is a marvelonsly well-oiled machine. - - •- JTTMS CIABBTIE. - Win Jules Claretle. of tbe Comedle Fran- caise,' quit- directing its - affairs? ' Bumor says be wlU, and even goes so far as to name his possible successor. . , On October 23 this capable little >.iiian wiU have been general administrator, as he Is called, of the Boose of KoUeie - lor twaity4lve yesrs. It Is said that lie may band in his resignation at that. time to become literary and dramatic critic of Le Journal, one of the leading Paris morning papers. Personally, I am assured tliat this will not I>e, bat one can never tell. Jean Bicbepin, Adolpbe Brisson and M. Brieax (an playwrights'! are ' mentioned by different Iieopie as possibilities in the way of a successor to Claretle. As t say, however, the latter has not left the COmedle yet. I remember that when Emmanuel .^rene died and left the post of dra- matic criticism vacant on the Figaro, it was said that Claretle wonld qnit the Comedle to take that position. But, of course, he did not. Still. I hardly think M. Claretle wUI remain at the Comedle many years longer;, hs la gettliig along In years. MAGIC cm. Plans are booming at Magic City, the new amnsement park wbicb It to open here next spring. General Director. .Calvin' Bmwn has everything well nnder way. and easily tbe park win lie ready for tbe first breatli ot snm- mer in X911. FABK FOE GENEVA. A syndicate of Pails bankers, I am told, has been formed for tbe purpose of coniifnii<ting an amnsement park at Geneva. Swltzerlsnd. built along American lines entirely. Tbe director Is M. B. Vsucon, and It Is said that 1200,000 will lie spent In making tbe park attractive. THE B08T0CK SHOW. Frank C. Bostock's Animal Show, in the Jar- din d'AcclImatation, has proved a big success during the past summer, tbe Ant season at this location. He is making plans for a still bigger hit next year. He has a new si>eclmen of animal, in the show world at least, a "gorl- chlmpanzee," he calls It. It is four years of age and shows wonderful intelUgvnce. It is being trained for an act tn the show. SKATING EINKS. Under the direction of E. Gilbert Bacott, tbe Hippodrome BoUer BInk U starting off with' bully business. Tbe first "gala night" will be October 11, and prizes will be distributed for the handsomest costumes -worn. Prices are two francs (-10 cents) admission, and three francs (80 cents) for skates. ♦ M. I. Fischer is the manager of tbe Skating Palace in ttie Bue d'Amsterdam, Tbe reopen- ing for the winter season bas'been attended by a fine success. GENEBAI, KOTES. John C. Carety, illustrated song singer, spieler and lecturer, of Chicago, is In Paris. Chester Fox, Charles' Frobman's representa- tive, lit DOW In tbe city having a look aioond on behalf <ft the American manager. '* ' The Merry Widow bas been dropped at the Ap<dIo Theatre, and Hans, le Jouenr de Flute (Hans, the Flute Player), has been pat on In Its place. .iThe book Is by Maurice Vaucalre and Georges Michel, the music being the work of Ixiuls Gahne. It Is a revival and is well appreciated. - Bessie Clayton and Lala Salbini are two Americans' who are now lieing widely adrertlsed for the early production of the new zevne at the Olympla. . * ' J.. Gentll, tbe Brazilian fancy skater, was hurt some days ago while practicing hia trick of lumping over, ten chairs. He Is sble to be ont, however, and Is back on the bill at the Amsterdam-BInk.:^liOoping tbe Lof^. on skstes Is a trick tbis -'T^ng man is preparing now. ,'• cables* Tbe Franks,'-Cflbles snd bis danghter, LU- ian, are txwked lii Paris for November, I nn< derstand; - 4> The filght of George' Chavez over the Alps and his .fatal fall, ending with his funeral at Paris, are scenes which the motion picture peo- ple are coining ..money out of Just now. They are extKD)ely; Interesting. '"-'-' i|» The premiere of-lA'Patit Dien will take place at the Athene Theatre^ Satorday of- this week. JauiSb Artns is tbe antbor. ■ ^ - Ta Coqnete dTAthenes, . by Albert Snbois. will be pnt on at the Theatre Sarab-Bembardt Mon- day night. D'Aiglon has been taken off. Andre i Bmie, who created tbe title part of Arsene I.upln at the Athenee.' will play the .leading male, nfle .In I* Fen 'dn 'Tolsta; 'at the Theatre Michel, .upon the retom' tiaiB ' London of Mme. Jane.Hadini; (creatrlee of . Madam X>. she interpreting the leading feminine charac- ter. . ■ - ♦ Lncrece Borgia will be revived by Madame Bemhaidt when M. Le Bargy Joins her at the theatre .which bears her name. DID SHAKESPEARE USE SCEN- ERY? (Continued from page 5.) Of prior to his advent, be would think of tliem and utilize them. My belief was strengthened by tbe fact that he did make nse of some ac- cessories, costumes, for instance, wigs, make- up, traps and a trap-door. 1 felt sure that If be took such Insnlte pains In the 'writing of his pla.vs, he would surely take some little pains In their production. I could not-Imagine the bal- cony scene in Bomeo snd Juliet witbont scenery and a practical balcony; nor the grave scene In Hamlet without a trap and set grave stone, nor the interlude In the same play witbont a mimic stage. I was snre that the brain 'which was capable of Inventing the situations 'would also be capable of Inventing the very simple scenery and accessories that went 'with It, but, na I snid before, while I knew it I did not know how I knew it. I only knew that my common sense told me so. Nor did I know Greet. I ilfd not know actors and managers In general. Taken as a whole .1 knew them well—knew them as a class, knew what manner of men tbey gen- erally were. I knew that a great many nf them were great readers, and tbnt a few of these were students, and fewer still srhnlars. Snch were my mental position and conclnRlnns before I made any investigation upon tbe siibJi>ot. Per- mit me now to call the reader's attention to the following facts and findings: Stevens sa.vs, "Ail tbst we know with sny certainty of Shakespeare Is that he was born In Stratford-npon-Aroo, married and bad diUdraB. that be went tO '.CioBdoa,' where he appeared as an actor, and wrote poems and plays; that hs returned to Stratford, made bis'will, died and was burled.", =! . -i Not much, but. enough . when rappIemeaM with the following dates wblch are tabsoIatMj bnthentle, vis: . _ , 1st Baptized April 26, 1B64, . 2nd Married In 1582. , Srd l«tt Stratford for London in 1B8B or UBI. aged 22. or 23 years.. ..... 4th Died ■ suddenly on a visit to. BtntfOrfl.- Aprli 23, 1610, aged S5 years. Now, let us decide the very, important tlon of what was "Shakespeare's day.". I should say It was that period of bis life ^Ucb might be called his .heyday—after be bad "Wpa bis spurs, obtained recognition and proved a aoc- After be reached London iw did not immediata- ly become an actor. He hlmaelf said that for a long time he was content to iioid tba bocsai In front of tbe theatre. Art is long—especially the art of tbe actor— fjid he was satisfied to become a great .actor before he atn-inpti^l playwrltlng. Very raw men have written workSi tbst were truly grMt before the sge of forty. At forty-two Bhaka- speare became associated with Burbago as-me- ager of a theatre. It Is fair to presume tbat be achieved bis first success sborUy befota that age—say forty-one. : He was forty-one years of age Mn the year 1605. He died In 1616. Ergo, "Shakespeara'a day." waa 1605-1616. Bnibsge'a Theatre, where Shakespeare first worked as a supemnmeran'. and afterwards as an actor, when be cam* ta London, is thus described by John MaIone_la tbe World's Best Literature, vol. xxil., rnfa 13182, vis: "Bnrhsge's house, a spaclona play- ing boose, waa ballt of wood in ocUgonal form. wRh a stage. There were two stories or gai-. ierles that were roofed over. Tbe itaw waa also partly Voofed to tbe boxes, or lord*' .™«?»' which were next to the stage on either ••*••" .: If Shakespeare wss 21 years old when be eoia- menced acting, this would prove that Loodn . boasted of s very fair sort of a .theatre aa.aary. as 1688. A theatre that bad a stsge, a baicaoy. a gallery and boxes. (To be condt^ed.) AT LIBERTY A-1 Trap Drummer Csn do bits. Will locate or travel. Good tiapa and wardrobe. Address O. Y. ELLIS. JovUn. Missonri. MEGHANO-THERftPY The Ideal treatment for nervous exhaustion and general weakness. Rhenmatlsm, stomach, pnl- monary and all chronic tronbles. M. D. in coo-. sultatlon. If run down, caU or phone. No chanpi for consultation. Hours, 10*0 A. M. to Taw P. M.: Sunday, 10:00 to 2rtl0 P. M._AMKpB A. CBAHB, X. T. D., 10 E, Mnd BtiMt.-Xnr York City, Phone: MM Murray HflL WANTED, QUICK HYPNOTIC AGENT Hypnotic Horses, Endurance Pianist, Lady Bleap- ers. Lady Hypnotist and Mind Beadar. Slrtig Team and Soubrette. FBANK J. POWEBft TO Navarro St., San Antonio, Tex. Colored Musicians and Performers wanted for The Sunny Dlxla Iklln^trels. Must be good. Out all 'winter and live In private car. Good treatment. Address DANA THOMPSON, Fort Gibson. Okla. L'ZBX, »1S: tame Cub Bears, HO each: Mob- key-faced Owls (great curiosity), Wnalr; ftal- rle Dogs, $5 pair: Porcupine and Baby, flO: Bbesus Monks, «10 each. LIMWOOD - North Waterford, Maine.- FOB BALE CHEAP—Giant Golden Baboon, wears clothes snd does tricks: pair small baby Monks. Homsn-faced Monk. O. Htll'a Monkey Land Banner, 16x8, two Jungle Land Banners, 10x7, brown striped Tent, lop l.'ix20, walls, 6n ft., two fast PIckont Monks «rith chart, com- plete, other bnslness causi* of selling. All in first-class condition. Tent osrd 4 weeka. Can't go wrong. Price right. Swell pit show. Att^ dress C.-C. BAYMOND, 43 Lafayette St., Salem. Mas s. ■ • . ■ • - - -; ■ - . SKETCHES,tMONOLOGUES^ Written to order, $5.00. SstlHraettoo niaraBtaad. E. L. OAMBLE, Writer, EAST LiyMLgpOt, tt CASH FOR TENTS. X. P. XAOHIVEB, TOII, etc. If you have any sad want Immeillate caah. give full di'Hcrlpt Ion and lowest price in flnt letter. ^LYBIO MUTO CO., Canton, O. J. FRANK HATCH FILM COMPANY Writ* for Llata Today HiVrCH OUIUIING. lOO F'ourth Avenue. PITTSBURG. PA. ITfjgxiS iR 6 reds, ahipped on e shipment, tS.OO; 12 reels shipped t wo shipmenta. S14.S0. Brua .sipracfc4ts;1rorEdlaaa nachines; SI..10. Tickets; lO.OOO. 00 cents. Electric Globes. 10 cents each. Carbons.' S-8x6. 53.3S per bnadradi 'a.8mtOf^S3.SO per hnndred. All kinds of Annonncsinent Slides. 22 cents each. 3 for 91.00.- Exhibitors write us for price on oar reprodnctton of fte JrffHga-Jofaris bn flitht. 1.800 fprt In leqrfth. THE BEST RINK SKATE WE lieliere it. THOUSANDS OF OTHERS icnow it. Order a sample pair and be CONVINCED. Write f'lr free estslogoa. We cany a complete line of rink supplies. We supply parts for other makes of skates. 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