The billboard (Dec 1911)

DECEMBER 16, 1911.. The Billb o a r d 19 Events in Big American Cities who visited ahead of Elsie de Wolf la The Wav of the World. Mr Harry Wallace, manager of Havllu's Theatre of this city, entertained his mother, who Is paying him a visit, with a box party, at his theatre last Saturday, the ere of her de- parture After tbe show, .a repast was given that will be remembered by all as tbe most nleasant in their history. piea.uui. ■> wttI> j_ FARLEY. WASHINGTON, D. C. The tew Imperial Theatre has served pub- lic notice that no tipping will be allowed In any form or guise. This theatre Is connected with the booking firm of Morris & Loew. Charles P. Hanford, one of Washington's stel- lar lights, was Induced to take up the stage as a profession through the urgent advice of Mrs. John A. Logan, who had witnessed some Of his amateur efforts In a play at tbe high school, in which her son, John A: Logan Jr., also took Tinrt. Mr. Hanford hears a striking resemblance to William J. Bryan and Is fre- quently mistaken for.that gentleman. The Academy has bookings, -for the next fifteen weeks. • Capitalists have lately been looking over the land contiguous to Union Station Flaza with the view of erecting somewhere In the neighborhood a modern theatre. As nearly all the car lines pass the union station and Inas- much as Massachusetts avenue goes In-a direct line to the northwestern section of the city It is argued that a playhouse located at this point would be a paying institution. It looks however that there Is more ■ capital represented by those back of the scheme than there Is en- thusiasm manifested. ; This occurred in tbe lobby, of . one of the theatres a few davs ago: One of the group as- sembled remarked to tbe representative of The Billboard. "What I like best of all in The Billboard Is Spokes In the Wheels, by Sydney Wire." As usual the funny person was present and oretendlng to have misunderstood the first speaker added. "That must indeed be quite Interesting. I never heard of 'snooks' in wheels." "Neither have I," replied the first man. "but- I have often heard of wheels In the head." He of the humorous vein wilted and at once discovered that he had an appoint- ment to make. Preparations are being made for an automo- bile show to be held in Convention Hall some- time during the winter. It is assured that this will exceed all others heretofore held In Wash- ington. Accessories will be eliminated and all tbe space for exhibition purposes will be de- voted to automobiles. Miss Jessie Arnold, leading lady in Tbe Rock of Ages, made her first appearance in the na- tional capital last week. Tbe owners of the Arcade Skating rink claim that there Is none in any of the large cities of this country to compare with it In size and equipment. Convention Hall Roller Skating Rink opened on Monday, the 4th. This structure has tbe largest- seating capacity of any in the city. We are frequently asked: "Why don't same of the great tent shows feature winter cir- cuses?" Of course we cannot presume to speak for such proiArletora as, for instance, the Ringllng Brothers. That they would draw full houses there can be no doubt. The project likely has more than once been fully considered and there may be pontential reasons. BD. WTJJN. PROVIDENCE, R. I. There Is practically no let up in business here yet. the big bouses are doing well, and the smaller ones are doing even better, the higher priced attractions suffering the most, Christmas week at Keith's will be known as Ye Olde Timers' Week, and a bill has been assembled by the management, consisting of en- tertainers who were popular a generation or so ago. Among those booked sre: Maggie Cllne, the Irish Queen: George Primrose, Mrs. Annie Teamans. Fox and Ward. Lottie Gllsnn. Sam Holdsworth. an 80-year-old tenor: Gus Williams. Bob Wlnstanley, air. and Mrs. Harry Thome and John LeClair. To be concluded with an after- Piece In which different entertainers on tbe bill take part, as was the custom In! the old-time variety shows. Bnliock's Theatre came out last week with another big bill, and capacity business was done every day. Five acts and eight reels of pic- tures. This is going some for a motion pic- ture house. Lieut. Eldrldge in Land Picture urawing -was tbe feature act, and it went Wg. „ P f>r.v and White, who mode such a hit at nelths the week of November 27, have been "Wed for another week In January. Mr. Thomas Hadaway or 'the Jaclnta Co. and Mr Chas. Wayne of the Pink Lady Co. were callers at The Billboord office during their stay here: the above-mentioned gentlemen and •he correspondent of this paper "trouped" to- gether a rew years ago, and many an old tale was rolold. «, Thp Big Dreamland Co., with Dave Marion as toe leading comedian, played to capacity business « the Westminster Theatre last week. This js one of the largest shows ever played here In and It was as good as It was large, lhc Empire Theatre, with Tbe Pink Lady as the attraction, the week of November 2T, had me biggest week In the history of the bouse. W. B. GREBNB. MINNEA POLIS , MINN. On Wednesday, November 20, w. 8. Lynch, nmnnger of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Co- of Chicago, IH.. and H. A. Zach. who handles the cameras, were in the Mill City, tak- ing pictures of Minnehaha Falls, and other jwnl points of Interest; which will be shown throughout all theatres where Essanay films are o«e< m the United States. The pictures will be ready for release In about two weeks from time or taking. The Essanay officials were given all possible assistance by the members of the Mln- »»»nnlls Commercial Club. Thursday night, November 80, after the close or. the regular evening performance of The Grain « Bust at the Metropolitan Opera House, as f h Jtompllment to Dr. H. L. Williams, coach of the University of Minnesota football team, who *" present in the audience with his Wife and son,—James K. Hackett, the eminent actor- star, presented The Bishop's Candlesticks, tbe playlet by Norman McKinnel. based upon an in- cident in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. Mr. Hackett was one of tbe. men who held the watch on "Doc" Williams, when the latter was a Yale student establishing the world's record for' high hurdles, and' in a " curtain speech at the close of the third act, Mr. Hackett ad- vised the audience that be would present the playlet in honor of a friend of bis college days —"the doctor." The entire audience remained over for the playlet. Manager S. L. Rothapfel of the Lyric Theatre, has secured the films of the picture reproduc- tion' of the spectacular Cinderella, In wb.c Mabel Taliaferro stars, and be states that Min- neapolis will he the first city to see these pictures which will be shown here at the Lyric Theatre, Jan. 1, 2 and 3. Good reports are coming in from several of our local tbespians. - Pete Raymond is one of the members of the second The Woman Com- pany, which David Belasco will put out In Chi- cago; Eda Von Luke {Mrs. Pete Raymond) Is leading woman with a stock company in Erie. Pa., and Laura Frankenfield Is In tbe company of The Wife Decides in New York. Charles Lindholm Is on tbe Pantages Vaudeville Cir- cuit, with his playlet. The Man From Minneso- ta. After the recent tryout here at the Bijou Opera House of A Kentucky Romance. Beulah Poynter decided to use same as her vehicle the remainder of the season in place of Tbe Call of the Cricket, in which she has been ap- pearing. Edward Earnest, who has been in the capacity as manager of the Fremont Opera House, will sever his connection with that bouse on or about December 10 and will take full charge of one of the departments in -the coming. Panama Exposition on * tbe. coast. Ed has .been very popular In the Ohio town and gave them some of the best -attractions that ever appeared in that town and the theatregoers regret very much to see him leave. All join in wishing him succt ss. We regret -very, much not to have seen Lou Hascal, a member of the Ben Welsh Burlesque Show. Lon was called back ,to the . Behman Show to assist in building it up. We will see him latir in the season. -.-.'•■.. ' 'Melodrama has not caught- on very well In this city and many of -the attractions that played the American have closed. The house here is only doing fair. There will he some of the musical attractions tried out here to see if the field can be built up. Here is wishing ah the readers of The Bill- board and of the Toledo column a Merry Xmae. Jas. Spriggs, tbe clown, with the Singling Bros., is doing the 'Santa-Clans act In one of the leading; department stores for the holidays. Now ail the boys that want Santa to not forget them had better send: Into this agent for their wants. Old Man Decker was a caller at Billboard headquarters. Decker is in advance of Mort Singer Heart Breakers Co. Otto Klleves, another former factor in theatricals in this city. Is the manager. - Leading clown Jake Kibble, of the Robinson's Snows, is among us-again. Jake has been on tbe sick list for some time, but now looks in tbe pink of condition. THE EMPRESS THEATRE, CINCINNATI, O. The homo of Sullivan & Considine vaudeville management of H. E. Robinson. hi the Queen City. The Empress is under the A meeting of the Motion Picture Exhibitors League was held here Wednesday afternoon; November 21). which resulted in the election of L B. Lund as president for tbe league in Minne- sota. Mr. Chamberlain of the American Amuse- ment Company as vice-president, and CI' E. Van Duzee, Jack Schmidt and E.. O.. Freedman and S. L. - Rothapfel as members of the board of di- rectors. The league Is rapidly" growing accord- ing to President Lund's statement and is com- prised of the best picture houses throughout the Btate of Minnesota. ■ RODERIC STE. FLEURE. TOLEDO, a It is rumored that Walter Moore will again raffle his fountain pen for Xmas. It Is good for another move. _ . '. , ; Reports from Flndlay, O.. Is that the stage hand strike is still on. . ■ Jas. Latham is home from in advance of The Show Girl Co. and will again start out with tbe Isle of Spice Co. _ ■ • It Is stated thnt the Council at Delta, p.. Is going to make some theatre out of the present one In that town about the first of tbe year. Jos. McMahon and his other half, John Dev- lin, state ami building Inspectors, will play the fourth degree with all the local theatres In new laws. ' - _ Harry Yost was with us with all the ad- vance for Mutt and Jeff. Co. . Joe BCfomrada passed through our city. ahead of The Girl in the .Tail. " _ , . , Fred Wilson Is again, back with the Hanlon's production,' Fantasma. " ' , - , Jimmy Conm-ra has failed in- the production line, -and will be here with one of. the Hurttg ^eorge'stoner'wlth his All-star Empire Vaude- ville Co. played Delta, O., Thanksgiving and did well. Feature of the day was the; hotel turkey dl Tbe' Auto kid Law has the burlesque JTever so strong now that he makes a visit to Cleve- land before- tbe company gets here. He knows ^ft*l* stated that the Columbia Theatre that his been la the vaudeville, Held his changed Manager' Garson. who formerly handled the Empire when its policy was vaudeville and stock, was in the city for a short visit. He has a chain of picture houses in the East. , JACK TIERNEY. — KANSA S CIT Y, MO. - * 'Thanksgiving Day, generally a lonely day for the stage folk spending that week here, was this year especially festive, for there were many Thanksgiving feasts given among, .tbe theatrical people" and likewise the companies here then seemed to have many friends among the resi- dents.- and so they were Invited out to these friends to dine, "en famine," or as In many cases, there were regular parties given to meet these guests, only Thanksgiving Day was cele- brated In most cases either Friday or after the shows Thursday evening, for all of the theatres had special Thanksgiving matinees and these, as is always the case for a holiday, were capac- ity business. Miss Held did not give a Wednesday mat- inee of her week engagement here on account of having a special afternoon performance Thurs- day, Thanksgiving Day. so she and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Watson Jr.. attended tbe Wednes- day matinee at the Shnbert to see Miss Gertrude Hoffman and her Imperial Russian Ballet and witness Miss Hoffmann's famous Impersonations. They enjoyed very much Miss Hoffmann's char- acterization of Miss Held and the burlesque of Mr. Watson's trombone solo was much ap- plauded. ' ' Another Thanksgiving banquet that waa very fine and lots of good time, was that given Wed- nesday evening. November 29, by the local lodge of T. M. A. This was after all the shows closed that evening and every performer la the city was Invited to attend and most all of them took advantage of the occasion, and there was a big and jolly crowd present. This banquet was given In honor of Miss Anna Held and her appear- ance was much encored. The affair took place in the new club-rooms at Eleventh and Central Streets. - After the show at the Orpheum, all the "acta", on the bill adjourned to tbe Hotel Savoy and there had their turkey and "nxlus". and it Is certain there was no loneliness In this "bunch." Mr. A. Judab, manager of tbe Grand Theatre, is well-known and noted for bis charitable in- - cUnations and assistance. Mr. Judah has been chosen one of the vice-presidents on the Mayor's Christmas Tree* Association, a charity for tbe purpose of providing the poor children of the city with one happy time and Mr. Judah Is to be dispenser of the gifts. Mr. Judah has suf- fered a great deal from a fall he had several weeks ago but la now active about the Grand Opera House and when not busy there, devotes his time and energy for the good and success of this charitable Christmas entertainment. Mr. Judah. during Christmas week, baa always given a matinee'at his theatre for the poor "kiddies" of the city and he says that this custom will be adhered to this year although the date of this big matinee has not been set. It is very probable that there will be two poor children's matinees at tbe Grand this year for Mr. Judah says that the, manager of tbe show playing the Grand Christmas week wishes to donate > show for tbe poor children. WILLIAM W. SHELLEY. SEATTLE, WASH. Jan Kubellk, who will appear at the Moore Theatre, December 6. under the auspices of the Ladies' Musical Club, according to present plans will never again visit the United States and this transcontinental trip will mark his public good-bye. Neva West, once the popular leading woman of a Russel and Drew Stock Co. at the Seattle, now Is playing in tbe Alcazar Stock Co.. which is headed by Burr Mcintosh, at Los Angeles. Her husband, Roy Clements, who also was popular as a stock actor here, is a member of the'same company. Two women and five men comprise the new city theatre censorship board, which was appointed November 30 by Mayor George W. Dllllng. They are Dr. Sarah B. Kendall. Miss Alice Lord, business manager of the Waitresses* Union: E. R. Thomas, principal of Leschl school: A. It. Priest. Seattle manager of the Rldpath Lyceum Bureau: Rev. J. L. Garvin, Duncan Inverority, manager of the Lois Theatre, and Eugene Levey, a moving picture promoter. Under the ordinance which recently passed the Council the functions of -this board are to keep la personal touch with the various and sundry productions In the city's forty-two thea- tres and advise the Mayor whenever it is pro- posed to show any drama, comedy, vaudeville act or moving picture that might have a harmful effect upon the community. The Mayor under the ordinance is vested with power to' have such exhibitions stopped. ' LEM A. SHORTRIDGE. OMAHA, NEB. The Christmas shopping season is now on and. In consequence, the theatres are doing a lighter business, -which the managers all expect at this time of tbe season. FraDk Woods, an Omaha boy. appeared here tbe past week In The Echo. He Is the leading comedian, and hlB rise in the theatrical profes- sion has been rapid.- It was only. a few years ago that Frank was usher at the Boyd. He joined a musical comedy, taking a place In the chorus, hot his abllitv was soon recognized and he was given a principal part, since which time he has ap- peared in some of the best musical snows. The manager of the Sweetest Girl Hi r.* advertised for cboras girls while his attraction was playing at the Brandeis and out of a large number of applicants, only one was engaged. Manager Johnson of the Gayety has estab- lished what he calls a go-cart garage in the lobby of his house and it is not an unusual sight to see a dozen or more baby carriages In the •'garage." Tbe Boyd patrons will not have to sit In silence betwen tbe acts hereafter as an orchestra has been installed, the first since the opening In September. The disagreenrnt .between the Musicians Union and the Sbuberts has been ^Th? Gayety bad a record breaking ladles' matinee the past week. 686 ladles jtg^fd a matinee performance of The World of Pleasure. This house is becoming -very popular for the feminine sex. which is sufficient evidence that the ladies like good clean burlesque snows- The Parlor Moving Picture Theatre was fined $25 and costs for exhibiting prize fight pictures. This is tbe first moving picture house fined since tbe city passed a law last summer against fight pictures being shown. There is a rtraior that « city inspector will be appointed to visit the picture bouses each week and prevent what be may consider , any objectionable films. Harry and Estell Mason, who are making a tour of the world from Alaska, with their Eskimo dogs which are carving them on the tour, were a special feature at the Gayety the P ^L W Efks Lodge No. 39 held their annal memor- ial service at the Orpheum Centre <ra the 3d. The service this year was very Impressive, it was composed of some excellent addresses ana musical numbers by the Elks' Quartet and Jbe rnism Violin Choir. The house, was flHed wttft many professional people, members of the Elks who were appearing at tbe different theatre* were present. Manager Wot. P. Byrne Is a prominent Elk and did everything to make- the service a success. n j BOOT _ MONTREAL, CAN. The shooting- of Robert Fitzslmmona by one George Ross of Ottawa,, has east a gloom over the many friends of genial "Boh" who was so well known to the natrons of the Orpheum. "Bob" has been connected with this Bennett and Orpheum bouse since it opened, and was greatly respected. ; Owing to the death of hie mother at Balti- more. Md.. Will H. Ward of the Sam Devere Show, -did not rejoin tbe show until December ' N. W. SHANNON. Additional Big City Latter* will be found on pngo 58.-.