The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 5 Los Angeles Will See Many New Productions at the Burbank, and This Week the Two Irish, O'Roark and OTarrell, are the Hits at the Hippodrome LOS ANGELES, June lo.—John I'llackwood of Anditorium-Belasco- Little Theatre fame, is opening" The fardin de Danse on this very evening. Tiiis will be quite the nev/est and |uite the most up-to-datest dance hall in the town, with a wonderful floor (being the old armory) ; an orchestra under the direction of Mr. Foote, who long directed the music at the Belasco and Morosco; inviting little refresh- ment tables, and all the fascinations of a "Castle House," even to a "Dansc Midi," whatever that is—probably something to do with the tired busi- ness man, and it occurs at noon time. * * * The Burbank will .soon launch i forth as a producing house when (Richard Jtarry's Brcnda of the Woods will be produced. Mr. Barry, by the way, is up in the mountains, up above the world so high, concocting other plays to be tried out by the .same com- |)any. Then will follow The Lady We 1 All Love, by Frank Mandell; Faith, I the long-deferred play by Othcman Stevens, and a new play by Jack Lait, who will summer here and probably j give us more. This is all going to ' lia])pcn, to say nothing of a Viennesse (iperetta. * * * Little Gertrude Short, w ho has appeared many times at the r.urbank and Belasco, and who for a j long time has been doing very good I work with the LTniversal Film Com- ]>any, had the misfortune to break her K g, and will probably be laid up for or eight weeks. ^ * " The Ciaiety < ompany can well voice the question each day, "Who is our manager to- day?" Up to date the official is Mr. Uork. Joe Kane has .succeeded Chas. -Mason and Frances White has with- (hawn — reasons unknown. Inez Audrey steps into the tiny shoes of iM-ances White and makes a good ■cord. * * ■■' Marie Dressier, .still pur- iicd by ill luck, was quite badly in- liired while rehearsing for a moving picture. In stepping aside to avoid in automobile, she fell from the Ven- ice pier, dropping thirty feet into the \\ ater and striking some wooden piling" and falling across a rope. Miss Dress- ier, in consequence of this, will have In cancel some of her contracts. * * * Uay Beveridge was one time a niem- ber of the old Auditorium Stock Co., and a niece of Philo Beveridge of Hollywood. She has recently secured a decree of divorce from Irving Seliger. Miss Beveridge has been known as the "American Venus," hav- ing posed for her sister, Kuhne IWver- idge, the sculptor. Shortly after mar- rying Seliger, Miss Beveridge decided .she did not want a husband, and tried to have the marriage annulled, and this failed. * * * Jesslyn Van Trump, well known locally, is very ill and may lose her eyesight. * * * Byron I>easley is at home in his bungalow on Ram- part Street, where he expects to rest until fall and then return to New York. * * * David Hartford is now stage director for the Jesse Robbins I'hoto Plays Company. Mr. Robbins is the possessor of a wonderful elec- tric lani]) which enables a conipany to work in anv kind of light. BURBANK: Officer'666 merrily reels off another week of good fun for Burbank patrons. The exception- ally clever and witty farce is handled with due respect for the lines and situations by the Burbank Company, at its best. Officer 666 is rip-roaring farce, although the costume Selma Paley wears in the third act suggests burlesque. Dick Vivian, h'orrest Stan- ley, Walter Catlett, James Applebee, William Colvin, Selma Paley, 15eatrice Nichols and Florence Oberle all be- have in their happiest manner. CENTURY: Rcece Gardner and Babe Lewis join their supjiort to the Century Com])any, while Jules Men- del, Al Franks and Vera Ransdale add materially to the strength of the com- pany. This week's offering is full of comedy situations, brilliant dancing numbers and specialties that are par- ticularly interesting. EMPRESS: The hallelujahs and drum beats of the ^Salvation Army are again in evidence in a strong melo- drama staged at this house, entitled Salvation Sue. The story is laid in Klondike, with the attendant gambling hells, barkeepers, card sharks and "wild-night-out-side" effects. David Walters, George Denton, Mark Par- rott and Blanch Morrison make all thrills emphatic. A whi.stler, although unnamed on the bill, will be long re- membered for his marvelous imitations of the different bird calls. Williani Morrisy and Dolly I fackett breeze through some songs, dances and de- lightfully clever imitations, including, of course, George M. Cohan and Eva Tanguay. The Picchan Troupe— seven in number—offer sensation in good measure, each turn being a little more daring and a little more thrilling than the previous one. Frank and Pauline liarry flit from cornet to saxaphone and then to banjo with in- teresting nonchalance. Moving pic- tures complete the bill. HIPPODROME: The sketches of- fered by the Hippodrome each week are of unusual interest. This week Broderick O'Farrell and Jane O'Roark win commendation for their work in the dramatic playlet. The Law, which is full of pathos and heart interest, to which they do full justice. Then, too, there is the sketch, dealing with more questions of law and justice, called The Convict and the Warden, with Herbert Sears as the convict. Hamilton, as a Chinese impersonator, hits the fancy, a fact that is plainly evident. De Franks offers a dancing- novelty that, aside from being new, is decidedly clever. ■ The Bothwell Brown act, with Marjory Shaw, is a holdover, but none the less strong in attraction, and the musical bit of nonsense called A Woman in Red is rich in pretty girls, catchy music and attractive gowns. Dancing Collins wins his title with nimble feet. Mov- ing pictures round out a decidedly in- teresting bill. MAj'l'.STlC: Peg o' My Heart is in the second week of her popularity, with Peggy O'Neil to fix the place of the winsome, lovable, tender "Peg" in the hearts of all who see her. MASON : Neptune's Daughter is something new in the picture play, written by Capt. Peacock of Los An- geles fame. Annette Kellermann, as the mermaid in this fanciful storv, adds more glory to her swimming and diving reputation. Miss Kellermann .shows herself to be a dainty and ai> pealing little actress as the tale un- folds itself upon the screen, the result being a startling, fascinating and beau- tiful photoplay. MOROSCO: A Knight for a Day goes merrily on its way, with Daphne Pollard and Alf. Goukling to struggle with the material at hand, which at best is not the best in its line. La \'aleria with her Spanish dance, Fred Santly, Frances White and Bessie Franklin to keep the the fun going. ORPHEUM : This week's bill holds but one number from last week, which is the one long-hoped-for change, bringing" the Orpheum up to the place of the Eastern houses. On Otliva's former visit, she took all the credit for the drawing quality of her act, but upon this, her second trip, she brings a lot of trained seals to dis- port in the huge tank with her lady- shi]). This little Samonian maid is graceful and expert as a swimmer, and the seals are a large part of the attraction. Irvin Cobb's famous story of Sergeant Bagby is cleverly told by a rather good company, in which Geo. Neville, Neil Burton and Ezra Bloom- field emphasizes the humor and the sentiment. The dramatic version is well worth while. Aileen Stanley sings ragtime, although her sta,ge presence and costumes convey the im- ]iression of something more lofty. The ISerrens, with piano and violin, have a sur])ri.se in store for the one who mar- vels at the violin playing of the woman. She removes her wig and the reason for the marvelous bowing becomes evi- dent in the cropped head of a man. The Kelli Duo — they have to spell Kelly with an "i" to harmonize with the accordeons which both play with a skill that arouses enthusiasm. Hazel Boyne and Harry Paul dance, sing and patter their way through a skit called Courtship. The Ariel Lloyds are peers among athletes, furnishing some brand-new thrills. Leo Limberly and Halsey Moore repeat their singing turn, Clubland. PANTAGES: Field and Lewis head the bill with their delightful bit of nonsense called The Misery of a Hansom Cab. Al Field's wit and the efforts to put over the song. She Sells Sea Shells, is nothing" short of a riot. Luigi Picaro, Italian military acro- bats are long on name but a bit short on sensation. The Halkins provide l)lenty of fun with their comedy mechanical shadowgraphs, and the act is new. The Gerhardt Sisters have good voices and they are pleasing ]K'rsonally, while they also dance with more than ordinary .skill. Torcat and T'dor d'.Vliza—sounds like a flower show, but proves to be hens and roost- ers. These habitants of the barnyard are far more intelligent than we have heretofore given them credit for, and ])erform their many tricks with all the finish of the human. The exhibition of fighting cocks as a finish is the climax of the fun. Tracey, Goertz and Tracey entertain with song, dance and piano ])laying. Pantagescope comedy ])ictures keep the laugh going and close the bill. REPUBLIC: The Temptation, a rousing sketch, dealing with an im- THE FLAGG CO. ACTUALLY EMPLOYS MORE ARTISTS and MECHANICS THAN ALL THE OTHER STUDIOS ON THE PACIFIC COAST COMBINED. BECAUSE -NINE-TENTHS OF THE THEATRES USE FLAGG SCENERY. THEREFORE, FACILITIES and VOLUME LOWER COST. 1638 LONG BEACH AVE., LOS ANGELES comfortable (|uestion. brings this the- atre into notice, proving to be of great intere.st. Yenxa and A dele deserve hearty admiration for their spectacu- lar act. Arthur Du Mais has an or- iginal line of patter that pleases. The Westons offer novelty in the form of the lady with a ladder of knives. Chief Silver Tongue sings Indian songs in good voice and makes an instant hit. Lester and Lester sing and dance in style that pleases. The Hearst-Selig pictures close the bill. OAKLAND^ Tune i4,--.\t the MACDONOUGIl the film l)ictures have given way to Marjorie Rambeau and Willard Mack in Mack's sensa- tional play. So Much for So Much. A fine play, well rendered to good at- tendance. In the company are Ker- nan Cripps, David Butler, Chas. Com]i- ton, Anna Mack Berlein, etc. The Right Princess, with Albert INTorrison and Beth Taylor in the leading roles, is pleasing fair-sized audiences at YE LIBERTY. The production is given a commendable presentation, and ex- cellent sujjport is rendered by Ivan Miller, Frank Daricn, Walter Whip- ple, Marta Golden and Rita Porter. Lavender and Old Lace is in prepara- tion. Bessie Wynn is a real big star and is a strong headliner for a fine bill which Manager Ebey is offering his orpheum' patrons. Robt. f. Haines & Co., Oterita, Bob Matthews, Al Shayne & Co., the Kramers, Wrighi and Dietrich, Henriette De Serris' Models, and Lillian Shaw. Motion pictures of the militant English suf- fragette, Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, in addition to the regular program, is drawing good crowds to P.\N- TAGES. The bill consists of The Soul Kiss, Skipper Kennedy and Reeves, Scott and Wallace, The War- tcnberg Bros., Musette. At the COL- UMBIA Dillon and King are offering the latest acquisitions. Geo. Spaulding and Ruby Lang show up well. Fri- day evening will mark the opening of the musical comed}' season at IDOR.A. Ferris Ilartman will have entire di- rection, and has chosen for the initial ])roduction the tuneful o])era, Madame Sherry. The cast will comprise such will-known talent as IMyrtle Dingwcll, Jeannie Mai, Josie 1 lart, Alice Mc- Comb, Glenn Chamberlain, Harry I'ollard and Paisley Noon. James E. Duncan, an actor, changed his former ])lea of not guilty to .that of guilty to a charge of bigamy, pre- ferred by his first wife in Judge Og- den's court this week. 1 le a.sked ,to be released on ])robation, and his case was referred to Probation (Officer L. 1!. Compton, who will report on June 30. Nellie Jose])hine Duncan, who was married to l)uncan in San Jose two years ago, had her spouse arrested three montlis ago upon learning that he had married Eva Azer, a chorus girl at the theatre in which Duncan was playing. LOUIS SCHEELINE.