The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

July 4, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 1 Ed Armstrong and His Musical Comedy Company Prove a Mascot for the Republic in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, July i.—The beach cottages are fast filling up with the player folk. Many of the < iaiety Company have forsaken their apartments for the coolness of the beach. Selma Paley has lived at Santa Monica for some time, as well as several others of the stock com- pany actors. Many of the Orphe- um people whose contracts end here take a little rest at Catalina, and those who fish are happy. Robert llaines and wife, who recently ap- peared at the Orpheum, are the last to join the Catalina contingent. * * * Charles Ruggles writes that he will jiiin his wife, Adele Rowland, in a \ audeville venture during the sum- mer season. * * * Theodore Roberts has been playing with the pictures since his recent appearance at the Orpheum, and has just returned from Bear Valley where he figured in several pictures. * * * Ralph Modjeska, son of the late Mme. Modjeska, is a guest at the Alexan- dria. Mr. Modjeska is a very skil- ful engineer. * * * The IDrama League gave a dinner at Hotel Clark for Richard Bennett and his wife, ;\drienne Morrison, where it was an- nounced that out of the fifty-three manuscripts offered in the recent contests, Florence Willard and Mrs. Charles Barrington won the prizes. Miss Willard is the author of Wan li' the Wood, which has already been so successfully played on several oc- casions by Mr. Egan's pupils. * * * Kathlyn \Villiams, the very popular heroine of the Adventures of Kath- lyn, has sued her husband, Frank A. Allen, for divorce and demanded the custody of her nine-year-old boy by a former marriage. ]\Iiss Williams states that her husband deserted her three weeks after their marriage and refuses to state whether she has any plans for the future. * * * "Mug- gins" Davies and Walter de Leon are at home again, where they find a brand new nephew in the Hartman family. * * * Frances Ring, at one time a very popular member of the Morosco Producing Company, has sailed for Europe to join her hus- Ivind, Thomas Meighan. * * * Wal- ter Lawrence is-busy at the Moros- co directing The Money Getters, which will be the Gaiety Company's next attraction and which promises Frances Cameron something new and interesting. At the Burbank they are rehearsing The Remittance Man, in which Harrison Flunter, late with Mrs. Smith (or with the late Mrs. Smith), returns to the Bur- bank Company. * * * When all the ])retty maids paraded at Ocean Park this week in fetching bathing cos- tumes, among the judges was W. TT. Clune, who did not let a golden op- portunity slip by, for he also had his camera men on the job, and the pictures will soon be on view at the Broadway House. Margaret (libson, a little movie actress, won the prize. * * * Ruth Roland's night at the Jardin de Danse on Monday was also a joyous occasion. Mabel X'ormand was there to tell of her last week's triumph and to add to this week's gaiety. Movie Monday is now established as an event of the week. * * * Zoe Barnett is home for her vacation, after a long sea.son in New York in The Midnight Girl. Critics were kind and life was pleas- ant, so she will return in August to rehearse for The Debutante, in which she will be featured this next season. * * * David Hartford, after a season with the pictures, will re- turn to the Morosco forces, and his first commission will be a produc- tion of The Bird of Paradise in Chi- cago. After Mrs. Hartford recovers froiu a very serious operation she will go with her husband to Chicago and later to New York, where a new play will be produced by Mr. Hart- ford. * * * Babe Lewis of the Cen- tury Company has been sworn in as a deputy constable, and a warn- ing is issued to stage-door johnnies. * * * Valeska Suratt has said she will take Melville Stokes east with her, so apparently he has made good in her sketch, Black Crepe and Dia- monds. * * * Clarence Drown has departed for the Canadian country, where he will forget that such things as Orpheum stars and their con- tracts ever existed, on a vacation at Lake Louise. Florence Martin, who replaced Peggy O'Neil in Peg o' My Heart, has been chosen for Richard Barry's play, Brenda of the W'oods. iUJRBANK: Bought and Paid I'or is being revived by the Burbank Company, and the Broadhurst dra- ma, well known as it is, is drawing large audiences. There is ample op- portunity for each member of this well-balanced company, and they ■d\)\y handle their individual roles, b'orest Stanley is cast as Stafford, the financier of artistic tastes and worldly weaknesses. His shading of character is careful and well bal- anced, being not only the expression of the man of strength and refine- ment, but showing the brutish spots when drink has rubbed off a little of the polish. Walter Catlett plays Jimmy Gilley, and possibly his is the most difficult role to handle, in as much as the players seen hereto- fore in this part have been so won- derful. However, he never misses fire with his comedy and carries the part with sincerity of purpose. Sel- ma Paley is a charming Mrs. Staf- ford, although somewhat lacking in poise. Grace Travers is at her best as the breezy, lovable sister. Bea- trice Nichols has a small role as a b^rench maid, which leaves a big- impression. James Applebee plays the Japanese valet with attention to detail that makes all his studies artistic successes. Bought and Paid For is worthy entertainment. CENTURY: Musical burlesque gives each and every member of the Century aggregation chance a plenty for rip-roaring comedy. Reece (iardncr and Uabe Lewis are fea- turing their new (iardner Waltz. Vera Ransdale sings and dances with added grace. P)eth Lang and Alma Slajnon have pretty musical numbers, and all in all, it is all great fun and laughter, with, of course, Jules Mendel and Al Franks as the chief reason for the merriment. EMPRESS: The elephants be- longing to John Robinson are the thing of interest this week. Their varied tricks show them to be high- ly accomplished creatures, especial- ly Tonishy, who even ventures to play upon the piano. A great deal of credit is due a very clever trainer. Clem Bevins does some splendid character work in the role of village constable in a sketch called Daddy. A rural character story is this, with much humor and heart interest. Coakland, McBride and Milo put on a luiniature minstrel show, with song, joke and dancing. McBride has a splendid tenor voice. Jack Kammer- cr and Eva Howland offer an enter- taining lot of bright and breezy song and patter. The Three Newmans have a novel bicycle act in that it is funny as well as sensational, the boxing match being one of the best things seen in a long time. A Key- stone comedy closes the bill. HIPPODROATE: The bill opens with Princess Kalama, a very pretty and sinuous Hawaiian dancer, who sings well and is assisted by Kao- puulain with native accompaniment. Santa Cruz has shadowgraph novel- ties that win admiration because of their cleverness. Jane O'Roark and liro 'erick O'Farrell offer a delight- ful little comedy. The Foundling, in which the efforts of a pair of bache- lors to hide the fact there is a baby in the house affords no end of fun. Max Fischer is a ragtime violinist, who makes his instrument beg for hearty applause. Herman and Shir- ley return with The ^Mysterious Masquerader and, of course, feature their wonderful skeleton dance. Leonard and Willard create a riot of merriment with Calling Her l>luff. The 1m ve liennet Sisters are pretty girls with striking costumes, who fence, box, wrestle and make them- selves very popular with the base- ball fans. LITTLE THEATRE: The Sec- ond Mrs. Tanqueray serves to re- open this cozy little theatre and a cordial greeting is given to a com- pany drawn together through an ar- tistic spirit. Mrs. Tanqueray and her "i)ast," although well known to the average playgoer, is revived and made a most interesting personage by the art, personality and costum- ing of Constance Crawley, whose clever reading of her lines, ])oise and delicate handling of the character gives a performance that is delight- fuH Dtuiglas (ierrad plays Cyaley Drunnnle with impressive under- standing of the very important role. Arthur Maude as Tancjueray gives an easy and natural portrayal of the part. Miss Gapon is a charmingly simple and unassuming little Miss Tan(|ueray. Mayme Lynton is sat- isfactory as Captain Hugh Ardale. Miss Carew is smartly vivacious as Lady Orreyed, while (^her minor roles are all ably handled. The piece is well mounted and the production as a whole promises n-iany things froni this venture in the future. MAJESTIC: Mme. Miiui ;\gu- glia and her coiupany of Sicilian l)layers are at this theatre for a lim- ited engagement. While unknown to most theatregoers throughout the West, this extraordinary little artist is very wonderful, both in j^ersonal- ity and talent. Opening with Fe- dora, .'\guglia demonstrates her abil- ity as an emotional actress, fired by Latin temperament and allowing her artistic sense full sway. Although iMiglish is not spoken, the meaning 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 is i)ortra\ed well enough by look and gesture to allow of intelligent comprehension to the iuiglish- speaking spectator. The company is made up of players whose earnest endeavor deserves high praise. 'J'hc leading man, Mr. Sterni is an actor of subtle, yet fiery temperament, that lends itself to the demands of this highly emotional little actress from Sicily. The repertoire for the week includes The Daughter of Jorio, The Little Chocolate Maker, W ilde's Sa- lome, The Glove, ]\Ialia, La Cena delle Beffe, Magda and Camille. MASON : Richard Bennett & Co. enter into a second week with their impressive production of Damaged Goods. The play has aroused in- terest beyond that hoped for, and the masterful art of Mr. Bennett and his clever company has been one of rare enjoyment. MOROSCO: The Isle of Bong Ij^^iife; gayly sang and danced by the ( raiety Company, is in its third and last week. The dance of Margaret Edwards is one of the beautiful fea- tures, while the specialties of Wal- ter Lawrence, Francis Cameron, Will .Sloan, Harry Pollard and a K-\i-r CMiiipan}- nin.-t with emi)lialic approval. ORPHECM: Valeska Suratt is the l)rilliant headline attraction this week, in Black Crepe and Diamonds. The plot bears no relation to the title and the costumes are no kin to the plot, but the gowns displayed are wonderful to behold. Color schemes, architecture and effect seems to be borrowed from the cov- ers of a fashion magazine, contents of which bespeak the queerest of tastes. As Miss Suratt llashes on and off in a series of rather won- derful dances, it is a veritable kalei- doscope of color. Melville .Stokes proves to be an able assistant, while the dancing of Conlin and Small de- serves worthy comment. "Muggins" Davies and Walter de Leon are dain- ty, delightful and reminiscent in their turn, which includes the song hits from The Caiupus. The Seven Colonial I'.elles play soft music un- der soft lights and their costumes add the finishing touch to a simple, restful and altogether delightful act. Amiie Kent sings her own songs and jests her jests in her own way. James H. Cullen returns minus the frock coat and oilcloth book, but still able to whisper "thank you" and deliver at least one of his par- ticular brand of stories. Eddie I'oy is still here to lead his little irrepres- sibles on the stage and shoo them off, and make everybody wish there could be another week of the h'oy family. Harry P.. Lester is also a holdover. P,'\NTAG1'-S : bethel Davis and her P.aby Dolls return with liessie Hill, Billy Worth, Charles Hill an<l (•(inllmicil "II Page Si.x