The New York Clipper (December 1904)

998 THE 2M.EW YORK CLIPPER. December 17, Itt% Clipper's Anecdotes, Personalities and Comments,, cohcxbkihq STAGE POLK and Sometimes OTHERS BY JOBEPHINK Ota Manager Fred Rom told a story tbe other day concerning a professional acquaintance. Last September the young man accompanied a friend to a real estate office where the latter made his monthly payment on a cer- tain little bit of country property located about a three hoar Journey from New York. So enthusiastic was the friend In regard to tbe comforts and pleasures of owning one's country borne, no matter bow humble, that the young actor was persuaded there and then by the wily real estate agent, to select from the ever ready map an acre near that of bis friend, and make a first payment upon It. As both were engaged In a Broadway pro- duction during tbe week the young actor did not see his new property until the following Sunday, as It had been the custom of bis friend to visit his place weekly on that day said place being occupied by some friends as care takers during tbe Winter season. The Importance of possessing his first piece of reel property enthused the young man to the extent of adding to it by way of a young calf, as there was a small bam and cosy cabin on the place. His plsn was to go down to It every Thursday and Sun- day morning and enjoy the comfort there la In the proprietorship of country property. After spending hit first Sunday there and Installing bis stock, by way of the calf, In tbe barn where the animal had the range of the place unbaltered, he proceeded to plan for Its comfort Reasoning with himself tbat four days would pass before bis return be prepared four large palls of bran main, placing tbem In the four corners of the bam. He then filled a half barrel with water, after which he securely locked up bis live stock, Intending to return tbe following Thursday to repeat the arrangement When that day arrived his visit was pre- vented by a call to an extra rehearsal. Fri- day and Saturday passed during which he eased his anxiety concerning the calf with the thought that be had mixed very large portlona of mash which, If tbe animal had consumed a fair allowance, would "tide over" until Sunday morning, wlilcb. would find blm early at the tiny farm. Alas I Upon unlocking the barn door he was met with tbe sight of a small dead aul- mal, which had probably gorged Itself tbe early part of the week, only to atsrvo to death the latter. Thus the young actor'a experience as a live stock owner has been Interrupted until next Summer, when be will be able to bestow daily care upon his future possessions In that line. Richard Obee, who litis "Tbe Marriage of Kitty" in charge, was recently engaged In an argument with a breezy Western agent, concerning the money making value of the refined play, versus the minstrel and vaude- ville combination which the latter was ex- ploiting. Tbe Plata of San Antonio, Tex., was the platform occupied by 'the two managers, where they Indulged In heated discussion. "There ain't nothin' in them there refined shows," declared Obee's opponent aggres- sively. "You ain't got the right bunch to yank tbe coin—seel Jet look at this little trick 0' mine that I'm ahead of. It done a thousan* on the night at Dallas, an' twelve hundred at Fort Worth. Why, I could take It right Into London an' put 'em all clean craay, with tbem three mlnstrela." "Yes," replied Obee with Mantfieldlan suavity, "but It would not be quite so easy as you think." "I'shawl The travelln' ain't nothin'. You could stick the bul Island that London's on in one corner o' this State o' Texas an' for- glt you teen It." "It Isn't that," returned Obee slgnlflcently, "It's tbe studying you would have to do." "Btudyln* what?" exclaimed this past master la the slang of Western vernacular. "The language then tpeak over there," dry- ly responded Obee. • Obee has originated a novel advertisement for the play whose fortunes he Is guiding. It Is in the conventional form of an engraved wedding Invitation which Is tent broadcast ahead of the company, and It has made a de- cided bit with tbe public. It reads: "Mr. Jules Murray (proprietor of the production) requests tbe honor of your presence at tbe marriage of Kitty Sllverton (Betty Olrard) to Sir Reginald Belalse, Bart (Max Flgman) on the evening of (dato) Regular prices of admlslson will prevail." • V'lllnrd Holcomb, who wrote the absolute- ly plotless, "Me, Illm & I," la one of tho few who claims that a plot Is not necessary to the success of n production. In his rate It certainly hna been proved by tho hit of his jolly ploy. To Tub Ci.hteh he writes: "My foolish fnrce, by the way, is making both laughs nntl money on the rond, and will try to brenk the cachlnntlons record at the West End on Christmas week. It Is the latest development of pcrfcotlii plotlcu mu- sical comedy, anil as nn evidence of Its adaptability In this line, 1 can only cite you n recent Instance which happened 'on tbe rood.' While breaking it In on the one night- era, the company struck Wntertown, N. Y., where the stage was entirely too small for the second act set. This Is quite an elab- orate 'yacht scene.; .and there was no way of contracting It to tit In before the foot- lights. Accordingly Jules Hurtlg simplified matters by cutting out the whole second act and the audience never knew tbe difference, except that they bad to be told that tbe show waa over. They were waiting for a third act, but hadn't missed the sequence of the story. I don't believe many Broadway pieces are more inconsequential than that" • Augusta Oloae, who Is a moat clever ex- ponent of tbe art of mimicry, aa well as a singer of unusual ability, telle of an experi- ence while playing an engagement In Wash- ington that caused her a fright far more painful than any that might occur In tbe annals of "stage frights." She la one of tbe many actresses who, unhappily for them, have been the objecta of demented people. In thlt case the nan was a playwright Mlai Close received a letter from tbe British Embassy, Washington, containing the Information tbat the writer wat owner of two playhouses In England, and Intended to put up a theatre In tbe capital, which should be tbe largest In the world—seating 40,000 persona. The letter further con- tained tbe Information that half a block of land bad been purchased In the very heart of the city, but tbat the building would not be flnltbed for more than a year became tbe shipment of Italian marble ordered by the contractors had been delayed. The special object of the letter wat to state that the theatre waa to he erected for tbe special ac- commodation of Mies Close, who waa billed to star at the opening, at a salary of her own suggestion, with a vaudeville company of her own selection. Miss Close, deciding that tbe tetter was a Jest on tbe part of some acquaintance, tossed It aside and thought no more about It Tbe following day, however, It waa brought forc- ibly to her mind aa she was walking down Fifteenth Street Bbe waa accosted by a well dressed yonng man who Informed her tbat be had written her concerning hla fu- ture plana for ber at hla sew theatre, which he would like to ahow ber. Tbe actress de- cided tbat be waa too eccentric for a casual acquaintance and walked hurriedly on, hoping to find a policeman upon whom to call for protection. Tbe man followed her closely, and at they reached the National Treasury he waved his hand toward tbe great building with tbe remark: "There's my theatre." Then, In more ex- cited tones, he continued, "besides' vaude- ville I'm going to produce a tragedy, written by myself—and I kilt you In the last act Walt a minute," he exclaimed, growing more and more excited, as be started forward to seize tbe wrist of the frightened actress, "and I'll show you exactly how the killing la to be done." Miss Close did not watt, but took to ber French heels, tbe man In close pursuit Several people followed the chase, and real- ising the demented condition of ber partner, soon captured blm. Hla Identity was later disclosed, and It waa found that he wat an escaped patient from a private asylum In the city. "Agonising as stsge fright may be," said Miss Glose afterward, "I would go through It a acore of times rather than the horror of being chased by a crar.y man." OUR LONDON LETTER. nOM OCX OWH. eOBBXSPONDSNT. Clipper Bureau, 48 Crinboirnt Street, Leicester Square, Loudoa, W. 0. DaCBMBEB 3. Charles Fronman hat made every effort to obtain a prolongation of Eleanor Benson's engagement In "Merely Mary Ann" at the Duke of York'a Theatre, but has been unsuc- cessful, and la obliged to announce tbe laat performance of the play at tbe Duke of York'a and Miss Bobaon's final appearance in London for tbe evening of Dec 16. The one hundredth performance will be given on Dec. 8, and Miss Robeon'e closing perform- ance on the evening of Dec 16 will be the one hundred and eleventh of ber engagement H. B. Irving, Irene Tanbrough and tbe Frohman company are In town this week and are playing "Letty" at the Kennlngton Theatre. It la announced that the pantomime, which Arthur Collins will present on Boxing Nlgbt at the Drury Lane, will be In three parte, bnt that the final tableau ending tbe opening and preceding tbe harlequinade will not be a transformation scene, but a unique novelty. The title, which baa been announced In previous letters, la "The White Cat," tbe story being founded upon the old fairy tale by the Countess d'Aulnoy, which hai been considerably varied by J. Hickory Wood and It received. The principal pl»7«»s .Q»2J Asche, Lily Brayton, H. B. Hlgnett. Alfred Brydone, Walter Hampden, E. lyalt Swete, C. Hock and Pamela Oaythrone George Dance announces at the end of tbe present Antumn season he will does the Prince of Walea Theatre, Richmond. It seems that be Is required to purchase certain land to provide an additional emergency, exit to the stalls, Involving an expenditure of many thousands of dollars, and the theatre hsa never done well enough to warrant this expenditure. Mr. Dance has been making ar- rangements for the production of s pantomime at Christmas, but this has been abandoned. Mme. Rejane haa just msde a last, final, definite application to the Parts Courts for a divorce from ber husband, M Forel, man- ager of the Parle Vaudeville. The terrible war in the Far Eait has re- called to Madame Pattl, now Baroness Ceder- ttrom, tbe time that the gathered ber first laurels In Russia, and In recognition of the entautlastlc reception which she then experi- enced she has proposed to tbe Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna to give a concert at St Pe- tersburg In aid of the Russian wounded. The concert will take nlace on Dec. 14, under the patronage of the Grand Duchess, in the rooms of the ArUtocracy Clnb. Ellen Terry, after a somewhat lengthy ab- sence from London, made a return on Monday last, when she opened at tbe Camden Theatre for the week, with ber company. J. B. Barnes haa gone to America to play In "A Wife Without a Smile," the part ere- THE FAMOUS GREGORY FAMILY, Who appear In tbe above picture, bave won much distinction for tbelr remarkable acrobatic and gymnastic feats. C. J. Gregory, the head of the troupe. Is one of the original Gregory Brothers, the well known bar performers. He was a partner of John Wlngneld years ago, and In 1876 Mr. Gregory was one of the original Russian Athletes (wblch included Geo. Dun- bar, C. J. Gregory, Wash Antonla and Napper Lowanda). In 1883, Mr. Gregory organized the Gregory Brothers Circus, and conducted the show for seven years. At tbe present time be Is engaged with hla three daughters by John B. Wills aa a special feature with "Tbe Two Old Cronies" Co. Mr. Gregory has been In the profession for many years and Is an all 'round performer. Ills three daughters (Bessie, Belle and Little Margarette) make a fine appearance and tbe presa give the Family great praise wherever they appear for their graceful and daring feats. EUGENE PIPPIN, Whose picture appears above, la well known na a female Impersonator, and Is playing the Western circuits with success. Mr. Plp- £ln made his debut twelve years ago at the IiibIc Hall, Lynn, Mass., ploying a part and doing his specialty with the May Shaw Bur- lesque Co., and was a success from the start He la one of the moat versatile performers In LIb line and hla work Includes musical acta, character sketches, novelty dancing and serio-comic singing. WASHINGTON. Holiday Tonr -rtm Pennsylvania Railroad. December 27 has been selected at tbe date for the Personally-Conducted Holiday Tour of the Pennsylvania Railroad to Washington. Thlt tour will cover a period of three days, affording ample time to visit all the principal points or lotereat at tbe National Capital, In- cluding the Congressional Library and tbe new Corcoran Art Gallery. Rate,. covering railroad transportation for the round trip and hotel accommodations, 114.60 or $12.00 from New York, $13.00 or $10.60 from Tren- ton, and proportionate rates from other points, according to hotel selected. Rates cover ac- commodations at hotels for two days. Special side trip to Mount Vernon. All tickets good for ten days, with special hotel rates after expiration of hotel coupon. For Itineraries and full Information apply to Ticket Agents; C. Studde, Assistant East- ern Passenger Agent, 203 Fifth Avenue. New York; or address Geo. W. Boyd, General Pas- Bcngcr Agent, Broad Street Station, Philadel- phia. »■ » — Harry Le Clare Is meeting with success na the Queen, Id "Tbe Sleeping Besuty and the Beast" Arthur Collins. As produced at the National Theatre it will be In fourteen scenes, and the same number of principals will be re- quired to work out the plot The legend, us given by the present adapter, starts with two separate stories, the acton In which do not meet until several scenes have been gone through. As In most entertainments of this sort, the scene la laid In an Imagin- ary land In an unknown period. The king of this property la no more popular than some of the mouarchs of tbe present day, and his subjects, divided by the author Into nobles, ladles and people, are clamoring for hla abdication with the Intention of nom- inating one of his sons to the throne; but the choice of bis successor at the rising of the curtain la a matter of difficulty. His Majesty, King Ivory, who, by the way, la a collector of curios, one of which It a won- derful specimen of the Simian race, tuggetts that tho three princes go out and see life, nnd the ono who brings bim back a golden net large enough to embrace the whole world, but ao small as to go through a wed- ding ring, shall become the future king. Ibis decision satisfies the populace, and the three young men aet forth on their travels. How they fare, and who succeeds In finding the wonderful net, securing tbe throne ana winning the love of the fairy princess, tern- Sorarlly disguised aa the White Cat. la shown nrlng the action of the pantomime. The cast at present Is arranged aa follows: Harry Randall will be Asbestos, a fairy retired from business, and Johnny Dan vers, King Ivory. His son, Prince Peerlesa, who wins the fairy princess, will be played by Queen le Lelghton, and tbe other two sons will be Fred Eastman, as Prince Plump, and James Welch, aa Prince Patter. Hugh J. Ward, an American, who made a big hit last year os the Scarecrow, will this year Impersonate Simeon, tbe missing link, a wonderful study of a progressive monkey. Marie George, also an American, will be Cupid. Aa producers, Mrs. Brown-Potter and Olga Nethersole are having rather a hard road to travel, as both their latest productions, "For Church or Stage" and "The Flute of Pan" failed to meet with tbe approval of the play goers, The former only ran for four perform- ances, and the latter play only had a few more performances to its credit Mrs. Pot- ter's plans for the future have been stated before. Miss Nethersole will take "The Flute of Pan" on a road tour. Lena Asbwell bat brought a successful pro- vincial tour to a close, and Is now on tbe lookout for a West End theatre In wblch to open early In the new year with Michael Mor- ton's sdsptatlon of Drnnay'a "Let Olseaux de Passage." On Dec. 2, at the Elephant and Castle Theatre, a new romantic drama was produced, entitled "A Gentleman of England." The drama was built by E. Norrls and F. Lewel- lyn. Tbe laat performance of "The Prayer of tbe Sword" was given at tbe Adelphla last Saturday night Last Tuesday night "Tam- ing of the Shrew" was put on, given aa Shakespeare wrote It a play within • play. The production was a noteworthy one, and was thoroughly deserving of the great notices ated by Mr. Kemble, at Wyndham's Theatre. Tbe one hundredth performance of "The Catch of the Season," at the Vaudeville Thea- tre, takes place today. "Boland of Berlin," Leoncavallo's opera, composed at the expreaa wish of tbe German Emperor, will be produced at the German capi- tal Dec 12. Mr. and Mrs. Kendal produced a new play at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham, last Tuesday. It Is called "The House- keeper." Henry Irving, at a banquet of the Pen and Pencil Club, Aberdeen, maintained that many people who frequent tbe theatre nowadays were not playgoers, for the simple reason that there are seldom any real plays to be seen. In acknowledging tbe reference to his own career, Mr. Irving remarked: "Whatever may be the changes of theatrical taate, the thea- tre will always remain a great Instrument of our social organization." The San Carlo Co. finished Its season at Covent Garden In brilliant fashion, a per- formance of "Otello" closing the company's successful season. At first, the prospects for a success financially looked bad, but it turned out all right Bcerbohm Tree lectured on Monday last to the members of bis dramatic academy. The subject was "Hamlet, from the Actor's Point of view." "The House of Delorme," a new play, by Arthur Scbnltxier, was not produced recently at the Little Theatre, Berlin, because the actors went on a strike. Though the author terms hla work a moral play, the actors were of a distinctly opposite opinion, end before the rehearsals were at an end all gave up tbelr parts. The principal Incidents of the piece take place In the house of a famous onera singer, who, under the eyes of her mother, carries on halt a doten love affairs simultaneously, leading to scenes which could not be described In a newspaper. The com- ?any were unanimously of the opinion that he play tended to throw unmerited discredit on the whole theatrical profession. I often hear from Al. Lawrence, who Is top- ping the bill at Leeds this week. The follow- ing Is from The Brighton Standard, a fash- ionable paper of tbat resort, and It rather tame to some of the write-ups Mr. Lawrence has received: "The glib, yet dry, sententious remarks of Al. Lawrence, a tall, pleasant- faced, clean ahaven young American, with the genus Yankee written plainly all over him, are quite a new experience In humor. He has features of India rubber, capable of wonderful distortions, and turns hla mimetic powers to unconventional account The ven- trlloqota! powers are equally novel and whim- sical, snd last night be was quite the darling, not only of the gods, but of everyone elBeT" Al i personal letters ere so witty that a few lines from his latest will sot be out of tbe way: "Many thanks for Clippers, having received same In good season. I ate one or them, and I dreamed of you, Walter Hill. Charlie Waldron and Howard Btreet, and 1 woke up on Twenty-eighth Street, New York." The managers sre trying hard to keep the wit In this country, but Mr. Lawrence must return to America tbe second week In March. Kteln-Ott Brothers and Nicholson, who open at the Hippodrome in tbls city Jow it 1806, Intend to be well heralded before tK-; first appearance, is every mall from Ameru-. brings over unique postal cards advertiser their act • Dplph and Susie Levlno play the Empire. Holloway, next week. They have Just tZ turned from their Australian tour, whlrh judging from presa comments, waa a big euc- Ed. F. Reynard, the clever ventrlloouiat arrived In London last Monday, and caller' «, Thi Clippib Bureau with Alt Meers! Mr Reynard opens on the Barrasford tour n.*ir Monday, and will be In this country tbls tim. for six months. Charles De Camo and bis wonderfully cler., dog, Cora, will next week play the Pavilion engagement of many weeks at the a Cronla left last Saturday Is at the Alhambra, Parts, ihii Eastbourne. After an engagement of i Empire, Morrli night, and Is week, and for many more to come."'As"'i stated In a letter of recent date, Mr. Cronin'i act Is one of the greatest I have ever seen m the Hoe of club juggling, and would be ■ novelty In the United States. Dave Meier, of Meier and Mora, wrote from Manchester tbat their act was Mai well received everywhere, and that contr-cta have been signed with Mr. Broadhead for three years returns, Harry Taft was on the same bill and scored big. He Is book«i for Australia for 1W)5. ™ I met "Bill" Wood, of the old team of Wood and Sbeppard, the other day, and we bad an Interesting chat of the old days. I recalled teeing the team at the old How- ard Athenaeum, Boston, when I was quite a young chap, and Mr. Wood told me It was fourteen years ago. He bat been In England and on the continent about two years and Is doing his laugh provoking act with a partner by the name of Bates. His wife and two boys are with him, tbe latter at- tending a private school in London. Mr Wood has had many offers to return to the United States during the Winter months, but aa he dreads the ocean voyage, he prefers to cross during the milder period of the year, but Is not able to get the salary he wants during the Summer. Mr. Wood and Alt Meen are great "pals," as the former was the first one to give the latter "tbe glad hand" when be played bis first American engagement. Cass Staley's Transformation Co. does a torn at the London Hippodrome that Is fully equal, according to my way of thinking, to the one done by Staley and Blrbeek. The quick changes In both acts are about the same, and Cess Staley and his msle as- sistant, who, by the way, is another brother, are very clever musicians. Although clos- ing the ahow, tbe audience waited, and the applause was not lacking. The company Is booked at the Hippodrome until Christ- mas, and will play between here and Ger- many until August, 1608. Thanksgiving Day was spent at Notting- ham in a very pleasant manner by It. 0. Knowles, Young American Quintette, Mrs. M Boorum, manager of tbe quintette, and two other Americans, wbo are not stage folk. A typical American Thanksgiving din- ner was served, a,id Mr. Knowles presided at the head of tbe table and did the carving. Mrs. Boorum sails for American Dec. 10, on tbe Umbrla, and the members of the quin- tette would like to be going with her, bat are booked for another year on tbls side. I received from Herbert Lloyd a cleverly arranged little booklet, which contains press criticisms of the way his act was received at the Scala Theatre, Copenhagen. He was there during the month of August, and the engagement was prolonged for twelve days In September. Attached to tbe souvenir is a coin of Denmark, but as I understand Mr. Lloyd haa distributed 'these souvenirs throughout the theatrical world in America, I will cease In my description of same. This is his second week at the Empire. I saw the show at the Empire last night, and It is, with one or two exceptions, a chow of headltners. Those responsible for tbe entertainment are named below In the order of their appearance on the stage. The Hersleb Brothers open tbe bill. They are foreigners and do a comedy acrobatic turn tbat Is only fair, but the; work lively and seem to go well. The Yullan Family, an exceptionally clever aggregation of tumblers, follows, and are deserving of the great band received. Whistling Tom Browne la num- ber three on the bill, and tbe week's vaca- tion has worked wonders with bis act In addition to hla whistling specialty Mr. Browne does a couple of good trick pieces on the piano which fit In very nicely with the Idea of hla sketch. The three Meers sre next In order, and as their novelty Is so well known In tbls country and America, no more need be said of Ita entertaining qualities. Mrs. Meers, whose dresses are creations, and a little out of the ordinary for tbe vaudeville stage, makes a very pleas- ing stage picture and seta off the act con- siderably. Then comes Charles T. Aldrlch, and anyone who haa seen bis act which Is really three acta In one, cannot help but eay there is only one Charles T. Aldrlch. Ills monologue, or patter, aa they call It over here, during the act goes well with the audience. Another card needing no commen- dation follows Mr. Aldrlch. It Is tbe Four Lukens, and their dangerous doings thrill the audience until the turn Is over. Some good people in this line have been seen In London, hut tbe Lukens are put down as tbe best Next comes the Australian ladles' Quartette, a newcomer to the Empire till. The members are very good singers end are an enjoyable addition to the pro- gramme. They are very neatly gowned, which Is much In their favor. Amann, the great impersonator, Ja next to last on tbe 111, but his perfect Impersonations of cele- brated men meet with a storm of applause. Herbert Lloyd closes tbe variety portion of the show, and his funnylsms come so often that It Is well for the audience than an In- termission follows the act, aa I waa afraid some would not be able to stop laughing. He It a funny man of tbe first water. As 1 have done with the review of the variety end, I will say a few words about tbe cour- teous management, or, rather, Mr. Davis, who la the pleasant young man In the front or the house. This gentleman la one of the most courteous managers I bave ever met and I am greatly Indebted to blm for the many little kindnesses shown to me. B, G. Knowles called last Monday before be left for Leicester, where he Is playing bis last engagement on this side of the water for many months. Mr. Knowles sails for America Dec. 7, from Cherbourg. , . Frank Buckner, tbe trick bicyclist ]» * n town. He It trying to book at some of the big local halls, but finds it hard to get Imme- diate time. _ _ ,_ Banks Winter, or rather William H. Banks, as he now bills himself, mailed me a quarter sheet wblch exploits the cleverness of nis daughter, Winona, and also sends tbe follow- ing : "I am mslllng you a quarter sheet, abpw; lng what rapid progress my 'would be star has made, without any work on my pan. whatever. We have relied entirely on men . and very naturally I feel very much elated. Mrs. Winter and the youngest boy bsve been very sick for the past ten days, but at preseu. writing are much better. ' . I have had Information from America .to the effect that Raymond Hitchcock, in "The Yankee Consul," will be a Spring or ears- Summer attraction at a London theatre. There is no reason why this show should not be ;<■ success over here. Perhaps tbe Sbaftesourj Theatre will be the abiding place of tbe piece when It comes. The theatre Is now dark, as Olga Nethersole's efforts to please did not suit the London playgoers. — Earls K. Mitchell haa been transferred from " 'Way Down East" to "Girls Will Be Girls," by Wm. A Brady.