San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

10 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Dkckmbek 2nd, 1899 Pacific Coast Correspondence LOS ANGELES. Special Correspondence Los Angki.es, Nov. 26. — This being Thanksgiving week, the various places of amusement have done a good business. It is safe to say that the managers and professional people located in this city paused long enough in the process of stowing away turkey to return a few words of thanks to the kind fates which have so far this season smiled on the business in Los Angeles, and incidentally to request them to leave this city on next year's smiling list. Sada, the violinist, who has been delighting the Orpheum audiences, is taking a short rest in this city, and will visit several of the surrounding towns before taking up her work again. The Frawley Company, when they play their return engagement here in April, will not be at the Burbank Theater, but will play at the Los Angeles Theater. This appears to be a good move on the part of Manager Wyatt, and the engagement should be a success, as it will probably be played at popular prices. Manager Morosco has an Oh I Don't Know look on his face, which, when interpreted, means there will be something doing at his play-house in April. Ida Banning, one of the leading ladies of the Harry Corson Clarke Company, is a Los Angeles girl, and, like the rest of them, is surely making a record for herself, and creeping up the ladder to fame. The stage carpenters and scenic artists of the Burbank Theater have been busily engaged the past four weeks completing the scenerv for the Nance O'Neil engagement. George Bell, one of the best artists in San Francisco, was brought down here to help in the work. A small fire started in the Burbank Theater the 25th hist., and did about $ 100 worth of damage. The origin of the fire is unknown, but the rumor has been set afloat that a spark of Frawley's genius had been listening to Morosco's plans for next April, and in its endeavor to get out of earshot of the unpleasant conversation, it mixed up with some of the Cumberland 61 throat varnish, and spontaneous combustion ensued. Los Angeles is enjoying the novelty of having two pieces by the same author played at different theaters at the same time— Why Smith Left Home at the Los Angeles Theater, and What Happened to Jones at the Burbank. George H. Broadhurst is the author of both. The Universal Encyclopedia of Music is the title of a book recently completed by Adolphus Willhartitz of this city. The most wonderful thing about the work is that it has taken forty years to complete it. At the Los Angeles, Theater, Why Smith Left Home held the boards and played to good houses November 30, December 1-2 and will be followed, 4-5-6-7 by Frederick Warde and Company in the Lion's Mouth. The Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, under the management of Mr. J. C. Neilson, gave the first concert of the season, afternoon of December I, which was largely attended and judging from the sale of season tickets this will probably be another successful season for the Company. At Morosco's Burbank Theater, Harrv Corson Clarke and Company are playing What Happened to Jones to houses that read the S. R. O., sign nightly. After a week of minstrel gloom, this playhouse has again blossomed out with its formers plendor. Next week Nance O'Neil and her Company commence a four weeks engagement with Magda, 3-4-5-6 and Pig Woffington 7-8-9. The Orpheum has one of the finest bills ever presented here, and the attendance is up to the high water mark. Manager Bronson is doing extensive advertising, and that it pays is proven by the patronage his Theater receives. The bill includes Marguerite Cornille, Ryan and Richfiild, Cheridah Simpson, Jerome and Alexis, Goggin and Davis, Burton's Dogs, Baby Ruth Roland and Leo Carle. Herbert L. Cornish. OAKLAND Special Correspondence. Oakland, Nov. 29. — Oakland has had a week of unusual attractions in the theatrical line. Nance O'Neil closed one of the most successful engagements in the history of the Macdouough Theater last Saturday evening, people being turned away at all six performances. Miss O'Neil returns in about six weeks for a week's engagement before leaving for Australia. For Monday and Tuesday evenings of this week Why Smith Left Home was the attraction and did a fairly good business. The company contained all clever people, among them Lottie Williams, who three years ago was soubrette at the old Oakland Theater. Her many friends had not forgotten her and she received a heart}' welcome. Yon Vonson opens at the Macdonough this evening for two nights and a special Thanksgiving matinee. Business promises to be good, as the advance sale is large. In Old Kentucky comes December 4th for one bight, to be followed by L. R. Stock well, the popular comedian, in My Friend From India for the balance of the week, with matinee Saturday and Sunday. At the Dewey Opera House the Grand Stock Company have been pleasing large audiences with The Westerner. The management have spared neither pains or money in perfecting the stage details and the cast is in capable hands. Landers Stevens and Fanny Gillette are in the cast and dj exceptionally good work. Week of December 4th Mr. Stevens announces an elaborate production of the well known play, Oliver Twist. Herbert B. Ci.akk. SACRAMENTO Special Correspondence Sacramento, Nov. 28 — The Hlleford Company opened at theClunie Opera House Sunday night, for two weeks. Over 1400 paid admissions were registered at the box office, which shows the popularity of Billy Elleford and Jessie Norton, with popular prices. The pieces to be presented during the week areas follows: Sunday night, Lost in New York; Monday, Christmas Bells; Tuesday, Uncle Dudley; Wednesday, The Idler; Thursday matinee, A Nutmeg Match; Thursday night, The Black Flag; Friday, The Galley Slave; Saturday matinee, Lady Audley's Secretand Jack and the Beanstalk; Saturday night, Lost in New York; Sunday, Mrs. Partington and her son Ike. STOCKTON. Special Correspondence. Stockton, Nov. 30.— Theatricals in Stockton can be said now to be good — something it was once difficult to assett at one time. YonYonson, with Arthur Donaldson, in the role made famous by Gus Heege, was at the Yo Semite Tuesday and did a fair business. The company is a good one. Thanksgiving night Gorton's Minstrels played to a large house, and it is an excellent combination. Murray and Mack and My Friend From India follow at the Yo Semite. A great deal of amateur and some professional talent is being seen and heard during this week in the great six days' golden jubilee given by the Central M. E. Church, being more pretentious than anything yet attempted in the line. Stockton has never had such a list of attractions as Manager Charles P. Hale will give next month. Some excellent com panies are booked for nearly every night in the week. Of the Kidder Concert I wrote about last wiek, too much cannot be said of the artists who were heard, especially Miss Maude Fay, who is beautiful as well as a consummate songstress. The Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Club of the California University was heard Saturday night and was a great hit, being unusually meritorious. On Sunday afternoon, December 3, the Elks Memorial Services or Lodge of Sorrow will be held at the Yo Semite Theater, Manager Hale giving greatly reduced price for the handsome play-house. Last year's event was an affair of the season and rivalled that giyen by San Francisco. Gen. W. H. L. Barnes is to deliver the oration and Dr. W. C. Evans, the Salutatory. The stage will be elaborately decorated and a program of the highest intrinsic merit will be presented. Stockton Lodge No. 218 now ranks as second to none on the Coast. Numbering 175 in membership and containing the principal business and professional men of the city. The fair given by the Catholic ladies of Stockton for the benefit of St. Joseph's Home is over. It was all last week's attraction and netted close to #5000. Among those who participated in the event were C. Brennan, C. Fox, G. McCormick, R. Casey, W. McCormick, J. Ford, J. Collins, T. Coy, M. Cannon, C. De Young, L. Kals, H. Harkins, J. Blaney, L. Galleros, J. Gale, J. Joyce, F. Chisholm, W. Byrnes; Misses Anna Cabral, Laura Rolland, Etta Ginochio, Maggie Castle, Daisy O'Brien, Lillie Castle, Gertrude Doyle, Kate Grauelli, Hazel Sullivan, Yergie Laufenberg, Lillian Wright, Kate Thomas, Martin Karkeek, Bessie Smith, Rose Lancaster, Claudine Maurette, Louise Musto, Ameriga Granelli, Mrs. Carlotta Grauelli, PUta, Antoinette, Ernestine, Rachel, Irene and Edna Gianelli, John Peterson, A. FruCchi, Alice Cavagnaro, Charles Bertrand, Belle Quinn, May Burke, Roy Beare and many others, those mentioned taking part in the literary and musical program. SALT LAKE Special Correspondence Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 27.— Shenandoah at the Salt Lake Theater Nov. 23-25, played to the heaviest bus:ness known at the theater for many a day. The house was packed to standing room at every performance, and hundreds were turned away unable to gain admittance. While the stage effects are among the most startling that have ever been attempted in this city, and the performance was a decided success, the company presenting the play is not equal to some that were seen here in earlv days; for instance when Henry Miller appeared in the leading role of Col. West. Salt Lake Opera Company revives Madeline, Nov. 30. The Rays in a Hot Old Time did a big business at the Grand the 20-21. A Breach of promise opened to-night fora week's run, with a good attendance. J. K. H. OGDEN Special Correspondence. Ogden, Utah, Nov. 25.— The Ogden Opera House has been dark for the past two weeks. A Breach of Promise appears tonight. The Salt Lake Opera Company plays a return engagement of their fine production of Madeline on Tuesday next. R. M. B. SALINAS Special Correspondence. Salinas, Nov. 2S.— "It never rains, but it pours" is a motto which can be well used at the Opera House here. After a long period of darkness there have been no less than three companies here within seven days. Gorton's Minstrels opened on November 22, to a crowded house, S. Y. O. being put out very early in the evening. The show was a clean one, there being a conspicuous absense of coarse jokes and broad h nts. The music was excellent, especially the vocal solos, while the Crescent City Quartette was simply out of sight. The audience were well pleased with the musical specialties of Gorton's, Jr., and S. W. Lee, while the buck and wing dancing of Fox, Mullen, Vonder and Ratigan brought down the house. The performance as a whole was a success and there was not a dull moment in it. Gorton's Minstrels will always be sure of a grand welcome in Salinas. On November 24, the Cheerful Liar Company held the boards. There was a full house to greet the new comers. The play which was well played and staged was a laughter provoked from beginning to close. Miss Stella Bomar, who has a fine contralto voice made the hit of the evening by her fine singing, F. De Camp and Miss Murdock especially the latter were especially good in their songs and acting while the hit of the play was made by M. Steinle and Miss R. Simmons in their rag-time singing. Bernard Jaxon is also to be rembered. As a whole the performance was a meritorious one. Monday, November 27th, L R. Slockwell and a superb company presented the great farce comedy of My Friend fiom India, to the largest house this year. The reason that the signs, first s. r. o. and then "chock full" were exhibited can easily be given. The talent and versatility exhibited by the company exceeded anything ever seen in Salinas. L. R. Stockwell in his enforced character of a Professor of Theology was splendid. His well k uown happy facultv of amusing an audience with his wonderfully expansive grin and sepulchral smile are matters of repute. Jeff Williams in the eccentric comedy role of the western pork dealer, who grabs at the scientific fad to secure the entre into fashionable society was conscientiously exact. The maiden aunt by Margaret Marshall was a clever piece of acting, while Mabel Bowman, by her rendition of a German servant with a decidedly susceptible and affectionate nature, convulsed the audience. The other parts were well played by Miss Bates, Miss Feffron, Miss Forman and Messrs. Crosby, Yale, Mullen and Allen. From start to finish the farce comedy kept the audience in one continuous roar of laughter. There are several attractions seeking dates at the Opera House here, Salinas being rated as a first class show town. Those booked thus far are Greater America for Dec. nth, and Richards & Piingle's Minstrels for Dec. 16th, with probably Mr. Plaster of Paris for Christmas. I. Manning King. FRESNO Special Correspondence. Fresno, November 2S. — Eugenie Blair has been here, and has gone again, much to the regret of the majority of those who saw her at the Opera House in A Lady of Quality. Hitherto she has been little known in this city, in consequence of which the house was not all that could have been desired. As is often the case with traveling companies, there was only one real artist in the company, and that was, of course, Miss Blair. William Bramwell did fairly well as Sir John Oxon, but he did not bring out the liner shades of the part. What he did do, however, was to art a coarse and repugnant part without the coarseuess appearing to anygreat extent. As regards Miss Blair, the artistic instinct seems always to predominate with her. Her portrayal of the difficult part of Clorinda Wildairs was done with a grace and ease that speak volumes for Miss Blair's ability and training. Harry Corson Clarke showed us What Happened to Jones last week. Of course there isn't enough to the comedy to allow an actor to show any great degree of talent outside of a fair ability to make one laugh. But Clarke brought out all there was in it.