San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

4 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW July 1 8, 1908. Comic Opera Seems to be Experiencing Rather a Slump in Oakland At last the directoire gown has been introduced in our city, and the party guilty of the offense is no less a personage than Bishops most popular lady. Ceorgie Cooper. In All the Comforts of Home, which is this week's offering at The Liberty, Miss Cooper is seen as Fife Oristanski, the comic opera singer, and when she makes her appearance clad in the much-talked-of costume, the house breaks into a tumult of applause. The gown is not at all extreme, and there is nothing whatever in the make-up that could in any way cause unfavorable comment. Beside looking the part, Miss Cooper plays it well, and she certainly deserves all the praise that is bestowed upon her. Landers Stevens, E. L. Bennison, Geo. Friend and Isabelle Fletcher are seen to advantage in other prominent roles. Business has shown a decided improvement the past couple of weeks, and things at this house appear to have once more reached normal conditions. Sag Harbor is in preparation for next week. The Macdonough has remained closed for the past week and w ill reopen the 19th with a week's engagement of May Robson, in The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary. Out at [dora things are not in a very flourishing condition. The attendance does not seem to increase as it should, and the many changes in the personnel of the company do not appear to meet with the approval' of the public. This week's performance of the Jolly Musketeer is certainly a creditable affair, and those in attendance are treated to a fine exhibition of singing and acting. To Walter Catlett falls the comedy part, and he handles it well. Thos. Persse. Edith Mason and Ann Tasker execute some good solos. The Love Tales of Hoffman is in preparation; Fred Bond and Fremont Benton are presenting a sketch at the Orpheum, entitled Handkerchief No. 15, that is making a good hit. The Fadettes also receive a good hand, although this is their second week. The other numbers are Grai's Prodigies. Alf. Grant and Ethel lloag. Leipzig, Clifford and Burke, Martinctte and Sylvester. Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason have returned from Portland, where they have been playing for some time with the Baker Stock Company. Mrs. Gleason (Mina) has accepted an engagement with Manager Bishop and will open next week in Sag Harbor. W alter Catlett has severed his connection with Idora ( )pera Company and has joined the forces at the Princess, San Francisco. The Merchants of Oakland are formulating plans for a carnival, to be held at Idora in August. Louis Scheeline. Orpheum Company Reorganized Articles of incorporation of the Orpheum theatre and real estate company, which succeeds the old ( )rpheum company, were filed with the county clerk July 11. The company is capitalized as $2,500,000, divided into 250,000 shares of $10 each. The articles state the purposes of the organization to be to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire theatres and places of amusements in the States of California, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other states and territories, to conduct theatrical performances, to deal in liquors, wines and cigars, and to engage in real estate transactions. The directors are L. Roos. H. Hertz, L. Juda, C. Ravlin, H. Campbell, G. Oillone and T. Remmers. Each has subscribed for five $10 shares. The first sky garden began its career with a little vaudeville offering — a few dancers, a skit, a juggler or two, and possibly a troupe of trained animals. The audiences were permitted to smoke, and cooling beverages were dispensed to make the city's heat tolerable. The entertainment was simple, and the luxury and novelty of mounting far above the heated sidewalk and away from the grind of the street made for success more than any other feature of the theatre. — Harriet Qttimby in Leslie's Weekly. 1 • i ■■ • Sidelights New York Roof Gardens New York is pre-eminently the city of roof gardens. Other cities have at. tempted to follow suit in presenting the unique out-of-door theatricals, but as a Chinese titbit served in American style in an American eating-place loses its flavor, so do roof gardens fail to twinkle without Broadway. In 1880 the first midair show blossomed out on Broadway, and New Yorkers, al-ways keen for something new, hailed the innovation with great delight and bought tickets for themselves and for their friends, until the lucky manager who had hit upon the idea waxed fat and prosperous. A season of prosperity naturally brought many imitators, and soon the amusement-seeker had a wide choice of roof gardens to attend on a sultry summer evening. After the first act at the Bcntley Grand theatre. Long Beach, last Monday night, one of the actors stepped t<> the front of the curtain and informed the audience that the management had refused to pay salaries for two weeks and the remainder of the show would not be presented. There were about 100 people in the house, and they departed without a protest. The management settled the difference during the day and the regular show was given that night. Long Beach better give up the idea of being a stock town. About one show every six months might win out there. The coming season Henrik Ibsen's wonderful fantasy, Peer Gynt, will be the offering by Louis James, behaving secured from the Richard Mansfield estate the original MSS, entire production, costumes, effects, accessories and music by Grieg. This will be the most ambitious and stupendous undertaking that Mr. James has ever presented, and worthy of the serious consideration of all those who are in harmony with the better things of the Drama. Three English theatrical stars who are new to New York will be seen there next season. They are Constance Collier. Gertie Miller and Alexandra Carlisle, representing respectively drama, musical comedy and "straight" comedy. All three have been engaged by Charles Frohman in his system of interchange between London and NewYork. Constance Collier is a fine statuesque woman, who is best in powerful drama and heavy Shakespearean roles like Cleopatra. She has been Beerbohm Tree's leading woman at His Majesty's and has also starred at Drury Lane. Gertie Miller was for some years the star at the Gaietv Theatre, the musical comedy house par excellence. Alexandra Carlisle, who was unknown to play-goers three years ago, has had a meteoric career of success. Pretty and graceful, she has a fascinating style of acting. Her latest success was as Portia to Beerbohm Tree's Shylock. Frederick Gilbert, a member of the Garick stock company, of San Diego, was married July [3 to Miss Ruby McAuliffe, daughter of H. I!. McAuliffe, a well-known business man of Los Angeles. The wedding was a surprise to the friends of the couple. Frank Cooley is breaking in his regular season's supply of actors and will open his season next week. He will use in his repertoire. The ( huy Wav. The Great Jewel Mystery, The Man From Mexico, and The Brixton Burglary. Joseph O'Mara will make a tour of the United States next fall and winter under the direction of Brooks & Dingwall. He will appear in the romantic Irish opera, Peggy Machree. GOLDSTEIN & CO. COSTUMERS Goldstein's Hair , and Wig Store, Make-Up, Play Books. Established 1876. 819 & 821 Van Nesa Ave., San Pranci.co the production which the late Denis ( VSullivan headed last year. The Pollard Opera Company was a sensational success in Eureka, and left last Thursday for Aberdeen, after playing to nine days of overflowing houses in Eureka and the circuit towns. Frederick Harvey Wilson has been signed by Manager William Dailey to play the part of The Canuck in I'nder the Bear Flag. Mr. Wilson is one of the few actors who can produce the dialect of the French Canadians. He was born and raised among them and he can roll off his tongue the peculiar jargon with a fluency that is to the maimer born. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stone are visiting in the East, before opening in Los Angeles at the Auditorium. C. F. Weber & Co. Formerly of 526 Market St.. San Francisco Opera Chairs School, Church, Bank and Lodge Furniture, Post Office Cabinet*. School Supplies. 1151 POIK ST.. cor. Sutter SAN FRANCISCO 210-212 No. Main Street LOS ANGELES AMERICAN THEATRE Commencing Sunday Evening America's Greatest Tragedienne Nance O'Neil -IN ...MAGDA... Management of Stockwell & MacGregor Prices, $2.00, $1.50, $1.00 12 Band Uniforms COMPLETE For Sale Cheap The FrancisValentine Company 235 Thirteenth St., San Francisco