San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

October i, 1910 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Pantages Opens His New Theatre in Los Angeles The Henry McRae Stock Co. One of the Most Successful Stock Organizations West of New York, Featuring MARGARET OSWALD, Presenting Only High-Class Plays. Just returned from 15 weeks capacity business in Honolulu (and incidently breaking all trans-Pacific box-office records). Now arranging for a trip around the world, commencing in Honolulu in October. MenzePs Dramatic Agency Only Exclusive Dramatic Agency on the Pacific Coast Now in new location No. 815 Hewes Building Market and 6th Streets. Home Phone J 4329. Douglas 4310 LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29.— Alexander Pantages, owner of the new theatre of that name, accompanied by his wife and C. L. Coles, attended the opening performance at that house on Monday night. Several handsome floral pieces were received from the different business houses, from John Blackwood and many from the other houses in other cities. Pasadena, after long arguments and much discussion, will have the Sunday show. Mr. Clune, who will manage the new theatre now in the course of construction in Pasadena, is negotiating with Klaw & Erlanger to put this house in line for bookings. The Norton will carry the same attractions showing at the Majestic in this city. David Belasco has chosen Jane Grey to play an important part in Leo Ditrichstien's new play. The Concert. Miss Grey at one time played with the Belasco Stock Company in this city. Myrtle Dingwall, the bewitching and popular little prima donna of the Hartman Co., has returned to Los Angeles and will rest here until their opening on Oct. 16. The Grand is being thoroughly overhauled for the coming season of the Ferris Hartman Company. David Simon, representing an Eastern theatrical agency, claims he is negotiating for a site for a new theatre in Los Angeles. Mr. Simon refuses to divulge the name of the corporation he represents, but says they have operated in the larger cities for years. Bessie Tannehill has been specially engaged for the coming production of Fifty Miles From Boston by the Belasco company. Tracked By Wireless, a play written by Ira Tichenor of Los Angeles, and tried out at the Grand by the Girton Stock Company, will be given in Detroit. Mich., and then will go out on the Stair-Havlin circuit. Ralph Lamme, formerly assistant treasurer of the Majestic Theatre, left last week for Seattle where he has something good in view. Jane Metzler Urban, who displayed more than ordinary ability on several occasions with the Belasco and Burbank companies, has signed with the Willis G. West Musical Comedy Company, and left for Phoenix last week. Beside Miss Urban the company includes Willis West, Frank Beverly, Charles E. Ray, Roy Roylston, Annie Bau,man, Louise Beverly. Among the chorus are Maude Vertress, Evelyn Howard, Marion Rochester, Phylis Drake and the Le Roy Sisters. Chas. Alphin, the popular producer of the Olympic Theatre, left last week for an extended trip East. Mr. Alphin left enough playlets written up to last until his return, and Monte Carter will be in charge of the stage until his return. Jean Hathaway left Wednesday for Tucson, Arizona, accompanied by her eldest daughter, Wanda, where -she will join William B. Frielander Musical Comedy Co. as prima donna. Walt Leslie is now managing the American Music Hall in Omaha, Neb. Sedley Brown is stage manager at Boyd's in the same city. AUDITORIUM — Admidst the smiles and applause of society, the Local Bank Clerks' Association are giving a very creditable and professional-like performance of The Maid of Mandalay. Harry Girard is responsible for the score of the opera, which is unusual and charming. Jos. Blethen.of Seattle is the maker of the book, and that is built around a clever plot with amusing situations. Agnes CainBrown Girard opens the series of performances in the leading part of Princess Louise, giving a splendid presentation. Yida Ramon alternates in the role and does wonderfully well. T. J. Flynn and Ray Padrick, owing to their work as comedians, can now rank high in that class. Henry Balfour, whose splendid voice has won him honors heretofore, appears to good advantage as the naval lieutenant. A big chorus responds to the nod of the director in a most professional style and adds greatly to the smoothness of an interesting performance. The Maid of Mandalay will no doubt be heard from again. BELASCO— The Belasco players are happily cast in the light and dainty as well as laughable comedy. Girls, from the pen of the late Clyde Fitch. The story of the three wageearners, headed by the fascinating man-hater, Pamela Gordon, is delicious fun, and secures its laughs from comedy that is irresistible. Eve Kelly plays Pamela Gordon in a winningly independent way. Helen Sullivan, as Violet the dependable and impressionable, does good work. Miss Lowry, as Kate, gets her first oppor-. tunity to play an important part, and reveals herself as an actress of ability and splendid stage presence. Adele Farrington, in a marvelous make-up, ' a carricature of the latest style in gowns, but which has no "hobble" effect on her talents as a comedienne, has full swing in the role of Lucile Purcelle, the lady who vocalizes and elocutes, and the study is delicious. Louis Stone has but little to do, but makes that little interesting. Richard Vivian, as the disapproving Frank Loot is splendid. Frank Camp, Ida Lewis, Mr. Applebee and Charles Giblyn add to the gayety. BURBANK— Out of the dark ages comes Trilby, to be most excellently presented by the Burbank Company. Compared to latter-day drama. Trilby seems to be sadly lacking in construction, but the charm of the good love story and the Bohemian atmosphere still clings. Mr. Beasly adds one more to the long line of wonderful character studies he has given. His Svengali rises to the height of greatness, because of the dignity and splendor of the acting and the wonderfully pathetic touch Mr. Beasly adds to the harsh and abhorent character of Svengali. His make-up, too, is a thing of artistry. Miss Rambeau as Trilby appeals to the sympathies and makes a very pretty picture. A perfect bit of Scotch character is the Laird of David Landeau. Harmon Macgregor gives a touching picture of poor little Billee. Jack Belgrave is capital in a small part, the village vicar. Grace Travers has a wonderful make-up and contributes a clever piece of acting. Florence Oberle, Willis Marks, Percy Bronson and Fred Gilbert most capably round out the cast. MAJESTIC— Dark. MASON— Dark. GRAND— The Old Clothes Man is the current offering of the Girton Stock Company and contains sentiment and heart interest enough to appeal and action and comedy enough to entertain. Solomon Levi, almost a star part, is in the capable hands of Joseph De Grasse, giving him ample opportunity to display his talents in the line of character acting. Iva Shepherd is convincing as Rachael Levi, the lost daughter of the oldclothes man. Roy Sutherland, as Jefferies Ward, plays with emphasis and energy. Lillian Hayward, Chester Stephens and Gertrude Clair have roles that suit them individually. Scenically, the performance is most elaborate, ending in a prize-fight ring, in which four rounds of a fight are pulled off. ORPHEUM— The Top o' th' World dancers, with the collie ballet, lures one back to the days of the fairy-story book. Charming Vivian Ford, upheldby twinkling feet, and Harry Hewitt, who makes the bear seem "real," are each artists in their line, and, while the turn is a bit long, it never bores. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Connelly bring a bit of refreshing dainty atmosphere in the best of playlets, Sweethearts. They play it well and the costuming is exquisite, making the whole a delightful twenty minutes. George McKay and John Canwell are a pair of good soft-shoe dancers, and intersperse their efforts in that line with rather clever satire on modern living. The Krags Trio furnish some very wonderful gymnastic novelties. Al Jolson is still the winning number with his absurdities that never fail to hit the mark. The balance of the holdovers are Minnie Dupree in her excellent sketch, the wonderful six Kaufmans and the Renee, "The Godess of Music." LOS ANGELES— Thirty Dollars is a very good sketch by Sewall Collins, melodramatic in make-up and moving to a swift and exciting finish. Dorothy De Schellett is attractive and clever and Arthur Sullivan is convincing. Together they make this an usually entertaining sketch. Rose and Ellis do some good jumping stunts with barrels and tables. Lozelle, "the aerial wonder," puts forth some equally meritorious acrobatic feats. Musical Irving creates mirth and enjoyment with a trombone. The Mayvilles have a novel act, depending upon their Lilliputian marionettes for success. Lew Hoffman, the W'eary Willie juggler, carelessly juggling, closes the bill. PANTAGES— This new theatre, although not quite finished, opens this week and reveals an artistic interior, decorated in soft pink, gold and gray. There are two tiers of boxes and a seating capacity of about 1000 besides, with ten exits. The entire theatre is of concrete, the only perishable things being the seats. Sophie Tucker and the Dogs and Monkeys of Barnold are the headliners. Miss Tucker, being a comedienne of ability, puts forth her songs and jokes in a commendable manner. The dogs and monkeys in character parts are the actors that make In Dogville a clever number. Yates and Duo are good dancers. MacLean and Bryant enact a dramatic sketch dealing with a gambling episode. Maurice Burkhardt is a monologue singer and Lelliott Bros, have a musical sketch that exploits their skill on many instruments. This theatre will play three performances a day. OLYMPIC— A racy burlesque, savoring of the turf and stage, called They're Off In a Bunch, is filled with clever lines, and allows Jules Mendel to lead the race for laughs as a rich German tourist. Tracy McDermott and Monte Carter are close seconds with new songs and comedy hits. Frances Paon, Vera Ransdale and Hazel Douglas have roles to their liking, and the whole is a most attractive offering. PRINCESS— A Trip to Turkey is a laughable playlet, oriental in atmosphere and suggesting the harem, hootche-cootche dance and costumes of the far East. Al Franks, Earl Hall and Jack Howard, a new comedian, are most successful in their efforts to bring out the fun, and Angie North, Bonnie Browning and the chorus have appropriate songs and dances, with the oriental trimmings and dances reminiscent of the Midway. Austa Pikrce has joined the Genevieve Cunningham Company at Pomona.