San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW April 10, 1909 Van Ness Theatre Despite the Holy Week retirement of many theatre goers, Richard Carle and his aggregation have been receiving very fair patronage during the second week of Mary's Lamb. Carle himself has apparently recovered in a marked degree from the indisposition which robbed his work last week of much of its former snap, vim and vigor. He is in better voice, and dances with his old time energy which, at least in a measure, made his fame originally. "Scamp" Montgomery, Mr. Carle's close friend and a comedian of real ability, continues to evoke many laughs in his role of colored servant at the Lambs' home, and though his dialect and mannerisms arc far from the real Southern darkey, the house enjoys his foolery which is the consummation to be wished for, and enough. Julie Rolph and Mary Miranda Lamb. George Bogues. Siivain Langlois, Cecelia Rhoda, Violet Seaton and Rita Stanwood contribute each his mede toward the entertainment, and the chorus ! Well, the chorus is very, very real, from the "broilers" to the statesque "show girls" — in fact is the best chorus a road show has brought to San Francisco in many moons, both as regards looks, singing and dancing ability. Val encia Theatre The Valencia held over Pretty Peggy the first half of the week and closed the house Wednesday night in order that the greatest possible opportunity might be given to the Peter Pan rehearsals. Wednesday night saw the closing of Blanche Stoddard and Beatrice Nichols. Miss Stoddard has done splendid work and her stunning dressing and graciousness will be greatly missed by Valencia audiences. Miss Nichols has impressed herself upon theatre goers as the best soubrette the city has had in years and there is keen regret that her engagements take her elsewhere. American Theatre Black Patti, the only colored woman who has laid claim to pretentious singing, is in town this week, after an I absence of five years. She is the same I pleasing vocalist as of yore and gives I us The Old Folks at Home with an I unction and understanding that few I singers have attained. Her company, J outside of Tim Owsley, the comedian, I is not particularly strong and the rapidly lessening taste for "coon"' shows seems to be apparent in the lack of enthusiasm in the audiences. Perhaps this style of show, in California at least, is passing as has lurid melodrama, and then perhaps the Black Patti is no longer the novelty she used to be. And then, again. Holy Week may have its distressing influence. Any way, we wish Manager Voelkel better luck next time, and would suggest a stronger supporting company. Alcazar Theatre As regularly as Holy Week comes around are we presented with a very mirth provoking performance of Are You a Mason at the Alcazar. Alcazar patrons are particularly keen for this play and the way it is given by this excellent company is a sufficient excuse, and nightly the Alcazar is showing a well filled house. Bertram Ly tell, whom many have thought that because he was a leading man and a stage lover par excellence, demonstrates a positively fine comedy vein in the part of Frank Perry, and of course he is given great assistance by that fine comedian, John Maher. who is seen as the father, "the other bogus Mason." Ernest Glendinning assumes the character of the bogus cloak model and has an exceedingly clever makeup, and makes the most of the opportunity to rattle oft" some real French in a real Parisian way. Howard Hickman enters fully into the humor of Hamilton Travers and executes some enjoyable burlesque speeches. Burt Wesner plays the idiotic part of the country candidate for Masonic honors with fortitude. Adele Belgarde is a splendid, if fiery, mother-in-law and Evelyn Vaughan is bewitching as the young wife. The stage settings are as good as usual and the orchestra selections are enjoyable. Princess Theatre Nancy Brown is a most enjoyable show. It has three exceedingly clever comedians — Fred Mace, Frank Moulan and Budd Ross — whose team work and general fooling is worth a whole evening of . ordinary entertainment. They certainly could keep an audience busy taking care of laughs for two hours and forty-five minutes. They can sing, they can dance and be funny. And then the chorus ! What sprightly girls, what shapely ones they are1. They can bowl over any imported group of show girls that ever struck this town. Next week — The Umpire. A Husband On Salary The Le Moyne Players, under the management of Robert Riddell. will open for a tour with A Husband on Salary at the Clunie Theatre, Sacramento, tonight. In the company are Charles J. Le Moyne. Charlotte Mundorff, Mrs. Zora Bates and Tike Bates, Florence Rex. Virginia Kelso. Edward Maples. Bertine Van Harlingen, Geo. C. Stanley and Josephine Lansing, musical director. Frank Smith is out in advance. The Players To Open the Season The Players, under the management of S. Terry McKean. opens its regular season Monday night at Redwood City. Manager McKean, however, is not breaking in his company or making Redwood the "dog" town, as he gave his company a two weeks' preliminary season playing dates at Concord. Black Diamond, Antioch, Crockett, Pinole and return dates at Black Diamond and Concord. Notwithstanding it rained the entire first week, business was good and return dates were requested in every town. Manager McKean is mighty proud of his company and declares that he has a "king-pin" repertoire organization. Following is the roster of The Flayers: S. Terry McKean, manager back with company; Johnny Sire, advance representative; Walter II. Newman, director; l larry BelmOUT ; Stanley De Wolfe; Carrol Ashburn ; Bertha Foltz, leads; Miss Grace Johnson ; Etta Delmas ; Elsa Berg. An unusually interesting repertoire of standard plays has been selected and as the tour will cover every im portant center in the state it goes without saying The Players, on this its first season in California, will enjoy a full share of the coming prosperity. Chicago Has Stock Managers' Meeting Chicago was the scene during the week of March 15. when the Stock Managers' Association of America was formed at a meeting of local and out-of-town managers. Temporary officers were elected, letters read from managers in various cities from coast to coast, and a charter under Illinois laws was applied for. Another meeting will be held April 22(1 in Chicago. About thirty managers were present, including W. W. Wittig of the Lyric, Minneapolis: ( ). D. Woodward of Omaha and Kansas City; George Fish of Cincinnati ; John B. Howell of Columbus. Ohio; Edwin Tanhauser of the Bush Temple Theatre, Chicago, and Charles Marvin of the Marlowe, College and People's. Chicago. Proxies for several out-of-town managers were held. One of the chief objects of the Association is to get the use of successful plays sooner than at present. Naturally, an effort will be made to reduce royalties. Mr. Wittig was choosen president pro tern, and Mr. Tanhauser. secretary. And Clyde Fitch is Really Responsible The Pennsylvania railroad between New York and Philadelphia is a lane bordered with signs. Great billboards elbow each other and stare the traveler out of countenance. Recently a heavy gale wrecked some of the advertisements. A theatre sign and a soup sign standing side by side were left, reading like this: CIRLS BY CLYDE-FITCH. fUST ADD HOT WATER AND SERVE. Henry E. Dixey On Press Agents Henry E, Dixey, one of the few great American comedians, has welldefined ideas on the art of publicity as well as on the art of expression, and he knows how to express his ideas, too. Dixey is as much opposed to "dog stories" about actors as any overworked dramatic editor could possiblv be. Hence, the other day, when he saw a tale in a newspaper where he was to appear in the big comedy drama. Mary Jane's Pa, he sat down and sent the following to the man in advance of the 1 Icnry W. Savage star: "My Dear Mr. Kirby: From a friend I have received a newspaper clipping Stating that 'Henry E. Dixey, wlin is starring in the big comedv drama SUCCESS; Mary Jane's Pa, always carries a peacock leather in his pocket f«>r good luck. Although rabbits' feet are considered talismcn and peacock feathers are considered voodoos among actors, Mr. Dixev holds the opposite belief and would never be without a peacock's feather under any circumstance. In fact, on one occasion when he lost his feather he was utterly unnerved until it had been replaced.' "I don't know who conceived this fantastic publicity conceit, but I assure you that I do not and never have considered peacock feathers indispensable to my success. I don't believe in talismen or voodoos, and I never possessed a peacock's feather. "Permit me. once and for all, to register a positive objection to this sort of thing. Personally and professionally I refuse to be subjected to the claptrap notoriety of which custom has made a convention where actors are concerned. I don't believe in it and I don't want any publicity, saving what 1 obtain as actor in the reviews by dramatic critics. Of course, I realize that dignified announcements and advertisements of a forthcoming theatrical engagement are necessary for the information of the public, but I will not countenance the 'snake' stories and absurd fakes which are hung upon the names of many actors. Whenever I find it impossible to make good as an actor I will retire. \ will nevtr permit myself to be exploited as a freak. "Players who make flying trips in the cabs of locomotives up and down the columns of newspapers ; players who order, through their press agents, enormous automobiles, interior ily constructed like a Pullman car, for touring the country ; who make traveling companions of pet snakes ; players who possess scarf pins, rings and other personal embellishments, made from the crown jewels of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba ; players who pay election bets by driving a fourhorse dray loaded with a bag of peanuts through the principal streets of a city ; players who do or possess any such silly things undoubtedly are of rare interest to the public ; but so is a two-headed chicken, a calf with six legs, a lady with whiskers and a bald man with his nose on the back of his head. "Stage folk who seek notoriety at any price are largely responsible for the ridicule that has been heaped upon the stage. "Another point, please. I don't want to be interviewed upon subjects which do not pertain to the stage. I don't want to exploit my ideas on woman's suffrage, suicides, murders or any other topics with which I cannot expect to be familiar. Recently an intelligent newspaper woman wanted to interview me on the art of cooking. " T am not a cook,' I told her, 'I am an actor.' " 'Everybody knows that,' she answered, 'but it would make a corking good story to tell how you would cook a Welsh rabbit." "When 1 still refused she agreed to furnish the recipe, and held forth the alluring prospect of publicity, and evidently considered me a trifle demented when I did not avail myself of this opportunity to achieve culinary fame. "I cannot understand why playgoers should attend the theatre to see a cook any more than a housewife should call at a dramatic agency to employ one. "Trusting I have made myself clear, I am. "Very truly yours. "Hkxry E. Dixf.y." OWING to ill health Evelyn Selbie will retire from the Bentley Stock Co., in Long Beach. Clara Williams will take her place in the leads. Jam: Auurey, who has been playing leads with Paul Gilmorc. is in town, having been compelled to give up her position on account of illness.