San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

i6 Actors Flee While Audience is Hunting for Missies Snohomish, March 26.— Snohomish went through another sensational episode last night and come out somewhat smeared. The members of the Three of a Kind theatre company were rotten egged as they left the theatre, after giving a part of the worst performance seen here in many months. The Three of a Kind company consisted of four girls and a number of young men absolutely devoid of dramatic ability, unversed in their lines and without excuse for being on the road. The very first act was too much for the audience, and certain young men in the back of the house were heard talking. One is reported to have said: "Let's go out and get some old lemons and soak 'em." "No," said another, "we'll make it eggs." They left the house, and a member of the company hurried to the stage and repeated the conversation. The curtain went down at the end of the first act, and never went up any more. The intermission was a long one. The people waited reluctantly for what was to come, hoping against hope that something ahead would help make up for the outlay of money at the box-office. At last some one suggested that possibly the company had left by the back way. Several went on the stage and found the company one by one dropping out of the back window. A rush was made for the street and then things broke loose. Many eggs were shattered on the street, and some probably hit members of the company. It was a race for life down First Street toward the hotel. Two girls and part of the men ran up a stairway and did not venture down until 1 1 o'clock, and the small riot started at 9:30. No arrests were made, but a badly scared troupe of "actors" faded away one by one as trains or trolley cars left town. Sothern and Marlowe Together Again Edward H. Sothern and Miss Julia Marlowe have decided to resume their partnership, which was broken in 1907. They will appear together on the same stage in Shakespearean dramas, supported by players drawn from their present separate companies. The theatre chosen for their reappearance is the Academy of Music, New York, and the date has been set for May 15, immediately after each fulfills the present contracts arranged by their booking agents, the Shuberts. The greatest secrecy has been observed regarding the arrangement. One of the reasons why the stars have wished to keep their summer plans a secret is that it is acknowledged generally that they will head The New Theatre Company when the millionaire's playhouse at Central park and West Sixtysecond street is dedicated, Nov. 10. Final Nickelodeon Ordinance The emasculated nickelodeon bill, prescribing strict requirements for all such amusement places erected in the future, but permitting the present 58 THE SAN FRANCISCO "theatres" to continue without installing sheet metal walls and ceilings, and with only minor changes in some of the more flagrant cases, was finally passed by the board of supervisors last Monday. Dr. d'Ancona and four other members vainly sought to have the board require the same safeguards against fire hazard of the 58 places in existence that all were legislating to exact of new establishments. Fire Chief Shaughnessy's warning that 25 of the present places were_ "dangerous and unsafe" having been blanketed by Chief Building Inspector Horgan's report that this was all a mistake except in regard to four or five, whose hazardous character was too pronounced to be covered up even with board of works whitewash, the majority of the board defeated D'Ancona's motion and, in Connolly's language, "made fish of one and fowl of another." Giannini, with the aid of the other members, then improved on their workmanship by passing to print a bill which will require 10 foot square patches of sheet metal to be tacked upon the walls and ceilings adjacent to the boxes holding the picture, machine. Mary Garden to Become a Princess There is a persistent rumor in Paris that Mary Garden intends to marry Prince Mavrocordate immediately after her arrival there at the end of April. She has cancelled her engagement to sing at the Paris Opera this spring, to the consternation of Messages who, in retaliation, has engaged Lina Cavalieri to sing Thais, commencing on April 19. The Stage As a Teacher Chicago, April 5. — The stage is the must succcessful popular teacher of morals is the opinion of Jane Addams, who delivered a Sunday address to Sinai Temple, in the absence of Dr. Emil G. Hirsch. It was Miss Addams' contention that there is a lack of spiritual teaching for the children up to the age of thirteen years, which is producing an undesirable trend in national life. At that age, she asserted, the mind of the child is receptive and pliable, while it is more difficult to teach an adult. Miss Addams spoke of a boy 13 years old who committed suicide because he did not make the proper advancement at school in his estimation. Another tried to convert "dull lead pipe into theatre tickets in his search for something strenuous, exciting and adventurous." It was at this point that the speaker declared for the theatres as teachers of morals. "The plays are often poor and flimsy," she said, "but there are at least a dozen of them on the stage today which could easily be made the subject of sociological lectures." Donah Benrino Sues Miller Kent Donah Benrimo Reed, who formerly played a leading part in the one act sketch, Marriage in a Motor Car, now being produced at the Orpheum, filed suit in the Superior Court Wednesday against S. Miller Kent for $500 damages for breach of contract. Miss Benrimo alleges in her complaint she was employed under contract at $50 DRAMATIC REVIEW a week to appear in the sketch. The engagement was to last 27 weeks, but Kent had the right to terminate the contract by giving two weeks' notice, paying her two weeks' salary and reimbursing her in the amount of her fare back to New York City. Miss Benrimo charges that in Portland, Ore., on March 28 last, Kent abandoned the contract and secretly left for San Francisco. She followed him here and tendered her services, but was refused permission to appear in the sketch. Miss Benrimo asserts that pictures of herself in the role of leading lady are being exhibited by Kent. W. T. Hume is her attorney. Stock Managers Organize The Stock Producing Managers' Association was organized at a meeting in Albany week before last, and a certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State, New York, on March 20. The directors named are Percy G. Williams, Charles Emerson Cook. Sherman Brown, of Milwaukee ; Thomas D. Long, of Denver ; Charles Lovenberg, of Providence; Milton E. Hoffman, of Cleveland, and John C. Craig, of Boston. E. F. Albee and A. W. Dingwall are other members. Offices will be opened in the Long Acre building, Long Acre square, this week. Will H. Gregory will be in charge as secretary. The objects of the association are to lessen the charges for the use of plays, to eliminate the difficulties of dealing individually for plays, and in general to promote closer relations between stock company managers. The offices in New York will be in the nature of a clearing house, where plays will be selected and routed for the various companies represented. Players will be engaged here in many cases. The ability of the association to offer the owner of a play twenty or more weeks in stock will probably make it possible for stock houses to obtain rights to successful plays much sooner than is now the case. The incorporators state that the association is not a trust, but April 10, 1909 a working arrangement to protect contracts and to handle business more economically. The charter does not provide for any profit-making scheme. Edmund Gardiner has taken a four months' lease on the Victoria Theatre in Victoria, and will open a stock company about May 1. Henry G. Sonnenberg, who has been with the Orpheum Circuit for the past twelve years, has resigned his position as assistant manager and treasurer of the Los Angeles Orpheum. He intends taking an ocean voyage to Japan and other places of interest in the Orient. He will be gone about three months and will take a complete rest. Norman Hachett First Annual Starring Tour in $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Classmates SECOND ANNUAL TOUR OF THAT QUAINT COMEDIAN Mr.Chas.J. LeMoyne Supported by an Excellent Company In the Roaring Musical Comedy Drama A HUSBAND ON SALARY Under the direction of Root. J. Riddell Permanent Home Address, 2110 Post St., San Francisco Johnny Williams, Jr. "FRISCO" Wait, Keep Tom Eye on This, Something Doing! Byde-a-Wvle Theatre J J Long Beach, Cala. FRANK M. CLARK, LESSEE and MANAGER THE MOST DELIGHTFUL WINTER AND SUMMER RESORT IN LOWER CALIFORNIA POPULATION 30,000 SEATING CAPACITY 1,000 STAGE 40 FT., 37 FT. DEPTH WILL PLAY FIRSTCLASS ATTRACTIONS PERCENTAGE ONLY The Only Family Resort Now Playing Popular Vaudeville