San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

10 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW May 15, 1909 Vaudeville LLOYD C. FOUNTAIN, Editor The Orpheum Francini-Olloms offers a novelty act that claims unusual attention. The Frenchman, for I should say his appearance suggests the nationality, is not only a clever concertina and xylophone player, but a juggler and comedy acrobat of no mean order. Everything he does is executed with a dash and precision that can be keenly enjoyed. He is assisted by a youngster, who is a marvelous athlete. The tumbling and head spinning of this boy is superb. Angela Dolores and her company, Harry English and Edw. Moran capture the house by their cleverness in a fine little comedy, Cupid at Home. Miss Dolores is a beautiful woman and an actor of ability. The men are both good. John and James Russell have an old, old act that they have been presenting with variations for years, and while it is not original nor great, still, at the risk of differing from the brilliant critics of the daily press, I will say the Orpheum has seen worse acts, and the audience found the comedy of the two Irishmen to be worth laughing at, and they were not stingy in their laughter, either. Flora Bonfanti Russell filled in a few minutes with some toe dancing. Hawthorne & Burt presented some enjoyable conversational oddities and Frederick Allen, a good character man, presents a touching and enjoyable little play which he calls His Phantom Sweetheart. Mr. Allen is an actor of fine method and his assistant. Bertha Van Norman, is pretty and attractive. The Juggling Normans presented the presented a touching and enjoyable little play which he calls His Phantom jugglers been seen here before. La Valera 1'hipps, who graduated from the Alcazar extra rank to the stage, via matrimony, is becoming more used to professional dancing each week and she is naturally acquiring more ease. She has ability and is a handsome young woman. She will be a great attraction some day. Now, she is decidedly pleasing. The Melnotte Twins and H. Clay Smith, the latter a very clever light comedian, arc in their last week. Two different moving picture subjects were part of an entertaining bill, which has been enjoyed by very large audiences. Pantages-Empire To name any one act as the headliner at the Empire this week would be (magnanimously speaking) Crux criticorum, as there are several worthy of the distinction. Dawson & Whitfield prove good laugh producers with their nonsense. Mrs. Maud Evans, fulfilling a return engagement, is proving a good drawing card. Ethel Alton and Mazie Oliver present their sketch, The Sacrifice, which differs considerably from the general run of vaudeville sketches. Mrs. Winthrop is convinced there is no true affection in the world. Mrs. Gray, whose husband and child are both ill and in need of medical attention, comes to her home to rob it to enable her to secure the necessary relief for them. She is caught in the act, and Mrs. Winthrop, to test her theory, agrees to give her the sum of $500 to take to them if she, in return, will give her life by drinking poison, which she does, but as the poison is only water, there is no harm done, except to destroy Mrs. Winthrop's theory. Miss Oliver as the skeptic, and Miss Alton as the thief both portray difficult roles in a commendable manner. The act is a little different and therefore interesting. Joseph Le Claire, harp soloist, contributes one of the most delightful musical offerings in a long time. Contrary to the usual custom, his selections are all new and up-to-date, and rendered with a swing and dash which keeps the audience continually calling for more. Caesar Rivoli, in his Protean act, is a big feature of the bill, while Rivoli is not much of an actor, the rapidity with which he changes into the numerous characters he portrays is decidedly clever. His impersonations of famous composers is deserving of especial mention. The Four Dordeens. in the casting act, present some thrilling mid-air somersaults and acrobatic work. Moving pictures and Pantages popular orchestra complete an exceptionally good show. The National They keep it up. Another big show this week. Each act in a class by itself. Fantan. ring trapeze artist, comes in for a good share of applause for the neatness of his work. Nita Allen & Company present a clever little act entitled Car 2, Stateroom 1. Miss Allen is most evidently a clever little actress, but, she crabs (with apologies to Daniel Webster) the act by her slang)' attempts at comedy. The act is novel and composed of plenty of good comedy, but the allusion is spoiled, and also several delicate situations in the act, by slang expressions interpolated. The scenic equipment, portraying the exterior and interior of a Pullman sleeper, is realistic in the extreme, and the best piece of acting is contributed by the conductor. Lewis & Young as fun makers fulfill the contract to the letter. Matt Keefe is yodeling his way into greater popularity at each performance. If he keeps up giving a different song for each encore, I am afraid Matt will have to get busy and send for some professional copy. Bonnie Gaylord, The Girl from Posy Co., in her Sis Hopkins get-up is a clever little entertainer who is well received. The Quaker City Four wouldn't be much without the black face member of the trick, he is a scream all by himself. Last, but not least, is Frank Bush with a new line of stories which keeps the audience in a continual state of laughter. Frank's there. With several reels of new motion pictures the above constitutes an excellent program. The Wigwam Xo fault to find at this popular house this week. Mr. and Mrs. Robbyns in the beautiful little playlet, The Counsel for the Defense, present a delightful picture of heart interest. A rich strain of good, wholesome comedy intermingled with pathos runs through the act, which is artistically and cleverly brought out in the capable hands of both Mr. and Mrs. Robbyns. Madame Doherty's Poodles, eighteen in number, are a bunch of clever little canines, and perfect little dears to look Upoil. Manning & Dixon are a couple of dopy screams in their farce, The Dopy Cabman and His Passenger, and their song, The Lobster is the Wise Guv. is one big hit. Quigg & Nicker TKeatrical TigKts Wool. SYMMETRICALS! u. s. $10.00; ALL COLORS, WEIGHTS AND QUALITIES — Cotton. ~T5c to $1.50; $2.50 to $3.50; Lisle or Silkoline. $3.00 to $4.50; Silk. $5.00 to $12.50. BEST LINE MADE IN THE 1 Calf, $5.00; Calf and Thigh, Calf, Thigh and Hip, $12.50. We also Make Padded Shirts. SWEATERS, JERSEYS, GYM, athletic tud BATH SUITS, SUPPORTERS, ACROBATIC SHOES, GOOD UNDERWEAR Knit to Pit in All Materials. We operate our own mills, carry a large stock and make goods to measure at reasonable prices. We suit the professional as if he were buying in Europe. Write us for prices and samples. Phone Kearny 3603 Corner Post and Grant Ave. NATIONAL THEATRE Mr, Sid Grauman, General Manager POST IIS STEIN ER BTS., SAN FRANCISCO Leading Vaudeville Theatre on the Sulll van-Considine Circuit. No Act Too Good for us. Write. CHRIS. O. BROWN N. Y. Representative 1358 Broadway HARRY L. LEAVITT Seattle Representative American Bank Bldg. PAUL GOUDRON Chicago Representative 604-5 Oneonta Bldg. 67 S. Clark St. Sullivan & Considine Circuit ______ _. Americ an Theatre Bldg. Sole California Representative AKCfilE LEVY, H1V-1125 Market St., above 7th. » ban Francisco New York Ofllce. Shubert Bldg. Lancaster. Pa., Family Theatre Now Booking Summer Parks, Fairs and Vaudeville Theatres. Managers, write or wire. 50 — THEATRES — 50 THAT INDEPENDENT VAUDEVILLE AGENT .BERT LEVEY ••• Phone West 9098 • ••• 2053 SUTTER ST.. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Clune Vodville Circuit Now Booking Acts THEATRES— PICTURE HOUSES— PARKS AND FAIRS p'ilm Service — Machines — Operators — Singers ROBT. A. BRACKETT, Manager 727-729 So. Main St., Los Angeles, Cal. Phone Main 1706 son present an amusing and clever musical turn. Geo. Wilson as a nionolngist has a laughing way of telling laughing stories that keeps the laughing audience laughing. The Lucy Lucier Trio contribute some good singing, with a bang-up finish. The Yolten Sherick Family, society acrobats in some clever tumbling and acrobatic stunts, come in for their share of approval. Interesting and entertaining moving pictures complete a highly satisfactory program. Fischer's Impressario Fischer has followed his brilliant first week's showing by a rural comedy, called The Advance Agent, that is effective and funny, and produced on the same lavish scale and with attention to details that characterized its predecessor. Ben T. Dillon disguises himself in a long nose and plays a real rube. Ben gets a continuous lot of fun from his lines and situations. Tracy McDermott, a very useful man and a fine performer, doubles as Fleecum and Kid Thomas. His handsome and talented wife, Dorothy Raymond, is cast as the heiress, and she portrays the part with skill. Nellie Montgomery has a good comedy streak in her makeup and was immense as Samantha Jones. Will King, a useful man, was there with a good performance of the son. The chorus was beautifully costumed, and Musical Director Alphin had quite a number of song hits to his credit. Next week, Mr. Alphin will produce another of his song hits — The Pagoda. PANTAGES Western State Vaudeville Association Controlling the longest, largest and best chain of vaudeville theatres in the United States. Mr. Manager: No matter where your house is, how large or how small, we can supply you promptly with first-class vaudeville acts at reasonable prices, also lodges, clubs and entertainments furnished on short notice. See O. S. BURNS, Representative. Phone West 7140. Offices: Pantages Theatre, cor. Sutter & Steiner Sts., San Francisco, Cal. SKETCHES Classy vaudeville and dramatic sketches written to order at moderate prices. Have a few on hand; no junk, but guaranteed, snappy ideas snapped from the point of the quill. MART H. GRANHOLT. Permanent Address, "TRIBUNE," Clovis, Cal. M. M. RILEY G. A. KELLEY THALIA Concert Hall 514% PACIFIC STREET Up-to-Date Vaudeville NO ACT TOO BIO FOR THIS HOUSE RAY YOUNGMAN Appearing in THE SEXTON'S DREAM S. & C. Circuit Joseph Lattman, now playing at the Farragut Theatre, Vallejo, complained to the police Monday night that he had been induced to join a game of poker at 1130 Golden Gate avenue, and when he quit playing he had lost $75, his gold watch and chain, valued at $150; diamond ring, valued at $50, and diamond breastpin, valued at $50.