The Billboard 1901-01-05: Vol 13 Iss 1 (1901-01-05)

7 bd i THE BILLBOARD. . . . Cincinnati. Ew pn Shas Vow kivcs oe Richard Mansfield 2 Be ee “The Moth and the Flame” NE aa Seu thivie secu ie teeeCas “Vanity Fair" EI sos abe ees cepe sees “The Dairy Farm" oy) | “Night Before Christmas”’ te eer .... Nell Gwynne”’ EIN 3. dns bo nopass eons Fulgora’s Stars og See “Social Maids’ WONDER WORLD.....Curios and Vaudeville GRAND OPERA HOUSE. The most gorgeous spectacular play ever offered to Cincinnati theatergoers is ‘‘Henry V.,”’ presented by Richard Mansfield at the Grand this week. The company numbers more than 400. There are nineteen different scenes, the most magnificent of which is the fourth act, showing the triumphant return of King Henry from Agin Court to London. The play is the most brilliant triumph in the notable career of Richard Mansfield. No words can do justice to the splendor of the performance. COLUMBIA THEATER. The New Year's attraction at the Columbia is Bulgora’s American and European stars, an unusually strong vaudeville organizat:on throughout. The principal feature ts Kara, the famous European juggler, whose performance embraces” the most remarkable and skilled feats ever accomplished, and which have been the talk of Europe for months. Another attractive feature are the sterling favorites, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sidman, who present “‘Back Home,”’ a charming one-act play, which has been pronounced a most effective bit of realism. Tom Lewis-and Sam J. Ryan, two popular cOmedians, have an absurdly funny sketch called “The Two Actors:’ Brothers Herne in “Substitution,’’ the most mystifying act in vaudeville; Polk and Kollins, accomplished bamnjoists, will give difficult selections; James and Lucy Allison, duetists and specialty dancers of the highest order; Zeb afid Zarrow, in a sensational bicycle act; Edna Collins, a wonderful whistler, and Hayman and Hayman, comedians, are the artists that go to make up a most pleasant entertainment. WALNUT—MISS COGHLAN AS “BECKY SHARP.” Since Miss Coghlan’s appearance in the role of Becky Sharp, she has played before large audiences everywhere, and her engagement New Year’s Week at the Walnut promises to be one of the most successful of the season. Miss Coghlan’s remarkable impersonation of Becky Sharp, Mr. Herbert Fortier’s notable work as Rawdon Crawley, the excellent support rendered by the other actors of prominent parts, and hence features of the production, are town talk. Even the figurantes in the play are clever, and the management cf the great scene of the ball is a marvelous example of stage-craft. The scene itself is perhaps one of the most elaborate and impressive ever shown in a local theater. The costuming of “‘Vanity Fair’’ alone affords a study, and, taken as a whole, it may be said that the expectation raised as to this production has been more than satisfied. It is noteworthy in every way, and deserves the full measure of patronage it is winning. PIKE OPERA HOUSE. ° The fascinating society play by Clyde Fitch, “The Moth and the Flame” is the attraction at the Pike this week. There are some fine opportunities for the excellent performers of the ~company, and the piece has scored a decided hit. ROBINSON'S OPERA HOUSE. The Nell Gwynne fad, which has produced several plays portraying the remarkable ca reer of that astonishing woman, finds ex.« pression again this week at Robinson's. The stock company at that house is giving a clever production of Nell Gwynne. Miss Lisle Leigh, the handsome leading lady, is assuming the role of Nell, and Mr. Murdock makes an impressive King Charles. HEUCK’S OPERA HOUSE. One of those delightful little pastoral plays on the order of “‘The Old Homestead’ and “Way Down East’’ is pleasing the patrons of Heuck’'s this week. It is called “‘The Dairy Farm,’’ and has enjoyed a run of several months in New York and Chicago. There are some quaint and pretty characters portrayed. The large audiences which greeted the opening performance show that “The Dairy Farm’’ has made an impression. It is the first time that the play has ever been presented at popular prices. PEOPLE’S THEATER. Those enterprising purveyors of vaudeville, Hurtig & Seaman, have sent their big burlesque show, ‘‘The Social Maids,’’ to the People’s this week. The company is firstclass. The vaudeville portion of the show is given by George Behan, Wrothe and Wakefield, Fields and Fields, Jennie LeBean and Henshaw and Fransiolia. The two burlettas, “The Water Nymphs” and “The Gay Modiste,’’ are bright features of the enter tainment. LYCEUM. There is a great deal of heart interest in Hal Reid's drama, **The N:gat Before Christmas.’’ It is the attraction again gt the Lyceum this week, and is meeting with the same enthusiastic reception that has greeted it before. There have been some improvements in the stage settings, and the company is in every respect capable. HECK’S WONDER WORLD. Manager Heck is giving an elaborate programme of novelties this week. The feature It would appear from the comparatively light attendance at the theaters on Christmas Day that the old custom of patronizing some place of amusement on holidays has gone into decay. Several years ago, every house in the city was crowded, but there has been a noticeable deacrease during the past four or five seasons. The attractions at the local theaters next week will be: Grand, William Gillette, “Sherlock Holmes;'’ Walnut, the Rays, in “A Hot Old Time;"’ Columbia, refined vaudeville; Heuck’'s, “‘Kimg of the Opium Den;"’ Lyceum, “The Heart of Chicago;"’ Robinson's, “Uncle Tom's Cabin;'’ People’s, Weber's Dainty Duchess. Charles T. O'Hara, a well-known sporting writer, over the nom de plume of “Bill Brunt,’ has, it is understood, been engaged by W. A. Brady, manager of James J. Jeffries, to look after the press arrangements for the Jeffries-Rublin boxing contest, in Cincinnati, on Feb. 15. Mr. O'Hara is now suffering from pleurisy at his New York home, but as soon as he is able to travel will come to this city. The Christmas holidays witnessed several changes in the box-office force of the Walnut Street Theater. FE. P. Moran, the former treasurer, is now the assistant treasurer, and W. L. Gavin, of Indianapolis, formerly manager of the Jossey Stock Company and later in advance of the Sipe Dog and Pony Show, will take his place. Dan Daugherty, the former assistant treasurer, has gone to Ind.anapolis as assistant treasurer and gallery ticket seller at the Grand. The Walnut’s new treasurer is a brother of J. H. Gavin, treasurer of the Grand in Indianapolis. THE ROYERS, Archie and Minnie, of Royer Bros.’ ‘‘ Next Door.’”’ in the curio halls is Kathleen Wrenn, the snake charmer; little MissWrenn, the m dget; Colonel Victor F. Cody and wife and the Romany Gypsy Camp are features. In the theater a vaudeville bill is contributed by Tom Doyle, Knight and Jansen and Sefton and Deagle. The vitascope pictures are seen also. Cincinnati Calcium Lights. Adora Andrews, the soubrette at the Pike, lost a diamond ring valued at $175 on Christmas Day. Jas. Weed, doorkeeper of the Walnut Street Theater, left for Indianapolis to take charge of the advertising department of the Grand Opera House, the new house now controlled by Managers Anderson and Ziegler. C. Lee Williams, the popular secretary and manager of the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, will leave early in January with his wife for a tour of the South. It is the first vacation he has had in several years, and he is entitled to it. Among the distinguished visitors in Cincinmmati last week were A. M. Palmer, the veteran theatrical manager of New York City and Paul Kester, the brilliant young playright, who has achieved distinction by his recent dramatization. The season of the Baldwin-Melville Stock ‘Company at Robinson's Opera House will come to a close about Jan. 20. The expense of the house has been too heavy for the prices charged, and while Manager Baldwin has lost no money, he has just been able to make both ends meet. The matinee audiences were unifc rmly large, but the night attendance d.d not justify hm continuing the season longer. Mr. Baldwin has given the patrons of melodrama and comedy full value fer their money, and h $s departure from the local theatrical field will be greatly regretted. He has had an able and popular assistant in George E. Baker, who has had charge of the house for the past two months. Buffalo Foyers. Buffalo, N. Y.—Star Theater, John R. Sterling, manager. A play that deals in a mother’s love, ‘‘The Greatest Thing in the World,"’ came Dec. 24 to 26, to fair business. Mrs Sarah Cowell LeMoyne has already established a reputation in this city, and her reappearance was welcome. Frank Landers and John Glendenning were well cast, and the company did excellent work. Jerome Sykes as ‘‘Foxy Quiller,”’ finished out the week, which promises well at, the box-office. Booked: Charles E. Evans in “Naughty Anthony” and ‘‘Madame Butterfly,"’ Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. ee Tee { Teck Theater, John Laughlin, manager The Shubert Stock Company did themselyex Pra tice in “The Great Ruby,” a big undertak i; : for a stock company. Large business was the outcome, The losing of the ruby by ther: and the complication and plot were wel! look ed after by a cast of merit. B. R. Graham was favorable. M. L. Alsop did nicely W ©. Masson was a sleuth indeed—a regy)a; Sherlock Holmes, while A. D. Richardson ard Guy Bates were “right in line.” Sarah Try ax had her audience with her. Amelia Gard ner and Channez Olney wow favors The scenic effects were all that could be desired “Quo Vadis’ next week. Coming: The N.; Stock Company, for a season of ten weeks. commencing Jam. 7. Lyceum Theater, Joby Laughlin, manager. The Patrons enjoyed “The Dairy Farm,"’ Dec. 24 to 29, to thei: hearts’ content. Full houses. Its scenes of country life and quaint characters were well brought out. Arthur C. Sanders was fine as the miser, Simon Krum. The play has been seen here before, and the company was up ° to all requirements. ‘Hearts of Oak" js dated Dec. 31 to Jan. 5. Court Street Thea ter, Gus Wegefarth, manager. Had as a hol)day attraction Rice & Barton's Rose Hill's English Folly Company, which was bright and catchy. Catherine Rowe Palmer Proved a good dancer. Sullivan and Webber dd 4 clever turn. McFarland and Lee brought out the Irish and German. Bury and Haught made good a musical turn. Williard and Wheeler, in a sister act, were clever. (Co}lins and Collins, as conversationists, were average. Two well-costumed burlesques and “pretty’’ girls were all right. Watson's American Beauties come next week. Shea's Garden Theater, M. Shea, manager. Almost a new theater with its decorations and attractive features. After being closed a week had big houses, Dec. 24 to 29, with one of the bect bills of the season, including James k. Dodson, Will ©. Matthews and Nellie Harris, Carroll Johnson, Ryan and Richfield, A}mont and Dumond, Josephine Gassman and Pic, Gypzene and Roma, May Evans and the nine Nelsons—a humming bill. Wonderland Theater, M. S. Robinson, manager, was up to the standard. The features, Dec. 24 to 29, playing to good returms, were Blondell, the human are lamp; Holmes and Waldron: Prof Clark, magician; DeBonnairs, tiny theater: Burt Thompson, Little Shure Shot, Mme Jeannetta, Vivian Wocd, Prof. George Haywocd, May Dillon, M. J. Nudham, comedian and Stella Davenport. The new house is progressing favorably, and Manager Robinson will soon have a theater to be proud of People’s Arcade Theater, late the Empire Theater, opened its doors, December 23, for the season, having been newly decorated. The biograph of moving pictures will make up the attraction, with vaudeville turns. Dan McCarthy was singing the past week. English opera at the Star Jan. 14 to 16, promises well. The Neil Stock Company will occupy the stage of the Teck Theater after Jam. 7, The Shuberts have made themselves a name, and will be missed It is expected that Sarah Truax will remain Sterling's ‘‘Sis Hopkins" is dated up ful! for the season, and playing big dates. An impromptu supper and a watch presentation to Manager Robinson by his emploves was a pleasing feature at Wonderland. Dec. 2° JOHN S$. RICHARDSON The Manager and the Star. More than once upon a time there was a theatrical person of but little repute, smal! salary and enlarging ideas, who was fortunate in the acquaintance of a meandering manager of small capital and large capacity and a ripe experience, which sometimes counts im a venture where dollars without sense fails to assist The manager was of the cp-n.cm that the theatr.cal person cou d be boomed to the sky, and certainly no star should shine nearer to earth than in the dome of ether. The theatrical person was filled with gratitude at the proposition, and fell ali over the manager in his haste to accept. The theatrical person was so fast to reach the stellar firmament that there was little delay in arranging the details. To apply the condenser and save space the superior acumen of the manager was so easily apparent that the new light of the stage cast a calcium ray from ocean to ocean and heated the Rialto like a diamond sunburst on the brow of five dollar-a-ticket prima donna. Press and pub lic were a unit for once, and the only sad part of the affair was the inability of the star to walk down, both sides of the principal streets at one and the same time. The man ager, on the whole, was rather amused than otherwise at the upstarting of the very new luminary, and accepted the airs of the actor very much as he did those of the weather bu reau. The intervention of a “personal rep resentative’ did rather nettle the astronom ical discoverer, but the annoyance was on!y momentary, as he remarked: “So large a tail for so small a kite!" As the seasons gained in months and the weeks strengthened the mew-born star in the region of the exchequer, the improved final cial conditions of the theatrical person had an expanding effect of the head, which dis tended the hat band, followed by a partial loss of memory. This alarming symptom in creased to such an extent that the manager never deigned to seek his attraction without communicating in writing or securing an introduction through the good offices of the local manager. The next season, to the regret of many theatrical printers, the star twinkled ‘‘under his own individual management,’ and = by tl holidays was buried in debt and@ oblivion, and no one remembers even the size of his bet CHARLES H. DAY Dresser—I hear you are stuck on that last song of mine. Dockstader—Well, I bought a copy—ye.