The Billboard 1901-04-20: Vol 13 Iss 16 (1901-04-20)

10 New Plays and Sketches Copyrighted. Washington, D. C.. April 13.—iSpecial.) “At the Litthe Red School House,” in’ four acts; written and copyrighted by Hal Reid, Chicago, Til. “In the Hands of the Devil.” written and copyrighted by Hal Reid, Chicago, Ill. “The Spendthrift.” written and copy righted by Lillian Jane Burnham, Detroit, Mich. “At the Old Cross Roads,” written and copyrighted by James Halleck Reid, Cin cago, Iii. “The Crimson Mask.” written and copy righted by Louis W. Shouse, Kansas City, Missouri. “The Dress Rehearsal,’ ao thirty-minute sketch, written and copyrighted by Harry M. Cloude, Cincinnati, ©. “The Bridegroom'’s Reverie.” a one-act play; written and copyrighted by Edgar Allen Martin, Chicago, Il. play.” “Mila Whendle.” an ‘‘unpleasant . Poet by N. TH. Musselmann: copyright: by Lore Company, Boston, Mass. “A King for a Day,” a romantic comedy in four acts; written and copyrighted by De Witt Clinton, Oakland, Cal. “Compound Power,” a comedy-drama in four acts; written and copyrighted by Alex ander C. Nicholas, Wadsworth, Nev. “The Typewriter and the Cowboy,” a one-act play; written and copyrighted by Frank Alehester Ferguson, Chicago, Tl. “The Ruin of a Bachelor's Club by Old Maids,” an entertainment, written — and copyrighted by William J. Paske, Montclair, N. J. “Oath of Vengeance,’ a Spanish-American melodrama, in three acts, by Martin A. Somers; copyright by M. A. Somers, Philadelphia, Pa. “The Clover Trio,” a singing act for vau deville, by Mrs. W. A. Benjamin and oth ers; copyright by Mrs. W. A. Benjamin, New York, N. Y. “Manon Leseaut,’ a play in five acts, dramatized from the French novel by Abbe Prevost, by Edith Wharton; copyrighted by Kdith Wharton, New York. Mansfield’s Oddities. ——_—— Montgomery Phister, of the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, in writing of Richard Mansfield, says: Mansfield holds to the theory that the public rather likes to be abused, yet Mrs. Kendal tried it without success, and now John Hare is smarting under the lash of the Eastern journals because of his stupid remarks regarding the like quality of his Fastern audiences. However, Richard deelares that the public cares only for the actor's art, and, no matter how contemptuously he may treat his followers, if he only feeds them upon novelty they instantly forget his words of anger and fall to applauding his buidness. Nat Goodwin appeared at a Brooklyn theater only a few years ago so thoroughly overcome by the cup that cheers that when the curtain was rung up on the first act of “Gilded Fool” the gilded and winesoaked Mr. Goodwin floundered down to the footlights and fell prone among their shining electric globes. The following evening he found an overwhelming audience awaiting him, and brazenly told them that he was thoroughly incapacitateu the night before: that he had been drinking with convivial friends on his way to the theater; that the wine had gone. to his head: that the floor had risen up and struck him in the face, ‘‘and so,” said the unblushing Nathaniel, ‘there you are."’ He was praised for his frankness, of course, and the performance went on to as approving applause as a well-reculated temperance meeting, and that Brooklyn engagement proved one of the most profitable this outspoken gentleman ever played in the City of Churches. “IT told the people of St. Louis that they did not know any more abovt art than so many Digger Indians,”’ said Mr. Mansfield, “still IT always play to crowded house in that city, and if I should repeat my _ remarks at each visit, it would make no dif ference whatever in the temper of my re ception. I remember once,”’ said this erratic gentleman, “that my first Philadel phia audiences were not large enough to suit my expectations, so upon the eonelusion of my engagement I stepped before the eurtain and delivered my mind rather free ly as to both the city and its people. I told them, among other things, that I should never set foot within their borders again, and at the time I meant every word I said. Unfortunately for me, as I supposed, I changed my manager shortly after this oeeurrence and entrusted to him the booking of my tour in a new play. ‘Where do we open? I asked him just a few days hefore we were ready to start upon the road. ‘In Philadelphia,’ he repliea. ‘Great seot!’ said I, ‘that will never do.” ‘And why? he asked. ‘Why.’ answered I, ‘why, it is not more than sixty days since I soundly he rated the play-goers of that town, and told them that I would never appear in Phila delphia again.’ ‘Oh, that doesn't matter,’ said he; ‘you can tell them when you go back that you spoke hastily and in anger, and that wil! end the whole matter.’ ” Richard confesses, however, that he was not as confident as his man of business, and used every effort to have the engage THE BILLBOARD ment canceled. Failing in this, he was compelled, within tne next ten days, to face the people he had se daringly pro voked. His maniger was right: they had forgotten a!'! about his insulting speech; they liked his play, and went to see at, never even asking for an apology. Elence the Manstield theory, that audiences rather like to be insulted. to is Barnum’s old saw about the humbugging of the people, with something ef 2 variation. New Haven Notes. New togother for a short va the usual num Various houses The stormy weather that has endured the past week, the closing of Yaie College eation, showed its effeet by ber of empty seats at the here. Polis’ Theater continues to run high-class vaudeville, which the appreciative public is ever ready to support. Miss Lillian Burk hart, in a sketch entitled “Jessie, Jack and Jerrie,” headed last week's bill. Hart Heald is the new pianist at Polis. He will evidently remain the entire season, and probably the coming season. Grand Opera House— Willis Bros.” “Atlan tic City,” Sth, 9th and Oth, to fairly good business, was followed by Lewis Morrison's “Faust.” also playing to good business. Ilyperion Theater—Miss Marie Dressler, as Miss Print, April S: "The Volunteer Or ganist,”’ Sth: “King Washington,’ 10th and lith, and H. C. Whitney's “Quo Vadis,” re turning for the second time, played to fair business. The remainder abso played to a fair business, Toledo Topic. Buffalo Bill's representative was at the Mayors office yesterday aud took out ai li cense for the Wild West Show, which will exhibit here July 1. Rose Melville (Sis Hopkins) and dozen of her company were at Charles yesterday for dinner. They off en route. Leigh Lynch, who represents the Marine Band, is at the Tavern. Van B. Winter, manager for Nora Bayes, is also at the Tay ern. about a the St. stopped Mr. Otte Klives., of the Valentine, returned from New York. Ilis mission was to secure attractions for the Faria Thea ter, which he will manage again this sum mer. Mme. Herrman, the magician. will make her first vaudeville appearance at the Farm early in the season. There will be plenty of music here during the month. Friday evening Mr. Joseph Baernstein and Mrs. Albro Blodgett will give a musical recital at the Auditorium. Mr. Baernstein always receives a warm To ledo ovation. Mrs. Blodgett is a Toledo lady, and her appearance on a Toledo plat form is always warmly received. On the 44th the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. same place: 25th, Vietor Herbert's Orchestra at the Valentine: the United States Marine Pand at the Valentine on the 18th. Francis Wi'son’s comic opera, “The Monks of Malabar.’” was presented at the Valentine Saturday night. The costumes and scenic effects were on a suinptuous scale. Hoyt's “A Texas Steer” at the Lyceum for three days, commencing Thursday aft ernoon, James BP. MeCann was Maverick Brander, the Congressman. “The Silver King.” which has just closed its engagement at Burt's, was a xreat suc both in attendance and applause. “Fabio Romani.’ aiodramai from Marie Coreli’s novel, opened for three days. At the Emovire the newest things in vau deville are offered. Grace Van Studdiford is singing some of her prettiest IInves and Lytton are introdyvecing side-splitting vlavlet, “A Wise Guy.” Mr. Josef Hoffman's appearance at the Valentine was fully enjoyed by a large pumber of lovers of music He has im proved very much since he last visited To ledo. CRILLEY. Toledo: ©. cess songs, their Seeing a Book-Play. “An instance eof the state of mind in which some people go to see a dramatized novel came to my notice in a bit of con versation overheard from three people sit ting behind me in the theater. The play was “Unleavened Bread.” The party con sisted of father, mother and a daughter of about IS years, all tastefully and expen sively dressed, and having the air of folks comfortable in life. (The orchestra, an atrocious one, is play ing the overture.) Father (Curiously) plot of this play? haven't you? Mother (wearily) speak of You understand = the read the book. Elsie did. Father (with increased curiosity) the plot of it, Elsie? Elsie (as through a glass darkly) Well er—T didn’t read the book through. papa. Its—er—about a woman-Selma White's her name and she’s got ideas higher than she ought—that is1 think wants to be aesthetic, you know. Father (comprehending um! Thank you, dear, Ainslee’s, the novel, what's the Mamma, Mou've read Oh. there's no plot to don't need to know it to play. besides, I didn't What's she perfectly) Tom aichard Duffy in The Deadhead not Dead. An English theatrical manager attirms With pardonable velhemence that “the dead head is not dead.’ and then sets out to cat alogue a few varieties of the species. kor examples, the severe looking spinster who asks a box in order to show the pupils in “her school” that the stage is net all a sink of iniquity, and when she gets it fills it with the “most rowdy set" he ever laid eves on, Then there’s the man deputed by the lord chamberlain to make surprise visits to the theaters, but who would make all well if he cou'd have a box about once ao week. The man whe was your school fellow when you were a bey, though he was a man be fore you were born: the young wotuan whe Was your play fellow when you lived in a place you never saw; the man who saved you from drowning, though you hever were in the water described: the man who gave you a tip oon the races: the young woman Whe wants a box and a few particulars of your life for a column in a country you're sure does not exist. ‘These, and a dozen more, eaustic touch. But he looks at it solely as aonanager. He doesn’t seem to have any idea of the aspect of the case that presents itself to the man on an American news paper who is supposed-—erroneously usually to have net oniy the entree for himself, but the right to ask for theatrical seats ad infinitum. le scUsS mianivestations journal he hits off with of the conceivable of YP wsible morbid sone strangest this eraving for free tickets. They come to him from the most unlikely and unexpected places. But without cnumerating any oth ers, there are two aspects of the disease in this country that are peeuliariy strange. Besides the absurd kinds the manager de tails, there is the demand that does not base itself ou anuything—that “just growed” like Topsy—in the man’s or woman's mind, and straightway he or she goes to the newspaper man and makes it. If there is anything more unaccountable apd absurd than this utterly groundless asking, familiar to every dramatic writer for the city press, it is the amazing facet that seven times in ten the men and women who indulge this craving for deadhead tick ets enjoy incomes treble that of any dra matic writer in civilization, and many of them are vrobably ten times richer than the theatrical laanager or the owner of the hewspaper, It is one of the strangest of facts that the most insatiable of deadheads are peo ple whe can richly afford to pay for the best accommodations. They would rather vo to a play or an opera on a free ticket than have a present of a new suit of Clothes. Indeed, if anybody offered the suit to one of them he wenld or would, at least, affect to be—affronted. Everybody allied with the city press knows these curi American varieties of the morbid eray ing for free tickets. Possibly they do not flourish in England as here. At least, the manager quoted does net mention them. he ots If anybody can accurately explain this eurionus disease the parties persecuted would tike to know the dingnesis. And if anybody could convey to the minds of the diseased an adequate coneeption of the way they are regarded by those to whom they manifest it, it would, perhaps, open their eyes to a most unpleasing fact and possibly werk a cure. Chicago Chronicle. A Proper Rebuff. © A short time ago a number of gentlemen traveling from Chicago to Cincinnati over the Big Four got into a discussion of the merits of theatrical people One oof the party insisted that theatrical parties were nonnisancesand made so mrech noise and de manded so many favors that the railroad people were hot anxious te carry them, When the argument was at its height. War ren J. Lynch, General Passenger Agent of the Big Four Route, who had said nething, spoke up with considerable fervor and said: “The show people are as good and reasona ble and well behaved as any travelers we have. A party of them is no more noisier than any other crowd of people on the read. Our experience makes us more than willing to carry this class of passenger trade. They are good patrons of our road, and, if 1 were disposed. T econld tell vou of the many thousands of dollars that they expend with the Big Four every vear. The criticism of show people that vou have made is unjust and untrne.” The outspoken statement of Mr. Lynch settled all arcu ment, and during the rest of the trip that subject was entirely tabooed. Theatrical Gossip. Charles Geyer, of Lexington, Mo., will put out a rea! negro minstrels under can vas. Frank FE. Griswo'd) jumved his “Unele Tom” outfit from Litehfield, IIL, to Colo rado to open. Yacklay, tausieal comedian, jolneed Cul hane, Chace & Weston’s Minstrels at Lan easter, Pa., April 3. Needhan’s Femate “Bloomer Base Ball Clute’ is fitting up at Litehtield, TL, and will start playing ball May 1. W. oT. Swain. of Nashville Student fame, will have the concert with the “Pawnee Bill Wild West" the coming season _ hn George Hlamitton has comoleted ana copyrighted his play, “Shadows of Sin.’ It | affords great) opportunitfes for scenic of tects, John BF. Stewe's “Unele Tom's Cabin: Company, under canvas, will open at Liteh field, TIL, April 20. Tle will have two ears and the entire outtit will be new, . Mo., met With a number of business men and steps Were inmediately taken toward raising the S12.000 among the citizens by selling: the first night's seats at $10 each. If this fund is raised, Mr. Thompson will go thead with the construction of the theater, Mrs. Martha Dorien Lowe, a Singer I» a Brooklyn chureh choir, has Announced her intention of leaving this work and dk voting herself to vaudeville, Mrs. Lowe claims to be acting on the advice Which she says the pastor of the chureh guve = his eongrecation in a sermon recently, namely “to marshal all our little talents together and get the best value for them in the world’s market.” As singing is her pro fession, she inteneds to place it in the mar ket where it will pay best. Manager Frank Burt, of Burt's and the Lyceum Theaters at Toledo, has been up pointed representative in’ his” territory of the White Rats, the association of yande ville artists, In this capacity Mr. Burt Will book the Rats in the summer Vande Ville theaters in that city, Grand Rapids tay City, Saginaw, Sandusky, Mansfield. Akron, Columbus, Ft. Wayne, Dayton ane Louisville. his arrangement will enable Mr. Burt to provide the Casino with many of the best of artists in the vaudeville pre lession, “Johnnie” Hogarty, of Jacob Litt's forces, one of the most popular theatrical! advance agents and managers in the coun try, has been lying eritieally il in a De troit hospital for some weeks past with phenumonit, although he is new considered to be on the road te recovery. A testime nial in the shane of a benetit performance huts been arranged for him at) MeVieker's Theater, Chicago, for April 19. the Chicage members of the profession having the en tertainnient in charge. The program will include features from every attraction play ing in Chieago on that date, and Manager Litt has placed MeVieker’s at the disposal ef those in charge of the arrangements Mr. Hogarty is a native of Milwaukee. and started out in advance of Litt’s “Lights «' London” Company many vears ago, and has been on the road steadily ever since, The proceeds of the benefit: will enable him to take time from his duties to thoroughty rest up again and regain his health. ; The performance given at Wallack’s The ater Friday afternoon in aid of Mme. Jan auschek was a great success in every way The program arranged by the members of the Twelfth Night Club was partieulariy in teresting, and the audience was about as large as the house could well held. Nearly S5.000 was received in subseriptions and for seats, and Mr. Theodore Moss) gave his check to make it un te that figure. Mine Janauschek, who has been i! for several months at Saratoga, was unable to be pres ent, but sent a request to express her Wartnest thanks to the ladies and gentle men who participated in’ the testimonial, to the press and te the publie for their lib eral response, and regretted that she was prevented from making this acknowledge ment in persen from the stage. Miss Julia Marlowe, in an aet “When Knighthood Was in Flower.” and Miss Viola Allen, in a scene from “The Christian.” were especial Iv applouded. although every number of the long bill met with hearty evidence of ap proval, Mr. Joseph Weber had a sore throat, and conseovently he and Mr. Flelds did net appear. That was the only disap Yolnttent. CINCINNATI THEATERS. CENTRAT. AVENUP. LYCEUM | BET. FOURTH AND FIFTH Elmer Vance's TREASURE ISLAND. Matinee Pailvy. Ledy with or withont this coupon can secure reserved seat in dress circle or balcony for isc to any matinee this week. Next Week —"Missouri Girl.” HEUCK’S OPERA HOUSE, Matinees Thursday and Saturday. WARD AND VOKES in ‘The Floor WalkKers!”’ Next Week—'‘'Sis Hopkins.” COLUMBIA Matinee EVERY DAY. All Seats 25e. Farewell Encagement. CAMILLE D'ARVILLE The Famous Comic Opera Siar. Ida Van Siclen & Co., Murphy and Allen, ,—Dumonds—a Hacker and Lester, Biograph and Other Features, ® EUGENE O'ROURKE & CO. HECK’S Wonder World and Theater, Vine St. near Sixth > DAILY tto1to P.M. The World’s Marvels. Hindoo Jugelers, VPabire and Magicians FOUR CURIO HALLS, STYLISH VAC 10c DEVILLE, LIVING PICTURRS............ PEOPLE’S THEATER, | ena'in-’ hig Amateur Show Friday Night. Rush's Victoria Burlesquers, Matinees Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Satur day. Next Week —''Miss New York, Jr.” ee