The Billboard 1902-09-13: Vol 14 Iss 37 (1902-09-13)

te ¥ 4 oth, THE BILLBOARD enee served Jim Jeffries, the pugilist, in his starring tour. Chas. B. Middieton, proprie tor of Lhe Company, is a young Chattanooga actor who has made rapid strides in his chosen profession, upd is now the proprie tor of lus own company, which he also heads ts leading Iman. The private cars of the R. J. Erwood Stock Company suffered a slight accident last week at New Philedalphia, O. It was being taken from the siding to the main track, when it seraped against anothe: car, tearing off the steps and smashing one corner of the car. The damage was im mediately repaired, however, and the cowpany proceeded to Wooster, O., where it opened Aug. 20. “A Mother's Heart’? company, under the direction of Messrs. Taylor and Irwins, opened the season at the Empire Theater, Pittsburg, Pa., Monday, Sept. S, carrying a carload of special scenery and mechan icul effects. A feature of the show is little Beatrice Abbey, the New York Journal prize child actress and a choir from the St. Stephen’s Church, New York. H. A. Mor rison, late of the Buffalo Bill Wild West, is in advance, with two assistants. Miss Marie Drofnah, who will play Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing’ and Katherine in “The Taming of the Shrew” _ With Charles B. Hanford this season, will have an entirely new outtit for dressing the parts. Her costumes are said to be marvels of the dressmaker’s art. One dress was brought from Venice and two others from aris by an intimate friend, the wife of a United States Senator, who was abroad this summer and who has lately returned. Miss Drofnah commissioned her friend to make the purchases for her. fF. Lawrence Walker has partially completed the company for Charles. 6b. Han ford’s tour in “fhe Taming of the Shrew” and ‘‘“Much Ado About Nothing.’’ A number of the players who made distinct successes with the Hanford organization last seuson will be rtained. The company will include Miss Marie Drofnah, Miss Violet Pierson, Miss Mary F. Blount, P. J. Duggeo, L. W. Browning, Paul Anderson, Stuart Beebe, Irving Knight, John W. Rankin, George W. Hoffman, M. C. Stone, Richard Garth, T. L. Stoddard. Notes from the “Missouri Girl’ company, (Harry S. Hopping, Mgr.): Company is now in the third week of the regular season, and so far has given universal satisfaction everywhere... Have broken five house rec ords so far. Roster now includes: Harry 8. Hepping, manager; John Rentz, Jr., first in advance; Doug. Machintosh, second in advance; James J. Stinson, stage director: Edith Richardson, Louise Garnett, Elanore Peytor, Lou Sloan, Jacque Caldwell, James R. Mackey, V. A. Varney, Chas. Berne; Company carries a special carload of new scenery for the entire four acts, and have added several new electrical effects. The mountings are better than ever, and all special printing is being used. This season we have introduced a complete new line of specialties, which are a feature, foremost among them being the Missouri (irl quartette, composed of Caldwell, Stensor, Varney and Richardson. Requests for return dates can not be granted, as company is booked solid for thirty-eight weeks of the best winter time. PLAYHOUSES. Ford's Opera House, Baltimore, Md., opened Sept. 8. Stetson’s Opera House, Bonham, Tex., ypened the season Sept. 6 with the Georcia Minstrels. The season at Temple Theater, Kan, Pa., Fill open Sept. 4, with Frank Davidson, in “Folks Up Willow Creek.” Mecauley’s Theater, Louisville, Ky., will yen Sept. 10, with Al. G. Fields’ Minstrels. The Temple Theater will open on the same date. S. A. Weller has leased the Schultz Opera House, Zanesville, O. This makes the second theater under the management of Mr. Weller in Zanesville. The theatrical season at Winchester, Ind., was opened Aug, 28, the attraction being Helden Brothers’ ‘‘Nobody’s Claim.’ This was followed Ang. 29 by “Denver Express, and Aug. 30, ‘‘Sapho.”’ Tae Union playhouse at New Philadelphia, O., opened Saturday, Aug. 30, with ‘Al aska,”’ upon which occasion the new drop curtain was displayed for the first time to the public, which pronounced it a beauty. The $50,000 playhouse which is being built by the Elks of Pine Bluff, Ark., will soon be completed. Richard Golden will open the house Oct. 10, with “Foxy Quiller.’ Charles Lenyard has been appointed manager. Manager Curran, of the Greensburg (Pa.) Opera House, opened the season with “David Harum,” to a packed house. The theater has all new scenery and seats, has been thorughly renovated, and is now one of the prettiest little houses in the coal belt circuit. rhe Glorius Opera House, at Americus, Ga... opened Sept. &, after five months of darkness. The Woodward Stock Company held the boards. The house has been thor oughly renovated and improved, and the managers are counting on a business that has not been precedented by thein. Homan’s Opera House, Van Wert, O., has heen remodeled and greatly improved and enlarged. A few of the attractions booked by Manager Homan are: “Sheridan Keen, Detective,’ Allen Tabor, in ‘“Faust;” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Prisoner of Zinda,”’ “Eleventh Hour.’’ Haverly’s Minstrels, “Hunting: for Hawkins” and ‘Missouri Girl.” The house was opened last week by the Kinsey Komedy Kompany. The Bijou Theater, Milwaukee, Wis., has been closed all summer, while the decorators have been enacting a drama of the restoration period. ‘The pretty playhouse has been completely redecorated and re painted, though the old color scheme, so artistic in conception, has been retained in the main. The lobby has been done in rich glazings in shades of ivory white, chrome, orange and gold, a rich, tasteful and brilliant color scheme that is a feast to the eye. The tones inside the theater are more briiliant, Warmer than formerly and follow the directoire style ot the stucco work in de sign. ‘the whole house has been recarpeted and new draperies haye taken the place of the o.d ones. MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Elaine Selover will go with Anna Held’s company this season. James Proudlove has signed with the Halford Stock Company. Louis A. Lesure has signed as musical director with the Dixie Theater, Scranton, Pa. Krueger's Orchestra, which furnished the musie at the Granby heater, Norfolk, Va., lust seuson, has been re-engaged. Herbert Salinger and Odette Bordeaux, cf the Rorick’s Glen Opera Company, have signed with “Princess Chic’’ for the season. Louisville, Ky., is to have a summer opera company of its own next season. Joe Fay will be organizer and stage manager. Mr. Fay will also be stage manager of ‘The Yoreador’ the coming season, and is at present at work preparing ‘“The Messenger Boy” to take the road. dean de Reszke has quarreled with Gailhard, the manager of the Paris opera, and Maurice Grau has hopes of inducing the Polish tenor to join the Metropolitan opera for the coming season. Grau, in his efforts to replace De Reszke, has resorted to the engaging of two others—Burgstalier for the German operas and Caruso for the Italian. Notes from Ellery’s Royal Italian Band: Mr. Ellery and Chevalier Rivela, with their Italian Concert Band, recently left Minneapolis for Omaha, Neb. Rivela made a big hit at Minneapolis, and on leaving there was given an ovation. There is no ‘self’ whatever in Rivela’s directing, yet threughout it all, his forceful, magnetic, intensely earnest personality is keenly felt. His movements are natural, graceful and pleasing to the eye, while at the same time he does not tend to draw the listeners’ attention from the playing of his band. The musicians left beihnd them an enviable reputation for refinement and courtesy, which they have shown both to one another and to the public. The band is booked for four weeks at Omaha, and will then tour toward the Pacifie Coast. trooks and his famous Chicago Marine sand played a long and very successful summer season this year. Immediately following the spring tour, Brooke opened on April 27, at West End, New Orleans, where he remained ten weeks. The band jumped direct from New Orleans to Cincinnati, where Mr. Brooke opened at the Zoological Garden, July 1, for three weeks. After Cincinnati, Brooke played a two weeks’ engugement at Phoenix Hill Park, Louisville. Brooke will take his concert orchestra out Sept. 27 for a tour of twenty-six weeks, covering all territory north of the Ohio River and extending from Carthage, Mo., to Quebec. The orchestra is even more popu lar as an indoor attraction than the band, the success of last season’s tour far sur passing the most sanguine expectations of the management. MINSTRELS. Clarence Reed and Walter Easley, musicians from Urbana, O., joined the Barlow Minstrels at Cincinnati last week. On account of the death of his partuer’s father, Lee Whitney has decided not to open his minstrel show until November, 1903. The Great Barlow Minstrels opened to good business at Wilmington, O., Sept. 2. The car remodeled and redecorated is in tine shape. The new first-part setting also excited general admiration. Martiny, the new agent, is doing some great work ahead of the show. The roster of the Quinlan & Wall Imperial Minstrels is as follows: Dan Quinlan and Jimmy Wall, J. Brokel, Gov. Bowen, Walter Brewer, Juck Lenord, Emile Suters and Joe Rirnes, the Gaspards, jugglers; Mullen and Correlli, eccentric ‘robats, and the Troeadero Quartette. The scene in the first part represents the Capitol at Washington, fringed with many incandescent lights, and the gentlemen of the circle are costumed to represent members of the Diplomatic Legion. ‘sorton’s Minstrels report over 40 to 60 per cent. better business this season than the show has ever done before. These fig ures are pretty big, but they are no doubt anthentic. C. CC, Pearl, the manager of the show, is a hustler, and no doubt a great deal of the credit for the increased business is due to his energetic supervision. Gor ton’s Minstrels have achieved a very envi able reputation during the thirty odd years they have been in existence, and the show is well sustaining it. The three principal soloists—Joseph Lyons, Gaspard Zarnes and Charles Stutzman—have been making a de cided hit. Jake Welby and Sam Lee are, indeed, of no small ability. Others mem bers of the company are: L. Newton, the club swinging expert: Cleone Pearl Fell, dance artist and child monologuist; Jos. Gorton, Fred. Long, Geo. M. Sparks and Al. Newton. The show closes with the bur lesque travesty, “In the Heart of Mary land.’ which is presented by Welby, Lee, Sparks and other members of the company VAUDEVILLE. Nat M. Wells has made a hit in vande ville. James E. Ingosh, manager of the Ken tucky Theater, Padueah, Ky., is presenting vandeville between the acts at his theater Owing to ill health, “Rube” Thomas will rest this season at Kane, Pa., where he has accepted a position as clerk at Hotel Grif fin, and will be pleased to meet all members of the profession that may come that way. The Four Cohans showed to capacity houses all last week at the Boston Museum. The eeritics all pronounce it one of the greatest shows on the road. Everything is bright and new, and the paper, which is said to be designed by Geo. M. Cohan him self, is worthy of the show. The bill at the Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles, Cal., last week, included the fol lowing people: Edith Decker, soprano; Vic tor Claudio, tenor; Sig. Abramofit, basso, iu the prison scene from **Faust;’’ T. E. Pow ell, the high-class prestidigitator; and DeHeard, comedians and dancers; J kK. Emmet, assisted by Anna Mortland, pre senting “‘A Honeymoon in a Harlem Flat;” Katharine Bloodgood, the eminent coa tralto: Arthur Ballerini and his marvelous canines; Mlle. Clara BallerIni, terpsiciorean and aerial artist, and the American LDiograph. Ciem Hackney, manager of Hamlin’s Wizard Oil Company, writes from Vienna, Ga.: “I engaged a team calling themselves Howard and Allen, who wrote from the American Hotel, Cleveland, O., on a letter head advertising themselves as “premier entertainers in high-class vaudeville.”’ I forwarded them a money order for $30 for transportation two weeks ago, and have not heard from them since. I have offered a reward of $50 for their or his arrest, (for 1 believe it is one man working the game), and I have the chief of police of Macon, Ga., working on the case. I trust that anyone who can will send me the desired intelligence.”’ F. D. Whetten, of Goshen, Ind., recently went to Indianapolis to organize a theat rical company, but after looking over the talent available he concluded to put on a vandeville show. Several people were engazed by him, among whom was Miss Ger trude Richardson, daughter of an Indianap ols business man. The company was named Whetten’s Vaudeville Stars, and made three stands, when Mr. Whetten skipped without paying salaries or arranging for the expense account. Things looked bad for the per formers, but Miss Richardson sent a tele gram to her father, and he put up the wherewithal necessary for all the stars to again reach Indianapolis. Whetten’s whereabouts are unknown. FARCE COMEDY. Wm. J. Counihan, formerly agent of Stair & Havlin’s three St. Louis theaters, is going out ahead of “Alphonse and Gaston” this season. Reilly & Woods’ Comedians, in ‘The Funny Page,” a hodge-podge of music, clever specialties, pretty girls, ete., played to the capacity of the Toronto Theater, Toronto, Can., week ef Sept. 1. “The Village Fool’ showed in Law renceburg, Ind., Aug. 30, and although the warm weather prevented a large attend ance, the performance pleased. The com. pany is first-class, carrying a full line of spec'al and original paper and scenery. Fred. Raymond, manager of the **Misouri Girl,’ writing under date of Sept. 5, from Grind Rapids, Mich., says: “Everything going on nicely with all three shows. We again broke the house record here last night and did more than last season. This makes three times that we have broken the record at this place. No one else has been able to reach our opening house of three years ago, and they have not near come up to our four nights’ business of last season. This puffs me up considerably, as Thursday is not considered a very good night here, Sunday is the big day.” BURLESQUE. The Utepians are enjoying a very gratifying degree of success this season. J. H. Barnes’ Dainty Paree Burlesquers ~~ far and away the best show he has ever rad. The Trocadero Theater, Philadelphia, Pa., opened Sept. 1 with the Dainty Paree Burlesquers, and enjoyed big houses all week It was followed by “Wine, Woman and Song.” The olio of Harry Bryant’s Burlesquers inelIndes The Imperial Japanese Tronpe, Moldred Murray and Lillian Beach, Fer guson and Watson, Lawson and Nanon, Van Lee and Duke and the Musical Craigs. During the transfer at Niagara Falls, Aug 31, a Grand Trunk coach, containing the members of the ““Wine, Woman and Song’ company, was run into by a ‘wild eat’ freight car, and nine of the people, more or Jess, seriously, injured. Frank B. Carr's Thoroughbred Company Includes the following people: Miss Blanche Washburn and Miss Josie Flynn, the ant mated two; Healy and Farnum, eccentric comedy singing and dancing duo; Miss Frances Harrison, vocalist and singing comedienne; Polk and Tresk, acrobats: Crawford and Manning, comedians: the Em pire City Quartet—Tally, Cooper, Mayo and Cooper; Miss Theresa La Mar, the marvel ous toe dancer, and the “Hungarian ballet."’ ODDS AND ENDS. Clare E. Lipman, who has been in a hos pital In Philadelphia, suffering from a dis located shoulder blade, has recovered and gone to Atlantic City for a rest John KR. Rogers (‘Yours Merrily’) will file suit for $100,000 against Klaw & Er lunger for charging bim with insanity and having him confined in the Bellevue Hos pital in New York last winter. The Interstate Amusement Company has located offices In Louisville, Ky., and con templates forming a cirenit of parks and theaters for next season, ten of the former and three of the latter having already been added. Gieo. Eby, treasurer of the Orpheum The ater, New Orleans, La., recently left that city for a trip to California, after which be will accept the position of treasurer at the Orpheoum Grand Opera House, Indian apolis, Ind., his home city. The one-night stands in the coal regions of Pennsylvania have nearly all canceled their attractions. Some few attractio),. that refused to cancei Wish now that the, had, as receipts of only $10 gross have tu frequent, and the highest did not run the hundreds. It will be a good place ; keep away from for a year or two, as th financial stringency caused by the strik. will be felt for that length of time at leas: LANCASTER, PA. Fulton Opera Hlouse, (Yecker & Glein Mers.)—Watson’s Oriental Burlesquers, Auy oO, drew oa fairsized audience. [rene My ers’ Repertoire Company, week of Sept. | 6, pleased; good business. Bertha Creigt; ton, in “A Colonial Gir Sept. 8. Woolworth Roof Garden, (Capt. John f Peoples, Mgr.: Geo. E. Bogle, associat, Mer.) Week of Sept. 1-46, Ryan «& tieh fie:-ds, in “‘Mag Haggerty’s Father.” wer featured and scored big. Braunnoek Siste;s and Crulita repeated their success (mack earlier in the season, as did also Jobuscy and Wells. The DeMutiis, Mlle. Olfiy: Harding snd Ah Sid ami Lester gynd Angee: assisted in making what has been one of thy best bills offered here during the seasv; and which attracted large audiences. Walter L. Main Shows exhibited in ©. lumbia Pa... Sept. 3, to big business. Many persons who failed to visit the show whil in Lancaster, Pa., June 6, took advantage of the oppertunity and went to Columbia which is only ten miles from here. The Main Show has established a reputation through this section that will insure crowd ed tents when it comes this) way next season, Business with the Main Show has been phenomenal this season. Walter L. Main was a guest of the Robinson Show while the latter were in Lancaster, Pa. The John Robinson Ten Big Shows ex hibited here Sept. 2, to good business. The show pleased everybody, and expressions of regret that the show does not visit here oftener were heard everywhere. The cour teous mlinagement and Che excellent per formance will insure the show big business should they ever again visit here. The management of the Robinson Show reports that business has been exceptionally big this season. SHREINER. TORONTO, CAN. The city is crowded with people from a!) over the continent, and they keep coming by the trainload to visit Canada's great fair and the local places of amusement are drawing immense audteaces, Princess, (O. B. Sheppard, Mgr.)—Effie Ellsier, in ‘*‘When Knighthood Was _ in Flower,” is pleasing very large attendance week of Sept. 1. “San Toy,” Sept. 8-13. Grand, (Small & Stair, Mgrs.)\—The Han lons’ ever-green “Le Voyage En Suisse’ is a good fair-week attraction, and an old-time Toronto favorite. Harry Rice has made good with bumper houses Sept. 1-6. “Busy Izzy,’’ Sept. 8-13. Toronto, (Small & Stair, Mgrs.)—Reilly & Woods’ comedians, in “The Funny Page,” a hodge-podge of music, clever specialties, pretty girls, ete., has played to the capac ity, week of Sept. 1. ‘The Limited Mail,” Sept. 8-13. Mgr.)—Edith Helena, Shea's, (J. Shea, O’Brien and Buckley; Zeno, Carl and Zeno: Four Huntings, Mark Sullivan, Hayes and Suits, Hickey and Nelson and the Kinetograph formed an excellent bill, which drew packed houses Sept. 1-8. Star, (Ff. W. Stair, Mgr.)—The City Sports Big Show is pleasing the large clientele and visitors from out of town who like plenty of spice in theirs. Knickerbocker Bur lesques, Sept. 8-13. J. A. GIMSON READING, PA. The Academy of Music opened Wednesday evening Aug. 27, under glowing auspices with Mason and Mason, in “‘Rudolph and Adolph.” The musical specialties were * feature of the performance. 8. R. O. signs were displayed. Thursday night Geo. H Summers and Alice Arches, in “A Hot Scotch Major."’ Saturady matinee and eve ning, “The Power of the Cross. Monday Labor Day—matinee and evening, Al. H Wilson, in “A Prince of Tatters.”” The ad vance sale of seats has been very large, and crowded houses are expected. The new Bijou was crowded to the doors on their opening night, Monday. Aug. 25 It has been entirely remodeled. ‘The Thor oughbreds’ held forth the last week. The Carsonia Park Theater is still open and vaudeville shows are playing to good houses. It will remain open until about Oct. 1. This has been the most successful! season in the history of the theater. H. J. SCHAD NEW PHILADELPHIA. O. The Union Opera House opened Saturday. Ang. SO. with “Alaska.” te a good house and with o fine performance. The new and nign'ficent drop curtain was displayed for the first time. and is a beauty. The private ear of the Ro J. Erwood Stock Company had no ostep taken off and the corner of the ear enved in while being taken from the sidine fo the main track, to be taken to Wooster. .. where they onen Saturday, Aug. 3 Thorsday, Sent. 11, Miss Gertrude Cog'an in “Alico of Old Vineennes.” J. L. SPRINGER CUMBERLAND, MD. Academy of Music, (Mellinger Bros., Les sees and Mgrs )— Sept. 1 (Labor Day) “*The Liberty Belles’ drew an immense aud'ence If was a very fine performance. Sept. 2, Black Patti to fair house. Sept. 6, “A Rup away Mateh.’’ Sept. 12, Chas. H. Yale and Sieney Ro Ellis present “The Evil Eye.” Sept 20, the “Foxy Quiller’’ Opera Com pony, Ben Stern, manager. Sept. 8, Jones’ Model Shows. Sept. 12, Sun Shows. Railroad Railroad Piate Bros.” JOHN J. STUMP.