The Billboard 1903-04-11: Vol 15 Iss 15 (1903-04-11)

THE BILLBOARD WINNER OF THE FAWCETT PLAY CONTEST. Geo, Fawcett, of Baltimore, Md., stated Mar. 29 that the prize in the play contest had been +> agra to Mr. Roy 8S. Sensabangh, of St. Louis, Mo, The play is constructed around the time of the first production of Romeo and Juliet and in troduces for the first time on the stage the character of William Shakespeare. ‘The play is entitled, The Favor of the Queen, and artistic and delicate treatment with which the play has been handled marks Mr. Sensabaugh as master and student and shows a degree of genius that is remarkable. Mr. Faweett will produce the play as soon as the necessary scenery can be gotten up and effects devised. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FILED. Articles of incorporation were recently filed by the Criterion Theatre Company, composed of business men of St. Paul, Minn., organized for the purpose of erecting a new vaudeville theatre in St. Paul. The capital stock is $50,000. The structure is to be completed before September 1, and will be modern in every respect. Popular prices will prevail. The site is located on the principal street and is easily accessible to all patrons. The house will be three stories high, with a stone front. Plans are now being drawn by Harry G. Carter. The theatre is to accomodate 1,440 people. The latest system of ventilation will be Instaled. The following are the poration: President, of the corBurrichter; vice officers John A. president, ©. R. Capron; secretary and treasurer,Edward W. White; board of directors, officers, William F. Hunt and R. L. Kaege. Al are from St Paul with the exception of R. L. Kaege, who is a resident of Chicago. PROMISING CAREER CUT SHORT. Miss Lambert, the leading lady of San Toy. recently fractured ber limb in an opera house in St. Paul, Minn., and amputation was neceseary. She is now sping the mandgement of the opera house for $350,000 damages She was a talented and ambitious young actress and achieving great successs in her role. A career of great promise was nipped in the bud, as a comic opera star may as well be without a volce as without a limb nowadays. DRAMATIC. Maude Adams recently arrived in laris from London . Carleton Macey joined the Starbacks in Chicago, last week. Marié Calfil recently Introduced a new song entitled, Sweet Nelly Wood Miss Grare Cameron will star fext season in Sergeant Kitty, by A. B. Shane. J. BR. Stirling tras purchased the American rights to the C:rdinal from BE. S. Willard. W. A. Brady has secured & new play for Grace George, entitled With Good Intentions. tieorge Ade is at work on a comedy entitled, The Circuit Judge. He has finished the first act Tony Paster, of Bowery fame, recently celebrated his SSth anniversary as a theatre manager. “The Earle of Rosslyn, after an unsuccessful starring tour has returned to, ““‘Deah Ole Lunnen."* Paul M. Potter is Rose's Daughter, a novel by Mrs. Ward . Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines company, closed the season Mar. 28, after a most prosperous season Charles Frohman will star Fay Davis in a four act play by Sydney Grundy, entitled, Gypsy. next season Florence Rockwell will be N. ©. Goodwin's leading lady in the revival of, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Kyrle Rellew will dramatization of E. teur Cracksman. Frank Keenan will ‘refarn to the legitimate stage next season in a dramatization of Le Pere Gorlot by Balzac Gua Sun and Fred BD. through the Carolinas with their Circumstantial Evidence. The new Lyric theatre In New York City will he opened by Richard Mansfield In a repertoire of hie most popular plays. Henry Kolker of Blaney Stock company, at Newark, N. J., will join the Keith Stock com pany at Philadelphia, Pa., shortly. F. M. Crawford ts writing a play for Viola Allen, the scenes of which are laid in Venice, towards the end of the eighteenth century. It is rumored that after Viola Allen's present contract with Liebler & Company expires, she will join Charles B. Dillingham’'s forces Rert Jacobi, business manager of the Pedd ler’s Claim Company has written a clever piece of poetry, entitled: “Can You Fix Me Alright for the Show ?"" Jos Walsh is under contract to Sullivan, Harris & Woods, for two more seasons; next season in the Peddlar and the season following in a musical comedy. Miss Suzanne Sheldon, now in London with the now dramatizing Lady Huffphrey next season in a appear Ww The Ama Horning’s, Fowler report success melodrama, the sketch, A Little Tragedy at Tien Tsin. rights to the play belong to Wm. A. The Brady. fhe new play, Stain of Guilt, opened at Haviin’s theatre, In St. Louis, Mo., March 2. During the ensuing week, crowds were turned away. The company will do excellent business The Span of Life closed the season earlier than expected as the three acrobats used in the production had circus engagements which could not be broken. Several weeks’ bookings were cancelled. Miss Annie Russell claims that her recent illness was caused by her appearance on the stage in bare feet. Her present difficulty is how to get out of itis the bare feet are part and parcel of the scene. fred Block will leave for London, Eng., May 15, for Sullivan, Harris & Woods, to put on For Her Children’s Sake at the Adelpha Theatre. He will return in September and take charge of Jim Bludso. Jules Claretie, director of the Comedie Francaise and member of the French Academy of Immortals, will visit this country next season, at the invitation of James H. Hyde, to lecture ou the French UVramatiec Art. Edna Wallace Hopper is contesting the will of her step-father, the late Alexander Dunsmuir. James Dunsmuir, of Victoria, B. C Cus the wealthy coal man, is the defendant in the suit, which is said to involve millions. Tom Marks, manager of the Marks Bros. Company, has accepted tive plays and the paper for the same, for bis next repertoire season. The ompeany is booked through Michigan, Wisconiu aud Jowa tue principal members of “Te company have been engaged. Ken Hur was given its 100th performance, March 26. at Columbus, Ohio. Miss Mabel Bert and the black horse, Monk, have taken part in every performance since the first production. fhe mianagement decorated her dressing room with American Beauties and Smilax. Word has been received from Charles Frohwan that J. M tarrie’s great comedy success, The Admirable Crichton, will be used by William Gillette next. season. The play will be given its initinl American performance at the new Lyceum Theatre, New York. Wagenhals & Kemper are counting on an all atar cast Shakespearian revival, when the regular season closes. If the plan is perfected Blanche Walsh, Joseph Haworth, Frederick Ward and Louis James will be seen in the leading roles, this will make two all star Shakespearian plays on the road this summer Mr. Hale Hamilton, of the George Fawcett Stock Compary, of Baltimore, Md., will establish a stock company in Denver, Colo., dur ing the summer months, the season to last about N ten weeks ir. tiamilton will appear in leading reles, with Miss Jane UOaker, his wife, as leading fady. Sedly Brown will be stage manager fhe Gilmores will put out. a Ten Nights company of six people next week, carrying splendid scenery . Miss Mabel Chester, has signed to play the pert of Willie Mammend, and the Cedarville Beys’ Quaptette has been engagegd as a feature. They wili carry two brass bands, 2» banner bors, 6 SheYand ponies, two floats aml two grist. mill burres for. the parade Geo. W. Lederer, for the last two years has been defending a separation suit in which Mrs. recting her husband to show why he should not fee of $600 to her attorneys and a month alimony pending the PLAYHOUSES. New York will have six new playhouses next season. : The new opera house at Van Wert, Ohio, will cost $30,000 It is rumored that New Orleans, La., is to have a new 10-20-30 house. Work on the new opera house at Louisville, Ky., will commence May Richard Ill will be used to open His Majesy’s Theatre, in Londen next Fall. Dr. L. M. Fowler has bought and will manage the Harleming theatre at Bristol, Tenn. A company was recently incorporated at Galesburg. lil., for the purpose of building an opera house. A scheme for a new $20,000 opera house at Norwalk, 0., has been projected. The house is to seat 1.0%) people The stock subscription of $15,000 for the erection of an opera house at Shelbyville, Ky., is almost all subscribed for. The New Oriental Dime Superior, Wis., opened March management of Harry Dickinson. The Opera House which is in course of construction at Alexandria, Ind., will be completed band ready for the opening October 1 Sarah Bernhardt is said to have stated that she will make her appearance next fall in Racine’s Esther, at her Paris Theatre. G. Hamilton has secured the major portion of the stock of the People’s Amusement company which controls the Park Theatre at Youngstown, Ohio. Frank Green, manager of McJimsey's Theatre at Vineennes, Ind., recently secured a five year lease on the Spring Opera House at Washington, Ind., from T. F. Spink. The opera house at Kockville, Ind., has a new West the Museum at 16, under Mime If I Were King company, will be Charles Richman’s leading woman in the new play to be put out by Weber & Fields. The Shuberts have in their possesion a new play entitled Idle Women, which deals with the divorcee problem.The play will be produced the beginning of next season. During the recent engagament of Ben Hur at Toledo, O., the management counted $15,526 for the first day's sale, the largest single day in the life of the production. Joseph Jefferson is now ee | in a new role. He has been elected president of an electric light and ice company at Palm Beach, Fla., which is capitalized at $50,000 Miss Olive Martin has been engaged to play the leadingg part in the new play, A Human Slave, which will take the road next season under the management of J. M! Ward. Clara Mathes has bought and ts making a success of E. K. Harris’ Fatal Error. She has also bought the Queen of Diamonds, by Alma Lewis, and is looking for other good plays. Frances Aymer athews, author of Pretty Peggy, intends to make a three act play from drop curtain which is said to be very pretty. The painting was done by Chevalier & Duncan. The house is also having some new drops made. Meyer BR head of a syndicate which ts trying to secure a site for a variety theatre in New York City. on Greensburg, Pa., for a ; the St. Clair Opera House Company, izens of granted Greensburg town, W. Va.. 1500, The house will be Court theatre at Wheeling, W. L.. Swisher will be manager. Va. Me. G. George A i agent for Jules Walters. "has ose Jefferson Theatre, at Hamilton, Ohio. Lederer obtained §S50 counsel fee and $15 a | week alimony. Mrs. Ledefer recently obtained from the Supreme Court an oftder di Rimberg, the button man, is at the rhe plot has been selected and negotiations are Application was recently made by several citcharter to be which proposes to establish an opera house in The new opera house to be erected at Morganwill have a seating capacity of modeled after the Mills, manager of the Bell Opera Was opened March 30 by Jefferson De Angelis, in The Emerald Isle. The opening performance Was attended only by subscribers who paid ten | dollars apiece for seats. An extra performance was given March 31 which was ppen to all. « ; The new theatre that is being constructed by the Ponce De-ieon Amuseme Company, of, At lanta, Georgia, when completed will cost $25, ww. Every appointment will be installed to | make the playhouse comple'e in every detail. Mace E. Greenleaf, «i .e¢ Gcana Opera House company at Pittsburg, Pa., is suing his wife, Eva ©. Greenleaf for a divorce. They were married December 29, 1900, but lived together a very short time. Many serious charges were brought against Mrs. Greenleaf. The New York Theatre, New York City, closed its doors for the summer with the last performance of Williams & Walker, April 4. The house will be reopened in September with Ben Hur, which will be enlarged to the extent of having four chariots and sixteen horses in the race scene. The La Crosse theatre at La Crosse, Wis., will be remodeled this summer. The roof will be raised and another gallery constructed above the present one. The building will be extended to the street and a handsome front erected. Many other improvements will be made which we can not minutely detail. | | Above we publish an excellent likeness of “Joe” Hurtig, the clever burlesque manager. He has been in the profession for a short time but he has “made good"’. Although one of the youngest managers on the road he has never made a losing venture. Being congenial he is well liked by all the members of his troupe. His great success in the profession is due to good judgment and by taking good advice when it was given him. He is now in charge of The Trans-Atlantic Burlesquers. The new theatre to be built at Norwalk, Ohio, is to cost $20,000. W. G. Gilger is the promoter and says the house will be finished by September 1. F. B. Case, a citizen of Norwalk has donated a large lot in the center of the city. Van Wert, Ohio, is to have a new playhouse. {It will be built by a new stock company and operated under the management of Chas. B. Pearson. The plans have been accepted, a commodious site selected and the work of construction will begin immediately. An Independent opera house circuit formed in Texas, with C. G. Hamilton manager, and James F. Brady, secretary. ‘heir offices are in the Empire Opera House Building, San Antonio, Texas. They claim to have S86 houses in various parts of the state already signed. Manager T. K. Albaugh of the Grand Opera House at Akron.@hie, states that the house may be fitted up fer use during the summer months. He alse controls the summer theatre at Meyers Lake Park at Akron, and the plan will be to book shows for three days at each place and then transfer them. Only vaudeville attractions will be booked. The Jefferson theatre at Hamilton, Ohio, was opened Mareh 31, with Jefferson De Angelis as the attraction. Oniy subscribers were present. The seats sold for $10 and the boxes for $100. The sale amounted to $15,000, which went to George W. Jolnston, the builder, as a bonus. Between the acts, the audience and house were photographed . fhe new irequois theatre to be built in Chieago, will cost about $500,000. Ben. H. Marshall, the contractor, has been given full sway and the theatre will no doubt be a beauty. } the facade will be built of granite and Bed| ford stone. it is of modern French design, and makes a most artistic appearance. There have been many afforts made in Ft. Wayne, Ind., to build another theatre, but it would not pay. Ft. Wayne formerly had two playhouses, one being destroyed by fire, and the other, the Masonic Temple, is still doing business. The town could not support two houses and Ft. Wayne will have to increase very much in size before the building of another opera house would be in any way profitable. The Grand Opera House at Marlin, Tex., recently caught fire in a mysterious manner and was soon a mass of ruins and ashes instead of an elegant structure and fine furnishings, which were reduced by the seething flames. The house and furnishings were valued at $11,000. The insurance is $1,000. J. G. Oltrof, owner of the site, has not stated whether or not a new theatre will be erected. ‘The fire is believed to be of incendiary origin. Manager Hariz, who is building the new theatre in Cleveland, ©., is thinking of naming the playhouse after Julia Marlowe. Miss Marlowe has a great number of friends in Cleveland, so we are informed, and the plan to call the is being ~ : T Marlowe is meeting with large supat Renton Harbor, Mich., was retired | house The pw eacceeded by Fred. Felten, April 1. | port. Charles B. Dillingham said he would try Up until quite recently Mr. Felton was book| to arrange her tour so as to enable her to open the new theatre. Only first-class produc. | tions will be booked. The Erie, Pa... Agousement company met cently and elected the following officers: . ‘ President, FP. Bo bowning; Vic*-Pres¢ nt, BE. O. Ricketts: Seeretary, H. A. Clara * «shrer, F. J. Walker. Bids will be calle for t t | nearly s t boxes have been provided for. smoking room will be fitted up in Turkish style. he construction of the new theatre, while, is o.cost about $90,000. The house is to be as fire proof as possible and will have a eating capacity of 1800. ‘The building will | have four large entrances and tie exterior will | be decorated in the style in vogue during the French rennaisance period. will prevail in the Louis XVI decorainterior. Fourteen The gentlemen's ions arge trees will enhance the beauty of the grounds in front of the house, which are ample. Although the directors spoke of naming the theatre the Empire, the plans have been changed and a prize will be offered the citizens of Erie for the most appropriate name. « l { « MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. Pietro Maseagni sailed for Europe April 2, the La Savoia. A Chinese Honeymoon has registered its six 1undredth performance in London. Frank Daniel's daughter, Maude Daniels, is revorted to be ill with searlet fever. The Smart Set company will open at Atlantic ‘ity, N. J., early in August. The company ‘arries ©) colored performers. The Hashim Opera Company, which has been out for only seven weeks, recently stranded at Jacksonville, t to New beginning Fla. <A benetit performance will ve given so as to enable the members to return York. The business was bad from the and some of the chorus and several f the principals bave not received a cent of salary since the first week. is studies. j} among the world’s leading violin players. | Charles McMillen, his brother, left recently for Francis McMillen, a young American violinist, now in Brussells, Belgium, completing his He is still in his teens and is ranked Mr. Europe. where he will take charge of the young man’s tour through Europe. The youthful violin virtuoso hes obtained favorable recognition from the crowned heads, which generally insures the success of anything in countries across the pond. He will come to America when his European trip is finished. Mrs. MeLaughlin, wife of Thomas F. MeLaughlin, formerly a member of the Chris. and | the Wonderful Lamp company, but at present oreman of the Underwood Typewriter works, t St. Louis, Mo., has returned to the footlights She is known as Monteray Mershom. She separated from her husband, who, when he jlearned that | | | | | in June. | the his wife had joined the Emerald Isle company, went to Anderson, Ind., and took posession of their child. He was arrested for | kidnapping but was discharged by the judge. McLaughlin has empleyed several attorneys to | bring habeas corpus proceedings, by which he hopes to regain posession of the child. MINSTRELS. J. Eagan and E. Mareus, of John W. Vogel’s minstrels, were slightly injured in a collision in the railroad yards at Danville, Ill., last week. Neither suffered any broken bones, but Eagan was painfully cut about the face. Mareus was only shaken up. John W. Vogel is after the polo franchise for Marion, Ind. He now has three irons in the fire. The nomination for Mayor of Columbus, 0.,. the franchise for the polo game at Marion, Ind., and a minstrel troupe on the road. What next He now calls himself, Mayor of Columbus, Minstrel King, and polo prince. He has more titles than the Prince of Wales. VAUDEVILLE. The Four Rianos are practicing a new sketch for next season. The Wilson Trio report great success on the ““Wheel’’ with Rice & Bartine’s Rose Hill Company. Lawrence & Harrington, who do the ‘‘tough’’ specialty, with The Pedler company, have been re-engaged for next season. Mr. and Mrs. Nejl Litehfield are again filling dates after laying off several weeks on account of the death of Mrs. Litchfield’s mother. The Five Walton Brothers have been engaged as a feature with the Al. G. Field’s Minstrel company, next season. het will be with the Gaskill-Mundy Carnival company this summer. the latter part of this monthe in Chicago. FARCE COMEDY. Don't Worry, by Lafayette Parks, a newspaper man, will be Willie Collier's starring vehicle next season. The Irving French Company will close a season of 92 weeks of three night stands, May 23. and will reopen early in August. Fred J. Bates, now ahead of Sun & Fowler’s Circumstantial Evidence company, will join Chas. H. Boyle's Star Boarder company, in the same capactiy. Williams & Walker will in all probability go to Europe after their engagement on Broadway, New York closes this week. Negotiations are now on and if they go through, the colored comedians will be seen at the Shaftsbury theatre in London. ODDS AND ENDS. Harry Smith and Gustave Kerker are writing a musical comedy for George Lederer, in which he will star Blanche Ring, next season. The floods in Texas and Arkansas have ruined early potatoes which being extensively raised in that section, are the principal source of revenue. Henry W. Savage is reported to have sailed for Italy March 29 to witness the performance of Mme. Butterfly by Puccini at Milan. He has the American rights to the play. The sensational Burdick murder has already been put into a play called, The Buffalo Mystery, and will be put out by Juke and Elmer Walters One of the members company, while at Jacksonville, costed on the street by a ‘‘masher’’ who offered to escort her to her hotel. She promptly knocked him down. ‘The company had no more trouble in Jacksonville. The St. Louis, Mo. Saengerfest will be held An appropriation of $50,000 has been Set aside to pay expenses. Mme. Nordica will sing, as well as other prominent artists. | 3500 school children will be used. Rates will be reduced on all railroads. of the Hashim Opera Fla., was ac The production for which Julian H umilin ne cently engaged Victor Herbert to mpcne the | music, is to be entitled, The : of Toy: |Jand. Mme. Ricard will have the principal role. The first rehearsals W ill be held in May. 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