The Billboard 1903-05-09: Vol 15 Iss 19 (1903-05-09)

. THE BIELBOARD NOVEL ENTERPRISE Where Show People are Interested. ‘ In Pine Bluff, N. C., along the Seaboard Air Railway, about seventy mflew from Ralthere is a unique enterprise being establishd for the accom ation of show people, the purpose being to establish a winter settlement where they will have, duripg the winter time a constant run of amusements. The promoters have secured the co-operation of John Tt. Patrick, Chief Industrial Agent of one of the largest railway companies in the South, aud Secretary of Southern Inter-State Immigration and Industrial Association, The plan is to make this enterprise of such interest to the traveling public that winter visitors, who are going to and from the South, will stop over and see the fun going on. There will be a large building erected for theatrical purposes and for practice. There will be a course for training and ball grounds for practice during the winter and spring. THE RUNAWAYS Produced in Baltimore Scores a Success. Costumes and Settings Handsome. The Runaways, the latest musical comedy, by Addison Burkhardt and Raymond Hubbell, was launched at the Academy of Music, Baltimore, Md., before a large, fashionable and enthusiastic audience which filled the bouse to its capacity. If applause counts for anything, the sLOW Was voted @ great success. It one of the novelties of the season. Many new and novel bits of stage business were introduced which pleased immensely. The comedy is presented in two acts and two scenes most beautiful pictures of stageland. The music, though not particularly catchy, is quite pleasing. The cast includes many favorites, and as each appeared a hearty cheer was accorded. Among the principals are Alexander Clark, Wm. Gould, Van Rensselaer Wheeler, Al. Fields, Arthur Dunn, Suzanne Halpren, William Wolf, Dorothy Dorr, Helen Lord, Amelia Stone, the liengler Sisters, and others. A feature of the show is the six widows which resembles the bridesmaid feature of The Chinese Honeymoon. Aniong the audience were Mr. 8S. F. Nixon, . S. Schubert, Lee Schubert, Charles T. K. Miller, Fred. C. Nixon and representatives of the New York Press. IRVING'S DANTE Pronounced His Masterpiece. Ovation Given the Actor at its Premier. Sardvu's Dante was produced by Henry Irving at the brury Lane ibeatre in London, Apil 30, scormg au instantaneous success. The piece beg ;been provounced the masterplece of the eile actor; a play which gives full scope to his tasent aud to his techuical skill. ine London ¢ritics are unanimous iy praise of the play, ang of Wwe Wanner ip Which it was produced.. Though the acts are necessarily disminted 10 @ “degree, Stil eatif pfonounced a gem ftiiut emulmes tue brigutwess of fits comyanions, Iryiug’s acting in the character of the poet, afty, sent tue hotse into raptures. He was compel Many, thmes beTore the curtain. ow. Lena Asdwell, bis leading woman, was given a bountiful share of tue applause ada ‘the critics highly commend ber acting. ihe staging of the piece is described as fol-fowsi—As to the spectacular aspect, rarely if ever’ has tuere beea exhibited so wonderful a saccession of scenes, with all the refinemeuts, arustie dgecoration, skillful stage effects. iu thé prologue @ street in Pisa, with its massive tower, adjacent church aud Louses, ‘weems sélbuly built. At the close it is densely peopled with citizens, soldiers and clergy m lite weslaments. Thoroughly Southern and almost classical to beumy is tue picture of a springtide fete at t uence: of altogether different order is the whole scenery of the third act, comprising the a. wee through the infernal regions, the rk Cahpa Santo, the disma) door of Hell, the irse of Cuaron golng turough tite Water Wulle pairing souls cling to ita efdes, bery graves, irom which on solid slabs tlfeir dead arise Wite flames surrounding them, the grim circle of ice With bumau heags firmly imbedded, tne bridge of rocks with which the hofrors terminate, and finally the beautiful valley of Asplodels. © The scenes are accompanied by music, vocal and instrumental, sometimes dolorous and sometimes powerful in its appeal to the imagination, KATHRYN OSTERMAN-MISS PETTICOATS. Kathryn Ostermann will present Mise Petticoats when she begins her starring. tour in October. This play is a dramatmation of Dwight Tilton’s popular novel of that name and was made by George T. ichardson, the dramatic editor of the Boston Traveler. Miss Usterman secured the rights from the C. M. Clark Vublishing Company, of Boston, who own the copyright on the book. The clever actress bas been negotiating for the dramatic rights of Miss Petticoats for nearly a year, and notwithstanding the fact that several prominent people were after it the author selected Miss Osterman as the best woman to portray the leading part which is peculiarly adapted to her. Miss Osterman considers Mies Petticoats a “plendid dramatic vebicle. The scenes are laid jn Old Chetford, a New England seaport, and New York City. BOOM IN THEATRE. BUILDING. Nineteen’ Hundred and Three, says the New York Herald, will long be remembered in bistory a@ @ theatre-building year. Thirteen new theatres are being erected in New York city, atid thirty-three tn the rest of the country from ‘Frisco te New York, More than $8,500,000 will be spent on the New York theatres, Mad nearly .$¥,000,000 throughout the rest of the country which means that §17.000,000 ie to be invested in one year in buildings wherein the American people will be entertained. ah to deliver two speechés and to appear. PLAYS AND SKETCHES COPYRIGHTED. Baron of Vornay; A romauce of the sixteenth century, written and copyrighted by Mrs. May B. Rooney. A Big Fool; a comedy drama in feur acts, by Will H. Locke, Mound City, Mo. Bloomfield and Belvidere; a comedy in four acts, by Fred Summerfield, New York. N. Y. The Canterbury Pilgrims; a comedy by Percy Mackaye. Cupid's Trick; a new aud original comedy in one act, by Preston Gibson, Chicago, Il Her Wedding Night; a modern melodrama in four acts, by Wm. M. Drake and Edwin Elroy. Elizabeth, N. J A Mistake; comedy sketch, by Andy Lewis. Wake Up Mr. Drowsy; a farcical comedy in three acts, by John O. Cantor, New York, N. Y. When Her Soul Speaks; a play in four acts and five tableaux, by Elmer Grandin and Eva Mountford, New York, N. Wooing ‘A Widow; Comic Operetta in one act, written by Walter Parke; composed by Florjan Paseal. DRAMATIC, Gobert Edeson will continue in the Soldiers of Fortune next season. Mrs. Patrick Campbell will leave for England the middle of this month. Human Hearts closed a successful season at Davenport, Ia., April 26. The Shannons (Harry Shannon, Manager) will close at Decatur, IIL, May 16. Raymond Chase has joined A Child Wife io portray the role of Old Griswoid. Emma Dunn opened with the Woodward Stock Company at Kansas City, Mo., May 3. The Van Dyke & Eaton Company successful season at McKeesport, Pa.. April 25. Melvin Hunt has signed with An Orphan's hn Company to-enact the leacing juvenile role. Henry Miller intends to tour the Pacific Coast this summer, presenting The Taming of Helen. Francis Ring succeeds Minnie Dupree in the support of Amelia Bingham, in The Frisky Mrs. Johnsen. The production in will star Personal. A Ragged Hero closes May 23 at Buffalo, N. Y., and opens August 16 at the Bijou Theatre, Pittsburg. Next season the Chase-Lister Company will present A Runaway Match, featuring Clint and Bessie Robbins. Mark Fenton recently closed with Elizabeth Kennedy and joined the Woodward Stock Company at Kansas City, Mo., The Chester De Vonde Company closes the season May Sv at St. Louis, Mo. They re-open at Jersey City, N. J., August 16. The Minister's Son closed its second successful season April 25, at Middletown, O. It will open next season in Chicago, August 9. Grace George intends to appear in a Shakespearian production next year. She bas not yet decided which heroine it, js. to. be. lt ds reported that Viola Ailen wants to appear in some Shakespearian role.. The report aves pot state any particular one. Mr. George Bowles, who recently joined the Barnum & Bailey slows, has written a | melodrama entitled, The Setrt Marriage. Stuart Robson, the eminent comedian, died April 20, in NewYork City. A sketch of his career is tm our obituary column. Mrs. F. . ufhett has commenced the dtamatization of the “De Willoughby’! Claim,” to be used by Robert Hilliard next season. Wm A> Brady ba® presented bis wife, Grace George, withsalr the profits of her New York engagement. She will go abroad this summeys, The Benngtt-MoUlton Company's Clara Turner Co. ¢ Spent 35. J. M. Tarr, the manager. can be addressed Box $6, Salem, Mass., until August 1. Liebler and Company have urchased the tram used by Prince Henry during his recent visit, for the tour of their Romeo and Julict company. Mrs. Craigie is otegting a play by Jean Riche pin for the use of Olga Nethersole. During ber recent trip to India she completed the writing of a comedy. The new fourect. melodrama, The Johnstown Flood, by Edward Houghton, will be produced the latter: part of August and is booked solid up to January 1. Miss Rachel Lewis, whe mg Ory ts meeting witie suecess in her tour of the Sdutf will open in Newport News, Va., May 11, for.@ six week's season of repertoire. ui Henry Miller will spend his vacation at Marion, Mass., with Richard Harding Davis. who is writing a new play to be produced by Mr. Miller next season. Orrin Johnson will leave the Frohman management for the second tine in his career. ‘he last time he left the fold, it took him fourteen years to get back into it. Messrs. Lelwyn & Co. haye purchased Cumber land 61, a play written by Franklin Fyles. toey will produce it next season and send it on tour through the South. Malcolm Williams, formerly leading man at Keith's Bijou, Philadelphia, Pa., has resigned to accept a similar position with Keith's Stock Oompany, Providence, R. I. When Viola Allen shelves the Eternal City to appear in a Shakespearian role next season, Messes. Liebler & Co. will star E. J. Morgana as David Rossi, im the production. Thomas Q. Seabrook has declined several offers to star mext eeason. He says he woukd rather work under a salary for another year before taking to the road on bis own account. The Harcourt Comedy Company will be well equipped with new scenery and new plays for the renettoire season. W. C. MeKay will continue as the manager of-the company. Dolce, the one-act play. which }) Fiske recently added to het repertoire, wifi be used by ber in conjunction with Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, which she will present nest season, Phe third edition of ‘‘At the Stage Door,”’ by Ada Patterson and Victory Batem containing the histories and fuoteresting facts concerning leading members of the profession, is out. Betay Rows, the revolutionary drama which roved a miserable failore whén produced in Pniladelphi: several years ago, has been rewritten and wil be put oa the road next season. closed a which Weber and Fields Willie Collier next season is entitled Fiora Fairftld lend ady of the Stroke of we coma Shes writtsietwoues whictt J ar@ iu thé han? Pg pe publifiers @uF will soon. be.Ou 2hé@ anaritte* Her right iam i Lehman. Robert bow ig the _Wetl-knewn . tragedlan, has pRifed ay y Panvkrapig in San’ Prans ot a Cai?” Cofrts®.* itis Habfiitie’ are $13,000 and Wo ‘assets “owiring Ix Kegeni¢*Bhttr’s bus Deumin Thompsoi was taken sefiously ill in Cleremont, N. H., and bis physicians forbid him to go on the stage, further recommending that he cancel all further dates. Heart trouble js the malady... Willis Grauger’s Gypsy Jack Company closed at Worcester. Mass., April 25. Mr. Granger will be starred next season Ip a new play and will continue under the mapagement of Edward ©. White. A Japanese version of Othello was presented at the Meijiza Theatre, Tokio, Japan, early in March. While the. best part of the play was lost in the adapation, it was greatly enjoyed by the audiences ou tie polite isle. Rose Coghlan, known in private life as Mrs, Rosamond Marie Sullivan, is suing for divorce in the courts at Helena, Mont. Her husband is is Johu ‘I. Suiiivan (professional.) They have not lived together for over five years. The arrangements for the appearance of Mrs. Leslie Carter in a revival of Macbeth are being made by David Belasco. It has been rumored that Mr. Belasco is also at work on an immense spectacular production of Humpty Dumpty. Messrs. Wagenhals and Kemper will star Ada Rehan'’s sister, Hattie Russel, next season. She is at present appearing with Blanche Walsh in the Resurrection. She will appear in Shakespearian roles formerly portrayed by Ada Reban. Charles E. resentative, king, by the Hamilton, William Gillette’s repwill direct the proauction of MafeCharles Bradley, business manager of Bostonians, at the Garrick Theatre, Lon don, next season. Mr. Bradley has also written a play of social life in Virginia during 1855, tor Robert Edeson. Messrs. Weber, Rush and Brennan have en gaged Jacob P. Adler, a member of the Hebrew company at the Tualia Theatre, New York City, to appear in a production of The Merchant of Venice. Adler wiil portray Shylock in *‘yiadish,"’ while the rest of the characters wiil speak English. A short Spring tour will be made. PLAYHOUSES. Weber & Field's new house at Boston, Mass., will be Known as the Globe. Work has commenced on Bixman & Co's aew opera house at Clinton, Mo. Fulton Opera House at Lancaster, Pa., will be completely renovated during the summer. The Columbia Tueatre, Cincinnati's vaudeville theatre, will close for the season May 16. L. E. Dozier, Mayor of Leesburg, Fla., has leased the Leesburg Upera House for one year. B. C. Whitney, of Detroit, Mich., is looking for a site for a new opera house at Owosso, Mich. The Casino, Paducah, Ky., (new summer theatre) is nearing completion and will open May 1s, with vaudeville. The Okemah (1. T.) Commercial Club has just completed a hall in that city with a stage 12 x 20 feet and a seating capacity of 3vu0. Improvements will be made on the Huntington ‘Theatre at Huntington W. Va., to the extent of $5,000. The season closed April 50. p I Smith, formerly manager of Smith's Opera House, Ashtabula, Ohio, has assumed the management of the Auditorium of that city. Wm. A. Brady has subscribed $1,000 toward the establishment of a National Theatre. This is the most substantial move yet made in that direction. Work has commenced on Burgin’s new opera house at Llarredsburg, Ky. The house will be known as Burgin’s Opera House and will be completed by next September. S. H. Chase, for twelve years manager of the Old City Hall at Waterville, Me., will manage the new Opera House in that city. The seating capacity of the house is 1,200 people. Manager Thatcher has renewed the lease on the Gem Theatre at Somerset, Ky., and will institute several improvements. Several new irops are being painted, besides some scenery. Fred. Felton, the new manager of the Bell Opera House at Benton Harbor. Mich., is sending out a printed circular to traveling managers discribing his house and his city and their advantages. Arrangements are on foot to enlarge and improve the P. 0. S. A. Opera House at Berwick, Pa. The town is rapidly increasing in size and the theatre is now too small to accommodate the population. It was recently reported in the daily news papers that’ the opera house at Centralia, Mo., had been destroyed by fire. This was a mistake. The heuse that was burned had been closed fog. several years. Messrs> Kiaw & Erianger will book the at+ tractions for he Capital Theatre Company which controls, the, Capital theatre at Little Rock, Ark, ‘ee company is having the house remodeled and the, Jatest style opera chairs installed: A company? composed of business men of East Toledo, Obio:, bas been inecorperated with a capital stock of $5000 for the purpose of building a theatre in East Toledo. The house will have a population of: forty fheusand to draw on. James PD. Burbridge will build a new opera house at Jacksonville, Fla., which will be known as Burbridge’s Theatre. The site has been purchased. The building will be 75 x 120 feet, anc will have two large entrances fifteen feet wide. Manager G. F. MeDonald of the McDonald Theatre at Montgomery, Ala., is able to be about after several week's confinement on account of illness. The work of remodeling the playhouse has commenced. He has some good bookings for next season. Three New York Theatres will be remodeled this summer almost to the extent of giving them entire new interiors. The estimated expenditure on each is as follows: New York, $100,000 to $150,000, the Empire, $80,000; the Metropolitan Opera House in the neighborhood of $100,000, Stair & Havlin have added another new playhouse to their circuit. The new theatre will be built in Patterson, N. J. lt will have a seating capacity of about 2,000, and will be accommodated with all up-to-date Improvements. The intention is to make ita so-called family theatre, with reception rognis, Maids In attendance, and-so-forth. . Harry Reeson has closed a contract. for the erection of the West End Theatre at Utilontown, Pa. The building is te cost $45,000, which does not inelude “the site. The entrance will be fourteen feet wide and forty-five feet in length. The lower door and balcony will seat proseenium opening ef 34 feet. Land white will be aséd fh decora The dressing rooms wil. all be under ag stage. The toutraet calls fom completion by ovember 15. avait aNd MUSICIANS. Blanche Ring*#\ ew. prodvetion. w calles The Gibson Girl. —— A Country Christmas, George Ade’s new production, will be. given its premier at Chicago some time this month. Stanislaus Stange denies the report that he is writing a new comic opera for Lulu Glaser, and adds that she intends to céntinue in Dolly Varden for three more seasons. Julian Mitchell has secured Isabelle, D’ Armand who is playing the leading soubrette role with Frank Daniels, to portray. Dorothy, the Kansas heroine in The Wizard of Oz, next. season, in company Number Two, which will. tour the country. The Liberati Band has just. closed the most successful winter season at Pabst Harlem, New York, since its organization, and has opened the spring and summer. season in St. Louis. Following this they will play extensive engagements in Kapsas City,. Louisville, Pittsburg and Philadelphia, returning to New York where they have been re-engaged for the winter season. Leslie Spahn has just closed contracts for 118 one-night stands over the Texas Independent Opera House Circait. At the end’ of that time Helen May Butler and her Ladies Military Band will have put in 304 consecutive days work. Mr. Spahn is now considering an offer for 200 days on the Lyceum Circuit at the close of the Texas season. The band has played The Billboard Mareh over 1000 times. MINSTRELS. _ Primrose & Dockstader closed the season at New York City, April 25, and dissolved a partnership of four years. Although Primrose has announced his intention of retiring, he is thinking seriously ef entering vaudeville, doing a specialty with the Foley Bros. Dockstader will have his own troupe out next season. Green, old-gold finige: VAUDEVILLE. The Beanos Flexible Marvels have signed with the Will $,.Heek Carnival Company. James E. Rome and Marguerite Ferguson open at the Orpheum, Kansas City, Mo., May 10, and zo Bast. The Musical Kleimers go with Charles A. Taylor's Minstrels for the summer’ season, opening May 4. The Wilson Trio of Dutch comedians will play parks after the close of the Rose Hilt English colly Company th Detroit, Mich. John R. Rogers has announced that he will appear next segsen on the vaudeville stage in a sketch entitled, Seven Days in Bellevue, in which he will portray the experiences of an inmate of the insane pavilion. Hayward & Hayward have closed thelr vaudeville dates and joined The Ethel Tucker Stock Company for six weeks, after which they will play western and southern parks for ten weeks. FARCE COMEDY. : ee Wedding Day closed its tour, May 2, a . Kewanee, Ill, after a most successful season. The Alphonse & Gaston company closed in Philadelphia, April 25. The a successful season, Peck’s Bad Boy (Leroy J. French, proprietor) closed this, season at Joliet, Dl., and will reopen at Rumbard Falls, Me., June 15. Fred, E, Wright, manager of York State Folks says that he will put out a new show next season, entitled, The Beauty Doctor.. There will managers report be fifty people in the company. Klaw & Erlanger’'s new comedy by George Heart and Edward E. Rose, entitled John He 4¥, will be produced in Philadelphia, May 11, ‘th Dan Daly in thé title, role. Ce. e S. Edgers will go in advance of the Goddin Comedy .Company next season. The company is booked solid for all next season in the best cities of the Middle-west. At the close of the tour next year, the aggregation will play a park engagement of ten weeks. + Notes from Conroy, & Mack's Comedians, P. I’. Craft, Mgr..—Business continues good and for this time of the season is beyond our expectations. At. several.townms in the past week the houses were sold before the doors opened. We have purchased a hew production for next season and will play Jarge cities only, We have awarded contracts for the scenery and property. Louis L. Comstogk has been engaged to compose the musical numbers, consisting of twenty or more, .We elose this season—it has m the biggest in the history of the attraction—May 16. BURLESQUE. Edward. E. Rice’s. Show Girl, and. other at tractions under his managémenut will play popular prieed houses next season, ODDS AND ENDS.* ~ M. D. Leayit sailed far South. Afriea with Pauline Moran and Company. David Hunt, manager of the Pike Theatre, Cincinnati, which was recently. destroyed by fire, will be married in Philadelphia, Pa., the latter, part of this month, to Miss Angela De Soieza, of New York City. Sir Charles Windham has given $7,525—the total receipts of.the first night of his mew thetre—to the officers’ branch of the Soldiers and Sailors Wives and. Families Association. Sir Charles was a soldier-surgeon in our Civil War. In the work of revising the catalogues for school libraries in .the public schools of New York, the scheol superintendents omitted Uacle Tom’s Cabin for the future, considering that the book of antebellum days bad served its purpose, and was not valuable enough from a literary standpoint to warrant its retention in the list. An attempt was made last year to drop Uncle Tom's Cabin from the list, but a tie. vote heid April 29 we received word that Captain William F. Norton, dz... owner of. the Auditorium, at Louisville, Ky., had suffered a relapse. He is at Coronado Beach, Cal., where he ig being attended by his personal physician. Dr. Joseph Sweeney. Captain Norton is only fifty-four years ald and is rated at over $2,000.000. ‘The Captain is well Known for Ris charitable dispesition and sets aside Friday of each week on which to de bis good work. FOREIGN. Sarah Rerwhardt will give a series of lecture on the greatest of Frencn playwrights at the Berliner Residenz Theatre, of Berlin, Germany. Fellowimge the lecture & performance of the play about 1.300 people, feluding six bexes. The stage will be 65 x 40 feet, 50 feet high, with a discussed, wilh be given. The seats for the entire course were sold in advance. ge