The Billboard 1903-08-22: Vol 15 Iss 34 (1903-08-22)

THE BILLBOARD ement of ¢@ thea Prank Hurst bas taken the man the opera house at Muscatine, Ia. tre Is on the Towa-Ilinols cireult, Work is now in progress on the new opera house at Volga, Il, The managers hope to bave it completed by the middle of October. Work on the new Walla Walla (Wash.) Theatre is progressing rapidly and the house will be in readiness for the opening August 31. David RK, Buffington has secured a lease on the Music Hall at Pawtucket, i. Il. He will justall a stock compeny for the winter. Thomas Leath of Richmond, Va., was recently in Lynchburg, Va., “looking over’ the city for a favorable location for a new opera house. M. W. Ruckle has sold the new Arcola Theatre at Arcola, IL, to 8. W. Smiley. The consideration is sald to have been $25,000, The cornerstone for the new Nixon Theatre, at Pittsburg, Pa., was laid August 11. Two ministers led a prayer and blessed the stone. The Academy of Music, at Frederick, Md., is being redecorated and will open for the coming season with a fine Line of attractions in promise. Dr. L. T. Dorsey, manager of the Grand Opera llouse at Ottumwa, Ia., bag returned to that city after spending two months in New York ity. (ue'e Opera House at Middleport, Obio, bas been completed and is ready for the opening under the management of Messrs. Fisher & wewls, ’ Edward F. Milholland, a well-known newspaper man of Baltimore, Md., bas been appointed press representative of the James L. hernan forces. The R. L. Cresey Amusement Enterprise has tuken possession of the Glickman Theatre at Chicago, IL, and will run it as a stock house, opening August 23. Messrs. Anderson & Pollard have taken the management of the opera house at Strawberry lolut, lowa. They are now booking attractions tor the coming season. Joseph Barrett, formerly manager of Hopkin's Theatre, Chicago, will thig season have charge of the Century Theatre at Kansas City, Mo. The house opens August 30. Charles D. Miller bas resigned as manager of the Colonial Theatre at Cambridge, Ohio, and has been succeeded by . H. B. Marston who has obtained a lease on the house. The contract bag been awarded for the building of Hyde & Bebman’s new popular priced theatre at Pittsburg, Pa. The theatre is w cost $200,000 and the decorations $30,000. The Empire Theatre, at Baltimore, Md., whieh formerly presented vaudeville exclusively, will be occupied by the Leopard Scarlett Stock Company, which begins its season September 7. Charles H. Yale of Philadelphia, Pa., has been awarded the contract to supply a new drop curtain and all of the local property to be used at the Academy of Music, H town, Md. Kane's Opera House at Renova, Pa., will have a redecorated interior and new opera chairs when the season is opened September 8 J. P. Kane will again manage the house this season. A new opera bouse 40x100 feet bas just been completed at Morgan, Minn. The theatre ‘s equipped with good scenery, dressing rooms, under the management of Jobn Hillig. Joun B. Bissinger, who recently leased the Columbia, Pa., Opera House, is busy filling time for the com season. The house will open September 3. any good attractions bave beeo booked. All of the theatrical houses in the Cumberland Valley will open by August 27 but one. The crops are big this year and business flourishing. which means a big revenue to the theatres in this region. A ground floor opera house will be erected at Dixen, IIL, by Frederick Moss of Streator, lll, The house will be completed for opening this fall and will be up-to-date in all its artangements, Manager Jacobs, of the Academy of Music, Waynesboro, Pa., recently visited Manager Futterer, of the Academy, at Hagerstown, Md., and got a definite idea for improvements to be made on his use. W. L. Busby has purchased the Empire Theatre at Quincy, Ill, which he will manage henceforth. He-will also retain possession and continue to manage the Odeon Theatre in Marshalltown, Ia. The opera house at Muskogee, I. T., is being remodeled. A. A. Kinney will continue as manager. R. L. Wells, stage manager of the house, has resigned to accept a position on the road, and has been succeeded by J. Lindsey Alton. The new Russell Opera House at Brunswick, Mo., which was constructed at a cost of $20,0 and named after the late Sol, Smith Russell, who was born in that city, is nearing completion and will be ready for oceupancy about Oct. 1. Harry Bowers has assumed the management of the new opera house at Mt. Vernon, 0., whieh opened the season Aug. 16, with Vogel's Minstrels. He also manages the Grand Theatre at Wooster and the Memorial at Mansfield, Ohio. The improvements on the Academy of Music at Hagerstown, Md., will not be completed September 3 ag expected. All the attractions booked for dates before September 15 have been canceled. The contractor promises to have the house in shape by that time. An electric drop curtain show! the cascade feature of the World's Fair has 0 installed in the Temple Theatre, at Alton, Ill. Electric and calcium effects will give the appearance of water rushing over the cascades. ‘be curtain was shown for the first time August 16. ‘The corner stone of the new Nixon Theatre at Mittsburg, Pa., was laid August 11. Among the numerous articles deposited In the stone were pietures of the Nixon and Zimmerman families; pietures of many members of the Bob White company; many newspaper clippings and the cards of well-known newspaper men. The Bijou Theatre at Fall River, Mass., which was recently bought at auction by William H. Hall of Cranston, R. I., for $10,000, has been transferred to Richard Risby and Mrs. Miriam Meyers of Fall River, in consideration of the sum of $16,000. Mra. Meyers has filed a certifi cate to the effect that she intends to conduct the house personally with Mr. Rigby as partner, ne Lafayette Amusement Company has completed negotiations for the purchase of Convention Hall on East Baltimore St., Baltimore, Md., from the American Amusement Com > The lafayette Company is composed of t >». Stair George FB, Nicholat, James L. and George Rife. The name of the house will be changed to the Bijou, and popular priced attractions will be put on. an interest in Kerana The Heuck Theatre Company have purchased 4 site for a new theatre tn Cincinnat!, for which $450,000 wag paid. The company will erect an elght story office building and theatre at an expense of $750,000. Work will not be com menced until spring a8 several parties hoid leases on the property which do not expire before that time. MeKlfetrick & Son of New York City are drawing up the plans, The Grand Opera House at Paris, Ky., bas been leased for a term of three years by D. ©. Wiggins aud Brother, who are baving the house newly painted and redecorated wi the scenery overhauled for the opening date Sept. 4, when Fisher and Carroll will be presented in Looking for a Wife, followed by Kobert Mantell. The Wiggins Brothers also own and manage the New bs ao en at Richmond, Ky., which will open ept. ° he next New York theatre to commence operations after the Garrick will be the Madison yuare Theatre, which opens on August 24 with Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Milton Koyle in a new play, My Wife's Husbands. This is one of the ventures of Nathaniel Roth, who brought forward Henry Dixey so prominently last spring. The Madison Square opening will be the first of a large number scheduled for the last week in August. By September 10 nearly every theatre in New York will be in full swing. A large water main in the rear of Chase's Theatre, Baltimore, Md., burst afternoon of August 7, causing considerable damage to the lower floor of the bullding. The dressing rooms suffered most of the damage. A number of trunks containing valuable costumes belonging to the members of the George Fawcett Stock The above cut presents Arthur 0. May and Ma Miles in thir irresistibly funny travesty act, Seeing Things, which was written for them by H. L. Newton. Mr. May's quaint humor and dover dancing never fails to score and Miss Miles, vesides being a clever comedienne, is the possessor of a very pleasing voice and is a finished dancer. Although they have only been presenting this act a little over six months it is fast coming to the front, and they have some excellent bookings ahead. They are at present playing the parks through the South and Central West. Company were ruined by the water. Two large trunks belonging to Mr. George Fawcett suffered considerably. Miss Percy Haswell’s trunks had been removed only a few days previously. Several hundred dollars will be required to repair the damage done to the dressing rooms. The stage employees at the Holiday Street Theatre and the Monumental Theatre, Baltimore, Md., struck August 10 for higher wages. New men were secured, however, and the afternoon performances were not hampered. The stage hands at the Holiday Street Theatre, where eight performances a week are given, have been receiving $6 a week, and those at the Monumental Theatre, with twelve performances, $8 a week. The men demand one dollar for each performance or at the Holiday Street Theatre $8, and $12 at the Monumental. Mr. George Rife said: ‘I recently increased the wages of the assistant stage carpenter and his helper, both of whom went out with the strikers. They were getting more than the union scale of wages. The stage hands are not skilled labor. I cannot permit anyone to dictate to the management."” MUSICAL. Mr. Rilue Beard will open a two week's engagement at the Alvin Theatre, Pittsburg, Pa., Sept. 2s. The Dazzler, Kate Castleton’s success, be revived this season. einnati, O., August 30, in the leading role. Mme. Schumann-Heink will begin her concert tour of Germany and Russia immediately after the dedication of the Wagner mouument in Berlin early in October. Only $415,000 of the $750,000 required to permanently establish the Chicago Orchestra has been raised. It is thought that the remaining sum will be raised this fall. Oscar Thomeon, the great violin virtuoso, bas been engaged for a concert tour in South Amerjea, and will open the season at Montevideo. The price fixed for single seats is $15. Al. Aarons is confident that The Knickerbocker Girl will score a big bit on the road. The cast will be about the same as last year when the company opens early in the season. Eduard DeReszke, Scotti and Louise Homer have been notified by John S. Duss that he will not take them on tour. They had signed contracts but it is believed that the matter will be adjusted out of court. Babes in Toyland will close its remarkable run in Chicago, Hll., September 12. It will go into the Majestic Theatre, New York City, Sep tember 14, where its backers hope it will prove as successful as it is in Chicago. “Curious Women,"’ a musical comedy, by the Neo-Italian composer, Ermanus Wolf-Ferrari, will be the first operatic novelty of the Munich Opera next season. The piano score will appear in September and will contain the original Italian and a German version of the text. Mias Vesta Tilley will be the guest of honor at a remarkable banquet in London just before ahe satle for this country. The vanadeville man. agers over there, to whom sh» is under contract for nine years to come, dec.ded to give her the biggest sendoff in thety existence. In all there will be 20) guest« Among the popular on the White Star will It will open at Cinwith Adele Stoneman asengers that came over Liner Cedric were Band | }in the French capital. | quaintance of | lean master John Philip Sousa and sixty-eight musiclans. The band has visited fourteen different countries. They will rest for three weeks before starting on a brief American tour, preced ing a long jump to Australia. Manuel Klein, the talented young composer who wrote Mr. Pickwick, and who is at present working on important incidental music for E. H. Sothern. has announced his engagement to Miss Helen Kaplan, who is a _ sister of Ysabel Kaplan, the author of The Queen of Laughter, the new opera for the Bostonians The Serenade, Victor Herbert's opera, will, besides having an elaborate production in this country, be produced in Vienna next season. Owo Well, a representative of the Witmark Music Library, has arranged with a prominent Management there who will present the opera with an exceptional cast of artists. While in Vienna, Mr. Weil has also contracted for the above Library an extended control of the Amerrights of the operas of Strauss, Supper, Millocker, Geneo and other famous foreign composers. Joseph Joachim's refusal] to become a member of the International Committee of Honor for the Wagner jmmonument celebration because of the not probable presence of Cosima Wagner, calls to mind the fact that these two are old acquaintances. When Joseph Joachim, nuearly half a century ago, resided in Paris, Le found a chance to become acquainted with Franz Liszt, who helped Joachimi to his first public appearance Joachim afterward visitand there he made the acLiszt's daughter, Cosima, with whom he played many sonatas. To the wumervus composers of the music for ed at Liszt's home, | A Girl From Dixie, the names of Victor Herbert and Ludwig Englander have been added. Mr. Herbert bas written a very old male quartette with an entirely original idea, which will be introduced into the play. Mr. Englander has been | induced to contribute a couple of numbers to the ecore, on account of his friendship for Miss Irene Bentley, who is to play the title = It happens that Miss Bentley has sung Mr. Enzglander’s three most successful numbers, the Flirtation Song in The Strollers, the Fair Lullaby in the Belle of Pobemia, and The Gypsy Maid in The Wild Rose. Nixon and Zimmerman have enlisted the co-operation of nearly all the musieal comedy composers in America, a..hough Mr. DeKoven has not been corralled. Whatever the music of A Girl From Dixie may be, it is likely to bave variety enough. MINSTRELS. Al. G. Field is issuing a newspaper called “The Daily eview,"’ exploiting the acts of his show. Will J. Donnelly, general agent of the Al. G. Field Minstrels, passed through Cincinnati, last week on his way to the South. The show opened in Lorain, Ohio, Aug. 12, and is pro= ced the best that Mr. Field bas ever put ou The roster of Quinlan and Wall’s Minstrels is as follows: Jimmy Wall, George Ma Dell, Herbert Simon, Park McGrevey, Wm. Rogers, Walter Brower, Joe Brockel, Steve Prideau, Joe UL. Birnes, Jack Sample. Hugh _Brown, Clarence Marks, Walter Dorsey, Emil Subers, Billy Barr, Joe McGrevey, Wm. Herbert and Frank Miller. Goldy & Wade's Imperial Lady Minstrels open the season November 2. An entire new outtit has been purchased and a band of ten pieces is carried. They are booked almost solid through Pennsylvania, Obio and Indiana. The company numbers fourteen people. R. M. Williams will go in advance, making his third season with the company. John W. Vogel's Minstrels were to open the Woodward Theatre at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, August 19. The theatre bas been undergoing extensive repairs and it was found that it would not be ready for the opening. The attraction was transferred to Hiawatha Park for that date. Mt. Vernon is now on the circuit managed by H. L. Bowers, of Mansfield, Ohio. Immediately upon the termination of the circus season Welsh Brothers will put out the Switt & Emerson Boston Operatic Minstrels. This will be a first-class minstrel company that will travel in their own special car and will introduce a number of novelties. Clinton Newton will handle the business and newspaper end of it. The show will stay on the road until March. Doc Waddell, general agent of Faust’s Minstrels writes: “‘We have broken the house record as to money and attendance at — — so far. The show is simply immense. neerely believe we have the strongest olio ever framed by a minstrel company. Think of it! The Faust Family of ten Australian acrobats, the Seven De Arvilles, Herald Square Quartette, Castle & Collins and “‘Pop’’ Carr in monologue. The First Part—‘‘In Sunny Italy’’—is gorgeous, introducing 10 end men, 10 vocalists, 10 dancers, 5 pages and an orchestra of 16 pieces."’ “The Billboard” is in recéipt of the following letter from G. D. Cunningham, manager of the Ted E. Faust Minstrels: I take this opportunity to return my sincere thanks for favors shown, not only to myself, but the entire roster of the Ted E. Faust Minstrels. We shall strive to merit The Billboard's golden approval, which has been so bounteously bestowed. You have handled the notes we sent you in neat form. The space advertisements were strikingly displayed. I wish to say that hundreds of replies came to them. ‘The Billboard” evidently has a tremendous circulation anu is growing. If the Ted BE. Faust Minstrels grow anything like ‘“The Billboard’ our company will be the whale of the minstrel bunch in a very short time. I to meet all your respective correspondents along the war. Ted E. Faust latch string iv certainly out to the boys who do the writing for the press. The inaugural performance of Haverly’s Minstrels took place in Peterson, N. J., and from start to finish the large audience by their applause and enthusiasm announced it a great success. The fine overture, sung while the curtain was down, was composed of a collection of song hits, beginning with Sing Me a S$ of the South, the curtain slowly rising on the wellknown refrain of My Old Kentucky Home. In this overture, such well-known favorites as My Starlight Sue, When the Springtime Comes Around, and the rollicking coon song, Coonville’s Cullud Band, were used. William Moore made a big hit with the pathetic ballad, Nobody Ever Brings Presents to Me, which called for an enthusiastic encore. Frank Coombs. who has long been known as the letter carriers’ favorite tenor, as he was one himself for thirteen yeare, gave a beautiful rendition of Norton and Broettons Two Little. Blue Little, True Little Eyes, which was rewarded with thunderous applause. One of the biggest bits of the show was made by Billy Van. the star of the bg an whe was as the “Assassin Sorrow.” He sang “I've Got to Go Now, "Cause I Think It's Goin’ to Rain. Throughout the olio was excellent. VAUDEVILLE. Helena Mora left her estate to her son William Morris, The Troubadour Four have signed with Sam Devere’'s Company for the coming season. Martin & Crouch report a successful engageeae at the Harvest Hiome picnic at Cero Gordo, W. P. Creswell (“Bicycle Bill’’) writes under date of August 10 that he is home at Vilisca, ia.. on account of illness. Jessie Bartlett Davis made her last appearance in vaudeville at the Masonic Temple Theatre, Chicago, IL, last week. The Erwing report having received twenty-five answers to their recent ad. in ‘“The Billboard” and that letters are still coming. The Bickett Family, aerialists, have been engaged as the leading attraction for the Boone County, Belvidere, IL, Fair, Sept. 1-4. Kose & Lemon, trick cyclists, have closed with the Southern Carnival Company and will play fairs and vaudeville tirough the East. kd. Hays, musical comedian, bas filled all bis engagements in the South and will now begiu on his route through Ohio and Pennsylvania. Kelsey Moore, the comedy juggler, was cowpelled to cancel his engagement at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, week of August 9, on account of illness. : The Chamberlains, lariat experts, will sail for Amsterdam, Ho0llana, September 1, where they will join Cane’s Circus for a two years’ tour of Europe. The Great Bunker, spectacular dancer, after a successful seas.n of eighteen weeks in the Pleasure lalace with the Hatch-Adams Carnival Company, closed at Bradford, Pa. Johnnie Reilly, baton aud musket juggler, has joined the Morris & Berger Carnival Company for balance of season, opening with that attraction, July 20, at Milwaukee, Wis. Stanley & Wilson after an turonean tour yf two years’ duration will open in this country the second week in September. They Lave had great success on the other side. The Cincinnati Theatrical Exchange, now in its 6th month, is doing an exceptionally good business. The little paper the~ publish called “The Stage’ is making quite a hit. Chas. Huebner, black face, song and dance comedian is in his 15th week with Tuttle's Olympic Shows. He has signed with the Lawson Comedy Co., for the coming season. The Empire vaudeville show managed by L. M. Eirick, will not be on the road this season. All the dates have been canceled and the performers under contract will be ‘‘let.”’ Harry Boise of the Four Sensational Boises writes as follows:—Your quick action mail forwarding system is a grand success. It is quicker than getting mail direct from home. The Letepha Vaudeville Girls have just completed a circuit of fairs in Manitoba, Can., to exceptionally good business. They join Potter & Kice’s Carnival Company at Escanabe, Mich., this week. The Bey Blondin with Paine’s Ancient Rome fell from his lofty perch, 75 feet in height. while performing August 6 at Chicago, and alighted on his head. He bas recovered although his injuries were at first deemed serious. It is said that under a nom de plune, David Warfield called upon a vaudeville booking agent in San Francisco the other day and after a rehearsal of his spdcialty was dismissed as unavailable. Moreland & Wade are in their fourteenth week with Phillip’s U. T. C. company and close the engagement October 16. They will then complete arrangements for the tour of the Goldy-Wade Imperial Lady Minstrels, which open November 2. Bertha Dorian, sensational aerial artist, was engaged as a special attraction at Scenic Park, Cleveland, O0., wees of August 2, with Bellevue Park, Toledo, for one week to follow, before beginning her tour of ten weeks on the Frank P. Spellman western circuit of fairs. The Three Renos report success in their new comedy act with Swallow & Markle’s Floating Palace on the Mississipi River. Dottie Reno has become entailed of $8,000 vy the death of an aunt in Colorado. At the end of the business season she will retire for awhile. Miss Mabel McKinley, known in private life as Mrs. H. L. Baer, a niece of the late President McKinley, after a few short rounds in vaudeville, has decided to retire in deference ‘o the wishes of her husband, Dr. Baer. Her last engagement was at the Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal, Rollo Kridler, manager of the Meadowbrook Theatre at Tipton, Ohio, dissappeared recently without paying the salaries of a vaudeville cowpany which was appearing at his theatre. The Members of the company resice In New Yerk but are not able to leave Tipton, being practically penniless. Abbas Ben Omar filled a highly successful engagement at St. Nicholas Gardens, New York City, week of August 3, being the feature act with the Great Lafayette’s, A Scene in the Orient at Evening, introducing Omar in his whirling act, as well as La Belle Morquia, an Oriental beauty, who wears some gorgeous costumes. Dennis J. Grauman has resigned as manager of the Pacific Coast Vaudeville Company and of management of the house of the circuit at 7th and Market streets. The latter house will 'n the future be called the Lyceum. Grauman. however, will still retain the management of the Unique, a small continuous show-house on Market street, pear Taylor. The Pacific Coast Vaudeville Company have houses in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. Harcourt & May closed a twelve weeks engagement at The Empire Theatre, Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, August 8 When Mr. Harcourt appearance his friends and brotixr Eagles presented him with a large neh of vegetables, a solid gold watch chain, a handearved cane, a massive gold Eagle ring and a sterling silver Eagle button. The team leave to join Peck’s Bad Boy Company (Southern) to play leading parts and Mr. Harcourt will manage the stage. We have the following from Bennett's Big Show: Business continues good. We are on cur way South to winter quarters. 18 at Red Lake Falls, Minn., " 19 at Anoka, Minn.. during which time we will have toured Northern Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba. Our roster remains comparativ:ly the same as the opening week. Billy Bennett. sole owner: J. W. Sights, manager; Gibb Writt. comedian: A. R. Cuddeferd, acrobatic specialties: A. Stuart Lewis, juveniles; B. H. Doty, characters; F. C. Vernon, heavies; Jack Albred. utility and props: J. W. Sights, charactrs and stage director; Anten Assegard, musical director; S. Mauley Norris, Dutch comedian; Paul Delman, Walter Belkuap, D. R. Wamboid, Pollet he ont gene unger eR St ee =e oe . es gies one ne ae aipateen » on eaten Bee Wipe a tf: tied: iE i Bt lad hae See ae == = ee a ae i, a ists) ee leak 7 iH si Hie " Ne at Be a s At } oh ri ! ne, ee japan agen e res an omen Gor ao