The Billboard 1905-06-03: Vol 17 Iss 22 (1905-06-03)

6 The Billboard ZIEGFELD’S ENTERPRISES Florenz Ziegfeld has been a’ busy man since going abroad. He has arranged for an appearance in London of Anna Held in a revival of her American successes. The engagement will last three months. Mr. Ziegfeld is negotiating with the management of the Moulin Rouge, Paris, which he will run on American lines. On May 20 he signed papers for the appearance of Grace Van Studdiford in England. France and Germany for the season of 1906-07. Miss Van Studdiford will be supported by an American company and The Red Feather will be her vehicle. It is probable that she will also appear in a new opera. There are also reports about a visit which Mr. Ziegfeld took to Monte Carla, recently, and over which he is very joyous. His press agent doesn’t claim that Flo. broke the bank, but he asserts that he made a big dent in it to the tune of about $129,000. PLAYHOUSES, The Elks of Danville, Ky., are planning the erection of a new $18,000 opera house. Mr. Harry Gerson has taken the Management of the opera house at Titusville, Pa. Manager J. Frank Head of Hot Springs, Ark., spent a few days in Newport, Ark., last week. Fred. Martin, treasurer of Staub’s Theatre, Knoxville, Tenn., has gone to Montgomery, -Ala., to manage a summer park. Mr. Butterworth, formerly of the Buster Brown Co., will book the attractions for the new theatre to be erected at Cumberland, Md. The Opera House and the Park Theatre at Youngstown, Ohio, will be improved ng summer to meet the requirements of the w. Ira Joseph is fast making friends in the box office of the Central Theatre, San Franos where he is the able assistant of Mr. orne. Manager Ellsworth of Iowa Falls, Ia., has been chosen secretary and treasurer of the Elisworth Hotel Co., which will build a new $40,000 hostelry at lowa Falls. A stock company is to be organized at Hedrick, la., for the purpose of buying the Methodist church at that; place and remodeling it into an opera house. The Grand Opera House at Augusta, Ga., bas been leased by J. C. Tuggle, who will open the resort June 5 with vaudeville. It is a new venture, but prospects are bright for @ prosperous season. Work on the Lyric Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa., which has been stopped for some time, is now being pushed with vigor. It looks now as if the house would be ready for the opening early next season. The Grand Opera House at Winfield, Kan., has been purchased by Messrs. Williams Newton and W. J. Nunn from the Eastern Loan Co. for $12,000. Mr. E. R. Byers will continue @s manager of the house. Contracts have been let for the construction of a new theatre in Altoona, Pa. The house will have a balcony and gallery and will seat 1,800 people when completed. I. C. Mishler is financing the enterprise. The Academy of Music at Cumberland, Md., will probably be improved during the summer season. The theatre is owned by the city, and it is understood the new council will give the matter considerable attention. ~ Betts’ Opera House at Pulaski, N Y., has been leased by the Amity Club for a year. Dr. M. J. Terry is acting as manager. Last season the house was under the management of the Pulaski Social Club. The Family Theatre at Anaconda, Mont., has been added to the Star Circuit, having been leased by the Montana Amusement Co., composed of C, Morton Coan as president and H. M. Peckham as secretary and treasurer. Eenry Cahen, secretary and business ‘nanager of Fischer’s Theatre, San Francisco, Cal., is on a trip east. He stops over at Salt Lake City to take in a theatre for the Affiliated. He will also arrange for a house at Kansas City. Mr. Geo. H. Davis, manager of the Central Theatre, San Francisco, attended the opening of Mr. Belasco’s new playhouse in Portland, Ore., May 27. During his absence Mr, Jas. W. Horne, the treasurer of the Central, had charge of the house. The Blinn Theatre, Frankfort, Ind., ili not close its doors for the summer, but ill remain open, a list of attractions having en booked by Managers Langebrake & Hufford. he season just closed has been the most successful in the history of the house. While on his way frorn Toledo to New York, Mr. Frank Burt stopped at Youngstown, Ohio, to discuss with Manager R. BE. Johnson and W. H. Park matters relating to the Park Theatre. They are considering the proposition of putting on summer opera at the Park. The Empire Theatrical Corporation was incorporated recently by Edward Acerman, Wm. A. Weston, Il. H. Wise, Hal A. Curtis and W. Q. Tiffany. The object of the mew incorporation is to enlarge the Empire Cireuit, which is now booking seventeen theatres. The Marlborough (Mich.) Opera House was formally opened May 17. The house is well equipped and its stage appoinments are said to be as complete as that of any theatre in the state. After a dramatic production the villagers were entertained with an informal dance. Wallie Mack will manage three theatres this summer, presenting vaudeville and burlesque. They are the New Gayety Theatre, Revere Beach, Mass.; New Gayety Theatre, Nantasket Beach, Boston, Mass., and the Gay ety Theatre, at Nantasket Beach, Mass. They open June 10. It is reported that the Davis Opera House at Bourbon, Ind., will be torn down. Several weeks ago an alley wall collapsed, leaving only the frame work inside the veneer. A committee was appointed to investigate the conditions and they reported that the house was unsafe. It is comparatively a new building. Samuel Loverich, president of the Affiliated Western Vaudeville Circuit, was recently presented with a gold watch by Tony Lubelski, Henry Cahen and Paul Friedman, all of Fischer's Theatre, San Francisco, Cal., as a testimonial of the esteem in which he is held, and his excellent management of Fischer's Theatre. Mr. L. M. Luchs, manager of the Auditorium at Marietta, Ohio, has leased the Camden Theatre at Parkersburg, W. Va., acd taken possession of the same. Manager Lucas has had the Auditorium Theatre for nine years and has conducted it very successfully. His many friends are sanguine over his obtaining the Camden, and predict for that house a successful future, EASTERN WHEEL ADDS ANOTHER The Eastern Burlesque Association has secured another house. L. 4 Crawford's Fourteenth Street Theatre in St. Louis is the latest acquisition. George J. Kraus, president of the Eastern Assocition, writes that the organization of which he is at the head now controls thirty first-class burlesque theatres playing standard attractions and that it has the option on several more western houses, the contracts for which will be signed within ten days. MINSTREL. The Larimore Greater Minstrels will close its season June 17 at Denver, Col. The company opens again in September. Curry Howard’s Minstrels under canvas opened their season May 15, at Dubuque, la. Messrs. E. 8S. Baker and Will F. Gardiner, the well-known showman, are associated with Curry in the venture. BURLESQUE. Miss Frisky of Fresno is the name of a burlesque presented at the Weber Music Hall in San Francisco, Cal., week of May 20, with a large cast of well-known people. Art. C. Boshell, advertising agent of the Star Theatre, Minneapolis, Minn., who made himself a general favorite the past season, has left that city for New York where he will make his home. It is reported that John W. Isham’s King Rastus Co. closed suddenly at Springfield, Miss., after a week’s engagement of good business at the Nelson Theatre. The manager is said to have disappeared without leave, evidently well equipped for a long summer vacation, having failed to part with any of the week’s receipts. ENGAGEMENTS. Clem Bevius and wife, Edith Hart, have signed with The Errand Boy Co. for next season, Frank R. Field writes that he has been engaged for advance next season of the W. C. Ware In Old Virginia Co. The following people have been engaged by the Al. Fresco Players Co. for the summer production of As You Like it: May Stewart for Rosalind, Archibald Hotchkiss for Orlando, Joseph Lehmann for Touchstone, Ralph Marthy for Silvius, William F. Pharr for the Duke and Lemuel B. C. Josephs for Jacques. Mr. Josephs will also act as stage director. The performances will be in the open air. COMPANIES CLOSING. The Davis-Driscoll Stock Co. closed its season at Newbern, N. C., May 13. The Chester DeVonde Stock Co. closes its season at South Norwalk, Conn., June 3. The Whittlesay Co. recently closed its season in Oakland, Cal. Mr. Whittelesay has gone to San Francisco. E. J. Carpenter’s A Little Outcast Co. closed a very successful season of fifteen Co. closed a very successful season of forty-five The J. S. Garside Big Stock Co. closed a season of one hundred and fifty-six weeks at Clearfield, Pa., May 13. Mr. Garside and wife, Emma Warren, are at their home in Ohio, taking a much needed rest. Their next season opens in September at New Castle, Pa. The Miller Brothers’ Co. closed recently in Cedar Rapids, Ia. The season lasted forty-three weeks, the last ten being over the Chamberlain & Harrington Circuit. The roster was as follows: J. M. Miller, manager; Leonard A. Emmert, stage director; F. Cogshall, stage manager; Geo. Vale, advance agent; Geo. C. Hill, musical director; Monte W. Lewis, Harry Edwards, Master Drew LaBeau, Billa Miller, Burdie Bardrum, Phrona LaBeau and Mina Griffin, who has successfully played leads —— ee SHUBERT’S LONDON THEATRE The new Waldorf Theatre which has just been completed for the Messrs. Shubert was opened, May 22, with every sign of success. Owing to the illness of Mme. Calve, that well known personage was unable to appear in Cavalieria Rusticana, the much announced opening bill, but Fernando de Lucia appeared as the star in I Pagliacci. De Lucia made an excellent impression and the opera was beautifully presented. The house was filled, every one of the 1,700 seats being occupied. There was considerable curiosity attending the opening of the Waldorf owing to many American innovations introduced. The seating arrangements are upon American lines. There is no pit on the lower floor, but all the seats are stalls and sell at a guinea ($2.50) each. There are only four boxes and the front row of seats in the balcony sell at fifteen shillings ($3.75) each. The advantages of the new arrangement and the beauty and convenience of the house is admitted by Londoners who, as a rule, are adverse to such innovations. The decorations are in rose du Barry and the house is lighted beautifully. VAUDEVILLE. The Maple Leaf Trio are still in the west playing to good business. Laura Burt is to enter vaudeville in a comedy sketch, entitled Stop Thief, written for her by Edmund Day. Fred. K. Schale, buck dancer, is now with the Lewis Vaudeville Co., being one of the features of that organization. The Flying Dunbars have been engaged as a special feature for the opening of Paragon Park, Boston, Mass., June 10. The Sloanes, sketch artists and vocalists, write that they were a big hit week of May 22 at the Phillips Theatre, Richmond, Ind. Toreat and D’Aliza, after playing nineteen weeks on the Affiliated Western Circuit, are booked over the Sullivan & Considine circuits. The Marvelous Shields, comedy wire artist and hoop roller, writes that he has signed with the Mason & Dixon U. T. C. Co. for the summer season. Elmore, mimic character artist, has finished his engagement over the Lang Circuit and is now playing the Empire Circuit, California, with success. Godforth and Doyle write that they are meeting with phenomenal success in the middle west presenting their new comedy act, entitled The Military Maid. Rawls and Von Kaufman have closed with the Freeman Fiske Co. to play parks. They will appear in their sketch, entitled Mush, and have some good time booked. Kardel and Zhardna, “Original Spectacular Creators,’’ report that they are in their tenth consecutive week on the Lang Circuit and are meeting with success. The Great Kinsners opened upon the Lang Circuit at East St. Louis, Ill, May 22. They go to Australia for Harry Richard, Nov. 15, for a fifteen weeks’ engagement. The Angelua Theatre, Los Angeles, Cal., opened May 8 with the following bill: Gus Leonard, Wills and Collins, The Three Masqueras Sisters, Angelus Quartet, Ralph Wray and Billy Onslow. Manager Grauman of the Unique Theatre at San Francisco, Cal., has organized a vaudeville company playing the circuit including Vallejo, Napa, Benicia, Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Healdshurg. Cc. Cuvier Dury and Miss Margaret Ackerman, who have been in Cincinnati the past winter, leave for New York shortly. They will appear next fall in their new sketch, entitled The Folly of a Friend. Edwin R. Gillett, of Milwaukee, Wis., has recently joined the vaudeville ranks. He is doing a song and dance specialty in a blackface makeup. He is booked for an eighteen weeks’ tour of the western states. A. W. Furst, formerly of the Cineograph, San Francisco, has sent out a vaudeville company which will play a circuit of coast towns, including Auburn, Grass Valley, Venada City, Carson, Virginia City and East. Arthur Godkin, manager of the theatre at Mississimus Park, Marion, Ind., reports capacity business for his resort. Among the performers there week of May 14 were Churchill and Simons, Clifford and Stevens, Hatch Brothers and the Godkin Trio, Harry Burns opened his summer season at Ebner’s Park, Burlington, Ia., May 29. Harry writes that his summer time is nearly all filled, as well as some dates for next season. He contemplates a European tour, beginning September, 1906. Claude Ranf, wire performer, has about recovered from his injury recently received at the Family Theatre, Butte, Mont., where a heavy jack fell upon his head. Several stitches were taken in the scalp. He is now playing the Crystal Circuit. Billy and Tillie DeWitt played the Odeon Theatre, Dayton, Oblo, week of May 15 with Lima, Obio; Richmond, Ind.; Springfield, Columbus and Norwalk, Ohio, to follow. This team joins the Swallow and Markle Floating Palace at Parkersburg, W. Va., the latter part of June. During the performance of Howard Thurston at Fischer’s Theatre, San Francisco, Cal., his assistant, Ione, who is hypnotized, collapsed while eight feet above the stage and was precipitated to the hard floor. She sustained several scratches and bruises, though no perminent injuries. Lewis and Herr have played twentysix weeks in California. They go north, thence to Chicago, where they have a year’s solid booking. Mr. D. J. Grauman, the well-known vaudeville manager of Frisco, says that Lewis and Hert are the greatest colored musical act that ever played the coast. Milton J. Crandall, of Fulton, N. Y., who is making a summer tour with a vaudeville show, was recently presented with a gold life membership card by the lodge of Elks in that city in recognition of his vaiuable services in arranging a minstrel performance for the benefit of the lodge of which he is an enthusiastic member, Fields and Hanson, comedy musical team, write that they have been headliners the last twelve weeks on the Considine Circuit, and are meeting with success at every stand. The Fields and Hanson management has always been right up to the minute. Their name has become a trade mark for all that is bright, worthy and amusing in modern minstrelsy. TOO REALISTIC FOR MAYALL Mr. Herschel Mayall, leading man for Miss Florence Roberts’ company at the Central Theatre, San Francisco, Cal., was injured by too severe a blow on the head inflicted by the villan in A Human Slave who uses the butt of a revolver to accomplish his purpose. The actor staggered, but regained his consciousness in time to save himself from a complete knockout. An ambulance was called, but upon its arrival, the victim of realism had sufficiently recovered to proceed with the play. MUSICAL, James Quinn, of the musicians’ union at Youngstown, Ohio, attended the Detroit convention. To Henry W. Savage belongs the record of having produced eighty-two operas in English. Adams’ Humpty Dumpty Co., under canvas, drew big crowds for three performances at North Adams, Mass. Miss Anna McLaughlin, long identified with The Wizard of Oz Co., will not be a member of the cast next season. After a very successful season in the orchestra of the Miss Bob White Co., Albert Barber is spending his vacation in Hagerstown, Md. Cosima Wagner's suit against Heinrich Conreid, growing out of the American production of Parsifal, has been discontinued by mutual consent. Ysaye made a profound hit in San Francisco where he played to crowded houses. The people of San Francisco became very enthusiastic over the singer. Miss Elizabeth Voelker, daughter of a prominent business man of Dubuque, Ia., is the composer of a new two-step, entitled Spring Is Calling. It is becoming very popular in the west. Miss Nellie Lynch, who has been so successful in The Tenderfoot this season in the role of Sally, goes to San Francisco where that piece has a summer run. She will appear in her old role. Pauline Hall returns from her trip abroad early this month to begin rehearsals of the new comic opera, entitled Frazzled Frenzied Fancies, which Mr. Geo. W. Lederer will produce in July. Janet Priest, of the Maid and The Mummy Co., has gone to Maine to spend her vacation. Her mother and sister, Gordon, & recent recruit to the profession, will join her in the northeastern state. Joe Cawthorne, whose season in Mother Goose recently closed, has gone to Asbury Park, N. J., in company with his wife, Queenie Vassar. They will remain in that summering place ten weeks. Peter J. Smith writes that he has just closed a very successful season of twentyeight weeks at the Main Street Theatre, Peoria, Ill., singing illustrated songs, and that he has been re-engaged for a season of thirty-five weeks. Mme. Lillian Blauvelt has signed a six years’ engagement with Manager Fred. C. Whitney. Next season she will appear in 4 comic opera by Charles Emerson Cook and Lucius Hanser, entitled The Rose of The Alhambra. Prof. Thomas, leader of the orchestra at the Grand Opera House at Dubuque, Ia., will be given a benefit concert June 5 at the Grand. Owing to failing eyesight it is feared that Prof. Thomas will be forced to give up the leadership of the orchestra. Klaw & Erlanger will next spring produce in London The Pearl and The Pumpkin, which opens at the Broadway Theatre, New York, next September. The spectacular production will be taken intact to the Druiy Lane Theatre after its New York run. Misses Effie and Anna Conley of the Tenderfoot Co. are visiting Herbert Burns at his home in Hagerstown, Md. After their sojourn Mr. Burns will accompany the Misses Conleys to Boston, thence to Chicago to rejoin one of Mr. Oarle’s forthcoming productions next season.