The Billboard 1906-03-17: Vol 18 Iss 11 (1906-03-17)

MARCH 17, 1906. The Billboard sare Lonaon Rialto a \. By C. C. BARTRAM. N a late trial the London courts could not agree as to whether or not a Gibson girl is an actress, but a far more important point has been settled; namely, that a Gibson girl is eligible to the peerage. Miss Eva Carrington made The Catch of the Season, while appearing in a play of that name at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, and has just become Lady Clifford by marriage to an Irish Lord. He is tall, handsome and chivalrous, and did not waste much time, as he proposed in a motor car and they were married within six days. Baron Clifford’s fatalistic family motto: ‘‘What will be, will be,’’ must have led him on. Manager Seymour Hicks refers to her with fatherly interest as one of the best girls, and the Bluebell Co., in which she formerly ap peared, feels very proud of the match. Lord Clifford’s line stretches back through the Wars of the Roses. He is twenty-one and his bride is nineteen, STAGE GIRLS ATTRACT IRISH Irish peers seem fond of stage beautles, and this is the fourth who has married one of late years. First the Earl of Clancarty wedded Miss Belle Bilton, of the London music halls, Next the Marquis of Headfort yielded to Miss Rosie Boote, who caught all London with her singing of Maisie from the Gaiety stage. Not long after the Earl of Clonmel! married Miss Rachel Berridge, also an actress. Since 1724 sixteen peers have married ladies |; which he of the stage, the very latest being Lord Ash| burton, who followed by marrying Miss Frances Donnelly, an American actress, in Paris Feb. 19. She is young, blue eyed, and exceedingly pretty. The happy couple proceeded to Bordeaux, whence they go to Marseilles and later to South Africa. NOTES OF PLAYS The Superior Miss Pellender did not attract all the town to the Waldorf Theatre, and has been superceded by a welcome revival of Goldsmith’s comedy, She Stoops to Conquer. All were well pleased. Poor old Goldsmith sleeps in St. Mary’s Chureh, Inner Temple. He is mentioned so much in English literature that many forget he was born in Ireland. The Little Stranger, so successfully boomed on London, had a preliminary run in the provinces, and its “infant phenomenon’’ is probably the same it had up country. It is a cutious coincidence that Clarissa’s Troublesome Baby, a story which appeared in The Smart Set four years ago, is now being dramatized in America. This fiction treats of baby reincarnation, and is probably the hidden fountain-head whence the London drama bloomed. It is said H. B. Irving will in time produce a historical play of Charles IX., which his father had intended to produce, but finally left as a legacy to his now famous son. POLITICAL PLAY FARES BADLY An Alabaster Staircase, produced Feb. 21, at the Comedy Theatre, was received with respectful cordiality, but it did not evoke enthusiasm. It touches on the dangerous theme of politics, and its hero changes from Royalist to Radical, after recovering from a dangerous fall on his plutocratic alabaster staircase. ’Tis said that babies have no sense till they fall out of bed, and so the impact on his marble Stair seems to knock new sense in his head. Losing his gorgeous Tory views, he visits East End factories, docks, emigration agencies and the haunts of bitter poverty, wrestling with deep economic problems. The play is somewhat lacking in plot, vitality and dramatic Situations, and the farcical characters made the main hits. At the Nero professional matinee there was heavy applause from a crowded house, and Mr. Tree was called forward. ‘‘I feel certain,’”’ he remarked, ‘“‘that we have appreciated your JOHN P. HILL John P. Hill, whose likeness appears above, is this season appearing in a novelty, a tabloid version of Rip Van Winkle. He makes of his sketch a complete and interesting play, giving all the important characters and the principal events of the well known play. The act is full of comedy and pathos, and is refined and high-class in every feature. Mr. Hill is ubly assisted by Miss Laura K. Hill and company. Lord Clifford’s example | applause more than you our play.’’ The house would not have that, and there was another mighty shout of approval as the speaker re tired. When It Was Dark, the late religious novel. answered by When It Was Light, has been dramatized, The reverend adapter wished to address the Kingston audience on the Resurrection, but was suppressed. The Lyceum came to his rescue, and so next Sunday the Rev. Forbes Phillips will lecture there. The hundredth performance of The Indecision of Mr. Kingsbury comes soon at the Haymarket, and Mr. Popple of Ippleton will reach its one hundredth performance at the Apollo next Wednesday, when new features will be added. The Blue Moon soon eclipses at the Lyric, and they say its successor will be quite a new sort of play. Despite long runs, London managers always keep provided against a change in the public taste, and constantly have something up their sleeves. On Feb. 16, when A Mid-summer’s Night Dream reached its one hundredth performance, Manager Otho Stuart gave every one in the crowded theatre a souvenir match-box. MUSICAL NOTES Safonoff, who leads the London Symphony Orchestra Feb. 22, does not use a baton, and says: ‘‘Formerly musical conductors used to mark time by thumping the floor rythmically with a long wooden pole. Then Spinton! came and adopted a sort of long cane with conducted his orchestra. In more recent times conductors like M. Lamoureaux and Colonne made use of the thin bator we now see, and which in course of time will disappear altogether.’’ The Carl Rosa Co. finds, by a ballot test which it uses on tour, that the public’s favorite operas are Tannhauser and Fanst. Though of late years The Marriage of Figaro and Beethoven's Fidelio are much appreciated. MAR TINA Mar Tina, the American Jap juggler, has been touring the middle west this season with Much success, producing a refined, new novelty act that must be classed by itself. So great has been his hits that Mar Tina is tpoked for many return engagements next season. During the summer months this performer will appear ; with the John Robinson Shows. | ' The cost of convicting the musical King’’ and his five companies was £50,000. Though New York pays its chorus and small part ladies engaged in musical comedy nearly twice as much as London, a great many young women of this class are now here. They claim to like London better than New ‘York, so they stay at the loss of a few dollars weekly. The girls who pack tea for Lyon & Co., the London restaurateurs, are constantly entertained by a large gramophone, which gives the songs and musie of the stage. It is said to make them work faster. “Pirate nearly For the coming season many great musical events are due at the Crystal Palace. and the Royal Opera season at Covent Garden starts May 3, continuing twelve weeks. The fund for the widow of George Le Brunn, the late song writing genius, has reached £3,500. PERSONAL ITEMS The projected H. B. Irving season at Drury Lane has fallen through. Leo Dryden has married Miss Ada Colley, the noted Australian vocalist. Miss Vesta Tilley still retains the tiny suit worn on her first appearance at Day's Music Hall, Birmingham. Richard Warner, the agent, lately celebrated his fiftieth birthday with a big dinner at the tric Club, receiving very valuable presents, | J. W. Cragg, of the world famous acrobats, was lately shaving in Glasgow, when a stray shot fired by some reckless individual entered the room, just missing him. the matter in charge. | Chung Ling Soo is making a tremendous hit ‘in England, and has money to throw at birds. He is a showman from the heels up, and the way he scatters paper and lithos astonishes a)l the natives. Seymour Hicks will soon open at the Aldwych a museum of theatrical relics, including many souvenirs of Irving. The small charge will go to theatrical charities. In a magnificent silver service presented to the engraving of a tiny tree. Mr. Tree has succeeded trustee of the Neilson fund. Henry MUSICAL BERGERS| These two boys are wonders on novelty instruments. Last season was their first on the }road. They scored heavily with the Hagenbeck Shows, and have been re-engaged for this coming season with the same organization. Their musical talent will no doubt bring them to the top in their profession. Nat Goodwin has fitly chosen Washington’s birthday to begin the run of The American Citizen George Edwardes has just been to Vienna to |}see The Jolly Widow. He was delighted, and | will show this comic opera in English. | By the last accounts Mrs. Brown Potter had not succeeded in selling her name to Mrs. B. | P. No. 2 for £250,000. REFUSED TO SELL COLISEUM It has been stated without diction that Mr. Stoll was approached by the Covent Garden Syndicate some time ago, but | refused to sell the Coliseum to it. | The Coliseum is already talking about its pantomime for enhCttsirm shrdlu shbrdlu shrdlu pantomime for next Christmas, and it is almost decided that Cinderella shall be the subject. The Times says that the Empire’s version of this pantomime is ‘‘for the moment, the most | beautiful stage entertainment in London.”’ The Seala Theatre re-opens in March with The School for Husbands. | The London Philatelists at one of their late gatherings produced a clever little sketch in one act, written to amuse stamp collectors, entitled The Lady Forger. At Hengler’s Cireus Signor Sacco has passed his thirtieth day of fasting and has lost 45 pounds. He is very weak, but plucky, and hopes to hold out fifteen days more. J. Shil laker (Mr. Answers), who started with him, collapsed after nearly one hundred hours, during which he lost five pounds. contra | DECATUR, ILL. Marian Drew (Leah Leiberling), a former Decatur girl, is now playing with one of Courtney’s stock companies. The company left for Cuba last week. Dr. J. E. Fitzgerald, will be with the Goll The police — | | | | | . . } arrived in this city Feb. 2, Beerbohm Treet the centre of the plate bears | spe |} On this trip he brings with him |} Feb. 2, at the Criterion Theatre. AUSTRALIA LETTER. By Dr. W. H. Lane. USINESS at Her Majesty's Theatre has been extremely heavy during the past few productions. The Girl From Kays finished its engagement Jan. 20, and Veronique was produced on the 27th entry | for the first time in this city. G,. Knowles, accompanied by his wife, and will open a Palace under the management of J. C. W illlamson. During his f-rmer visit “Mr. Irving as a/| Knowles established himself as a firm favorite | with Australians and his reception promises to be a cordial one when he opens on the 10th. an entirely new and up-to-date monologue entertainment and illustrates his stories by the aid of moving pictures. He states that he has over two thousand pictures and is constantly adding to his collection. The Charles Holiday Dramatic Co., management of Edwin Geech, under the closed its season During their | stay they produced The Two Vagabonds, Rogues jentire company sailed for Auckland, | | night | Neweastle also | nightly. } company will go west for a season. Mr mar Bros.’ Show the coming season in the ca| pacity of press agent and orator. The writer wishes to acknowledge the re | views are very realistic. ceipt of The Circus Magazine, which tells the | | story of a successful season’s tour with the Great Floto Show. est houses of the season, while recently playing at the Powers. Walter Walker and Lida MeMillian were conspicuous in their parts. The Gingerbread man attracted a 8. . O. house the following evening. It is an excellent production and satisfied immensely. The management of Shipp’s Indoor Circus reports a banner week at Greene’s Opera House, Cedar Rapids, Ia., where the company did record business. Ed. Hart, who has been electrician and kinodrome operator at the Bijou Theatre since last October, left recently with his wife for Brooklyn, N. Y., where their home is located. Mr. Hart will furnish moving pictures for several resorts at Coney Island the coming summer. PERCY 8. EWING. The College Widow attracted one of the larg| of the Turf a.d Shall We Forgive Her? The N. Z., on the 7th, and will tour New Zealand. THURSTON CLOSES Howard Thurston, who is also under the able management of Edwin Geech, closed his Season at the Palace Theatre and sailed for Hobart, Tasmania, where he met with much success, playing to capacity during his tenengagement. His three-night stay in brought immense results He opened in Brisbane, Queensland, on Feb. 3, and will afterward go to Manila, P. I., thence to China and Japan. He gives a fine enter tainment, and is entitled to success AT THE CRITERION THEATRE The Brough-Fleming Co. opened at this house Feb. 3, and they are proving great favorites. Packed houses are the rule. PREMIERE AT THE PALACE Messrs. Mynell and Gunn opened at _ this theatre on Jan. 27 In The J. P., with Dallas and Miss Florence Lloyd in the leading roles. Miss Lloyd is well sulted for leading parts, and she is ably supported by Mr. Dallas and an excellent company. Business, however, was not half what it should have been, and in consequence the play was withdrawn Feb. 2 and There and Back was substituted. This was the premiere production of this play and it drew capacity business. H. J. Wile is general manager of the company while G. H. Barnes is business manager. The latter desires to be remembered by his many friends tn the United States. PANTOMIME AT THE ROYAL Enormous business is being solicited at this house, Sinbad. the Sailor, the Christmas pantomime, with Miss Marie Campbell as the principal, has gone with a vim and snap. Much of the success of the production is due the wonderful work of stage manager Richard Goodall, whose Americanized ways are always apparent to the average observer. The muste ts delightfully tuneful, and is sure to make a big hit. Julius Grant is looking after the front of the house. Edw. Lang is to preduce for Wm. Anderson Weber & Field’s Hoity Toity, Fiddle De De and others for six months. He will then return to London vie America after an extended tour through Australia, Manila, China and Japan. THE TIVOLI’S BIG BILL Manager Harry Rickards is giving his patrons more than their money’s worth in the way of a variety show. Eleven turns are given in the first part of the entertainment. Then comes an interval of five minutes, which Is followed by eleven star acts in the second part. One and all receive munch praise. Mr. Rickards himself has been singing at least three songs Some of the excellent acts on the bill are the Jackson Family, a refined musieal act: Lotto, Lili and Otte, England’s champion trick and comedy cyclists: Albright. in a sparkling act: Urqnart Mackinnon’s Celebrated Seotish Meisters and Highland Comedy Quartet; Sisters Warner. acrobatic song and dance artists: Post Mason. the American baritone from Burlingten, Vt.: Mlle. Ada Cerito, a bright and jolly comedienne: Carleton and Sutton, song and dance specialists, and last, bit not least, Leeds and Lamar in a very eccentric boxing act. QUEEN’S HALL HAS MOVING PICTURES Rickard’s Urbanora Co. has held the boards for the nast two weeks, and it finished its season Feb. 3, owing to previous bookings Bh icKards has one of the finest moving picture machines which he purchased in London, while there, recently. This is one of the ‘feature attractions of the hall. LYCEUM HALL C. Spencer’s American Theatrescope Co. has solicited excellent returns during its engagement at this honse, which is now completely changed. Mr. Spencer has a‘ fine collection of films and an excellent machine, and all his After leaving Sydney he goes to Manila. P. I., and gradually up the coast to Queensland. Mrs. Spencer is the machine certainly knows the fine points in the ness. Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker, professionally known as Hill and Whittaker, sailed for England from Freemantle, W. A., on The Brittania as did Roy Sloane. the Boy Glen All have been under Mr. Rickard’s management. DANIEL FITZFERALD DEAD The smiling face of Dan. Fitzgerald will be missed by many of the boys. He died in this city Feb. 3, and will be buried at the Waverly Cemetery. Feb. 6 Mr. Dan Fitagerald was the senior member of the firm of Fitzgerald Rros.’ Cirens. The Billboard extends to his family and relatives its deep, sincere condolence in their loss. The writer kindly requests that all performers and artists eine Se should see that the tage is fully prepaid. a Australia, Feb. 24. eperator and bust