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

6 ‘ The Bi liboard MARCH 17, 1906. THE STROLLER. H. SOTHPRN has at last hit upon the right key to bring down the Amer ican audience with Shakespeare. Heretofore, theatregoers have attended Shakespearean performances with a long face and an apology, and stars ranging from first to fourth magnitude bave handled the Bard of Avon with sterilized gloves, the audience possessing a fear that it would not present sufficient courtly reserve while the object of its attention, the player, was swamped in a too earnest endeavor to be intellectual. Might we not say that both were unatmospherical. Sothern, however, has caught the right grip en the mysterious Bard, and is showing us the error of our former conception, meanwhile establishing a new era in American Shakespeare. His production, giving the theatrical Napoleon due credit, of course, of The Taming of the Shrew is the best example of the change of heart. Sothern’s make-up! Surely had not the playsills announced that it was Petruchio one would not have erred in taking the character, in appearance, for Joe Weber in The Squaw-Man’s Girl of the Golden West. But Joe’s gingerbread revolver couldn’t be forced into making half the noise that Petruchio’s whip does, and perhaps Joe could not vociferate so eloquently but he wouldn't take more notice. A bucking broncho, a high-horned saddle and a lariat are noticeably absent, but Petruchio lets loose about everything else in wild west fashion and things go with a rush and a bang that almost invigorates and enthuses one to the point of going on the war path. Thongh somewhat subdued by a strained ankle Miss Marlowe must also be given credit. She did manage to stamp her other foot occasionally, to throw books and such missiles, and to do other things that probably Ada Rehan never dreamed that Kate would do, but Kate did. . . . Sarah Truax would have the public attend church Sunday morning and the theafre Sunday evening. This theme furnished the actress her subject for an address before a_ recent meeting of the Actors’ Church Alliance in Chicago. Though apt to excite a sombre frown and to bring from the clergy a bitter denunciation because of the proposed curtailment of the Sunday service, the proposition commends itself for consideration more particularly at this time when many state and municipal authorities are threatening the Sunday theatre. What a happy state of affairs might we not enjoy were the plan put to the practical test it deserves. In the first place, it would undoubtedly relieve the unnecessary and unnatural aversion now existing between the church and the theatre. Many, many people because they consider do not attend church that there is a_ welldefined mandate against their attending both, and vica verse. The condition is the result of a mutual misunderstanding. The pewgoer hears the theatre denounced, and, adopting a one-sided view he considers it improper that he partake of theatrical recreation. The playgoer learns of this denunciation, and he in turn bars the church. Thereafter the sermon and the play sare heard and seen by distinctly separate audiences. The public has not learned to properly mix religion and recreation. Were it possible to bring about a change and to establish the slogan: “‘Church in the mornfing; theatre in the evening,’’ thereby sanctioning the theatre to the churchgoers and the church to the theatregoers, there would be more people at the Sunday morning service and the patronage at the Sunday evening theatre would be correspondingly heightened. Theatrical recreation and religion are twin diversions, and should go hand in hand. Both should be properly mixed and each cherished GRACE HAZZARD As Contrary Mary in the western Babes In Toyland Co. | should make a suecess in his new undertaking. and maintained with the zeal that promotes pa| triotism. The habitual theatregoer is necessarily one sided; the habitual worshiper is considered a crank. The person who enjoys both the sermon and the play is by far the best | citizen. . . . j Wm. A. Brady doesn’t intend to be crucified | upon the cross of criticism, nor will he permit to be pressed upon his brow the crown of theatrical thorns, nor will he allow himself to be | backed by a newspaper. In fact, he has declared against all critics of whatsoever color or stripe, and he is going to dish out his theatricals upon their merits and the first | critic that interferes he will challenge to a' twenty-round ring bout with the Marquis of | Queensbury rules governing, or not governing, | as he feels disposed. Critics, he says, drove | Fanny Davenport to the grave and made Grace | George weep. That’s right, William, sink or | swim, live or die, survive or perish, but by | all means pay no attention to the critics, who | would make fools of us. | THE STROLLER. THE FRIEDE GLOBE TOWER | taste in NOCTURNO’S PREMIERE Given In Baltimore Before An Appreciative Audience—The Clansman Causes Stir—Other Baltimore News. Nocturno, a comedy in one scene by Leo. Dietrichstein and Percival Pollard, was given its premiere at Albaugh’s Theatre, Baltimore, Md., Feb. 26, as a curtain raiser, preceding Before and After. The cast: Mrs. Hamilton of New York.Jean Newcombe Mrs. Potter of Peoria, Ill..Minnette Barrett The TONNER 6.ccccccsacecs Leo. Ditrichstein Baar ee John Daly Murphy A PolleemMaR. «.cccsses Geo. C, Boniface, jr. Place—Home of Mrs. Hamilton, Upper Fifth street, New ‘York City. The piece The story is art, wus well acted and well received. that of a burglar of cultivated who, accompanied by his valet, TEE ean KR t x <. FF i = a) +e, OS ry Ze » “s -729 FEET HICH CONEY ISLAND NY. fA eyroerr Gneinser SAMUEL M ARCHITECT AND The Friede Globe Tower, to be erected at any like structure ever designed lease has been signed and the steel construc next spring, 1907, before there can be any mission, but we are assured that tractions at Coney Island, Samuel M. Friede, its designor and inventor, has already created several amusement devices of practicable and profitable possibilities, including the revolving steel tower now in operation at Coney Island. tion of the proposed structure, but by scrutinizing the above cut, a fair idea of its magni tude und colossal proportions can be gained. for amusement purposes. interested in the venture to make the construction of the Friede Globe Tower will be one of next season's at TOW E. SLEYEROOW Amo PyrErE SOretATEO ARCH TECTS FRI Coe CESIGNER Coney Island, will be a striking departure from Sufficient capital bas already been the tower an assured fact. The land tion has been started under way. It will be hope of putting the structure into public com Lack of space forbids a detailed descrip ST. JOSEPH, MO. Walter Van Dyke has disposed of his five years’ lease on the Lyric Theatre te Mr. Littrell of the Orpheon Circuit, and, beginning March 11, this theatre will open as a popularpriced vandeville house under the management | of Frank DeAtley, who formerly managed the | Casino Theatre at Lake Contrary Park. Mr. | DeAtley Is an experienced theatrical man. and Walter Van Dyke has leased the New Lyric Theatre at Omaha, Neb., where his stuck company opens a two months’ engagement beginning March 11. Walter Armin, who has been handling one of the leading roles with the Van Dyke Stock Co. has about completed arrangements for the purchase of the old Uniqne Theatre lease. The building will be remodeled. making an up-todate playhouse, where a first-class stock company will hold forth next season. Fred. Mardo, booking agent of the Empire Circuit, with headquarters at the Crystal Theatre, Denver, Col.. was in the city recently, and reported business very good in the west. Zelleno, the Mystic, made us a pleasant call during his engagement in the city. JESS. J. WAGNER. enters a house on Fifth avenue at 3 o’clock in the morning. When he is about to cut a famous picture from its frame he Is caught by Mrs. Hamilton and her friend. The three sit by the fire and chat, one of the ladies having meanwhile sent in a secret alarm, to the police. By the time the officer has arrived the ladies are so impressed with the burglar that they allow him to escape just as the curtain descends. CONCERNING THE CLANSMAN Ever since The Clansman has been on tour It has caused much discussion in this elty, and when the play reaches here March 12 there may be trouble. J. J. McCarthy and Henry MacMahon have taken quarters at the St. James Hotel to prepare the way for the Dixon attraction. When it became known that they were connected with The Clansman the waiters refused to wait upon them. The head waiter volumteered the information that an organiszation known among the negroes as the Constitutional League forbade them serve anyone who is on speaking terms with Mr. Dixon. Ada Mitchell, of Baltimore, was recently . promoted to the part of Iolota in The Mayor of Tokio. She har a fine contralto voice, and has been wonderfully during her three yeare upon the stage. MARY HALL Who has been engaged for a six weeks’ engagement in stock at Robinson’s Opera House, Cincinnati. Wm. F. Rife is recovering from the effects of a sprained ankle. THEATRE WILL BE BUILT James L. Kernan and Geo. W. Rife have returned to Baltimore from Cincinnati, where they attended the meeting of the directors of the Empire Circuit. Mr. Rife stated emphatically that the new theatre would be built in Baltimore, the directors having thoroughly discused the matter. The site has not been definitely decided upon. Florence Bindley fainted several times during the Wednesday matinee, but she pluckily appeared at the evening performance. The Three Lamazes took the place of Seymour and Hill at the Maryland Theatre. Mr. Hill was injured in an accident at Moore’s Theatre, Portland, Me, Jobnny Jones, a well known Baltimore median, is scoring a tremendous hit over Keith Circuit. HONORED FLORENCE BINDLEY A large theatre party of members of the Royal Arcanum attended the performance at the Auditorium Theatre, March 2, in honor of Florence Bindley. The receivers of the Lyric Theatre will soon take steps to ascertain the legal significance of the lease on the property. The receivers are adverse to selling it. Friends in Baltimore of Viola Allen received cards last week announcing her marriage to Peter Edward Cornell Duryea of Louisville, Ky. The presence of Frank D. Bryan at the Maryland caused a stir in local newspaperdom. The announcement has been made from Minneapolis that Mrs. Anthon Dahl Kofoed was granted a divorce. She was formerly Anita Carroll Mactavish, a young society girl of Boston. She was attracted to the stage and beeame a member of the George Fawcett Stock Co. which was here several seasons, and she later went to Minneapolis with the company. There she met Mr. Kefoed, a musician, and they were married, afterwards going abroad but disagreeing and separating. SYLVAN SCHENTHAL. cothe THE HOEFFLER CIRCUIT The Hymera Theatre at Hymera, Ind., was formally opened by the Jack Hoeffler Steck Co., Feb. 26. The theatre cost $20,000, and is owned i a stock company composed of Hymera people. The new theatre is one of the new circult of twelve which Jack Hoeffler is establishing, and which will je known as the Hoeffler Coal Town Circuit. The booking will be done from the Lyric Theatre, in Terre Haute, Ind. A new theatre will be opened at Brazil sometime in September. A new one is also planned for Clinton. NEW ONE FOR STERLING Ground has been broken for a new $12,000 theater in Sterling, Kan. The house will be modern in every respect; will be on the ground floor, heated by steam, lighted by electricity and will seat 1,000 people. ‘In fact, it will be one of the best theatres between Hutchinson and Pueblo. The large dressing rooms will be provided with hot and cold water, and there will be smoking and toilet rooms, The house is being built by Geo, A. Morris, to whom the citizens of Sterling have given a bonus of $2,500. Geo. R. Bassett, of the Auditorium, is interested. FISH SECURES MARY HALL In sccordance with arrangements completed last week, Mary Hall, the well-known leading lady now playing an engagement with the Empire Stock Co., Boston, will open a six weeks’ spring engagement at Robinson’s Opera House, Cincinnati, beginning early im April. Miss Hall is a Cineinnati actress, and formerly played with the Pike Stock Co. Managers Fish have been negotiating with her for some time, but Mise Hall’s Boston engagement made it impossible for her to appear in Cincinnati before April. [er first appearance will be in @ revival of La Tosca.