The Billboard 1906-04-14: Vol 18 Iss 15 (1906-04-14)

j , J APRIL 14, 1906. The Bi liboard _ become the rage In this city. ST. LOUIS, MO. ff Jasper, advertising manager of the Grand ons Heese, will control Havlin’s Hotel and eatre. It will be conducted for the profession, as it has been heretofore. John G. Sheehy, manager of the Grand Opera House, left this city recently to join the Hagenbeck Show as treasurer. John Fleming succeeds him at the Grand. O. T. Crawford, manager of the Gayety Theatre, returned from West Baden, recently, where be greatly improved his health. Leo McManus, of Paterson, N. J., will assume the position of treasurer, at Forest Park hlands, this summer. , = summer parks in this c!ty wlil again conduct a free gate this summer. Grace Van Studdiford will be the soloist at The Alps during the opening week. Manager Walker will book the best bands in the country to play in conjunctlon with his string orchestra of sixty pleces. Manager Lew Sharp precented his patrons with another select vaudeville bill last week. Mabel Hite was a star featnre from etart to finish. S'dney Grant and Walter Jones also pleased. Geo. Hecker, manager of the Globe Theatre, will shortly begin vast improvements on his house. It will be greatly enlarged, as it ean not accommodate the business. Mr. Hecker books only the high-class performers. Marvelous Marsh, of the Western Booking Exchange. reports his new venture a success. He has booked seven acts for the Talbot's Fighting the Flames, and a lke number for thé big carnival at Springfield, Mo. Erlinger and his band are about to start thelr summer tour, which embraces some of the leading parks of the country. Each member is a first-class musician, and the uniforms are — Dan. Fisherr will manage the ban Geo McManus, a St. Louisan, will have his famous sketches of Panhandle Pete put on the stage in playform at Atlantic City in a few weeks. = Plunker, of Liebler & Co., will manage the production. Jas. Harrington will assume the title role. Amelia Bingham has signed to play a stock season at Suburban Park. Mr. Oppenheimer is putting forth his best efforts to get productions. ; Walker Whitesides has closed his season. He spent April 1 in this city. Miss Florence Easton will retire at the close of the Savage Grand Opera Co. Mise Blanch Ruby, of Winterset, Ia., will succeed her in the cast. Fred B. Crow has just closed his season with the Shay Opera Co., and leaves this city for Little Rock, Ark., where he will manage the Majestic Theatre, a recent addition to the Interstate Cireult. John McDowell, also of this city, will act as treasurer. Mason & Co.’s Show, which Is organizing In this city, will open April 16. It will be a one ear tent show. The St. Louts Amnsement Co. and Film Exchange will place a stock company at the Woods Opera Honse {n Sedalia. Mo. Vandeville numbers will also be featured. This how, ever {2 only one of the houses they Intend to place on thelr cirenft. Mr. Vinecat. of the Selle-Floto Shows. !s enenfing a week tn St. Lonfs. He states that the shore’s ronte ts almost completed and a big seeson fe aeerred. Tt fe rmmored locally that W. P. Hall cleared f410.9M with hie horse chow fn Arctralia this winter. Most of hie etock {[{« eal? to have drought exceedirely hardsome fienres \ monster eolleenm fe to he nrofected tn this elitr on the atte of the old historic Thrice Cove, Tt te eald that the cost will be $1,000 mn and that horse shows, etc., will be cartieé on. Chas. P. Salisbury will he Col. J. 1D. Honkin’s firet asstetant at Forest Park Hichlands thte enmmer. “The park has heen greativ fmnroved and the Istest end moet expensive attractions = Inetalled. The admisston to he cherred this season fe a new denarture but the eaded attractions will offset this matter, !{t !* thardht. Wm. Soink. the well-known newepaper man of thte cfty, will he business manager of Mantow’e Park thie enmmer. Edw. Shayne will do the hooking for the theatre. Stmon. Gardner end Co. proved an Immense Mt at the Colmmbia Inst week. At this all the other numbers were abore par. Rusiness fs fine at this honse. Refore and After, the new clever comedy. — the big crowds laugh at the Garrick Iast week, The Western Booking Exchange have set the fate of the carnival at Springfield. Mo., back one week. It will now occur during the week that brings pay-day at most of the factories SF fact makes the outlook extremely right. Pugene Staats, advertising agent of the Gartick Theatre, has created an immense amount of comment owing to his excellent and artistic advertising on the blank walls. Roller skating will be featured at all ontdoor amusement resorts this season. It has WILL J. FARLBY. TAMPA, FLA. The theatrical and amusement season, as far as traveling shows are concerned, !s practleally over down here, for after this month no read shows of any kind come this way. The season has been a most prosperous one for all oncerned, and not a complaint can be heard inywhere, at least not from managers who came here with meritorious attractions, whether played at the Casino or under canvas. Good ows are alwaya welcome down here, and good ol patronage can almost be guaranteed, it bad and inferior shows will surely go to ‘he bad, as has been the case with several of them during the past season. The Metropolitan Theatre does certainly enjoy the distinction of being one of the lead‘¢ and best combination houses that can be found south of the Mason and Dixon line. It plays drama, comedy, vandeville and bur‘esque. Prop. Lynch is sparing no expense in making his house malntain the reputation that he has made for It, as he has engaged the best vaudeville artiste obtainable, who get from twh 'o six weeks of good time and perhaps longer. ‘ccording to their popularity with the patrons of this honse, Manager Ed. Lawrence is cer‘alnly deserving of great credit for the sueeess that thie honse enjoys, for through his “nUring efforts it has risen to great popularity. bu It {s an all-the-year-round house, and vaudeville performers can secure engagements here at any time. gene every evening except Sunday, and no matinees. Florida has certainly got the roller skating craze in earnest; rinks having been opened in Orlande and Sanford, and = = every one of them doing an immense business. Annie May Abbott, ‘‘the Little Georgia Magnet,” played to a crowded house here at the Tampa Bay Casino, March 29. Her ‘performance is simply remarkable, she being possessed of some unknown power that is not within the limits of the human brain to conceive. She easily lifts ten men, but ten men can not lift r. The next Florida State Fair will be held in Tampa next January, 1907. All the officers during the last fair were re-elected, including Thos. J. Brown, president; T. C. Taliferro, treasurer, and F. Huffaker, secretary. The Board of Directors will include Gordon Kellar, J. Mack Towne, Dan Wiggins and Henry Giddens. Adolf Gongalez is still with us at the Metropolitan, being now in his 35th week at this house. At a laugh-provoker, he is certainly a star and he is, without a doubt, the most popular performer that has ever played the Metropolitan. ‘The patrons of this house show their appreciation of his earnest and clever work by continuous applause at his appearance every performance. Her Lord and Master, by Ado!f Gongalez, was played to very good business at the Metropolltan week of March 26. The principal character, Barnaby Bibbs was in the bands of Gongalez, and his acting of the part was excellent. Other members of the stock company who did well in their respective parts and who are deserv KANSAS CITY, MO. Louls W. Shouse, ) manager of Convention Hall, announces that the big auditorium will be kept open during the hot months. Mr. Shouse is busy engaging attractions for the summer, and, if past successes are of value in judging the future, the next few months should prove profitable ones for those fortunate enough to secure time at Convention Hall. Fred. Waldmann, manager of the Majestic Theatre, is highly elated over the success attained by his house during this, its first season, as a burlesque house. The Majestic is in the Columbia Amusement Co.’s wheel, and all the local wiseacres predicted a losing season for the first season. he reverse has been true, consequently good feeling reigns in the Columbla camp. Mr. and Mrs. 0. D. Woodward are in New York City combining business with pleasure. The organization of Hale’s Fire Fighters is nearly complete. It goes on the road in the near future. CG 8. &. ERRATUM In an advertisement that was printed in the Special Spring Number of The Billboard, the types caused Ned Pedigo, of Preston, Kan., to state that he would send a copy of his new book, With a Bum Show Out est, to anyone who would mail 25 cents or ‘‘stamp.’’ The ‘‘s’’ was omitted from stamps, and the ad. should read that the equivalent of twentyfice cents must be sent in stamps. SWISHER 'S THEATRE, MURGANTOWN, W. VA. ing of special mention are Ed. Lawrence, Walter Parker, Marie Warfield, Justie Hartzel, Pansy Wier, Lottie Vernon, Margaret Claassen, Mamie Burcaw and Agnes West. The big masquerade ball held by the theatrical employees recently was a big success. Wm. G. Lynch, owner of the Metropolitan, was floor manager, and Johnny Smith, stage manager of the Casino, led the grand march. Will is, musical director of the Metropolitan, had charge of the orchestra. The Florida State Circuit is progressing nicely, and it is hoped that arrangements will be made to give the state some good attractions next season. Your representative at Tampa will conduct a booking agency for the purpose with offices tn the American National Bank Bullding. The Bull Fighter drew big houses to the Metropolitan week of March 19. The principal | characters were taken by Ed. Lawrence, Adolf Gonzales and Walter Parker. Lillian Palmer and Florence Houston, new members, presented a pleasing specialty between the acts. All the inducements set forth so far can not Interest local capital in the amusement park proposition, and it is feared that the two beantiful sites—RBallast Point and DeSoto Park —will go unheeded this summer. It was rumored some time ago that there would be something doing at Ballast Point, owing to the fact that Thos. J. L. Brown, president of the Florida State Fair, had assumed management of the place, but up to the present time nothing has been done. This town is wild for an amusement park. Prof. Averill ts again giving us his moving picture display on the public square. MANNY NAVARKO. The Nelson Family will play parks and fairs this summer. A JOHANNESBURG THEATRE It is now some twelve years since the Messrs. Hyman opened the old Globe Theatre in Johannesburg, S. A., as the Empire Palace. It was only about twelve months back that this go ahead firm of South African amusement | providers took over the handsome new Tivoll Theatre at Cape Town. Not satisfied with this |; extension, they are now building, and will } open on May 14, what is considered to be one |} of the most handsome places of amusemert in | the world, the plans of which were drawn up | by Edgar H. Hyman, after a tour of the Continent and America. This new Empire that is being Dullt will be In the heart of Johannesburg, standing on an entire block, bounded by Commissioner, Market and Kruis streets. The architects are Messrs. McIntosh and Moffat, and the building contractors Messrs. Gabriel and Ballentine. On the ground floor of the building xtensive fauteuils and orchestra stalls are pro ; on the first floor are the boxes and the dress circle, and on the top floor a magnificent gallery. The eighteen boxes are reached by a special entrance of their own. The building will be entirely fireproof. | The whole of the Interlor decorations will | be in fibrous plaster, and the scheme of coloring {s green and gold, while the bar fittings and the whole of the woodwork inside the theatre will be tn Australian cedar. The main ; extrance on Commissioner street is of white marble, 25x35 ft.. and opens into a magnifi| cent crush-room, fitted with every convenience. The building will be carpeted with a specially woven Wilton carpet. The fautenils and boxes will be furnished luxuriously. On each floor have been fitted up very handsome promenades, lounges and bars. The ceiling decorations will consist of handsome freseoe and friezes In panels and will be lighted with 25¢ hidden lights, arranged in such a way that they will cast a reflection over the whole theatre. The t of the boxes are arranged with 100 lights in a similar manner, by which means a beautiful effect is obtained of the ceiling. The lighting will be somewhat of a novelty for Johannesburg, as Nernst lamps will be employede here for the first time. Over fifteen hundred incandescent lamps will be requited in the whole building, while there will be arelight outside and seventy Nernst lamps for the foyers and bars. The stage and dressing rooms are being fitted up on the latest principles, and each of the latter is supplied with hot and cold water, a suite of furniture and all are carpeted. The installation is being carried out by Mr. A. Chester, A. I. E. E., the cona? se belng Mr. Ferdinand Saunders, A. I. EB. EB. Mr. Hyman has further studied the comfort of the artists by having a handsome Green Room fitted up at the side of the stage for thefr exclusive use while waiting their turn. Particular attention is being devoted te the ventilation. Large fans will keep the temperature the same all the year round, fresh alr will come through devices in the fioor and the foul air will be drawn up by two immense fans ip the roof. The building and ground are costing £120,000. The ground will seat 400 people, the circle 275, the gallery 300, and the eighteen boxes from four to seven persons each, whole of the seating throughout the building is | a in handsome embossed Green Pegamold. The furniture is being manufactured by Messrs. Gordon & Co., of Birmingham, and the handsome silken curtains and tapestries, which are costing over £1,000 are also being supplied by this firm. The scenery is being paint by Messrs. Francis H. Bull, of London. The whole of the furnishings, were selected by Sydney M. Hyman, the London manager of the “Hyman Circuit,’ and it is largely due to this gentleman that Johannesburg will have such a beautiful and up-to-date theatre. The attractions for the first magnificent program include Miss Ada Reeve, who has been engaged at the biggest salary ever paid to an artist in South Africa. ODDS AND ENDS Miss Lena Lacouvier, prima donna soprano with the New York Stars Co., has added the new song, My Billy Boy (dedicated to “Qld Billy Boy’’) to her act. Miss Lacouvier sang this song second and writes that owing to the great demand for encores, she has been compelled to sing it for her last song. She predicts great things for this song. Willis S. Holt, The Billboard’s correspondent at Lowell, Mass., and formerly doorkeeper at the Hathaway Theatre in that city, recently sustained a dislocation of one of his shoulders in a fire in that city. Bernard L. Wallace has taken the lease and management of the Webb Theatre at Peru, Ind., and he proposes to play one firstclass attraction a week. Peru is a thriving town and the new factories will increase patronage at the theatres. It was erroneously reported by The Billboard recently that the To Die at Dawn Co, had closed. This company is now playing to good business in Missourl and Illinois under the direction of L. A. Hunt. The talking sign erected by Manager Pedlay, of Evansville, Ind., to advertise the Grand and the People’s Theatres, is proving a big hit. It extends over the entire width of the street. The English company playing The Title Mart, a dramatization of Winston Churchill’s latest story, disbanded in Boston last =a having been on the road but a few weeks. Rasburgh & Maurice, of Lafayette, Ind., have purchased the Grand Theatre at Peru and the theatre at Huntington, Ind., and will operate them under the name of The Family. Josi Cavanyer, the bandit, who twenty-five years ago was the terror of Hungary, has arranged to tour the world under the management of an English showman. The Twentieth Century Vaudeville and Kinodrome Co. closes its winter season March 31 at Lawrence, Kan. Their summer season opens April 6 under canvas. Samuel D. Merrill, now with the Eben Holden Co., will be leading man this summer with the Vallamont Stock » at Williamsport, Pa. Wagenhals and Kemper closed their The Woman in the Case Co., at Gloversville, N. at March 12. An excellent season is reported. The new drop curtain in the Grand Opera House at Evansville, Ind., is a beauty. 4. work was done by N. J. Paulback, of St. uis. John Griffith closes his season of thirty-eight weeks about April 21. Next season he will appear in Richard III. and Macbeth. The new Roland Theatre, at Marion, Ili., will be completed in July. Morris Kemp will open it in September. The Lyceum Comedy Co. will play right through the summer, being booked up in the parks and at fair dates. Manager Harry Bronson will convert the Coliseum Theatre in Terre Haute, Ind., into a popular priced house. A stock company will hold the boards of the Shubert Theatre, Milwaukee, Wis., this summer. Miss Alexandra Carlisle has been making a hit in London as Nat Goodwin's leading lady. Howard and Luider opened last week in a new act at Freeport, Ill., and scored a success, Juniper and Heyes joined the Bennett-Moulton Co., March 12, at Rutland, Vt. The Under the American Flag Co. is booking park dates for the summer. Del-A-Phone is creating something of a sensation en the Coast, The West Comedy Co. will remain in Colorado all summer.