The Billboard 1906-04-28: Vol 18 Iss 17 (1906-04-28)

opera ee 10 The Billboard APRIL 28, 1906. WEEK’S MODICUM OF NEWS FROM ALL THE BIG CITIES Covering Every Class of Amusements Current and Prospected Theatrical Bills—Summer Plans Outlined—Operations of Those Who Control the Machinery of Production in the World of Entertainment. OR the first time Boston saw McIntyre and Heath with a big production of their own, when they opened at the Hollis last Monday evening. Always prime favorites when they were in vaudeville they are more than pleasing their old friends with The Ham Tree, and three weeks of good business is assured them already for the advance sale of seats has been exceed ingly heavy. ‘heir company is one of the strongest musical organizations that Klaw & Erlanger have ever sent over to us, and includes W. ©. Fields, the comic juggler, Frederick V. Bowers, the popular tenor and composer, Carolyn Gordon, Belle Gold and Forrest Huff. Andrew Mack with The Way to Kenmare is once more at home at the Boston for a two weeks run. Fresh from his triumphant tour of Australia, Mr. Mack is heartily greeted by his host of Boston admirers and his sweet voice is reaching the hearts of the ‘‘matinee girl’? just as readily as of yore. In the cast are Mae Stevenson, Annie-Mack-Burlin, Irene Gordon, Edwin Brandt, George Deyo, Albert Andruss and a host of clever people. A Yankee Circus on Mars follows on Tuesday, May 1. Daily matinees, beginning May 2, will be given throughout the engagement of a Yankee Circus on Mars at the Boston. Broadhurst & Currie are offering Texas at the Globe, and here is a play that is full of the air of the southern plans. We are being offered a lot of these western dramas nowadays, but few of them are more pleasing than Texas. An excellent cast handles the piece in a most convincing manner. Kellar, the Magician, follows. Miss Annie Russell opened her second at the Park with Friend Hannah, by Paul Kestern. Few played by Miss Russell week a new play roles that have been have been better pre sented than the part of Hannah Lightfoot, and she has a part here that is winning her many laurels. Oswald Yorke and Miss Ste vens give her excellent support. Good business. All the attractions that have held over are doing big business. Fay Templeton in Fortyfive Minutes From Broadway is turning tiiem away from the Colonial in droves. Never has she had a vehicle that pleased Boston as does Cohan’s snappy musical play, and three weeks will be too short a stay to get all that could be taken by this attractive offering. Eddie Foy, in The Earl and the Girl, is still doing big at the Majestic, and the eighty lively entertainers that are in this company aer winners. The Shuberts must be pleased when they receive their business statements from their lately acquired Boston house. James K. Hackett and Mary Mannering are continuing to draw good houses at the Tremont with Alfred Sutro’s best play, The Walls of Jericho. This is their last week and Bertha Kalish follows on April 23 with Monia Vanna. Romeo and Juliet, with John Craig and LAllian Kemble in the title roles is the offering at the Castle Square, and this magnificent Shakespearean production has been put on most elaborately by Mr. William Masson. There are seventeen scenes in all, and the scenery and costumes accurately represent the Italy of | the fourteenth Minnie Seligman as Cigarette in Under Two Fiags, at the Empire, is offering patrons of that house a veritable treat. William Bramwell, as Bertie Cecil, is also excellent. The Empire company is surely making good and this, their fourth week, finds them firmly placed in the good graces of their audiences. LeRoy E. Summer in the Boy From the West is doing well at the Bowdoin Square, being ably supported by the Lothroy Stock Co. Florence Bindley, in The Street Singer, is winning much appaluse, at the Grand Opera House. She is charming, magnetic and possesses a beautiful singing voice. Her song My Billy Boy is the hit of the performance. Next week comes The Smart Set, that big colored organization of fifty people. The star attraction at Keith’s is the Great wafayette, one of the most versatile and sensational entertainers in the varieties. He carries thirty people, and is really a whole show in himself. Others on the bill are the Barrows-Lancaster Co., Marion Garson, Avery and Hart, DeMar and Fortune, Newman and Knowles, The Zarnes, Byers and Herman, William Tomkins, Pony ‘‘Don,’’ and a big bunch of others. The Bowery Burlesquers at the Palace, the Jolly Grass Widows at the Columbia, and the Majesties at the Lyceum are giving lovers of this class of entertainment the real good. Psycho, the electric and psychic wonder, is the leading card at. Austin & Stone’s, and Powell’s Minstrel Maids are the topliners in the theatre. The bill at the Howard is another winner this week. It includes Tyce and Jermon, J. K. Hutchinson & Co., La Maze Brothers, ‘‘Sand’’ Chapman, Cerry and Bates, and a host of other live ones. The burlesquers, with Geo. B. Alexander at their head, are certainly delivering first-class goods. Boston’s great social affair is in full blast century. this week, and the horse is king. Mechani‘’ Hall is seeing the biggest and best Horse Show in its history, and society is very, very busy judging the equines—and wearing new clothes. The show is a tremendous success. The latest acquisition of the Castle Square Co. is Frederick Murray, a very clever actor. Every theatre in town gives a matinee on Patriots’ Day, April 19. A marked increase in attendance has been noted at the Columbia since the spring scale of prices has been introduced. Olga Nethersole will end her present Amer ican tour at the Colonial on May 12. will immediately leave for London. R. M. Harvey, contracting agent for the Barnum & Bailey Show, hus been in town this week preparing for the Boston engagement of this tremendous organization. The big lagoon and launch course the central feature at Wonderland vere Beach, has been dug and is nearly ready to be flooded. Manager Thompson announces that he is going to spare no expense to make She which is Park, Re the horticulture of the park the finest ever shown. It is certainly a novelty to see a half-dozen ladies racing in a large rink, and the race that was pulled off at the Roller Rink, last Tuesday night, made a big hit. There is always something new going on at this popular amusement resort, and the Saturday morning childrens’ festival, with candy and fancy dress parades are getting more and popular each week. In addition to the regular attractions at the Music Hall Zoo, the management is presenting the famous bird and dog circus owned and exhibited by Pamashasika, the great bird trainer. It is shown hourly between the hours of 11 and ladies’ Park Square FRANK C. VOORHIES. Boston, Mass. BALTIMORE, MD. Miss Maida Snyder, the dainty and talented young Baltimore actress and protege of Mr. M. J. Lehmayer, of the Academy of Music, has been engaged to appear in musical comedy in London. She appeared as Cupid in The White Cat, which was produced in New York. She has been on the stage about two years. Two Baltimore girls, who have become prominent in the profession were dividing honors in leading roles last week. Miss Emily Claire Gale, leading lady in As Told in the Hills, at the Holliday Street Theatre and Miss Forence Weston, leading lady in Marching Through Georgia at Blaney’s Theatre, were given a royal reception by their numerous friends who gave box parties in their honor. Mr. James L. Kernan was honored for the second time this season by the financial and business men of this city. He was a guest of honor at a banquet given at the Hotel Kernan, April 9. He was a guest of honor at a banquet given at the Hotel Kernan, April 9. He was tendered a handsomely engrossed set of resolutions as a token of esteem. On Dec. 7 he was presented with a handsome silver loving cup. The directors of the Empire Theatre Circuit held a meeting at the Hotel Kernan, Thursday evening, April 12, for the purpose of considering the amalgamation of the Empire and Columbian circuits. The two circuits have been in conflict for some time, and it has been found that it would be to the advantage of both sides to work together with some of the unnecessary attractions and theatres eliminated. The opposition here is between the Gayety and Monumental theatres. Many rumors have circulated recently as to the future of the Gayety Theatre, which is controlled and operated by the Columbian Amusement Co. It has been reported that Schubert Bros., and other prominent managers were negotiating for the house, but Manager Ballauf stated the reports were not true. He showed me a letter which he received from New York headquarters regarding the rumors. He said no matter what changes transpired, the Gayety will be the burlesque theatre in Baltimore and will always be operated by the Columbian interests. The directors of the Columbian company have thoroughly considered the matter, because through the Gayety Theatre they have won te patronage and confidence of te Baltimore public, and they consider it an imposition on the public to yield to the demands of their opponents. Cliff Berzac’s Circus which was billed as a special feature at the Gayety Theatre, in connection with the Rose Hill Co. was served with an injunction just before the Monday matinee on the application of Benjamin F. Keith. The court granted the defendant the privilege of applying for a dissolution of the injunction and the counsel for the defense endeavored to have it dissolved in time for the matinee, but the court ruled that a specific answer to the injunction would have to be filed, accompanied by bond for $5,000. Keith claims that in September of last year he entered into an agreement with Cliff Berzac, who was to present the special named for a term of twenty weeks, beginning Sept. 3, 1906, in theatres in certain cities and towns booked on the Keith Circuit, the consideration of the agreement being the weekly payment to Keith of $400, and also the expense of stabling ponies and furnishing transportation for seven persons. Keith further states that the agree ment with Berzac. was that the novelty was not to be presented in any place of amusement in any other city unless he gives his written consent. He claims that the arrangement to present it at the Gayety Theatre was an open violation of the contract, as it would destroy the novelty, which he unique. In speaking of this case Manager Ballauf, of the Gayety Theatre, said that he could not understand why Mr. Keith brought action against Berzac at this time. The contract does not begin until September, 1906, and he does not suppose that Mr. Keith wants Berzac to lay off until that time. Berzac has appeared this season in cities where Keith has his own theatres, and why he waits until Berzac reaches Baltimore to spring the injunc claims is special and tion on him is something Mr. Ballauf could not explain. Berzac did not relish the in the burlesque war which is going on here, and he viewed the proceedings in that light. Mr. Edward E. Rice, the famous impressarlo, playwright and manager, was arrested In New York on a charge of failing to pay hotel bills due to several Baltimore hotels. He was placed in the Tombs, but has been released on $1,000 bail. Requisition papers were signed by Governor Warfield, and a detective went to idea of being used New York to bring Rice here for trial. It was reported that he would fight extradition. Rice’s troubles dates back to Dec. 24, 1904, when he had The Shop Girl here. The company stranded here and he assumed the obligations of members of the company 8s» that they could return to New York. He went to some of the hotels and paid something on account and alt the amounts due to others, and he still owes a balance to several hotels, which he has been unable to pay. Rice sent checks in payment of the amounts but they were returned, as he hed overdrawn his bank account. The amounts due are $54.48 for the Academy Hotel, $197.04 for the Eutaw House and $138.98 for the Stafford Hotel. Messrs William Knabe & Co., the Baltimore piano manufacturers, have received a_ signal honor from abroad, having been appointed pur veyors of pianos to the Shah of Persia. The appointment was in acknowledgment of a recent shipment of pianos, and is the highest expression of satisfaction with the instruments. It establishes the Knabe as the offi cial piano of Persia. SYLVAN SCHPNTHAL. BROOKLYN, N. Y. In a few weeks Brooklyn will be ney Island have more most all of the theatres in closed for the summer. Coand the other near by beaches will attractions than ever before, and they are sure to have large crowds. The Amphion and Imperial (Old Montauk) theatres have both given uy vaudeville after a very successful season. Perey G. Williams’ Orpheum Theatre broke all records last week during the Lillian Russell engagement, the house being packed to its capacity during the entire week. The Gotham and Novelty Theatres, which are two of Percy G. Williams houses in Brooklyn, where high-class vaudeville is given, have had a very successful season. Mrs. Fiske and her Manhattan company are at che Shubert Theatre this week, and are seen in Becky Sharp. Mr. Fred W. McClellan, of the Austen-Bradwell-McClellan Co., was called to Rochester and Syracuse New York to attend to some important contracts which this company has with the large amusement park owners of these cities. Frank Fogarty, a vaudeville the Irish minstrel has opened agency at 5983 Fulton street, and makes a specialty of furnishing acts for clubs and entertainments. Thompson & Dundy’s Luna Park, at Coney Island will be entirely new this year. Every attraction will be novel and unique and up to the Thompson & Dundy standard. The park opens May 12. Nearly three million people paid admission to Thompson & Dundy's New York Hippodrome during the first year, and at present it is doing capacity business. Barnum & Bailey open the tented season on April 23, in Brooklyn on the new show grounds at Third avenue and Third street, and will no doubt do good business here. The tents are up and everything is new and fresh; the circus outfit this season looks better than ever. The old circus grounds in Brooklyn are two small to accommodate the big show. Margaret Wycherly, who plays six widely dif ferent characters in a one-act play, In Selfdefense, will be seen at Percy G. Williams’ Orphenm Theatre week of April 30. Fred Walton and his company in a first class vaudeville act will appear at Hyde & Behman’s week of April 30. Francis, Day & Hunter, th e English music house with a New York office at 15 W. Thirtieth street, have arranged to publish all the songs used by Miss Vesta Victoria, which are very popular. This up-to-date house also publishes many of the big song hits, such as Coming Thro’ the Rye, Jennie Mine, Liza Brown, and other. Mr. Sam. Gross is man ager of the professional department. Manager Edward Trail, of the New Montauk Theatre, is very much inetrested at present in experiments being made by R. Chandler and Charles <Autenrieth, the electricians of the house, who believe they have hit upon a plan by which in case of fire in any theatre the lives of the audience can, without doubt, be saved. They propose placing in different parts of the theatre boxes with glass fronts that can be easily broken when any emergency arises. An electric button can then be reached, which, when pressed, will lower the asbestos Stage curtain, close all the fire doors and open the skylights, all in a few second, thus keeping the smoke and flame away from the audience when the fire breaks out on the stage. GEO. H. HAKES. DECATUR, ILLS. The John L, Sullivan Vaudeville Co. did enormous business at the Power's Theatre week of April 9, and the had a first-class pro gram from 11:30 each were good, the week, although ers’’ tried to the week, beginning evening and they to end, which lasted until Some of the boxing bouts were the drawing card of some of the local ‘‘knockhurt the business at the end of The Bijou Theatre gave the best all-round pro gram the week of April 9 in their history. Every act was a headliner and the Mordo Trio was especially good. The bill was appreciated as shown by the generous patronage; in fact, the week of April 9 will be long remembered in Decatur as the greatest vaudeville week in the theatrical history of the city. The local firemen are, as usual, “there with the goods.’’ They have entered into a contract with Talbot's Fighting the Flames Co. for an exibition in Decatur at an early date prop ably some time in June. The entertainment will be given at the race track and for the Interest of the Firemen’s Benefit Association. The Decatur firemen have always proved themselves to be successful showmen They have done well with thelr moving pictures of the Decatur department and with the flremen’s tournament they held a few seasons ago. J. P. Brabham, of Decatur, in one year has become a first-class scene painter. He commenced work with Clarence Bennett, of The Gordon & Bennett enterprises in dye work, and is now able to do all kinds of scene painting. His first work was the repainting of the scenery of the local house, and other work came as fast as he could handle it, among which were a number of sets for Holden Bros, He has just completed the drops for Decatur’s new Masonic Temple, the masterplece being the Mounted Knight, with the Flaming Bros. in the Heavens. He is head flyman at the Power's Theatre, and is now engaged in sign work at Dreamland Park He has a number of good scenic contracts for the coming season, PRPROY 8. BWING. SEATTLE, WASH. Butler’s Merry at the Seattle Maidens did a big business Theatre all last week. Among the principals were Sam. Rice, George Johnson, Farrell Brothers, Billy Spencer, The Vans, Patti Carney, and Agnes Maher, all of whom were exceptionally good. frank Egan presented The Pirates of Penzance at the Grand Opera House Friday evening under the auspices of the State University. The play was very well put on by capable students. The show at the Star Theatre last week was novel, varied, unique and attractive in every respect. The performance opened with Luce and Luce in a novelty musical act. Torley, the comedy bicyclist, was also a great bit. Gilroy, Haynes and Montgomery had decidedly the best musical comedy that has ever been presented in Seattle. A Thoroughbred Tramp was the at the popular uptown theatre last did a record-breaking business. The is unusually strong. Without a doubt the best clean-cut comedy ever seen in Seattle opened last night for four attraction week and company performances, The Heir to the Hoorah. The interest of Seattle people, generally, in this engagement was Guy Bates Post, the leading man, a Seattle boy, who received an ovation. The rest of the company are good. Jan Kubelik’s violin recital at the Grand Opera House evening of April 22, is looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure by every music lover in the city. LEM A. SHORTRIDGE. NEW ORLEANS, LA. A Luna Park for New Orleans! Edgar I. Van Slyke, press agent for Thompson & Dundy, now operating Luna Park, is back from New York after a short visit to that city. He was engaged to select the site for Luna Park and after completing all preliminary arrangements left for the north. Col. Charles E. Bray, the Orpheum Circuit at city to inspect the local season Closes, to see if there are any needed repairs, and, if so, to provide for them. Mr. Bray will remain here several days. . Gentry Bros." Show is coming. Probably no other show of its kind receives a more cordial welcome in New Orleans. They play their snnual engagement here week of April 16. Up to the present year they have had four distinct shows on the road, but have combined all their shows into one gigantic amusement enterprise. Work will be commenced on the new Baldwin Theatre in the next few days, as all contracts have been signed. It will cost about booking manager of Chicago, is in this theatre before the $125,000 when completed, and will seat eighteen hundred people. It is expected to be finished by Sept. 1, Melville Stock Co. 1906, when the will take charge. Mr. BaldwinWal ter S. Baldwin, whom the theatre was named after, will be manager. The New Orleans Symphony Violin Quartet & Orchestra, composed of thirty violins and fifty musicians, under the directorship of Prof. Cc. Erhard Schrenk, will give their annual grand concert at the Tulane Theatre, Tuesday, Messrs. Lester Lonergan and Mortimer Snow are tendering the Confederate Veterans Reunion Fund a benefit, to take place at the Grand Opera House. The play for the occasion will be Robert Emmet. There will be vaudeville between acts. The sale of tickets has been very large. The finishing touches are being put on Capt. A. W. Lewis’ New Athletic Park, and it is beginning to look like a Fairyland of beauty. He says they will be in readiness for the opening on April 25. Henry Russell, who will select the troupe that will appear at the French Opera House next season, has left New Orleans en route to Europe, after closing arrangements with Thos. Brulatour. Mr. Russell will return to New Orleans in October, and his company will open the season in the early part of November. West End Park under the management of the New Orleans Railway Co., will open about the middle of May. MHigh-class vaudeville will be furnished during the season. Among the bidders to furnish the vaudeville for the coming season are: The Orpheum Circuit, Col. J. D. Hopkins, Jake Wells and James Corcoran. On May 12 the Cosmo Lyric Club will give a summer festival at Southern Park. The Crescent Theatre, under the management of Col. W. H. Rowles, closed the season Apri! 14, and the management reports an eminently successful season. It is contemplated that Messrs Klaw & Er langer are making marked improvements in both the Tulane and Crescent theatres during the summer months. It is announced that their intentions are to have both handsomely decorated. The actor managers Lonergan and Snow report very good business at the Grand. Manager Walter 8S. Baldwin, of the Lyric, will give A Royal Slave week of April 22. He reports capacity business as usual. Rose Sydell’s London Belles, at the Greenwald, report good business. The Bon-Tons are booked for week of April 22. The Piccolo Midgets, four in number will be the stars at the Orpheum week of April 23. Ww A. KOBPKRE, EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. Bh. J. Horrick, a St. Louls man, has opened a Nickelodeon on Collinsville avenue here, He is doing a tremendous business. The future of the place is very promising. Mr. Oscar Dane, a St. Louis star, and Mr. (has. C. Clark have leased the new Broadway Theatre from Messrs Pedley & Burch, of Bvansville, Ind. Mr. Clark is the owner of the Royal Hotel, the leadin theatrical restingplace in this city. Mr. Clark will have charge