The Billboard 1906-05-12: Vol 18 Iss 19 (1906-05-12)

MAY 12, 1906. The Billboard CLOT ES MAY NOT BE ART BUT THEY ARE IMPORTANT As An Adjunct to the Actor’s Finer Quality Anecdotes of Professionals Prominent in Current New York Productions— Excerpts From the Wit and Logic of Edwin Milton Royles’ The Squaw Man. By CADY HE admiration and veneration that some of the women of the stage, noted for thelr good taste in dress ing, expressed for Simcox, the Fifth avenue importer and maker of gowns od wraps led me to spend a forenoon there, a1 i 1, too, was filled with wonder and enthusiasm at the beauty of the display. Those that most impressed me were a coffee-colored chiffon—a Simcox model, I formed—trimmed with lace of the tone set in tunie effect on the skirt; above this embroidroses; pompadour medallions and a band black velvet around the bottom of the the bodice of pompadour silk was built in Louls XV. effect, lace yoke, high of white satin, band embroidered buttons, yellow was in skirt; short sleeves of lace fastened in black, while down the front were tiny ribbon bows. My attention was next attracted to a blue polka dot chiffon. It the full skirt had an Empire back; had polka dot trimming let in and outlined with wide fibre braid. The vest effect was of batiste with valencinnes lace set in and taffeta bands with hand-embroidery in blue and white finished The third gown examined was a champagne repe de chine princess, with wide lace covered with ille flowers; gracefilly of the white the cuffs and belt. wide panels of the embroidery fell from the shoulders to the bottom dress. The inevitable vest was of lace and net, in front and to the waist line in back. If one is fond of looking at women (and who is not, be his gender masculine or feminine?), one of the delights in visiting these fashionable dressmakers Ah pardonnez moi, I mean modiste artists, is in seeing the pretty models in the gowns; for they each have an array of beautiful women that the stage itself, that attracts women of beauty and charm, can not surpass. A nos moutons, the gown on the charming piece of femininity that caused my digression was of crepe rustique in pale pink tone, a modified empire in design; the back had the Empire effect to the waist line, bolero front with high girdle, vest of batiste and valencinnes lace; the long trained skirt was cut to a sloping point; this was a novelty, but the general effect was that of graceful simplicity. Their coats, too, were most luxurious ard dainty In appearance. The first one the pretty model donned was of rose silk, wide panels of embroidered lace fell over the shoulders in front and back; there was a wide lace collar and sleeves of chiffon with bands of pompadour silk that suggested Yvette Guilbert. The second coat displayed was a rose chiffon, with graduated bands of moire to match; a cluny lace and batiste collar in cape effect was buckle. To my great relief the people in this fashfonable emporium did not use the term ‘“‘lingerie,"’ for 1 have lately had that hurled at me to represent everything in white from dersses to the smallest lace medallion. I had a little Nemo dream the other night, and in my travels everything, houses, trees and boats were made of lingerie. The last coat was 4 Beer model of gray chiffon and gray cloth, with broad panel effect of esqilloped broadcloth down the front and around the bottom. Rosettes of gray velvet ribbon, with RBhinestone buckles in the centre, were placed at intervals down the front; a collar of Irish crochet lace and very full sleeves of gray chiffon over silk completed a very chic wrap. AN IRISH JOKE An Irish organization came to this country for_a concert tour and from New York went te Boston last winter, arriving there about six o'clock in the morning; they walked up town carrying their peculiar little bundles and tiny grips to the theatre where they were to play. Pounding upon the door for admittance a long time and receiving no response at that unseemly hour, they finally turned away in anger and disgust. By the merest chance they ren across the tenor of the organization, who was also thelr manager. Piling up their belongings in the middle of the street, they all began talking at once. The tenor, unable to comprehend called on one of the men to explain, who with utter disgust for our country, told of their inability to gain entrance to the theatre and the fact of their having no one to meet them. The tenor, angry over all their noise, placed bis sult case down beside their articles and in his rich Irish brogue wittily exclaimed: ‘‘And in the love of God was you expecting your mothers to meet you at the station and find you hotels to stay in! Then he picked up his own baggage and marcacd off without 80 much a8 a glance behind him. AN ACTRESS AND HER GOWNS Mme. Yvette Guilbert, who Is appearing at the Proctor theatres in what she calls chansons-crinoline, wears costumes of the pongpadour period, and as we are having a rage of pompa dour silks and vanious Pompadour styles, she is not so far from the present modes except in the matter of the crinoline. The afternoon 1 saw her her dress was of white silk, very full shirred at the waist with crinoline underneath, making it stand out stiff and full. There were full elbow sleeves and wide capelike collar falling away from the slightly low neck over the shoulders. Flowered pompadour silk bands of | embroidered satin and chen| girdle | with a polnted opening pretty young | | | dressmaker, fastened with a handsome Rhinestone | WHALEY. trimmed waist and skirt. She wore a jeweled antique brooch and belt buckle, short white kid gloves, carried a lace handkerchief and dressed her hair not in the style that we cal! pompadour, but parted with her blond curls fa)ling over the ears. But one must see and bear the inimit Yvette to appreciate the unique entertainment, the plaintive voice quality, the French mannerisms and the comical bizarse touch she adds to everything she does. She is simply Yvette Guilbert. I could not help thinking of one of our critic’s naughty, naughty comments concerning her. There is an old maxim that should be changed to “What we don't don’t concern us.”’ This recalls an incident in the life of a prominent actress, who found herself the member of a company, where the morale was not all that it should have been. Her friend, a woman in the company, besides playing her own part also enacted the one familiar to all in every-day life; viz.: that of ‘“Polly,’’ in that she talked too much. She was discharged. Afterwards the manager in the presence of the ‘ prominent actress remarked signifitly: “This will teach people to mind their business and not meddle with things that concern them.’’ The actress was the plucky kind so quickly furning around( with her Shakespearean forefinger pointed toward him and a look like Bill in The Squaw-Man gives the sheriff when he says: ‘‘Now you keep a-goin’ and don’t you stop to pick flowers’’) she said Mrs. So and So was right, wasn’t she? And she was discharged. Well, the first thing that I see improper, that is my notice of resignation to you. able see, CHARACTER IN COSTUMES The ex-theatrical managress, Mrs. Orborne, has many devotees in the profession, who think her gowns are par excellent. It would seem, however, that each actress should find her own as every one of these has an inof style. and they sometimes fail the personality of the player. A description of several Osborn gowns follows. She seems to favor for the early season black and white checks and plaids. with the use of braids on the street suits and short coats. Cne model of white serge in short-waisted Eton style has a wide panel in front of skirt while the remainder of it ds side-plaited. The neck is eut im pointed effect. This, the bottom of the jacket, the short sleeves and the full skirt are outlined with white braid in a modified Grecian pattern. With it is worn a black chip bat, trimmed with black moline and two long white plumes. Another is a black and white check very short Eton jacket, close fitting circular skirt and full sleeves to elbow. In fact, nearly all dresses are now made with short sleeves to permit of wearing the long gloves so much in vogue. This model is outlined wherever possible, around the bottom of skirt. on sleeves and around the neck with parallel rows of black braid. dividuality to sult THE P. W. L. The Professional Woman's League, a club composed of actresses, writers, singers and performers, while a worthy charitable organization as well, is often the the butt of much good-natured ridicule. A short time ago Richie IAng had promised his wife, Lottie Faust (she of the Sammie Song fame), that he would sing at one of the dramatic meetings of the League, and he inadvertently told a friend of his in the same company that he was going around to sing for the “cats. The friend, thinking it a good joke, told bis better half, who happened to be an officer of the P. W. L., 80 by the time Mr. Ling appeared to fill the engagement there was such a throng of women around bim demanding an explanation that he narrowly avoided being scratched and clawed in very truth At present it is the time of election in this Woman's club. They employ the Informal ballot and evidently some of its members do not take the matter very seriously, for some of the returned ballots read as fol lows: For Sewing Committee, Mme. Modjeska; for Visiting Committee, Ellen Terry; for Refreshments, Mme. ete., ete. Bernhardt, IN THE SQUAW-MAN In the blunt matter of fact speeches of the wild and wolly Westerners in The Squaw-Man there was much philosophy and good advice delivered. in strong aleopathic doses. One quotation suggests the treatment some wives, who abuse their privileges, need; viz.: Tabywana, the Indian chief, father of Naturich, who fs married to Jim Carston (William Faversham) tells the latter: ‘“You spoil Naturich, a squaw must be made to obey; you must be big chief.’’ Another ts a suggestion for husbands: ‘The sentimental man causes more trouble than the selfish boor."’ And this one hits the beef trust between the eyes, when discussing the poor price paid for cattle sold from their Wyoming ranches, the prices of meat going up and the packers having things all their own way, one of the ranchmen remarks: ‘Hell, I guess I'll join the ministry.”’ What could have been a happier coincidence than the fact that Easter Sunday was the seventy-elghth Birthday of the much-beloved grande dame of the stage, Mrs. W. G. Jones, who as there was no place in ‘“‘Never, Never, Never Land,"" with Maud Adams, ts a long needed rest at her home in West Thirty-seventh street, New York City. She was the reciplent of many presents and tokens of remembrance from friends, including several of forty years’ standing, who sent messages of affectionate esteem that touched her heart deeply. By the way, Mrs. Jones has had an interesting and eventful life. Her father, an English gentleman, a graduate of Oxford, was bandmaster In the British army and her brother was a British soldier. With her brother de serting and her father resigning (he was a paid member of the army) she fled in a yacht to America when seven years of age, land ing near Camden, N. J. Mrs. Jones says the people were quiet and brotherly in those good old days. They were assisted in their search for employment and her father soon became director of the orchestra at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, and she made her debut with Junius Brutus Booth playing The Duke of York in King Richard III. She next played child parts with the Stock Co. of Boston, of which Mr. she later married, was leading ing this engagement and their both became members of the Co. of the old Bowery Theatre lia, New York. It was while that Mr. Jones died, leaving her a widow at the age of twenty-two with three small chililren. She was all but crushed by her great sorrow, and the problem of life tl fronted her. The same strength of ind indomitable will that she has ever s} Peter Richie Jones, whom man. Follew marriage they National Stock now The Tha playing there earried her safely along, however. She played with the Booths, Charlotte Cushman, Joseph Jefferson, the Wallacks, G. and G. C. Fov, and the Buffalo Bill *“‘May Cody’’ com pany. She originated Eliza in G. C. Howard's Uncle Tom’s Cabin Co. and has been with nearly all the actors and actresses of the p.¥sent day, sharing honors with possibly one or two as the best ‘‘old woman” of the present She is the same genial, kind, gentle woman as of yore, and when I bade her good-by, re marking: “‘You don’t know how glad I am to find you so well, Mrs. Jones."’ she replied “‘God be praised I have a wonderful amount of vi tality left.’’ PERCY HASWELL’S PLAY Miss Percy Haswell appeared at Albaugh’s Theatre, Baltimore, Maryland. Monday even ing, April 23, in a fantastical comedy. It is unnamed and the author was not divulged; however, an announcement was made that $x) would be given to the person choosing the most appropriate title for it. The bill is quite novel and unique, and to ask the public to christen a play makes it very interesting. BALTIMORE, MD. Miss Perey Haswell in a Fantastical Comedy. CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY. Elspeth Tyrell .............Percy Haswell John Greatorer ............ Robert Warwick Willian Levenson, Malena’s husband... eesinvese ds ceviiccnaoden Regen Hughton Kenelm Paulton ............ Lionel Adams Malena Levenson, Elspeth’s sister...... jdt: wgathad thebdhigadanwed Libyl Klein Harriet Phelps, her aunt........ Alice Leigh Eleanor Levenson, Will’s sister........ 6ecuccuessqunngatncceneed Alida Cortelyou Mais GES ccccacccacesesed Agnes Everett Dally Demis .ccccccccccese Barbara Clemett Adrian Tomkyns ............4 Allan Fawcett CHARACTERS IN THE DREAM. John Hodgson, known as Reformado SE wdc cacsheodes esses Robert Warwick Will with the Flather..... Regan Hughston Kenelm Pawlet, the Lord of Strange OO > cncecccccedeceacedacs Lionel Adams Tompkin, the Tapster........4 Allan Fawcett Hubert, Lord Strangevon’s man........ cedhitts thus e6an Geneetes John Lee Buckley Wat, Lord Strangevons’ man....Guy PiMlips Sir John, a clergyman........ Harry Deigh Wines SGN ccc ccc ccccsesecces Sibyl Klein Goody Phelps, of the Red Swan.Alice Leigh Blimce Tylmey.....ccccesee Alida Cortelyou Mother Gillaw .........-..++4 Agnes Everett DED dda cenwécseqedanecces Barbara Clement Lady Elizabeth Tyrrell...... Percy Haswell SYNOPSIS. Act I.—The Levenson’s Studio, Kensington, London, Mid-summer eve 1903. Act IIl.—The Red Swan Inn, June 1603. The Dream. Act IIl.—Strangevon Castle, June 1603. The Jream. Act IV.—The Levenson’s Studio, eve 1908. The story of the play deals with a young American girl, who goes to London to visit relatives. She makes a pilgrimage of the town, visiting all the quaint old spots that bear traditional history of centuries ago. She has quite a penchant for the days of the swashbuckler and the cavalier. Her mind teems with the adventures of romantic novels and it was interesting to her to visit the traditional scenes of the past. She arrives home in the evening after a strenuous day of sight-seeing. and is much fatigued. Her aunt forces her to retire, and it being a mid-summer evening, she was told that if she made a wish, it would be granted. Unfortunately her wish, as told in the dream came true. In it she imagines she is the heroine of a romantic story and she expects her hero to be of the D. Artagnan style, a man who can en Mid-summer gage six men in a fight. and come forth in great victory. She is disappointed, for the man whom she bad selected as her hero re fused to fight when attacked and she charges him with cowardice. A man of noble birth appears, and carries her away with him to his eastle. She imagines him to be her real hero. While at the castle she receives her lover secretly. and he is discovered by her noble Lord; is captured, taken out and flogged. She is forced to marry the nobleman in the presence of her lover. who is lying prostrate on the floor from the effects of the thrashing. While she is talking to her husband, the lover slips up from behind and kills him. He then, being very weak from the flogging, dies in her arms In the last acts she awakes and realizes that she has been troubled with a terrible nightmare and resolves that she will give up her romantic notions, and never again make pilgrimages into traditional history. The play abounds in many humorous and com feal situations and affords a pleasing entertainment. It is quite in start to finish, and even verges on the classical. The THE JUGGLING WHEELERS The Juggling Wheelers have an act that is a novelty, and it has proven a big hit in vaudeville. The Wheelers are very versatile performers and have put into their act some juggling, singing, talking, cycling and a great deal of comedy. It is a good all-round act for any bill. dream in the second and third acts seems like a modern production of the Mid-summer Night's Dream, and the characters, like The Taming of the Shrew. Large and enthusiastic ‘audiences were present to enjoy the novel come. In regard to the company, it seemed like old times, when Albaugh’s was formerly known as Chase’s Theatre and Miss Haswell was at the head of the stock company bearing her name for three seasons. The players that support ber in the new play, with a few exceptions, were former members of the stock company. Miss Haswell was at her best in the new role, for light comedy seems to be suitable for her charming personality. There were numerous scenes in which she appeared to advantage and won great applause. Robert Warwick had many opportunities in which be acyuitted himself satisfactorily. Regan Hugh ston who is well known, was accorded a hearty reception. Miss Agnes Everett displayed her versatility to advantage. The company, as a whole, rendered excellent support ait! was well received. SYLVAN SCHENTHAL. SECURE ALICE SIT-BY-THE-FIRE Alice Sit-by-the-Fire will be put upen the road next season under the direction of Sweely, Shipman & Co., who last week purchased from Charles Frobman the sole dramatic rights te the successful Criterion Theatre production. Who will be seen in the leading role has not been announced by these enterprising managers, but they promise that an actress of note will appear in the role created by Miss Barrymore. Sweely, Shipman & Co. will also direct, in addition to their numerous other theatrical enterprises, during the months of May, June and July, the New Zealand tour of Mme. Von Finkelstein-Mountford, who has met with such splendid success in New York and elsewhere in her costume lecture, entitled The Shepherds of Palestine. : WE ARE ae IN EUROPE, 3 oo +t Washington, D. C., Apr. 22, 1906. Editor The Billboard. Dear Sir—The Government Band of Chiloecco, Okla., Indian contemplating * + an European tour during 1907, is now eagerly sought by European agencies in response to a general advertisement of our band, appearing in the recent special number of The Billboard. Having some open time, I inserted an advertisement display. in your splendid number, and immediately received replies from park managers all through the United States; and am now in correspondence with them. I was surprised, I must confess, to receive a letter from a London manager who desired to take the band through Europe and requested that I write him fully. This told me The Billboard’s influence was sweeping far and wide, but this impression was clinchen when I received another letter from a different firm in another country of Europe asking for practically the same information. I have received other letters from BPurope since, and the home letters continue to pour in. The Government Indian Band of Chilocco is composed of thirty full-breed Indians representing about eighteen different and distinct tribes, and every member thereof is an enthusiastic, studious, and I may say artistic, musician, striving every day of his life to perfect himself in his music. This is one of arms the Government has education of the American InHe naturally enjoys music, and truly wonderful the progress the Indian has made in music since its introduction in the Indian schools. This + + : summer the band will visit the leading and for our sat the strongest in the dian. it is parks of the ocuntry. isfactory booking list I want The Billboard full credit. Thanking you for kind consideration, and with best wishes, to give I am, Yours respectfully, LEM H. WILEY, ManagerDirector. 18 Grant Place, Washington, D. C.