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

20 The Billboard MAY 12, 1906. ~ New York Office, [ Broadway .. Topics 1440 Broadway. Dy, By WALTER K. HILL. HAT the vaudeville actor, as a class, most needs, just now, is a guardian for his advertising money. While it would be a good thing if a guardian could be ap — for all of his money I don’t feel at rty to suggest just what he should do with bis coin, aside from earnings which he purposes. But I do claim that I am competent to give him a few pointers on how to NOT spend bis advertising allowance. Principally deliver me from the epidemic of junk distribution which is now going on. Booking agents and managers ere being bumbarded by mail, by express and by hand with a lot of ‘“‘junk.”’ nothing more or less, which is supposed to advertise the persons who spend their advertising money in that way. Say, for instance, if Sam. K. Hodgdon, who books for the Keith houses, or J. J. Murdock, who contracts acts for the Western Association of Vawdeville Managers, would keep for one consecutive six months all the ‘‘advertising funk" which the vaudeville fraternity hurls at them, what would the debris invoice? Probably a list like this: sixty million blotters, eight thousand paper-weights, ten thou@and postal cards, countless photographs. pocket mirrors, paper-knives, puzzles, ink-wells, penwipers, pocket knives, calendars—and then some more postal cards! But they don’t keep any of this ‘‘junk,’’ if any reasonable proportion of it should happen to reach their hands. In the first place, the office boys and girls lay covetous hands Gpon all the more useful and attractive articles of value which come to the various booking offices in the daily deposits of ‘‘junk’’ from near and far. Postal cards are ‘‘promptly opened and read’’ and as quickly consigned to the waste-basket. If the janitor of the building happens to be making a collection of this style of secondClass mail matter your postal card finds fts way to his palatial residence. But the janitor don't book any vaudeville acts. And don’t be deluded into believing, Mr. VauGevillian, that the manager or booking agent is sitting back with folded hands waiting for you to send him a blotter. Far be it from thus. He uses the nice clean blue and pink sheets which come in large sizes and are fastened down with brass tacks, procured at stationery stores, and not begrimmed with gaudy words and pictures, smeared with ink to soil his fingers and make him cuss! He will keep tight on booking acts if you never send him a blotter. But what he does do is this: he gets the dramatic papers. When he has a Moment to spare, after he as cleared bw desk of the ‘‘advertising junk’? which has escaped the office boy, and, after making out a few contracts, he picks up one of the dramatic papers and reads what ‘‘the other fellow’’ has got to say this week. Then again it happens about twenty-five times a day that he needs and needs badly the address of some vaudeville actor. It may be that there is a contract ready to mail to some one; or, alas! he may want to cancel somebody’s date, but the address is not at hand, and so he flys to the dramatic papers, looks in their ‘‘route list,’’ looks through the ads. and looks everywhere he can to locate the party whom he wants to get in touch with. If his desk were knee deep in blotters, if his office was congested with postal cards, if the paper weights, ink-bottles, pin-trays, pentacks and miscellaneous ‘‘advertising junk’’ of the vaudevillian were piled high above his head, be would still turn to the dramatic papers for his deliverance. a the dramatic papers would serve him well. This he knows, for he calls upon them a bundred and fifty times a week and in almost every instance has found what he was seeking. In the weekly shift of the vandeVillian from place to place the dramatic paper fs at his heels, keeping a watchful eye upon whither he goes and how long he stays—that is, of course, if he is working? But if he is working or “laying off’’ the advertising colamus of the dramatic papers are open for use at reasonable rates. The moral is so plain that I need hardly write it down. Spend your advertising moner fn the dramatic papers, where it will do the most good, from whence you will get the quick that proportion of his sets aside for advertising Every week est returns and the surest results. Trust not fn the blotter, the postal card, or the mNfature folding-bed sent souvenirishly to the Manager or booking agent. Stick to ‘‘printers’ ink’’ done in seria! form, published weekly, and read everywhere. Pass ap the never-delivered postal card, abjure the “costs money to buy’’ trinkets and truck which you are now foolishly imagining yourself placing in the hands and upon the desks of the Manager or booking agent. Be disillusionized at once—the office boy or the janitor is reaping the harvest of ‘advertising junk,’’ which you are sewing broadcast. And you have noticed how I have refrained from particularizing, but have suggested simply ‘“‘the dramtic papers’? Have you noticed that I’ve not put the brand of foolishness upon my statements by saying The Billboard and only The Billboard? I have given you credit for reasonable discretion in selecting the medium for your newspaper advertising and having paid this rightful tribute to your good judgment, I need have no fear but what The Billboard will get its share of your advertising money. For verily, it is worthy of your confidence, and I know whereof I speak. Turn, then, from the “junk heap’’ and spend your money in newspaper advertising, Mr. Vaudevillian. And after you have given this plan a good honest trial, every week, or every other week, or, at least, frequently, for one year, you'll say to yourself and to your wife, or to your fellow vaudevillian: ‘Verily, it does pay to advertise in the dramatic papers.”’ HAMMERSTEIN’S OPERA PLANS While workmen are doing all they can to rush to completion the work upon the Manhattan Opera House, Oscar Hammerstein, its sole manager and inspiration, is planning the opening season of grand opera which shall begin on Nov. 20, next. In an interview concerning his plans, Manager Hammerstein safd last week: “The first opera will be Faust, given with a cast whieh excels even Grau’s greatest. Dalmores, released by a heavy indemnity from the Royal Opera at Lisbon, will be the Faust, Edouard de Reske will be Mephistopheles, Mme. Tettrazini the Marguerite, and Renaud the Valentine. Before New Yorkers have had time to catch their breath they will have the second performance, I Puritani, which will serve to introduce Bonci. They will see a small man, dapper and trim as a soldier. And when he sings—such a mezzo voice. When he acts— superb! ‘‘Later will come Melba. I had never seen her before, but within a half hour after our first meeting I had induced her to come. Between manager and singers there must be perfect confidence, and although the role of Grand Opera impressario was a new one for me, 1 gained Melba’s complete trust at our first meeting. Without influence, without a board of managers behind me, I had done this alone. After that the others were comparatively easy. “Of the conductors Campanari is the star. Wait till you see him in the conductor's chair. Tap! He raps with his baton, raises his hand, and his musicians obey like one man. He is a genius—not a conductor. There was only one like him—Anton Seidl. He has the authority that only competency gives. Wait! “The other singers Bassi and Alscheffski, making four tenors, all of them Carusos, to say nothing of sopranos like Mlle. D’Arta, Signora Mazunn, Mme. Gilibert-Jejeune and possibly Mme. Grandjean. “For ‘baritones, besides Renaud, there are Aneon, Mendolfi and Sammarea. For bassos besides De Reszke we have Brag, Muguinoz and others. But you shall see; you shall see! “There will be three novelties, The Damnation of Faust, by Berlioz; Lorelei, by Catalin, and Gluck’s Armide. Besides these there will be the complete repertoire of Italian and French opera, New York will have at last an opportunity to see opera which is opera. You shall see!’ And Mr. Hammerstein nodded his head slowly and went on, working over his gigantic scheme. THE PROCTOR BILLS At his four New York theatres Manager F. F. Proctor presents ideal bills for the week of May 7. The stock company at the Fifth Avenue, headed by Amelia Bingham, gives The Silver King as the chief offering for the week. There will be a brief interlarding of vaudeville to maintain the interest continously. At the One Hundred and Twenty fifth Street the stock company, headed by Paul McAllister, will be seen in Monsieur Beauecaire, and Yvette Guilbert will be a_ special vaudeville feature. At the Firty-eighth Street the usual strong bill of straight vaudeville will be offered. Ned Weyburn’s Futurity Winners will be the leading feature with Maggie Cline as an extra attraction. Selma _ Bratz, a woman juggler of much renown; Eugene O'Rourke & Co. in a comedy sketch; Tom Nawn Co., Frank and Jen Latona, and Hill and Wilson will be other attractions. At the Twenty-third Street Hope Booth will be the feature with a neat dramatic sketch to introduce her to these audiences. Horace Goldin will present his illusions as another popular offering. Maude Lambert will sing, the Hengler Sisters will dance, George Fortesque and his girls will be seen in an attractive number, and there will be other entertaining features. Takén all in all the Proctor bills are about the best in town. CONCERNING KEITH’s 4lthough spring weather is proverbially uncertain, it is always good to ‘“‘Go a-Maying’’ to Keith’s Union Square Theatre, where the best and most seasonable vaudeville bis are on view. The top of the bil is captured and held by the great Pekin Zouaves, a crack team of twenty men, presenting lightning drill maneuvres and manual of arms, with sensational wall-scaling stunts never before equalled on any stage. Scarcely second comes the famous Kauffman Troupe; Ryan and Ritehfield, present the latest of the ‘‘Mag Haggerty’’ sketches, in which ‘‘Everybody Laughs But Father’’; while Les Auberts, genuine Parisian Dancers, show a number of startling terpsichorean evolutions. Leona Thurber, with her “Four Blackbirds,’’ revels in ‘‘coon’’ songs and buck dancing, while Barry and Halvers combine comedy, music ‘and eccentric steps. The Envoy From Japan, a new one-act sketch, introduces Chas. Van Dyne and Laura Deane at their best, while Hathaway and Siegel show some neat wooden shoe dancing. These are only samples from a long and excellent program, with the kinetograph as the ‘‘cap sheaf,’’ as usual. NOTES Nellie O'Neil, once of the clever vaudeville team of Guyer and O'Neill, was sent to Blackwell's Island yesterday for six months on the triple charge of abusing her mother, resisting an officer and Intoxication. Unless some good fairy intervenes with a writ of habeas corpus, she will board out In the middle of the East River until Thanksgiving. After the close of Miss Fritzl Scheff’s season in Mile. Modiste, at the Knickerbocker Theatre, at the end of this month the house will be closed for the summer for interior Improvements. New seats, carpets and furnishings generally will be provided and the entire color scheme will be changed. The annual meeting of the Actors’ Fund for the election of officers and for the transaction of other business will be held at the Savoy Theatre on the morning of May 8. The Girl Patsy, now on the road, will be the next attraction at the Savoy Theatre. ‘The opening date has not yet been announced. The Hunter-Bradford Players are to begin their summer festival at Hartford and Springfleld, May 14. The opening bill at Hartford is The Liars. At Springtield, When We Were Twenty-one comes first. The complete lst of the players is as follows: Henry Koller, Julia Dean, Edmund Elton, Julia Booth, Walter Hitchcock, Alfred Kappeler, John Daly Murphy, Herbert Corthell, F. M. Hunter, Burke Clarke, Harry Ford, Robert Milton, Frank Patton, Jobn Wesley, John Findlay, Clarence Handyside, Arthur Hoyt, Thomas E. Graham, Alida Cortelyou, Mary Forbes, Eva Vincent, Ida Lewis, Marion Lorne, Gertrude Barclay and Jessie Bradford. There have been several changes in the cast of The Squaw-Man. Howard Russell has replaced George Fawcett who has taken Edmund Breeze’s place in The Lion and the Mouse. Morton Selten has replaced Cecil Ward and Rossabelle Morrison has taken the part formerly occupied by her sister Mabel. A. H. Woods, who is abroad visiting Berlin and other continental cities, is his first vacation in fifteen years. Arnold Daly’s engagement in Arm and the Man, at the Lyric Theatre, will be concluded at the end of May, when Henry E. Dixey will follow with The Man On the Box. Sam. Bernard, the popular star of The Rollicking Girl, now playing at the New York Theatre, has been offered a weekly salary of $2,500 a week to appear in vaudeville for ten weeks. The offer has been declined by Sam. because he claims that he is completely tagged out by his long ard continuous work in The Rollicking Girl, extending over a period of fifty-four weeks. Charles Frohman bas arranged for an American tour for Sir Charles Wyndham and Mary Moore and a company. It is planned to have them open in New York in January and complete the engagement by Easter, appearing in Captain Drew on Leave, David Garrick, and a new play. ' Florence Roberts will close her season in The Strength of the Weak, at the Liberty Theatre, Paris, taking Saturday, May 12, after a most successful debut. Several new plays are being consid ered for production next season, when Miss Roberts will again be seen on Broadway. Beginning Monday, Arnold Daly will present How He Lied to Her Husband as a curtainraw&ser to Arms and the Man, at the Lyric Theatre. Henry W. Savage, has engaged Harry Bulger, comedian, for a term of years. Mr. Bulger will be featured in a new musical comedy by John Kendrick Bangs, Vincent Bryan and Manuel Klein. ; Al. Leach is to star under Joseph Hart's management ‘n a new play by George M. Cohan next season. Dan McAvoy, the well-known comedian, is reported to be dangerously ill. He was compelled to cancel his vaudeville engagement at Hammerstein’s some weeks ago. It is feared that he will die. One of the most interesting innovations that has occurred in theatricals for some years is scheduled to take place on May 28, at the Fourteenth Street Theatre, when the Theodore Drury Grand Opera Co., composed of one hundred colored artists of unusual artistic ability, begins an engagement of nine _performances of Aida, Carmen and Faust in English. ROCHESTER, N. Y Amusement Director James F. secured Duss’ Clancy has Band as the free attraction for the opening of Ontario Beach Park, May 2/. The new concessions and attractions are well placed and there is a myriad of electric lights that add splendor to the scene. A new circle swing is being installed at Sea Breeze Park, and everything is in readiness for the opening. There will be no vaudeville performances at this resort this season, but some of the best bands in the country have been engaged to give free concerts in the pavilion. A large force of men are at work at Glen Haven, and it is hoped that the new theatre will be completed in time for the opening. The complete roster of the Tivoli Musical Comedy Co., which opened a summer engagement at the Baker Theatre May 7, is as follows: Daisy Green, Edith Milward, Helen Salinger, Daisy Howard, Rudolph Kock, Jack Henderson, George Ebner, Harry Hanlon, Allan Ramsey, Frank French, Al. Dalby and a large chorus. The principals of the Stewart Opera Co., which opens for the summer season at the Lyceum, May 25, are Lee Golding, Alice Hegeman, Frances Golden, Edgar Temple, Madison Smith, Geo. Warnock and Arthur Hill. Probasco, the juggler, whose home ia in this city, and who was playing at the Haymarket Theatre, San Francisco, at the time of the earthquake. writes that he is safe but that he lost everything. Andrew Dixon, the well known circus rider and acrobat, was in the ill-fated city af fhe time of the dreadful calamity and as his aged mother has heard nothing from bim the worst is feared. During ite engagement at the Corinthian the Pickings from Puck Co. will donate one-fifth per cent. of the gross receipts to the ‘Frisco sufferers. Plans are on foot to hold a carnival this summer and it should be a success, for thé eity has not had such an event for about four years, The best carnival companies only would be considered, The undersigned will he pleased to give full information upon the subject. The Elks’ club rooms in the National Theatre sullding were destroyed by fire April 28, with a loss of about $2,500. CHAS. W. NELSON, ELTINGE SAILS FOR LONDON On May 1 Julian Eltinge and his personal manager, O. H. Warris, sailed from New York on board the steamer Grosser Kurfuest for London, where the well-known female Imper sonator opens at the Palace on the 14th for a six weeks’ engagement. Following this en gagement Eltinge goes to Berlin and Parise for extended engagements. Upon his return to this country in the fall Eltinge will be featured in a new musteal play under the direction of Klaw & Krlanger. — ——— TIPTON, IND. Porter J. Booth is the new electrician at the Marts Grand, Word has been received from Paul Weaver, whe is now in his third season with the Wal. lace advance car No. 1, that everything is fine and dandy and that he will call on his friends in various cities when he gets a chance. Robt. Salters, formerly manager of the Kleyle Theatre, and who is at present stage manager of the Martz Grand, has been appointed president of the Oscault Billposting Plant ia this city. New boards will be erected in various parts of the city. Karl Salters is making his first season with the Van Amburg Shows. He Is in advance and writes that he is in good health and enjoy the tour. He was formerly connected with the Oscoult Billposting Plant. Baby Ruth, the skating pony, was exhibited before a capacity house at the Coliseum April J. Monroe Johnson, the ecenilc artist with the Hatch-Adams Carnival Co., last season, has declined all offers for this season, and will devote his time to his studio In this town. The chorus girls of the Buster Brown Oo., which recently attracted big business at the Martz Grand, were entertained by the Tipton Club. HAMILTON, CAN. With the season drawing to a close we are having some of the best plays of the year being sent to us, and as it is getting a trife warm the public Go not give the theatre the patronage it should for these high-class attractions. This week brought us the great favorite among Hamilton people, Frank Daniels in his funny play, Sergeant Brue. He doesn’t have the opportunity to shine as brightly as in some of his ether plays, but still he makes the movement of the play quite lively while he oecuplies the footlights. The Tenderfoot was also another arrival at our port, and while there is nothing startling in the show, still everybody works bard from the leads down to the chorus girl, and that helps a whole lot. Oscar Figman and Ruth White, the principals, are the life of the piece. Mr. Figman’s droll comedy is very funny and won for him rounds of applanse. Miss White, who will be remembered for her clever work in The Burgomaster, sings as sweetly as ever Harry B. Williams, as Hop Lee, and his partner, Etta Lockhart, do some very good eccentric dancing. RACEY E. MOORB. COLUMBUS, OHIO. The Gingerbread Man enjoyed good business at the Great Southern. York and Adams and Happy Hooligan packed the High Street Theatre. The Grand Opera House, formerly leased by Dickson & Tallbott, of Indianapolis, opens upder the Shubert regime May 4, with Jefferson DeAngelis in Fantana. . The High Street Theatre opens with stock on May 4. Olentangy Park Theatre and Zoo were formally opened on April 29 to large crowds. There are a number of new attractions at this resort this year, chief among them being a roller skating rink, scenic coaster, Tours of the World, Temple of Mirth, the Egyptian Mysteries and others. The theatre opened with stock, presenting When We Were Twenty-one, but after several weeks’ time vaudeville will take the place of stock. Everything indicates a very prosperous season. Ww. C. LONG. SEATTLE, WASH While in actual financial loss the theatrical busiiess in San Francisco was not so bard hit as many other avenues of commercial enterprise, it is doubtful if any other business in the California metropolis will be so completely at a standstill for months to come as will that of the theatres. Murray and Mack will close their present season in Chicago on May 5 and within a week after will be en route to Seattle with their new company, where they open at the Grand Opere House under Russell & Drew's Management, op May 20, in A Night on Broadway. Ralph Cummings made a distinct hit in Melvin G. Winstock’s new and brilliant sketch, A Sealskin Sacque. The part of Jennie Gammon, the lawyer's wife, was good. The little comedy is full of laughs and humorous situations. The rest of the bill at the Star this week is good. LEM A. SHORTRIDGB. WATERLOO, IA. Manager (©, F. Brown plans to have bis theatre redecorated and otherwise improved during the summer months. The season bas been very successful, Sans Souci and Cedar River parks open May 1. Manager Roy Nichols, of the Electric Theatre, will have the management of Sans Souci again this summer. In addition to the many quer ates he opens the Sans Souci Hotel une 1, Electric Theatre closes about June 1 for the summer, and Manager Johnson expects to put out an attraction under canvas, The Waterloo Concert Band, under the dlrection of Prof. Wright, is making rapid strides, It will give its first summer concert Sunday, April 20, in Electric Theatre and will appear often at both the summer resorts. Howard Webb's famous Belojt Band has closed its season and Howard and his brother, soc. have left to join the Cook & Barrett how, Jauis Alberta, harpist with the Beloit Band, will be featured with the Michigan State Band again this season. R. EB. Peterson, who has the concessions at Sans Souci and Cedar River parks, opened for business April 22. This is his seventh season ere. G, BR, BOYOR. Work has been started on the new burlesque house that ts to open in Norfolk, Va., on Aug. 20, under the direction of the Frank Amusement Co., of which Maurice Frank is manager. Mr. rank has made a suecess out of the Lyceum Theatre in Portamouth, Va., and several other houses, and will undoubtedly make of the new theatre a prosperous venture, The house ts well located,