The Billboard 1908-02-01: Vol 20 Iss 5 (1908-02-01)

FEBRUARY 1, 1908. The Bi llboard q ( Vaudeville RN: ae ey oe Chas. J. Carter, the world’s inimitable magician, recently opened in Australia beginning a trip around the world. He will be accompanied on his tour by Mr. Allan Shaw, the famous card and coin manipulator. They will play seven months In Australia, thence to the Philippines, Japan, China, India, Egypt, France, England and back to America. n Australia, sccording to reports, their entertainment was a perfect innovation and they have been royally received, playing to capacity business at every performance. Their tour in Australia will embrace New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand, which will consume seven months. Their pres ent address in Australia is Milton, Queen's avenue, Rusheutters Bay, Sydney, Australia. The Great Keigley was _ recently compelled to go on with his act at Springfield, Mo.. in his street attire. After closing his performance at St. Louis he had but three quarters of an hour to pack his baggage to eatch the train for Springfield. The packing and trip to the station was accomplished, but when he arrived at his destination just a few minutes before his turn he was astonished to find that the trunk containing his wardrobe was missing. Keigley went on with his wire act without it. After the conclusion of his time over the Hodkins Cireuit he will go to San Francisco, then to the City of Mexico and in April will put his own show on the road. Clayton M. Legge. former heavy man with the Malcolm Stock Company, of Worcester, Mass., and also leading man and manager of his own stock company of that city, made his initial bow in vaudeville before a large audience at the Franklin Square Theatre, Worcester, Mass.. New Year's week. Mr. Legge appeared in a sketch written and arranged by himself, entitled Cupid in Disguise. He was ably assisted by Miss Mable Florence, a clever little actress. Mr. Legge is as popular as ever and was warmly received by his many friends. He expects to play over the William Morris Cirenit in bis sketch. Koppe. formerly manager of Gus Sun's Theatre at Portsmouth, Ohio, resigned his position at that house and has returned to the road. He writes that he has been treated by Messrs. Sun and Murray with every consideration, and although he has been with that firm for thirty weeks both as performer and manager, he has not had a single lay-off. Their theatres, he states, are all conducted on sound and reliable business grinciples. making it pleasant for both performers and patrons It is Mr. Koppe’s intention to return to New York within a few weeks to put on «a new three act play Jimmy Newell, black face comedian, formerly with Dickson and Mustard’s Humpty Dumpty Company, and Wm. C. Buck ley, formerly of Sheldon's Comedians, are work ing together in a black-face singing. talking and dancing act, playing Southern city time. They are indefinitely located at Jones’ Union Street Theatre, Knoxville, Tenn.. where they are meeting with great succes« Their new double is said to be « scream from start to finish. James Madison, one of our most versatile vaudeville authors, reports that his latest book of stage comedy. Madison’s Budget No. 'l is outselling all previous issues two to one Nor is this surprising for it certainly does contain a tremendous amount of very clever and original material In the way of parodies, monologues. sketches, burlesques, ete.. and is well deserving of the flood of orders that are con‘tantly coming from all parts of the world te the publication office Frank Willard, the well-known showman, has joined partnership with Al. W. Waggoner, of Waggoner and Davis, Mr. Davis being ill and unable to go on the road. The Ideal Vaudeville Company is booked solid for thirty-five weeks with arks to follow The roster consists of De Tellem and De Tellem. LaDare and Warner, Pearson. Wheeler and Sharpsteen. The Evans, Daisy Van Wort, Black Hawk. Joss Mattison, Margaret DeLa Montalgne, Al. W. Waggoner and Frank Willard George A. Thornton, the diminutive comedian, of the team of Leonard and Thornton. leaves The Bad Boy and His Teddy Bears Company this week to accept a position with The London Fire Brigade Company, which bas made such a hit im this country. Mr. Thornfon has been given the part that is particnlarly adapted to his natural ability, which will see him at his best. he company opened last Monday on the K. & P. Circuit. Sue Goodwin, the Tennessee coon shouter and imitator, has just closed a very suecessful season over the Western Vaudeville \ssociation time, and is not resting at Jacksoonville, Fla. She opens her spectacular Ro verta show at the Florida Midwinter Exposi tion in January, assisted by LaBelle Vivian, fire dancer and artist's model. Miss Vivian re ceently closed with the Great Van Amburg Shows Francis J. Boyle and Company, European Juggling entertainers, write that they Closed oa very successful season of forty-one weeks. as a special feature with Sun Brothers’ World's Progressive Shows, at Adel, Ga.. Janrvery 4, amd left at once for St. Angustine, Fla. where they will take a much-needed rest ‘or to their opening at the Florida Mid “inter Exposition at Jacksonville, Fla : \rchie Royer, the acrobatic come‘an, Whose home is at Deflance, Ohio, recently osed on the Klaw & Erlanger Advanced Vauville Clireuit, where be created a sensation. > will play on the Gus Sun Cireult until the mt of April, when he will sail for Europe for ' (Welve weeks’ engagement at London, after ich he will make a tour of the world Dave Nowlin, the man with the flex wee, bas discovered ai voeal wonder in person of Miss Laura Roth. He bas writ new act for the two and is introducing ’ novelty in the act, of which he claims the originator, Mr. Nowlin and Miss Roth ‘| present playing under the management ‘© Western Vaudeville Agency Buckley of The Musical Buck recently Invented « musical instrument called the Electric Bells. He uses but one octave of eight bells from C to C and plays some very difficult music. The bells work like a door bell, each being properly tuned. They are played by touching the connecting wire with a steel bar, which has a rubber handle at one end to protect the performer. Morris and Hemmingway, the Southern Minstrels, write that they are making a decided hit over the Majestic Cireuit. They claim their act Is entirely different from the ordinary singing and talking turns, every feature in the act being original, and each artist being the possessor of an excellent voice and stage appearance, their success is assured wherever they appear. Phillips and Bergen, comedy sketch artists, closed their second season with the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theatre, on November 9, opened for a four weeks’ engagement on the M. & M. Circuit, and are now playing over Ammons Crystal Circuit with Gus Sun time to follow. They write that their act has been meeting with universal success. Texana and Reynolds, expert rifle shots, have been compelled to cancel ten weeks of their time on account of the illness of their baby. They will remain at their home in Kansas until March, when they will sail for England. They write that they made a big hit at the Star Skating Rink, New Year’s day. at their home town. Miss Crystal Bell writes that after a three months’ successful engagement with the Batch-Ellers Boston Belles Co., she has reentered vaudeville, and is now appearing on the Norman Jeffries Circuit of family theatres through Pennsylvania, in her singing. dancing and character change act, meeting with great success. Will and Mabel Casper, who are now touring the East, write that they are meeting with great success in their new comedy playlet entitled Si Perkins’ Visit to New York. They appeared at Pastor's Theatre, New York City, week of January 13, and received some very flattering press notices for their excellent work. Cc. H. Henella, assisted by Mrs. Henella, write that their magic and illusion act of their own origination entitled Rosa, is mak ing a big hit where ever they appear. They will soon put on a new illusion act with new stage settings, which promises to be one of the great est illusion acts worked by two people Dave N. Clifford, late star of The Trust Busters Company, has joined hands with Frank and Della Williams. and the team will hereafter be known as Williams, Clifford and Williams. They will produce a sketch entitled, Him. Her and I, and will play Pastor’s Theatre. New York City, week of February °%. The Two Ingrams are resting at their home at Nevada. lowa, this being the first time they have been idle for three years They have just returned from the Pacific Coast, having finished an engagement over the Sullivan & Considine Circuit and concluded seven weeks over the Hart time. Zech and Zech are now playing their eighth week on the Hodkins Circuit and are making a big hit, with seven more weeks to follow on the coast. They write that their litthe daughter Ethel, six years of age, is doing a specialty on the rings and making an enor mous hit. The Whettons are booked for two more weeks In Ohio and will then journey to the Pacifie Coast to fill a long engagement. They have added a special drop painted by Gustave A. Schell, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Whetton who recently snffered an attack of the grip is now recovering nicely. Billy A. Falls, the Assassin of Sorrow, after playing forty consecutive weeks over the Irving Pollack Circuit, is spending the holidays at home with his wife at Rochester, N. Y He will open about the first of the year playing on the coast for one solid year over the Suilivan & Considine Circuit. The Three Julians, equilibrists, are playing a ten weeks’ engagement over O. B. Mill's time asx headliners through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They write that their act is meeting with great success, they baving broken the house records of three of the four houses they have played so far. **Ned’’ Nelson is reeuperating from a severe attack of typhoid fever at the Kittan ning, Pa.. Hospital. where be has been for ten weeks. He expects to be out again within two weeks and will then return to his home at Philadelphia. He writes that the Eagles there did everything possible for him. Ed. and Mary Woodward, the sunburned rubes. write that they are meeting with great success in the East, after an absence of two seasons, and are booked solid until June Ther will probably introduce «a new sketch, by Mr. Woodward. in the near future, en titled A Tangled Tale of Misfits The act is in one The following performers are at the Cleveland, Ohio, Hippodrome for the winter. William H. Winner. James Fleming, Big Jim Wilson, Mark Monroe, Curley Noonan, ‘‘Skidoo’’ Murray, Tom Elwood, ‘“‘Duteh’’ Adams and John Weber. They will be with one of the big ones again next season Zinn’'s Famous Dancing Girls, after completing a highly successful tour of the Sullivan and ‘Considine Cirenit on the coast, have accepted a three months’ contract to appear at the Empire Theatre. San Francisco. Their act is said to be far in advance of any other of its kind The Two Ingrams are resting at their home In Nevada. lowa. after three vears on the Pacifie Coast, playing towns in Wash ington and Montana, and filling a seven weeks’ engagement over Hart time in North Daketa and Minnesota Their act made a distinet hit over the entire etrenit Peel and Francis have just finished their time on the Ammons Clireuit and opened their first week on the Gus Sun Cireuit at the Grand Theatre, Newport. Ky. Their rural comedy sketch, entitled Want to Buy A Dog? is making « big bit They have the entire Sun Cireuit to follow George Atwood of Atwood and Perrys playing the Pamily Theatre, Pittston FILMS FOR RENT BEST SERVICE IN AMERICA INTER-OGEAN FILM EXCHANGE, =CHICAGO>= Pa., week of January 13 was called to New York. his home, on the 14th on account of the death of his father. Mr. Terry, who is a na tive of Wilkesbarre. Pa., will remain at Pitts ton until joined again by Mr. Atwood. The Dunedin Troupe of cyclists, during their engagement at Poli’s Theatre, Hart ford, Conn., refitted the wheels of the bicycles with Hartford tires. This troupe will sail for Europe. June 15, on the Lusitania, for a twentyeight weeks’ engagement over the Stoll Cir enit Mr. and Mrs. Blessing are playing their second week on the Alpha Cireuit in their latest snecess, entitled The Surprise Dinner One littl episode that will make them remem ber Los Angeles was the reunion of Mrs. Bless ing with her father. after an absence of twenty years. Nina Lester while playing an engagement at the Vaudeville Theatre, Stamford. Conn... met with an accident owing to a fire. losing her wardrobe and the prop. Mr. Geromino while paying the week's salary also gave Miss Lester one hundred dollars for her loss. Miss Babe Rio, the clever little soubrette and eccentric dancer, is slowly convalescing from a severe illness at the home of her mother, Mrs. Minnie Hathilton, Columbus, Ohio. She will join her sister, Dot, about the first of May In a new vaudeville act. Woedley and Van, who appeared in a comedy musical act, have dissolved partnership after being together for one year. Mr. and Mrs. Van and Miss Lulu Maddox are playing singles over the Gus Sun Cirenit with much success on the same bill. Kalacratus, who has been playing over the Kohl and Castle Cireuit. was com pelle! to close his engagement at the Olympic Theatre, Chicago, owing to Iliness. He had been slightly il) for the last three weeks bunt kept en with his work until pleurisy set in. Smith and Ellis are now playing their fourth week on the International Circuit of Canada. They have heen booked for twelve weeks by Harry Graham. late of the Savoy Cireuit, who has charge of booking acts for Edmonton. Canada, and surrounding fairs. Billy Stanford is now playing time on the Gus Sun Cireuit through Pennsylvania and is booked selid. He writes that his act is making a big hit and that in all towns play ed se far his Duteh Burlesque Drom Selo ix a new feature In vaudeville. Smith and Ellis are concluding a twelve weeks’ engagement at the Orpheum Thea tre. Edmonton. Can.. and will open at the Oreheom Theatre. Sesketoon, Can. Jan. 27. with Calgary and Prinee Albert to follow. play ing twelve weeks at each honse. George H. Gale and Maid Wensley are booked for the next four weeks by Sam DuVries, of the Sullivan & Considine Circuit. They open in Muncie, Ind., and at the con clusion of these dates will go east over the Keith & Proctor Cireuit. The Great Keigley has just completed the Hodkins Cireuit, and is now filling a two weeks” engagement on the Western States Circuit before starting on Eastern time The Three Musical Lyres and Keigley were the headliners for the Hodkins Cirenit Harris and Harris write that they are meeting with great success in their new act entitled. The Senator and the Mudtown Rube over the M. & M. Cirenit. The act was put on at Clarksburg. W. Va., recently. and its success was instantaneous. Larrivee and Lee were unable to play at the Unique Theatre, Carthage, Mo., on January 13, as booked. owing to the closing of that house They will join a recognized company for the balance of the season, having cancelled all of their vandeville time The Kansas Mid-Winter Exposition opened at the Auditorium, Topeka, Kan.. Jan uary 20. with the following vaudeville bill Les Jundts, equilibrists; Wheeler and Rosey. comedy bicycle and unicyele act: Antonio and Annie Perri, sensational chin equilibrist act. and Ed. Geer. aerial gymnasts Frank J. Hurley. novelty artist, is now playing on the Silverman Brothers’ Cireuit in Pennsylvania, with the Irving Pollock time to follow, being booked solid to February 22 He never fails to receive merited applause wherever he appears. The Nichols Brothers have just concloded their engagement at Maysville Ky playing to the biggest business ever done In that city. They are in great demand as at tested by the fact that they have not lost a single day since October 15. Jack Symonds has just closed a very suecessful engagement of fourteen weeks over the Western Vaudeville Association time. He opesed at Pantage’s Theatre, Spokane, Wash.. January 27, for fifteen weeks on that circuit, with more time to follow. The Four Brown Brothers and Doe Kealey, comedy musical artists, opened on the Sullivan and Considine Cirenit at Minneapolis, December 9. They write that their act has made a tremendous hit and they are headline! at every house. Ben Vane and wife, professionally known as Lulu Maddox, now doing single acts on the Sun Cirenit, are rehearsing a novelty musical act which they will put on shortly. They are now in their twenty-fifth week on the Sun Cireuit. Ray Mage, a young comedian, will begin in vandeville in February in two special monologues, entitled Cy Oatflield, the Village Story Teller. and My Wedded Life. He is said to be a clever performer and has a bright future before him. The Three Vernon Sisters have been compelled to cancel all their time, owing to the serious illness of Miss Amelia Vernon Miss Vernen was operated on at her home in Buffalo for appendicitis, and is slowly re covering. George A. Baldwin has been signed 'as general representative of MHilliar, master magician for the season of 1908 The show is managed by Sam H. Carter and is booked! through Virginia. Tennessee, Kentucky and) Ohio. John T. Hanson and Maybel Drew have been meeting with great success in their ‘comedy creation, The Village Billposter. They have been playing the Western Vandeville As sociation time for the past eight weeks. The Williams Duo, musical artists, have just finished a pleasant engagement over the Ammons Circuit and are now playing Gus Sun time. Their future booking include «a trip throngh California and the northwest Emmett and Lower, presenting their original comedy sketch, A Leap Year Flirtation. are meeting with great success playing Amick’< Senthern Circuit, after closing a fourteen weeks’ engagement in stock at Atlanta, Ga. LaClair and West, who have been playing Gus Sun time all season, are booked solid over that circuit until June. They write that their act, entitled A Drop Into Socletr is meeting with success everywhere. Frank Melville, of New York City was a recent visitor in Ithaca, N. Y.. confer ing with Manager Post, of Renwick Park Plans were made for summer vaudeville acts that are to appear at the park. Moore and Browning were Billboard callers January 14. After working 65 consecu tive weeks over Central. Western and Southern Ciireuits, they returned to their home in Cin einnati last week for a much-needed rest Sheridan Holmes. supporting James T. Kelly and Lillian Massey in the playlet Two Kings and a Queen, closed January I> at Pitteton. Pa. Mr. Kelly will have a new partner to open at Lebanon, Pa.. January 2 The Leighs, presenting The Musica! Maid and The Juggling Tramp. write that their act is meeting with great success through South. They are now playing ‘ly fifteent! week with more time to follow } the The Leveres, who recentis iosed with the West & Wells Show, are at present playing vaudeville in the south, opening at the Crystal Theatre. Nashville, Tenn with Memphis to follow. Grojean and Maurer write that the) are meeting with great success in their new musical comedy sketch entitled, A Professer’~ Dilemma They are at present playing WM Pollard’s Southern Vaudeville Cirenit John J. Welch and Madeline Earl, known as The Two in White, have closed a successful engagement over the Kohl & Castle Cirenit. and will open at Pastor's Theatre, New York City. Jannary 20 ; : : ;