The Billboard 1908-02-08: Vol 20 Iss 6 (1908-02-08)

ist naieica meena, ttc ac pean a a FEBRUARY 8, 1908. The Billboard 1 PATTERN RRR He E. J. McNERNEY. The above picture is a very good likeness of fd. J. MeNerney, the Original Cheyenne Joe. it shows him In one of bis favorite poses, while entertaining his patrons in his famous tavern. There is no trooper om earth that is not acquainted with Joe. He is known the world over. His famous Rocky Mountain tavern is his own conception, and it has been one of the most unique and novel attractions at many expositions. It is framed up true to life and with Joe in charge, it forms a combination that attracts a heavy patronage. Joe possesses a magnetic personality, which wins the friendship of all who meet him. He is now arranging to put In his famous tavern at the AlaskaYukon-Pacifie Exposition, where it will be known as Cheyenne Joe’s Yukon Tavern. Joe hes worked out many new ideas which he will introduce in bis tavern and which will make {t one .of the best attractions at the coming Seattle Fair, eclipsing all bis former efforts. musical absurdity, fer an opening skit, with Reilly in Politics for a burlesque. Both were written by Mr. Pat Reilly, who also essays the principal comedy character in each. A _ beantifal stage setting is required and carried for these two skits, together with some of the most unkywe electrical effects ever seen with a bu combination. The olio numbers, to gether with a superabundance of pretty show girls, created a favorable impression on the minds of these who were fortunate enough to get a glimpee of this well-known attraction. Trocadero.—Reanty, song and fun was the master of the situation all last week at the above-named theatre. when the big burlesque revolution. BonBurlesquers appearel, presenting a program full of redeeming features, cpeaieg with a breezy and timely satire Pousse Cafe. which serves to introduce the entire veny in a rapid round of music and song, followed by a aplendid olio of high-class vaudeville novelties, —s The Girl With the Red Domine, The Six nglish Cocktail, Rawson am! Clare, Woods and Green, and Ben Pierce. The closing number and particular feature, was the biggest thing ever attempted in barlesqne, and is described as a crystal maze of seenic surprises and electrical effecta, 1Ilustrating the efforts of a master hand of Stagecraft, and called The Girl From Mars. NOTES. A new play in four aets, Paid in Full, written by Eugene Walters, is announced for —_ pretuction in Chicago, and will probably fellow May Robeon and Aunt Mary in the Studebaker some weeks hence. The author is to have fonnd his subject in the lives of the plain people of to-day, and, of course, it is the woman who settles. The Metropolitan Opera Co., is booked for the Anditoriam during the latter part of April. is news reached Chicago last week in a disatch from New York. On account of the ength of the season, the tour of the Metro itan singers will be limited to three weeks and a balf, and the only cities in which the company will appear are Chicago, Wasbington, Peltimore end Pittsburg. Julia Marlowe's engagement in the Garrick Theatre has heen post in order that The Witching Hour may have unlimited time. Miss Marlowe will appear later in the season. Riley Tlateh, one of the American players who bas made a hit in London with The SquawMan. is a Chicago actor. He played the part of the Harlem Spider in the original RurxoMaster; alko Kunmmel, in the Yankee Regent, and in the LaSalle Stock Co.; was in vaudeville Coming Thro’ the Rye. In the Squawfan Co. be is appearing at Tabywana, the toian chief, William Norris, who heads the company of The Witching Hlonr at the Garrick Theatre, went on the stege twenty-seven years ago, when a boy of seventeen. His first lessons in acting were learned ander the directions of those sterling representatives of the old school dramatic art. who were members of the Hoston Museum Stock Co. Mrs. Joseph Jefferson, wife of Joseph Jeffer“in. son of the famous actor now dead, is in “hicago undergoing treatment by physicians or her throat, having suffered a loss of voice * week ago. at which time she was playing Lydia Languish in The Rivals, the play her husband is starring in this season. Mrs. Jefeee is known on the stage as Blanche RenSpe and received her training in the elder efferson'’s companies, Keginning Feb. 9, Messra, Klaw & Erlanger “ill inengurate at the Auditorium a policy of ‘resenting popular musical and dramatic sueoped at about half price. Mr. Ziegfeld's be Follies of 1907 will be the first attraction ender this plan, and it will be given by ‘© same cast that appeared at the Illinois save that Miss Lucy Weaton, an English cojedienne. will have the place formerly occupled by Miss Nora Rayen, Oak Park, a snburb of Chicago, supplied the prettiest plarer of the past week in the peres of Lillian Weatner, who lays the part of the perfectly harmless Kalamazoo advenuress in The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary. Mise Westner is well known in the west end suburb as Katherine West. Her father is Albert P. West, a member of the Board of Trade. Miss Westner has been on the stage a little over two years, Before joining Miss Robson's compuny, she rlayed with a stock company at ny, N. Y¥., and with Francis Wilson in The Nowntain Climber. Mins May DeSouza, daughter of a Chicago detective, who has sung her way from a vaudeville house bere to a prima donna’s place in London, where she won the hearts of everyone that beard her, bas written of her latest sucerss in l’aris. L'as tu Revue is the name of the production in which Miss DeSouza made ber appearance in Paris at the Moulin Rouge Theatre, and ber singing and dancing were encored repeatedly. She will return to America and Chicago in a few months. Ella Ilugh Llood, who played the village gos2 in "Way Down East here last week, at McVicker's Theatre, was formerly the society edi tor of a Boston morning newspaper. Attention, ladies! ‘Love scenes,’’ says Rob ert Edeson, who is appearing in Clasemates, at the Illinois Theatre, ‘‘must be handled delicately and im such a manner that a look, a gesture, or an expression of the fuce will convey the impression desired, even more so than an actual caress or embracé. There must not be an abundance of embracing and kissing in any love scene, as this immediately cheapens the scene and destross the effect it intends to create. As a matter of fact, if it were not as the audience demanded it, I believe that love scenes would be far more effective without 9° actual demonstration. This bas been provea in a few productiens.”’ Miss Marie Doro, who is now appearing at the l’owers Theatre, wishes to set at rest the confusing statements relative to the place of her birth, obligingly announces that the town of Duncannan, I’a., had the honor. But as an interesting infant Miss Doro was taken to Kansas City, Mo., and reared there until she entered Miss Brown's school at New York. The Illinois Ilumane Society will be the beneficiary at the performance to be given at the Grand Opera Honse Thursday afternoon, February 27. Mrs. Fixke, who is much intereste! in the anti-cruelty movement, Miss Ethel Barrymore and Mr. John Drew will be in Chicago at that time and will be asked to ap ar. William C. de Mille, who wrote Classmates, in collaboration with Margaret Turnbull, is a son of Cecil de Mille, the famous playwright. Hlis first work to be produced was a children's play, called The Forest Ring, which was put on In New York some years ago. Then came Stronghearts and The Genius, which be and his brother Cecil wrote for Nat Goodwin. Classmates, Robert Edeson’s current vehicle was his next play. It was followed by The Warrens of Virginia, which is now running at the Belasco Theatre in New York. Mr. de Mille is a graduate of the University of Columbia and of the University of Freiburg. Germany. Mise Perey Haswell, Mr. Skinner's leading woman, who is playing at The Grand Opera House, is the wife of George Fawcett. who as the ranch foreman in The Squaw-Man seems to have monopolized the acting triumphs of the London production of that play. Miss Haswell was for years the pet actress of a stock company in Baltimore. Mme. Lillian Normlica‘s failure te return to Chicago last week for a few days, gave the gossip a change to do a little press work, and the report was spread that she went to New York to be married to George Washington Young, a New York banker. Fut, as usual, the work had its good effect, by the time the prima donna returned and denied her share of the romance. A pretty maid, employed by the Anditorium Annex, captured Sig. Constatino, leading tenor of the San Carlo Grand Opera Co., while singing the aria from Faust with a voice so rare aml beantiful as to rival in tonal quality that of a grand opera diva? Sig. Constantino. in describing her voice to a friend, said: ‘Oh, such a voice I did hear this morning; it was a beautiful voice, with quality most magnificent. Uncultivated ami without emotion or feeling, bot the owner must have the artistic temperament to or into a wonderful singer." The friend made inquiry and learned that one of the maids while attending to her work in an adjoining apartment was the owner of the wonderful soprano voice. LOUISVILLE, KY. William Faversham was seen at Macauley’s last week In The Squaw Man, a Western drama in which be made a distinct hit. The supporting company is large aml an able one and the production is above the average. The Great Divide was presented to large crowds the last half of the week and scored a big success, The play i« in three acta and is somewhat of a Western pley. The company was fair. Texas wae the production that made a great hit at the Masonic last week, and did a very nice boainess considering that there were several other Western shows in town. It is a play of ranch life, and naturally there is something doing in love making. William Bonelll, as Freeh Water Jack, is very good, and also Fdward Archer. who plays the prrt of Pasquale, the Mexican. Gene Ganntier is very pleasing in the role of Texas West. Coming, Our New Minister, week of February 3. Sis Hopkins, week of the 10th. At the reopening of the Mary Anderson, ther presented a very high-class bill, consisting of Rarnold’s Dogs as the headliner: Elizabeth Murray, a pepnlear vocalist, ranked next and was well received. The Four Bards, Charlene am! Charlene. Marie Scot and Company. Dick Gardner and Anna Revere, and the Kinodrome, finished up the bill. Cole and Johnson, In their musical comedy, plared at the Avenue last week, in a real gon musical comedy, to crowded houses all the week, The title Is the Shoo Fly Regiment, end the popular song writers scored a big success, The most elaborate part of the production fs the acene in the Philippines. Coming. Kidnapped For Revenge, week of February 2. The Belle of Avenne A, a musical comedy, was the bit of The Strolling Players, who ap peare! at the Ruckingham last week. It Is one of Mortimer M. Thiese’s attractions and rou know {it must be good. Miss Toma Tamilton wae the hit of the plece and plays the part of the belle. She is supported by an excellent company and a large chorus The vandeville consists of the Church City Quartet, Albert Davis and the Dollar Sisters. Frank Weed ia the new manager of the Mary Anderson under the Anderson and Ziegler management. The same house staff remains, consisting of LaRue Meffert. treasurer: Rohbman Leachman, door-keeper; John Roswell, preas agent, and Less Thurman as the stage manager. January 25. 1908, § Bupert Coart, Jouw Moors, — ||london Letter “Tose ee EAR BILLY BOY—Mr. John Moore, your London’ representative, has asked me to give my impression of the first night of Milton Royle’s play, The Squaw-Man, in London. First, I muet explain I had seen the play at Wallack’s Theatre in New York, so | could compare the English company with the American one. My first trouble was to get a seat. On applying at the box-office, I was told every reserved seat was sold for the first night, so there was nothing for me to do but to wait for the unreserved pit. When I tell you I waited for four bours in the cold and then there were 200 or 300 In front of me who had waited longer, it will give you some iklea of either Waller's valarity or the splendid way in which the play had been boomed. Milton Royle has evidently re-written the first act, and in my opinion, has not improved it. Herbert Sleath in his old part, was fine. Waller, I thought, was better than Faversham. The company took six curtain calls at the end of this act, but the general opinion was that the other acts woukl have to be much better if the play was going to bit them. The second act was great. The American contingent scored heavily in this act. Mr. Menifee Johnstone, as Cash Hawkins, was the first favorite. Fifteen curtain enlis were received and the andience still shouted for more, when Mr. Jobnsatone was permitted to take a» call by himself. You could have beard the shouts in Piccadilly Cireus. This act settled the play. Everyone was looking out now for a big success. The third act, bowever, fell rather flat and the fourth act was all Geo. Faweett's. Geo. Fawcett as “Rig Bill."’ undoubtedly made the play. When the curtain finally fell for 20 minutes, the audience wa'ted, applauding and shonting. Mr. Royle was called many times. Mr. Menifee Johnstone took a final call here, though his part finishes In the second act. Finally, Mr. Waller came forward to make a speech, when the audience shouted! Fawcett. This ery was taken up from stalls to gallery, and eventually he had a curtain all to himself. I thongh the ovation that Cash Ilawkins received after the secomd act one of the finest I bave ever heard, but Geo. Fawcett’s reception at the end of the play beats everything. One paper to-day describes it as the finest ——— since Sir Henry Irvi made his farewell appearance at Drury Lane atre. The curious part to me was that Cash Ilawkins’ part is anti-English. In the first place he says “he means to clean up all the English, any American working for an Englishman is a cur."’ and when he gives bis toast it is to the success of the Boers. I went prepared to see this character hissed, but I was delighted to see the way the English people recognized the clever acting of the American contingent. The general opinion of the Pittites was, Waller bas at least a year's run in the play. Another fine performance was the Tab-y wana of William Ryley Hatch. ¢ There is going to be a big boom in this country for American melodrama, and already 1 have been asked about a dozen different plays aml their likelihood of success over here. American comedy is well established. Brewster's Millions and The New York Idea (the latter’s success is undonbtedly owing to the great performance of Miss lis Jeffreys), both are plaving to capacity. Possibly in the autamn we shall have many plays brought over lock, stock and barrel, but remember they must be good. Dear Billy Boy, I am, Yours faithfully, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. A WHITE MAN. All London must go to see A White Man at the Lyric Theatre—first. because it is a rattling good play, finely acted; and, secondly, in gratitude to the author, Mr. Edwin Milton Royle. presumably an American, whe wrote a play for production in the United States, with an Englishman—not even an Irishman—for bero, who is a splendid fellow, who ‘‘downs’’ one wicked American and ‘“‘bests’’ another—and he a Sheriff; a play. moreover. in which the old country is referred to only in terme of admiration and affection. [It is the first American jay that I can recall where we have not been ampooned, more or less, and, as many of these have been successful in London, the least that London can do is to turn out in its thousands to return this umexpected and unusual compll ment. A White Man, produced at the Lrrie Thea tre on Saturday evening, is a melodrama-—but melodrama at its best; with natural bumanity—deapite the firet colossal sacrifice of the hero—real people. diversely and most entertainingly characterized. real humor, and real tenderness. The first act, which takes place in England, is effective, with a fine situation, but in its dialogue and characters, is ‘‘not a bit like it." The hante noblesse are not, do not talk, like this. The Marchioness in ‘‘Caste’’ was intentionally a parody—these are unintentional parodies. They talk ‘“‘throngh their hats."’ of birth, blood, and lineage, of their greatness, their worth, and their eee Fortunately, we soon leave all this hind, and get to the great wild places of America— which the author knows and understands. Then everything real and exciting and entertaining. NOTES. The Coliseum is going strong. and each week there is change of program, and plenty of variety, Last week's new sketch was entitled An Outside Chance, and was played by a company headed by a diminutive droll billed as Master Edward Garratt of Little Stranger fame. In an Outside Chance this tiny comedian impersonates a forward and fractious babe, who while lurking in his little ‘“‘pram,’’ learns of a plot to “get at’’ the jockey engaged to ride a certain favorite. Anon, in order to save the henor of that favorite’s owner, the infant jumps from his pram, dons the necessary garb and colors and rides the horse to vietory. is given a theusand pounds for this feat, and on then being urged to forgive the mother. who has wheeled him about on the cadging lay exclaims “‘She’s not my mother; she’s my wife!’ And down comes the curtain to a burricane of applause. Whoerer has built the sketch around Master Garratt has built it cleverly. There is money—as well as merriment who some weeks » was compelled by illness to withdraw from t program at the Palace, has now quite recov ered and has arranged to make her appearance at the Palace again on Monday, January 13. For that occasion Miss Dressler is preparing a new sketch, which she calls The Bonnet Shop, and in which she will have the assistance of her cousin, Miss Mabel Redfern, Mr. Ernest Lambert and the Palace giris. There is, it seems, only the slightest pretense to a story in The Bonnet Shop, but it is more to the point that Miss Dressler, as a lady who comes to try on hats, will have full opportunity for the display of her comedy talent. At the conclusion of her engagement at the I’alace, Mise Marie Dressler will go into musical comedy. An entirely new — has been presented at the Alhambra. First among the fresh turns are Rancy’s Sea Lions. One of these clever seals is very intelligent, and it is to be hoped that during this engagement naturalists wild take the opportnnity of testing the possibility of thought being conferred on an animal de nied the gd of speech. Mr. Alfred Moul engaged Mile. Adele Morau. one of the Alexia Family, a chamsming Viennese soubrette and dancer, who makes a welcome return to the Alhambra; the Four Harveys, in their clever wire act; and Les Carangeots, eccentric dancers. In addition, there are the attractions of the magnificent ballet, Les Cloches de Corneville, with Signorina Bordin as the only exponent of classical dancing now in London, and various other items. It is a long time since the cinematograph has given the ablic anything as funny as the Urban film of The Runaway Barrels, now showing at the Alhambra. At the Metropolitan this week Gunner Moir, champion boxer of England, heads the bill, and pictures of the Burns-Moir fight will be shown and described by Mr. George [Ilarrington. G. Il. Chirgwin, Aloce Pierce, G. W. Ilunter, Fred Edwards & Co., are also scheduled in ap attractive bill. One of the few shows that has not been affected by the bitter weather is the Mammetb Fun City. The fact that the public may here find twelve hours’ continnous merriment witb warmth and brightness thrown in—all for «a nimble sixpence—may be the selution of the problem. M. Beketo himself directs his circus of nine capital ‘‘turns,’’ while in the provision of sile-shows Mr. Robert Crossman has evi dently raked the world for novelties. The show man and caravan folks will shortly celebrate # prosperous Christmas season by giving a supper and ball. Every night at Collins’ Music Hall, Islington, and the Empress Theatre, Rrixton, the twinkling feet of Walker and May, colored comedians and dancers, win thunders of so The woman comes forward to bow a smile. The man’s bold. intelligent eyes roam over the house as though appreciating the flicker of every cnaies hand. The dancing of Walker an! May would in any case be amazing. It te almost unaccountable, when one knows that the man dances in utter darkness. Bebind this dancing in darkness there is hidden a story of amazing pluck and stoicism. Walker alw anced. e had a genius for dancing. e as it seemed to him, all the dancing of his life was suddenly shut out. was dancing in darkness behind an impenetrable fireproof curtain. But in the darkness that encompassed him so suddenly he wrestled with himself, and in spite of his blindness he the courage, the audacity to determine to go on being ‘‘funny.”” He had engagements at several music halls in London, but thinking that no manager would engage him if he knew the secret of his blindness, he made up bis mind not to give it away, and he did not, in fact, tell bis wife until crossing the gaagway from the ship on which he salled for England. There was nothing to show that he was blind. Ilis eyes had the look of ordinary eyes, and his amile was as ready as ever. Soon after his arrival in England he went to the Brixton Music Hall and without practice gave his usual turn. The second part of the turn was with his wife, and here again he accomplished the feat of dancing and singing and talking homorons dialogue without anyone in the audience knowing he was blind. For eighteen months he earned a living in this way and oo one up to then knew that he was blind. itt was only at the end of eighteen months that he told the manager of a music hall that he was blind. In his simplicity he had never thought that as a blind comedian he was worth more money. The result is that Walker now appears frank as blind. But no one in the andience can de tect it. And any day in London he can be seen stumbling along the streets led by an attendant—a pathetic, serious figure. Carefully he is led to the stage door and up to the steps. His attendant dresses him and takes bim to the wings. Then it is that his face lights np, and he strides quickly «n the stirs to laugh and sing and dance in darkness WHEREABOUTS OF WELL-KNOWN AMERICAN AND ENGLISH PERFORMERS. e Grand and Grant, at Zarmooat Palace. Brad ‘ord. Booker and Narbis, Bros. Horne and Dumonds Minstrels, at Duchess, Balham. Witty Wattie Walton, at Empire, Holborn Daisy James, at Hippodrome, i’utney Rarney Armstrong, at Hippodrome, Rother hithe. Zaro and Arno, at Olympia. Shoreditch James Fawn, at Hippodrome, Willesden Blake and Amber, at Hippodrome, Woolwteb Yvette Gnilbert, at Alhambra, Brussels Dusty Rhodes, at Hippodrome, Leeds. Alice Hollander at Ilippodrome, Sheffieli . E. Dunville, at Canterbury, London. Will Van Allen and Eugene Stratton, at Bus ton. Carl Hertz, at Portsmouth Hippodrome Miss Ellen Snow & Co., in Why Men Love Women, at Junction Theatre, Manchester Hackenschmidt, the Champion Wrestler. at Grand Theatre, Bolton. ‘ Fred Ginnett’s Dick Turpin, at Palace Theatre. Grimsby Tom and Marie Motrama, Harry Ford, T. B Dunville, Gotham Quartette and Gilbert Girard, at Tondon Pavilion