The Billboard 1908-11-21: Vol 20 Iss 47 (1908-11-21)

NOVEMBER 21, 1908. The Billboard CALGARY, ALTA. The San Francisco Opera Company closed their return engagement October 31 to the usual capacity business. This company has certainly made a number of friends in Western Canada, and will be eagerly looked for on its return here later In the season. It Is a notable fact that all first-class companies make more money in Western Canada than the mediocre ones, due to the fact that they can get better prices and the public will always turn out for something good. The Tom Marks Stock Company opened bere November 3 to big business, and the company gave great satisfaction to the patrons of the drama. The Holy City is scheduled for November 9, Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Along The Kennebec and The Girl From Chili are beading for this territory. We have lots of open time for one-nighters and musical attractions after Christmas. E. WILLIS. PITTSBURG, PA. This week finds our city almost overrun with girly-girly performances, but of a nature that are exceptionally pleasing. The fact that in some cases the plays have been transferred to different bouses bas bad no decided disadvantage, in fact the same will prove beneficial to all concerned, and then to cap the week's exceptionally stroug bills offered at the respective houses, we bave Sam Bernard at the Nixon in his new play Almost A Lero, while The Time, The Place and The Girl are at the Alvin instead of the Du uesne, and The Gay White Way is playing the uquesne instead of the Nixon. Sam Bernard's Almost A Hero was greeted with one of the largest first-night houses of the season, at the Nixon, Monday night, and when you say Sam Bernard it is bardly necessary to go any farther, for bis name alene is sufficient assurance that what will be given in addition to his own inimitable ‘“Shusbing’’ ang the other jumbling that goes with it, overcomes any chance for an exchange check. Mr. Bernard has, in Nearly A Hero, one of the best vehicles we have yet seen him In. He is almost constantly before the audience, and that means sufficiency. In Grace LaRue Mr. Bernard has a very capable assistant, ber singing. dancing and every gesture as well as her costumes were cause for prolonged applause. Miss Ada Lewis very cleverly burlesques Ethel Barrymore throughout the entire performance, and ker impersonation brought forth applause from the moment she first appeared until the final climax. Miss Neva Aymar and Miss Daisy Leon have good voices and scored encores, and encores were very much in order, the chorus’ marches and other maneuvers sharing, while the ‘‘Faceograph"’ was a decided hit. The Gay White Way, which is this season oe ing at the Duquesne instead of the Nixon, S nevertheless playing to elegant business. The fact that such capable artists as Jeff DeAngelis, Camille DeArville and Emma Carus are among the cast is sufficient to give assurance that The Gay White Way will be up to its standard of last season. The songs and music are as delightfully rendered as ever ang Camille DeArville and Emma Carus divide the honors scored so repeatedly last season by Blanch Ring. Mr. DeAngelis was the same mirth provoker as of old. Miss DeArville was heartily received, while Miss Carus made a decided hit in ber impersonations. The specialties of Mile. Rayo Post and Russell and otbers of the company were novel and well received, and the costuming, accessories and scenic effects came in for a liberal share of praise. The Grand has again, this week, an exceptionally strong bill and principal among the same is Bernardi. Mr. Sernesal is what is termed a protean player, and in his particular line undoubtedly stands at the bead. His portrayal of nine different characters is done with rapilly, precision and accuracy as well as superbly. Fred Lindsay, the Austrian whip wonder, is one of the bill's novelties; Anne Blancke is very clever in her male impersonation of the street gamin, and John Fenton, who plays the part of an old army veteran, make thelr little specialty, Freckles, a welcome adilition to vaudeville stunts. Jessie Lasky, in bis new piece, At the Country Club, is one of bis best specialties as yet, and the sketch is caably handled by Mr. Spink, Mixes Kelso, Mr. eardon and a lively chorus. Hoey and Lee have some clever Hebrew dialogue and parodies and were well received: Sidney Grant has some new stories; Ida O'Day is charming as a banjoist; McConnell and Simpson have a funny farce; Felix Adler is as funny as ever in his dialect and songs: Kremka Brothers do some astonishing acrobatic acts. Added to these are Melfie and Ormont, The Powells, Graham and Lawrence, Kollins and Klifton and the Cinematograph. The Time, The Place and The Girl, at the Alvin, promises to repeat if not exceed, the Iiberal ron extended it on its last visit to this city when they played the Duquesne. At the popular prices that prevail at the Alvin {ft Is an almost foregone conclusion that this week's business will be a record-breaker for which this house is a criterion. There have been some changes in the cast, but none detrimental in any manner. The Girl is a new offering, (Miss Grace Lane) and happy Johnny Hicks ts also new, In the bands of Arthur Dunn. Aside from this the chorus and swinging, tuneful music and delightful situations are very creditable, and afford opportunities for Robert H. Wilson, Eulalie Jensen, Arthur Dunn, Grace Lane, and the large chorus to acquit themselves creditably, individually and collectively. The Bijou has, this week, Jack Sheppard, The Bandit King. This is one of the thrillers of the season. The play is replete with gun play and accessories such as a human ladder, the escape on horseback, rescue from a burning ship and defying the law. The title role is acceptably handled by Crane Wilbur, am! as an_trishman, W. EB. Browning was a success. Jefferson Osborne has a thankless part which he does creditably, and Miss Rose Brahm has a small part but shows talent. The play will do good business. Jack Doris, the skillful breaker of prison doors, and expert opener of handenffs, is the feature of the melodrama, From Sing Sing to Liberty, playing this week at Blaney’s. The performance was well received, the cast Is ool, with Jack Doris’ tricks the feature. Susiness promises to continue good throughout the week. The Morning Glories are the attraction this week at the Gayety, playing two performances daily. Their rendition of In Zululand, was farcieal. Clare Evans, who wrote the book, plays the leading role. The olio has some good num. rs, among which are Niner and Niner, and Se Fre Boises. The performance was satisAt the Academy, the bec y, The Navigators are holding show. Miss Lee White Is nearly the whole She ts a handsome woman, can sing and with her charming personality is always a favorite. re are many funny situations, and credit is due to Dave Ferguson and Abe Reynolds for their able assistance. This performance is one of the best the Academy has offered this season. The Hiland Stock Company is weekly growing in popular favor, the many specialties woven lao so uniquely ald materially in strengthening the hold it bas. Much credit is due the management, Collins and Tener, for their originality, and it is to be hoped that success will follow their efforts. The attendance at the opening of the Duquesne Gardens (ice skating)was by far the most encouraging of any season. The hockey season will at onee get under way and with the enticing smooth surface for the steel blade, as well as the spirit of rivairy prevailing amongst the contestants for honors in the hockey championship, this season, promises to be the banner one. The roller rinks report satisfactory business for so early in the season and with the appearance of cold weather big business will re sult. LOUIS L. KAUFMAN. KANSAS CITY, MO. Kansas City as a theatrical center is becoming more and more the cynosure of the country’s eyes, and the class of attractions that come to Kansas City are of the best. An artist receives due appreciation here and while Kansas City is inclined to be critical and demands the best, it is not backward about showing its approval and an audience here is far from “cold.”’ This season is bringing the best shows in the country to this city. Do they get the business? Well, rather; one should see the lines always before the box-ottice, and the best seats are the ones to be taken first. The S. R. O. sign bas been out more this early in the season than ever before. William Collier, the foremost comedian, leased Willis-Wood audiences In bis new play, he Patriot, the week of November 8. e Patriot was written by Mr. Collier, in collaboration with Mr. J. H. Manners, and so there is a “raison de'etre."’ Mr. Collier is a favorite here and received a warm welcome from his many admirers. Wallace Worsley, who made such a hit when seen bere in the lead with the Barker Stock Company, when that company was at the Shubert, bas an excellent part as ‘‘Steve."’ The American play, The Man From Ilome, will play a week's engagement at the Willis-Wood the week of the 15th. Madame Kalich, who charmed Kansas City with her wonderful talent and ability two seasons ago, Was at the Shubert Theatre in her new play, Cora, the week of November 9. This is only the second city to see Madame Kalich in ber new vehicle, St. Louis having bad the vremiere. Cora is from the pén of Madame Ye Gresac and is on entirely different lines from any in which Madame Kalich has been seen here. It is typically Parisian but free from any ‘“‘double entendre."” Kansas City was much pleased with Madame Kalich in her new role and ber success therein. On account of the immense demand always for Kalich, if it can be so arranged, she will be here the week of the 16th. his will not be definitely announced, however, until it can be learned that Madame Kalich can be retained. The Orpheum Theatre is still claiming its share of patronage and is offering each week the topliners in vaudeville. The week of the Sth was no exception to the “rule of good things at the Orpheum.’’ The feature number on the program was the Tom Davies Trio. To those, to whom the spectacular and thrilling appeals, this number gave them ‘‘all that was coming to them’’ in this line for this is certainly a sensational cycling act. The rest of a strong bill consisted of Claude and Fannie Usher, in Fagan’s Decision, won the immediate applause of the house. The Ushers were with e Orpheum Road Show for four seasons and have been seen here, always pleasing with their number. Mae Melville and Robert Higgins, in their sketch, Just A Little Fun, were good. The Basque Grand Opera Quartet was excellent; Johnny McVeigh and his college girls did some clever singing and dancing; Harry Fentelle and Eddie Carr bad a funny sketch, Out Loud Junction. The Three Yoscarys were wonderful acrobats. The Kinodrome closed the bill. An Interesting bill is promixed the week of the 15th as follows: Jesse Lasky. in a little musical comedy, A Night On A House Boat; The Four Harveys, aerialists: Brron and Langdon in The Dude Detective; Seldom’s Venus, a plastic statuary act; Murray Sisters, singers: Rertha Pertina, danseuse; Espe. Dutton and Espe, gymnasts, and the Kinodrome. hose composers of popular song hits, Cole and Johnson, with their company of clever performers, were the attraction at the Grand Theatre the week of the 8. Their musxical comedy, The Red Moon, is above the average. and pleased large audiences. Johnson's playing on the piano was a feature of the show. Geo. Cohun's Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway will be at the Grand the week of the 15th. The Woodward Stock Company, at the Anditorium Theatre, gave a very snappy performance of the farce, Why Smith Left Home, and the Woodward Stock Company enthustasts could not decide whether the stock company was best in farce comedy or the heavy melodrama. It is a very capable company and has many admirers both here and in the country. Leah Kleshna will be the offering of the stock company the week of the 15th. The Little Organ Grinder, a four-act musical drama, with Eleanor Caines in the leading role, pleased immense audiences at the Gillis Theatre the week of the &th. Miss Caines unites pathos and comedy with rare ability and holds the audience’s attention every moment she ts on the stage. The line of attractions that has been seen at the Gillis Theatre this season has been way above the average and this continues with each week's offering. Mr. Will T. Lister is not with the Gillis Theatre, as business man ager this season, having decided to keep the Chase-Lister Shows out on the road during the winter. Fads and Follies, at the Majestic Theatre, presented a burlesqne that plensed the theatre's many patrons the week of the Sth. Morris and Benson have a clever dance: Irving R. Walton ts good in imitations of well-known performers: and The Bells have a musical number. The Lid Lifters come to the Majestic the week of the 15th. Toe Dreamland Burlesquers, at the Century Theatre, presented some good burlesque the week of the Sth. A capable company of singers, dancers and comedians make up the show. Cherry Blossoms next week at the Century. The Pantheon Roller Rink, under the able management of Mr. Chas. FE. MeCrae, ts the favcrite amusement place for the devotees of the little wheel. The skates are excellent, the floor in .y condition and thorough skaters — up the corps of Instructors at the Pan in. Convention Hall Roller Rink will now be open continuously for roller skating unt!! November 20, when the Burton Holmes Travelogues wil! be wiven at the big ball for two days. Then skating again until the ball is needed for some other event. WILLIAM W. SHELLEY. HOT SPRINGS, ARK. The theatrical situation in the Vapor City the week of November 2, was very quiet. Manager Ilead, of the Auditorium Theatre, says the theatrical season is beginning to look bright. Shows are beginning to book and the prospects are bright for the season. Ilot Springs citizens are anticipating a big season. The Business Men's League will hold a meeting on November 9, in regards to racing In this city. With the re-establishing of racing, thousands of peopie will visit this city. Ethel Fuller, in La Belle Rosse, by David Relasco, was the attraction at the Auditorium Theatre, November 7. The performance pleased a gord size andience. The Devil is the next attraction at the Anditorium Theatre, November 11; capacity will probably welcome The Devil to Hot Springs. A. J. Busby, a very prominent theatrical magnet. is sojourning for a few weeks at Majestic Hotel. He is an annual visitor and has many friends here who are always glad to greet him. Waterloo, lowa, claims bim as their citizen. Prof. R. J. Barton and his orchestra will entertain the guests at the Arlington Hotel for the coming sexson. This is his 15th season as conductor of the Arlington Hotel Orchestra. The Bijou Skating Kink opened the season Nevember 2 to very large attendance. ‘‘Smiling’’ Bob Price gave his patrons a real treat in securing the Weber Family as his opening attraction. This rink is one of the most popular places of skating In the Southwest. There Is ample room fur skaters and large seating capacity for those who do net care to participate in America’s great sport and exercise. The talk of the city is the Bijon Skating Rink. Gliding on skates Is an art as well as sport. The Lyric Theatre coutinues to draw capacity at every performance. People stand in line walting to secure seats. The Lyric gives two performances a night and each performance draws packed houses. Manager Hale books two vandeville acts every week besides running the latest moving pictures. J_W. Considine and T. J. Considine are among the prominent visitors in the Vapor City. Both are trying to reduce in weight. This is no joke. Beb Richards fs a late arrival in the Vapor oy, He is a circus performer. . B. Rockafellow, well-known to all theatrical people who ever visited this city, is in charge of the orchestra at the Majestic [lotel. LAWRENCE JEAN RINALDO. OMAHA, NEB. Election night was a big one in the way of attendance at the theatres. Every house in the city had a good attraction and the election returns were read from the stage, which helped to attract the crowds. Tim Murphy appeared at the Boyd 5-7, In Cupid and the Dollar. This is the best play fo which he has appeared for several seasons, and he received a warm welcome from his large audiences. The play contains many amusing situations. and presents unusual opportunities for Mr. Murphy's clever bumor. The Girl of the Golden West, at the Bur wood, proved so popular that Manager Johnson had to continne the play for another week In order to accommodate the many who were unable to secure seats the previous week. The play is one of the best offerings so far this season, and capacity business has been the rule at every performance. The Little Organ Grinder, at the Krug 5-7, Is a rather interesting four-act melodrama, with the scene of the play laid in and around New York. A small chorus gives some musical pumbers, which help to enliven the plece. The headliner at the Orpheum the past week was called A Night on a Honseboat. The scenery, with its electrical effects, showing a housebout decorated with Japanese lanterns and flags, was one of the most elaborate settings ever seen at this honse. The songs, which were well sung, are catchy, and the plece was well received by the large audience. The Pure Food Show at the Auditoriam, the past week, was one of the best ever held, considering exhibitors and attendance. A good vaudeville performance and excellent § music were the attractions. . J. ROOT. MANHATTAN OPERA HOUSE. Grand Opera Season Opens. Auspicious Beginning of Hammerstein’s Enterprise. MANHATTAN OPERA HOUSE.—Tosca, an op | era in three acts, by Giacomo Puccinl. THE CAST: Piewin TOMER cccccccvcccvcscccecs Maria Labla Mario Cavaradossi ........ Giovanni Zenatello Baron Scarpla ...........+.. Maurice Renaud Coane Aameietts .ccccccccccccccsss De Grazia TO GUNN c cccccccescss ..-Charles Glilibert ROUND écoccyenscecdsdeuccnccevus Montauart BetMTTORE cc cccccccscesccescessescees Fosseta SEED. -cenqecudenseconstunkesteus Reschiglian On November 9 was Inaugurated what prob| ably will prove one of the most memorable | seasons of grand opera in New York Hammerstein's honse was the first to throw open its deors to the music craving public, and Puccini's Tosca was the initial offering. Expectation was on the alert, for not only waa society to witness and hear artists new to it, but the destiny of the Manbattan Opera House was also on trial. The four chief singers were Madame Labia, of Italy; M. Maurice Renaud, of [laris; M. Zenatello, of Italy, and M. Charles Gilibert, of Paris. The boxes were filed with carefully, and In some cases, demonstratively toiletted women. The balconies and stalls overtiowed with all sorts and types of bumanity. In the orchestra Cleofonte Campaninti, quiet. decisive, military looking as ever, took his seat and was greeted with a sharp ronnd of applanse from the Americans, and more Iimpassioned’ demonstrations from the Italiana. This was in a sense his silver wedding to the bride of Itallan opera in New York. Twenty five years ago, in the month of October, he took his place in the Metropolitan Opera House as a member of an orchestra that was to play Fanst. with Italo Campanini, his brother, and Christine Nilsson, the fair singer of Sweden. He tapped his desk sharply, the first notes of Puccini's melodious and spirited score were struck, and the season of 1908-9 had begun. The performance Itself, among other things, introduced Mile. Labla to the New York public, and M. Zenatello, M. Renaud and M. Gilltert in this particular opera. Mile. Labia’s voice has unusual beauty. It has also the rare and happy endowments of © youth and freshness. She sings with taste, with science. The Vissi d’Arte was given with ead charm and such skill in the arrangement of light and shade that the young singer fully merited the burst of genuine applause with which she was greeted on its conclusion. The voice has, moreover, the power of giving expression to dramatic feellng. Nor does Mlle. Labia lose control cf her vocal reins when she would speak forth the accents of passionate utterance. This alone shows that her training as a singer has been as thorough as it has been sincere. : Of her acting: In the first act she was palpably nervous. The nervousness wore off In the second act, and by the time it was her unpleasant duty to murder Scarpia, she must have been in full possession of herself. M. Renaud as Scarpia, gave a characterization of that hypocritical and vicious assassin that ranks with bis Don Giovanni for clearness of outline, lucid dramatic portrayal. As Scarpia he has dominance, cruelty and menace. He was a French, rather than an Italian study. Approval of these artists was emphatic. Other favorites welcomed with every Iindleation of continued favor were Giovanni Zenatello, the tenor, and Charles Gilibert, the basso. Tosca is an addition to the Manhattan repertory and the manner in which it was received to-night indicates the probability of many repetitions for it. At the conclusion of the second act, Cleofonte Campanini, the conductor of the evening. himself an object of an ovation, led out Oscar Hammerstein, the director, who bowed his thanks beamingly. SHARROCK-BOOTH. Ernest Sharrock and Miss Blanche Booth, two members of the Fifty Miles From Roston Company, which played on the night of November 9 at the Mankato Theatre, Mankato, Minn.. were married on the afternoon of the 9th, at the Methodist parsonage, Mankato, Rev. Peter Clare officiating. The bride is the smallest lady in the chorus and Is possessed of a charming personality and a good voice. The groom ts also a member of the chorus, and both the contract ing parties are great favorites with the members of the company. The bride and groom had known each other for a number of years past. and the bride having received the consent of her mother. who lives in New York City, the couple decided to get married in Mankato. While the marriage ceremony was being performed In the parsonage, the band, which travels with the company, and a number of the members of the cast, hid near the Y. M. C. A. Building. and as the bridal party came along they struck np the tune. There Will Be A Hot Time In The Old Town To-night. At the same time some of the actors canght the bride and groom and carried them on their shoulders, while the entire party pelted them with rice. The party marched down Jackson street then down Front for several blocks and then back to the theatre. The procession cansed no end of merriment for the passersby. It was a jolly party and a novel sight for local people. On behalf of the members of the company, the bride was presented with a diamond locket and geld chain. The bride and groom appeared in the production tn the evening when presented at the Mankato Theatre. and again came in & an overabundance of rice. The pranks of the company in bantering the newly-married couple while the play was in progress, was very much entfoyed by the audience. The play itself gave good satisfaction. The Williams Stock Co. continues to have good business and is still pleasing the people. The cast, since the opening date, Its the same, excepting for two changes. N. Murphy has recently taken the business management of the company. MR. TOBY LYONS, In A Winning Miss, at the Garden Theatre, Chicago. <RREpaNe aS * | | | | / }