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

The Billboard NOVEMBER 21, i908. PLAYHOUSES University life, as it touches the dramatic and bistrionic life, was productive to much pleasure in lowa City, lowa, recently. The Colliren Theatre management there gave a section of forty seats to the university of Iowa and college football elevens and substitute players, the night Lyman Twins presented their musical comedy, The Yankee Drummers. it was a reciprocal entertainment, as the Lyman Twins Company had attended the football game in the afternoon, at the invitation of the university’s board in control of athletics. The players of the stage were in a taliryho, on the football grounds, and the players of the gridiron were surrounded by old gold streamers and other university emblems, during the evening performance. It was a gala ‘‘football day’’ throughout, and tended to cement the good feeling already existing between Manager Ray Swan, of the Coldren Theatre, and the “rah! pah!’’ boys. The Okla Theatre, Sallisaw, Okla., opened its season, recently, with Russell, O’Neil and Gross in The Matinee Girl, to turnaway business. The Okla is a new theatre and without opposition in what is considered to be one of the best show towns in Eastern Oklahoma. Sallisaw is situated half way between Siloam Springs and Mena, Ark., on the K. C. Southern Ry., and half way between Ft. Smith, Ark., and Muskogee, Okla., on the St. L. Iron Mountain and Southern Ry. F. 8S. Cherry is manager of the Okla. The Pythian Opera House, Loogootee, Ind., has changed management. John A. Grannan has leased the playhouse for this season and has thoroughly renovated the place from top to bottom. He has installed an electric light plant, adding materially to its appearance and utility as a playhouse. Mr. Grannan will devote his entire time and attention to the management and will endeavor to bring the theatre to the top fdtch along the line of playhouses. The auditorium ‘is on the ground floor and has a seating capacity of 500. The Majestic Theatre, formerly Wasson's, at Joplin, Mo., was opened for the season October 12, and since then has been playing to good houses. Several changes have been made in the house since last season, it having been redecorated throughout, new scenery added and the advertising curtain replaced by a handsome drop. Mr. H. W. Miller is general manager and Dr. 0. Walter, local manager. Three shows are given daily and the acts being from the Orpheum Circuit. M.’*F. Shea has applied for a permit to erect his new theatre on the Southeast corner of Victoria and Richmond streets, Toronto, Can. The building will have a frontage of 8&2 feet, a depth of 167 feet, and a height of 70 feet from the ground to the roof. There will be two galleries and an abundance of exits. Entrance will be affecteq from Victoria street and from Richmond street. The building will be fireproof throughout and will be built of brick, stone, steel and concrete. The Board of Aldermen of the city of Wilmington, N. C., has gone on record not to release the City Opera House at the expiration of Cowan and Brothers and Schloss lease, June 1, so it looks as if Wilmington is to have a new place of amusement. Mr. 8S. A. Schloss, one of the lessees, acquired a suitable site for erecting a playhouse a few years ago, and it is entirely probable that he will utilize it at the present time. The Grand Opera House, Madison, Ind., will be under new management commencing November 16. The billposting plant will be enlarged and other improvements made. C. M. Raphun, the new manager, was formerly connected with the business department of the Castle Square Opera Company. The new manager is a member of the Middle West Managers’ Association and affiliated theatres. The People’s Theatre, Evansville, Ind., has been extensively remodeled and will be opened at a near date under the management of Jake Wells. This is Mr. Wells’ second theatre In Evansville, and will be the home of populyr priced attractions of the Stair and Havlin Cirenit. Mr. Wells’ other house, The Bijou, is devoted to high-class attractions. The Becker Theatre, at Shawnee, Oklahoma, was sold last month to W. H. Swaits zel, of Parsons, Kansas, who is having same repaired, redecorated and a new heating plant installed. larry A. Pierson will continue the management of same for this season. The house opened October 15 with The Land of Nod and did capacity business. The Majestic Theatre, Perth Amboy, N. J., celebrated the first anniversary of its opening. October 9, with a performance of About Town. Counihan and Shannon, the managers, have kept their promises to the people of Perth Amboy and vicinity in providing firstclass amusement in a modern, comfortable and safe playhouse. A. W. Bartels has just opened a new opera house at Gary, S. D. The dimensions are as follows: Stage 20x46, with 22-foot opening; height, 12 feet; seating capacity, 400. Electric lights have been installed and new scenery purchased. The population of the town is 1,000. The new house is on the Northwestern circuit. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Hart (Ethel Tillson) are not on the road this season. Mr. Hart reports great success with his vaudeville house in San Mateo, Cal., of which he is both owner and manager. Mrs. Hart has become a great favorite with the San Mateo public with her high-class solos and illustrated songs. The Crescent Theatre, Nashville, Tenn., owned and managed by W. P. Ready, is drawing crowded houses at every perform ance. Mr. Ready has made a success of vaudeville in Nashville, by putting on good and upto-date bills. The Crescent is at preseut the only vaudeville house in Nashville. Ed Effner, who has been treasurer of Bennett’s Theatre, London, Ont., Can., has been transferreq to the Bennett house at Montreal. Before departing he was presented with a handsome traveling bag by the house staff. Al. Lawrence made the presentation speech after his monologue. The Oklah Opera House, at Bartlesville, Okla., opened the regular season Oc tober 20. under the management of Jobn * Flynn, with Tim Murphy in Cupid and the Dollar. Manager Flynn has announced the appearance of a number of high-class companies during the season. The Orpheum, at Savannah, Ga., is being greatly enlarged, and will accommodate at least fifteen hundred people when completed. This house bids fair to be one of the best vaudeville houses in the south, as only the best attractions obtainable are booked. Manager Paul Gallia, of the Gainesville (Texas) Opera House, has closed a contract with the Hodkins Circuit, to furnish him with first-class vaudeville on all his open dates throughout the present season. The first vaudeville performance was given October 19. The executive staff of the Altmeyer Family Theatre, McKeesport, Pa., is as follows: Jobn Harris, lessee; E. Stanley, manager; G. Jean, stage manager, and Miss Jennice Burgher, musical director. The house is enjoying excellent patronage at present. The executive staff of the New Novelty Theatre, Topeka, Kan., is as follows: H. M. Miller, proprietor; A. R. Israel, manager; N. C. Miller, treasurer; Jake Goergen, stage manager; Guy Stone, electrician; H. C. Pohlman, advertising manager. J. R. Brannen, manager of the Colonial Theatre, Evansville, Ind., has introduced for the first time in that city, moving and talking pictures. It proved a great success and accorded him the largest week’s business since his theatre was opened. The Pocahontas Opera House, Poca hontas, Va., has changed hands. The lease held by Gross and Smith, the former managers, expired October 1 and the management passed from their hands. The present manager is H. C. Smith. Manager W. P. Ready, of the Crescent Vandeville Theatre, Nashville, Tenn., has been obliged to commence the erection of 100 new seats to supply the demand of the patrons of that playhouse. The stage will also be enlarged. George Otterbach has resigned as manager of the Family Theatre, Clinton, Iowa, and is now associated with the Sodini enterprises in Minneapolis, Minn. . R. Moore is the new manager of the Clinton Family. Manager Roland, of the Roland Theatre, Marion, Ill., has recently made extensive improvements at the theatre in the way of new fire escapes and other devices for the safety and comfort of patrons and performers. Cc. E. McCray and Geo. J. Fletcher are the new managers of the Electric Theatre, Fairmont, W. Va. They have recently remodeled the Electric and are now booking nothing but first-class attractions. The People’s Theatre, Evansville, Ind., is being extensively remodeled for the opening, which occurs within a few weeks. It is probable that Jake Wells, the owner, will also change the name of the house. The Grand Opera House, Evansville, Ind., opened its doors for the first time this season on October 24. Moving pictures are reviewed for the present but will be shortly followed by advanced vaudeville. The Wond lard Theatre, Charlesten, W. Va., a moving picture house, was partially destroyeq by fire on October 17. he theatre will again be put into shape and reopened in the near future. Topeka (Kan.) Lodge B. P. O. Elks, are arranging for a minstrel show to be given at the Grand Opera House, November 20-21. It will be given under the direction of Messrs. Miller and Draper. Lee S. Hill, president of the Puritan Theatre Company, Fall River, Mass., has received the sad news of the death of his son, Fred, in Porto Rica, Cuba, where he had been practicing law. The new opera house at Edinburg, Ind., was opened recently with Black an! French's Amusement Company's vaudeville to capacity business. A. R. Mulkins has the management. Marks and Burns, of Rome, N. Y., have purchased the Wonderland Theatre’ in Rome, and will conduct it as a ten-cent vaudeville and picture show. J. Y. Burns will be the manager. William San Sousi has been appointed assistant manager of the Puritan Theatre. Fall River, Mass., and will play small parts with the Doughitt and Jones Company at that house. W. S. George and Son, managers of the Orpheum Theatre, Boise, Ida., inaugurated high-class vaudeville at their house November a The acts are booked from the Pantages’ Cir. cuit. The Bryan Opera House, Bryan, O., has been leased by Sallier and Schmid, who have remodeled the house throughout. They report a very successful season thus far. The new Opera House now in the course of construction at Burlington, N. C., will probably be completed about Christmas. It will have a seating capacity of about 800. The Pierce Opera House, at Philipsburg, Pa., was opened October 15, with the Monte Carlo Girls to an S. R. O. house. It is managed by C. C. Isenberg. Manager Cox, of the Big Four Theatre, Canal Dover, 0., reports business generally active in that city, and all indications point to a good theatrical season. There is a rumor that Bandy Bros., of Savannah, Ga., are going to build a new vaudeville house in that city, but as yet it has not been confirmed. , Helen May Butler is the leader of the orchestra at the Paddock Theatre, Beatrice, Neb. It is a ladies’ orchestra, and is composed of eight pieces. Ray Crawford, manager of the Grand Theatre, Topeka, Kan., spent the week of November 3, in New Orleans, looking after the Crawford interests. A. A. Frydenfeld, formerly assistant manager of the Barrison Theatre, Waukegan. Ill., is now connected with the Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel. Woodford and Marlboro have purchased the Gem Theatre, Meridian, Miss., and report business fine. Morris Jenks, of Sioux Falls, S. D., assumed control of the Auditorium, Norfolk, Neb., November 1 Mr. W. Sandusky is the new manager of the Casino Theatre, Rome, N. Y. The Two Ingrams have finished their Nash time through Canada and are now on the Sullivan and Considine time on the Coast, booked py Leavitt, of Seattle. The act is doing nicey. WESTERN WRITERS TO BE EN. COURAGED. To encourage ambitious writers throughout the territory of the Orpheum Circuit, Martin Neck has instructed local managers in some of the more important cities to invite resident dramatic men and local writers to submit vaudeville sketches and novelties, and if they prove promising, to give them a special performance at some regular matinee, to permit a local aud lence to pass upon their merit. In this way Mr. Beck believes he will deve} op much new material, and, furthermore, be thinks it will open a new field of supply. Many of this sexson’s best dramatic sketches bave been provided by authors west of Chicago. Mr. Oliver White wrote Superstition, which Chas. Nowser and Edith Hinkle are presenting, and The Visitor, which I’. J. White put over successfully in Detroit last week. Miss Frances Wilson, of Kansas City, furnished The Old, Old Story for Miss Felice Morris. Where Hearts Beat True. a sketch by George Creel, a Kansas City news paper man, has been successfully produced on the Orpheum Circuit by Martin Van Bergen, the baritone singer; At the Sound of the Gong, a new dramatic sketch, which Introduces a real istic boxing bout at the finish, and which op ened in Cincinnati November 1, was devised by Messrs. McDonald and Ferry, of the St. Louis Star. Jane Dexter and John P. Wilson are two California writers who have succeeded in vaudeville writings. The Modern Pocahontas, a new drama of life on an Indian reservation, first produced at Denver, on November 1, is the work of a Salt Lake City writer, J. H. Garrett. Another Salt Lake City writer who has placed several sketches is Josephine Spencer, whose The Last Watch has been accepted by Mr. Beck's producing department. At the Orpheum Theatre in Kansas City, where the experiment of trying local acts was first made, many really deserving discoverijex have already been recorded. Last week two local stock favorites, Addison Madiera and Gladys Millar, tried out a little one-act player ealled The Masqueraders, and at the same time another local act, The Unique Quartet, proved a veritable find. VAUDEVILLE IN MICHIGAN. The Bijou Theatrical Enterprise Company has made a success out of the Bijou Theatre, in Benton Harbor, Mich., and Majestic Theatre in Ann Arbor, Mich. The same have now been open since September, and thoroughly estab lished, using acts from the Western Vaudeville Managers’ Association. Plans are being completed whereby a new Bijou Theatre will be built in Battle Creek. Ground will be broken the first of March next, and the house ready to open August 15. It will have a seating capacity of 1,200, will be on the ground floor, with store-rooms and offices in front, representing an investment of $60,000. ALBA MAKES GOOD. Alba, the strong woman, who came to thia country direct from London, where she proved a big success as a manipulator of cannon ball« and heavy articles, made her first American appearance at the Olympic Theatre, Brooklyn. and scored a decided success. Her act {a one of the most sensational of its kind ever pro duced by a female artist. After finishing eight weeks on the Mozar. time, Webster and Carlton opened in their comedy playlet, Her Beau, at the Garrick, Norristown, Pa., on the Wm. Morris time. REFERENCES: Ask Managers of Following Theatres What We Did For Them THEATRE CITY BUSINESS Crystal, Milwaukee, Wis., Good Orpheum, Lima, Ohio. House Record Gaiety, Galesburg, Ill. = = Family, Davenport, Ia. oy Orpheum, Canton, 0, sic Majestic, LaSalle, Il. = Mas Gaiety, Springfield, Il. 4 Grand, Hamilton, 0. us Majestic, Madison, Wis. Big. Family, Clinton, Ia. House Record Dominion, Winnipeg, Can. Ms ai MISS EVA RAY IN SOMNOLENCY PURELY A BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION UNDER SOLE DIRECTION OF F. W. CURTIS Permanent Address, Chicago, Iil., Saratoga Hotel. National, Steubenville, 0. “3 Orpheum, Zanesville, 0. 7 Varieties, Terre Haute, Ind. “ ~ Main Street, Peoria, Il. = es Lyric, Lincoln, Neb. ™ Bijou, Quincy, Tl. as “ Cooper, Mt. Vernon, 0. ? a Lyric, Danville, Il. Fair. New Sun, Springfield, 0. Phillips, Richmond, Ind. Calumet, So. Chicago, Ill. i =" Lyric, Kensington, Ill. ad o Orph , Port th, O. Majestic, Paris, Ill. ” Majestic, Streator, Ill. ox 4 Marion, Marion, 0. ” Olympic, Newark, 0. a ss Howard, Huntington, W. Va. “ oe: Hipp., Lexington, Ky. 4 “4 Grand, Newport, Ky. " Broadway, Middletown, 0. * ” Garrick, Burlington, Ia. gs = Ottawa, Ottawa, III. Good Crystal, Marion, Ind. House Record Crystal, Elkhart, Ind. vd oa Family, Moline, Il. od os Grand, Hammond, Ind. Fair. Orpheum, Newark, 0. House Record 3 Weeks Crescent Theatre Nashville, Tennessee To Managers of Vaudeville Theatres everywhere, U. S. Dear Sirs:— I will be glad to hear from you in regard to booking Miss Ray in your Theatre, for a period from one to two weeks. Will work for you on salary, but would rather play your house on Percentage Rasis. Theatre must have seating capacity of 300 or more. Will play no city under 10,000 inhabitants. Please answer this Ad at once and let me get you the business. Yours truly, F. W. CURTIS, Manager. 2-BIG ACTS -2 TIME FIRST ACT . . 17 to 30 Minutes SECOND ACT . 12 to 40 Minutes. SPECIAL SCENERY 7—DROPS—7 Gorgeous Wardrobe 3-PEOPLE-5 CRESCENT THEATRE THIS WEEK Nashville, Tennessee