The Billboard 1908-11-28: Vol 20 Iss 48 (1908-11-28)

NOVEMBER 28, 1908. The Billboard the theatres this week are many, and while it was hard to say good-bye to most of the departing attractions, the newcomers are such as will maintain our interest and the attend HANGES in C ance at the various box-offices. At the Stude baker, Miss Elsie Janis creditably succeeds Fritzi Scheff, which is saying much. The Fol lies of 1908, in its far heralded risque reputation and prosperity followed in Maud Adams at the Illinois. Francis Wilson returns to us in his play of last season at Powers’; Warfield changes his bill at the Garrick, as does Mantell at the Grand Opera House, while The Yankee Prince, Algeria, Mary's Lamb and the other musical comedies continue to be in tuneful evidence. Chicago's two new music halls, The Garden and the Olympic, are doing well, and the vaudeville offerings of the week are satisfying to the followers of variety. THE FAIR CO-ED. Elsie Janis has come into her own in Ade’s new musical play, now running at the Illinois Theatre. The Fair Co-Ed., throughout flashes and scintillates with Ade’s inimitable wit and humor, harmonized and sung to the delightful music we know Gustav Luders by. In a wholesome and entirely edifying story we are told and see the humorous happenings of a typical western college, where a single and lone to-ed., Miss Janis—need we say fair?— furnishes action in a series of situations screamingly funny and at all times natural and plausible. Charles Dillingham has seen to it that the production Is complete in each detail, and the catchy music is enhanced by excellent settings. Miss Janis as the central figure in the army of college youths adds much to the galety of the piece and is ably supported by her company of eighty, which includes Sydney Jarvis, Arthur Stanford, Edgar Halstead, Lionel Walsh, David Todd, Donald McLaren, James Reaney, Leavitt James, Harry Clarke, Stewart Belknap, Inez Bauer, Rose Winter, Eleanor Pendleton and Marion Mills. The same orchestra as dispensed cheer and melody for The Prima Donna continues at the Studebaker during the engagement of Miss Janis, and likewise there will be no Sunday performances. THE FOLLIES OF 1908 Mr. Ziegfeld’s latest and best behaved entertainment, The Follies of 1908, has opened at the Illinols Theatre, and is well on its way to an assured success. Coming to Chicago with the endorsement of a seventeen weks’ run at the Jardin de Paris, New York, and press notices galore, featuring its beauty, etc., and then some more beauty, it more than realizes all anticipation and then some. The Brinkley Girls, axicab Girls (some of this variety live in Chicago), Navy Girls; in fact, girls everywhere dress (?) the show in curving beauty and fanciful costumes, and sing delightfully in the prettily arranged song numbers. Annabell Whitford, the original Gibson bathing girl, in her symmetrical portrayal, needs no introduction. Nora Bayes is the usual winning singing comedienne. Dazie, the really wonderful dancer, goes big with the audience. Bickel and Watson have the funniest of funny sketches in their travesty on The Waltz Dream. Jack Norworth, Arthur Deagon, Billie Reeves, and many others, contribute their quota to the success; and, oh! the girls—they constitute the classiest chorus seen here in many a day. The Follies is an entertainment in every sense of the word, and delights the eye and ear, mostly eye, during every movement of the performance. Needless to say it is well attended. WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD Charles Frohman presents Francis Wilson in the farce by Charles Marlow, When Knights Were Bold. CAST OF CHARACTERS, Sie Guy Be VORW .cccncccunncac Francis Wilson ey I nn cin s emesducesesau George Irving Hon. Charles Widdercombe...Augustin Duncan Rev. Peter Pottleberry, D. D...Lioyd Carleton Sir Bryan Ballymore .......... John E. Trevor WERE . csccncsechs VETTTITTTTTt rT Victor Benoit DOSE. o n.c00 ccs canepsceensedes F. Owen Baxter Lady Roweena Eggington ...... Edna Bruns Lady Millicent Eggington ..Marcherita Sargent Lady Marjorie Eggington ...... Edith Lennox Te TONED awacvaccaces Theodosia De Coppet Kate Pottleberry .. .. ...... Bertha Mann Hon. Mrs. Waldegrave ........ Blanche Sharpe GERGD THAME. hac c cnedcysoecagan Adelaide Wilson BR BIOORE cocccndwandeectcces Joseeph C. Robison Knights, Pages, Attendants, etc. SYNOPSIS. ACT 1.—The Knights’ Room, Beechwood Towers. 1906—‘‘Forty Winks.’’ (710 years pass backward.) ACT II.—The Battlements, 1196—‘‘A Dreame of Ye Good Olde Times.” (710 years pass forward.) ACT IIl.—The Knights’ Room, 1906—‘‘Wide Awake. Chicago is welcoming Francis Wilson tn his return engagement at Powers’ Theatre, where he is seen in his laugh vehicle of last season, When Knights Were Bold. Mr. Wilson ts as we always know him, the most scholarly and accomplished of our modern comedians, and in his original way evokes laughs with every gesture. His methods and personality are delightfully interesting, and his carefully selected and capable company lend well rounded support, blending beautifully tn a pretentious production of Charles Marlow’s farcical travesty. The fashionable patrons of Powers’ Theatre are enjoying to its fullest this high-class attraction, which fs an attraction Indeed. ALGERIA Harry Bulger has scored another success, and Algeria, the musical conceit, that is holding the boards at the Chicago Opera ouse, has been tried and not found lacking. It Is tuneful and funny and staged and ue duced in a lavish and artistic manner. e pict is varied but can be followed and offers nnumerable opportunities for laugh producing situations, which are worked up nicely and used to thelr full advantage. ulger shared CHICACO SOWE COVES cs SO well earned popularity with Ernest Lambert and William Il’ruette, and Mme Noldi, Katherine Bell and Harriet Burt receive consistent encores for their excellent work. Ask Her While the Band is Playing, Love is Like a Cigarette, Twilight in Barakeesh and Little Bird of Paradise are some of the song hits which are rendered beautifully in settings which are not soon forgotten. The camel episode is the laugh center of the play, and is handled with every attention to comedy by William Murphy and Richard Lee. Algeria is staged well, epshroud ed in Herbert melody, the company is geod, and the piece in its entirety is going well with the patrons of the Chicago. THE YANKEE PRINCE George Cohan is to soon. Hurry, hurry (they are all doing it), and crowd in with the rest at the Colonial and accept this last chance of seeing the only George before that long European ramble he threatens us with. The Yankee Prince is certainly animated in its harmomious jingles and leave us, and ral drama in its homely pathos seems never to grow oid, and most certainly loses none of its lrawing powers. Its well-known and wholesome story is delivered and portrayed with realism, and the famous scenic effects have im proved with modern stage-craft. A BROKEN IDOL Songs, giris, good music, an excel lent story, and new and original stage settings maintain the interest that the initial performance of A Broken Idol aroused in the musical comedy circles of Chicago. Mr. Harlan and his associates give their expected snappy performance, and Miss Alice Yorke is prominently identijed with the songs of the show which are daily gaining in popularity. Present indications lead one to believe that A Broken Idol will outrun its predecessor, A Knight for a Day, which holds the Whitney long distance record. THE MUSIC MASTER Chicago theatre-goers who have been eagerly awaiting the revival of The Music J ‘ ' , ’ , ’ , ’ dialogue, and well constructed tn the wellknown Yankee Doodle Roy manner. This engagement of the Cohans has proven one of the most successful of their long list of successes, and in its up-to-date and progressive atmosphere has swung steadily along with general favor and appreciation. MR. MANTELL Mr. Mantell’s highly prosperous run at the Grand is nearing an end, but shows no sign of abating interest from the capacity audiences of enthusiastic admirers of classic drama. Mr. Mantell’s portrayals of the various characters of his repertoire have shone in his usual splendid art, and demand universally given recognition. THIRD WEEK, DT” 5 0a ieee ba een ehiases ean Macbeth nT sted ei deh oe< ckadakes baetaie Hamlet Wednesday Matinee ........... Lady of Lyons Wednesday Night ....The Merchant of Venice ee a i ae he ee eels Richelieu (Thanksgiving Matinee to be selected by popular vote.) I aie dad phan thawenedeetead Othello Saturday Matinee ................ ..King Lear TE. -.cg6 veweceusudinn Richard III. A GIRL AT THE HELM With the new motor boat race as an an added feature and several recent songs, A Girl at the Helm continues to lure the crowds to the LaSalle Theatre. This musical plece has certainly made a hit with the patrons of the home of Lean and Holbrook, and shows no signs of tiring. WAY DOWN EAST Way Down East is seasonable at MeVicker's, and is being witnessed by its crowds of perennial admirers. The popular ru Manager Sid J. Euson's Theatre, Chicago. MR. SID J. EUSON, Master. have come into their own, taking generous advantage of the offered at the Garrick Theatre of seeing David Warfield in his great character success. The Music Master has met with general appreciation and commendation from all quarters, and while in New York and en tour aroused intense interest, which shows no indications thus fer of diminishing, and which is materially evinced by the long line of ticket seekers who daily fill the lobby of the Garrick in eager quest of the paste board admission certifieate which insures an evening of satisfying enjoyment. The carefully selected company who appear in support of Mr. Warfield includes almost every member of the original cast. Prominent in which are Antoinette Perry, Marie Bates, Isabel Waldron, Antoinette Walker, Ruth Gates, Veda McEvers, William Elliott. Oscar Eagle, Steven Malley, Taylor Holmes, Louis P. Verande, Anthony B. Van, Geo. Woodward, John V. Dailey, Harold Meade and Aggousto Aramini. ENGLISH AND ITALIAN OPERA At the International theatre this week an excellent company of singers who habitate that showhouse are rendering a Dill including such standard operas as Trovatore, Bobhemian Girl, Martha and Lucia di Lammermoor. It is sufficient to say that the company continues to please the critical musical public, and is sparing no effort In their pretentious productions. A STUBBORN CINDERELLA Chicago's interest in the delightful little musical offering being played by John Barrymore, Sallie Fisher and their excellent supporting company ifs still satisfactory to the management from the box office viewpoint, and A Stubborn Cinderella, with its wealth of music, laughs and beauty is more than satis and are opportunity . >} a» -& OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENT COOOUIEE CF WWE VNILLECrL® TOTWAS GOOG. 1OBTOD OAMDCOLakX a Or fying the patrons of the Princess Theatre, The long run so far enjoyed by this melodious little comedy has been more than deserved. and has consistently proven its merit. MARY’S LAMB Carle seeks crowds by persistent, pertinent paragraphs in the advertising columos of the dailies, and crowds seek Carle after hearing comments of those many who have witnessed his performance of Mary's Lamb. The spacious Auditorium has been none too large for the audiences of this engagement of one of the liveliest of musical farces, which in all respects lives up to the star's reputation. Bichard Carle is repeating his former successes, OLYMPIC MUSIC HALL The third week of the new Oly mpie finds that novel show house secure in the graces of popular favor and maintaining ite excellent standard of amusement inaugurated at its recent opening. The Russell Brothers. in a sketch, entitled Our Servant Girls, vie with Adelaide, the dainty dancer, familiarly known to us all, for the head of the bill, and receive their usual tribute of laughs. Adelaide in a new vehicle, entitled The Billposter’s Dream, is assisted by four clever dancers in a well-rounded act. Mike Bernard, the pianist, entertaines with a wealth of rag-time and eccentric playing. Seldom’s Venus poses in symmetrical depiction of well-known art studies, and the bill, artistically tapered, ineludes Katherine Hayes and Sabel Johnson in a wit conversation; Nonette, the musician; Clifford and Burke, blackface comedians, The Sandwinas, European athletes, and Donald and Carson, in a dancing novelty. Mr. Murdock soon hopes to produce the forty-five minute musical comedy closing act previously announced in this paper. . MAJESTIC Frank Moulan and Maude Lillian Berri, well known to the devotees of comic opera. headed the bill at the Majestic last week, and presented an act of excellence. William H. Thompson and Co. were seen in a dramatic playlet, The Four Fords danced a while, That Quartette Sang nicely and the bill was balanced by such well-known acts as DeFaye Sisters, Martinettie and Sylvester, Maurlee Cooke, Frank Mostyn Kelly and Co., Aske land, Armstrong and V rn Cc F an ben t= erne, barles LaDaux HAYMARKET Katie Barry, of light % . vpera fame, was seen at the Haymarket in the well-known rtrayal of her eccentric comedy character. e Gibson Girls, with Margaret Rutledge shared with ber the top of the bill, and pre. a picturesque 1 , Charles and Ponay” vo, a Farrell Taylor Trio, Trio received much the entertainment Nonette and The Marlowe gy te the rest of was .furnished by The Dixie Sere : man and Laws, Cherokee Stenche ana oo. boy, Coyne and Tinlin. and was closed by Fros to and Weyman and the Kinodrome A WINNING MISS The initial performance at the Garden Theatre met with a general success which bodes well for the future of that show house oa Miss Was presented by a company 7 ch, because of press notices familiar to us or the past month, need little introduction We now have in our midst two music halls of continental atmosphere, but the Garden Theatre people have gone one better in thig jnStance, and offer to their patrons a cuisine of exce lence which may be enjoyed during the performance, Many gay parties take aiVantage of this *nuovation, and the patrons find satisfaction for the inner man while ab sorbin delig _—" the «elights of an artistic tempera TONY THE BOOTBLACK. Dave Gena » and Ray Bailey ar cr j 7 4 r ‘a Starring in A. H. Woods’ latest peer nes Mia triumph, Tony the Bootblack, which {s now playing at the Alhambra Theatre The lot which is most exciting, ; > revolves aroun¢ famous doings of the notorious A I of criminals. Black Hand gang The piece is handsomely staged. THE MILLIONAIRE AND THE POLICEMAN’'S Another of A. H Woods’ A. ‘ : opular attractions is Playing in this city le o The seeond company being The Mi i me Policeman’s Wife, ivery member of the company h fitting his individual ~~ jag BS and mechanical in every detail. to be complete McFADDEN’S FLATS. This season an entirely new version of the enduring comedy, McFadden’s Flats, is offered and the result is one of the most pretentious and thoroughly up-to-date productions ever offered to theatregoers. The patrons of the Criterion Theatre are entirely pleased with this attraction as offered. The cast {is com posed of sixty people, all capable tn their field of merry-making. RAFFLES. The members of the Thanhouser Company are, this week. presenting that we!!known play, Raffles, at the Bush Temple. The usual large and appreciative audiences continue to fill the theatre to its capacity, and the ex cellent Thanhouser aggregation present this play to the satisfaction of all. THE HEIR TO THE HOORAH. Kirke LaShelle’s great production. The Heir to the Hoorah, is being put on this week at the Marlowe Theatre, under the person al direction of Joseph Walsh. This play is always sure to please and doubly so when pre sented by the Marlowe players. Mr. Albert Phillips takes the part of Joe Lacy. (Continued on page 40) oor ae