The Billboard 1909-02-06: Vol 21 Iss 6 (1909-02-06)

a wenn The Billboard FEBRUARY 6, 1909. Events Amusement of the Week NEWS METRO CEN Baltimore to have Twenty Weeks of Grand Opera Next Season with the Metropolitan Company---Con Patronage---Little Nemo Moves from New York to Boston---New Theatre to be Built in Minneapolis and BALTIMORE, MD. Several weeks ago it was announced that Baltimore was in the throes of a merry war between the Metropolitan and the Manhattan Opera Companies and at the same time it was mentioned that no matter in which direction the wind blew, the music loving folk of this town would be benefitted thereby. It has so resulted. Baltimore will, next season, have an opera each week for twenty weeks by the famous stars of the Metropolitan Company. The Lyric has been taken over by a combination of, so far as is known, four directors of the Metropolitan Company. Improvements that will virtually change the entire interior and exterior of the Lyric’s spacious auditorium, have been planned and _ will be made next summer. When completed it will be suited to give the most elaborate operatic productions without the least difficulty. As the opera will require the use of the hall but one night a week, it will still continue as the home of the Boston and Philadelphia Orchestras and other visiting musical organizations and artists. The Lyric was up to the present, controlled by Messrs. Fred H. Gottlieb, Ernest J. Knabe, Jr.; William Knabe and Manager Bernard Ulrich, each of whom owned a quarter share. Mr. Ulrich will continue as manager and will also be the personal representative of the New York owners. The Messrs. Gottlieb and Knabe are music lovers, as they have often shown, and the Lyric has been a decidedly expensive luxury to them, who kept it going, out of their love of the art, it being generally known that the Lyric has been anything but a paying proposition for years. The Shuberts had offered to lease the building for a term of years, with the privilege of buying at figures that would have been much more profitable than the price received. However, had this deal been made it would have meant that Baltimore was to be without a home for musical organizations and artists. With the additional incentive of a regular season of grand opera in sight, the owners did not require much time to decide in favor of the Metropolitan Company. This was another good week for the theatres and big business fell to the lot of all. Kyrie Bellew, at the Academy of Music, attracted the largest crowds that have attended this season. Chauncey Olcott drew large houses at Ford’s heatre this week. The Ben Greet Players gave three delightful performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and were assisted by the Russian Symphony Orchestra at the Lyric. More frequent visits by this excellent company of players would surely be appreciated. The Philadelphia Orchestra gave another of its concerts during the week. Alwin Schroeder, the noted ‘cellist, assisted in what was undoubtedly the most pleasing concert yet given here by this orchestra. Herr Pohlig is to be commended upon bis work. Fannie Bloowfield Zeisler has a large following here. Her recital at the Peabody Institution was the occasion of an immense outpouring of admirers. Manager Schanberger, of the Maryland, presented, during the week, Julius Steger and Company, Bessie Wynn and Neill Burgess and Company. Others on the bill were the Jack Wilson Trio, Ashai Japanese Troupe, Chalk Saunders, Londe and Lilly, and moving pictures. Miss Anna Eva Fay continued to mystify patrons of the Auditorium during the second week of her stay. Manager Kernan has again surrounded her with an excellent vaudeville comany which included Ott, Nelson and Stedman; larence Sisters, Louise Auber and Maude Emery, Conlin and Steele, Patsy Doyle, the Juggling Johns, and moving pictures. The Victoria presented an excellent bill which was headed by the Countess Kohenberg, vocalist. Manager Earle’s star attraction at Lubin’s was Mrs. Tom Thumb, who drew large audiences during the week. Melodrama patrons found the right thing in The Phantom Detective at Blaney’s, which offered a thrill every minute. Sheppard Camp, in Mr. Wise from Broadway, proved the right sort as leading fun-maker with The Brigadiers, at the Monumental. Sam Howe furnished fun by the car load at the head of The Rialto Rounders, at the Gayety. The necessary repairs at the Holliday Street Theatre have been practically completed and it will re-open the week of February 1 with In Old Kentucky as the attraction. Melodrama will then give way to continuous vaudeville and moving pictures, at Blaney’s. R. B. Bull, a well-known business man, has opened a cozy little moving picture place in the shopping district which he has called The Clown. All the interior and exterior decorations are in keeping with the name, and the lace is one of the most artistic picture parlors n the city. Mr. Harry Ford, of Ford’s Opera House paid his first visit of the season to the theatre during the past week. Mr. Ford bas undergone a decidedly severe illness, having been confined to his home since last September. He is the youngest of the Four Ford Brothers who guide the destinies of the famous old theatre, and he was kept decidedly busy during the week shaking hands with his meny friends who were glad to see him get back in business harness. Miss Bessie Wynn. who was at the Maryland during the week, will again enter musical com edy next season. She is well remembered for her excellent work as one of the principals in Babes in Toyland. Mr. Robert Mantell will appear at Ford’s week of February 15 and has mapped out a dechledly strenuous week for himself. He _ will give eight performances, there being a change of bill at each. He will present Romeo and Juliet, Richard IIl., The Merchant of Venice, Richlieu, Louis XI., King Lear, Macbeth, and Hamlet. Mr. Mantell is popular here and such an ambitious program will undoubtedly meet with enormous patronage. Julia Marlowe comes to the Academy of Music next week, in place of Marcelle. Baltimoreans will welcome the change for we have had plenty of musical comedy thus far and are in a mood to welcome a few more serious efforts, Baltimore's Building Inspector is one who believes in living up to the strictest letter of the law and, as a result of the adoption of the new building code, all theatres, in the future, will have their programs contain the floor plans of the house. BUFFALO, N. Y. That prosperity has not struck the Electric City any too heavy is evinced by the theatrical showing at the several theatres. Vaudeville is doing finely and also burlesque: melodrama comes close and the higher priced houses are not any to the good. The popular price houses are medium. The attractions offered are excellent. Olga Nethersole and May Vokes broke the week at the Star. The Rejuvenation of j Aunt Mary, at the Teck, A Day Off, at the Lyric; high-class vaudeville, at Shea’s; Bunco in Arizona, at the Academy; Bon Tons, at the Garden, and The Ducklings, at the Lafayette. The attractions are good but the coin is scarce. | ‘The talk of new theatres is still heard but nothing definite has taken place. The moving picture houses are putting up some excellent films and all are doing very well. Some new houses are being added to the canvas drama and the new film merger is making some of them wonder where they will come in. Buffalo has a population of over 415,000 and with only seven theatres the attendance should begin to show a better average. Who woull ever think that Tom Lewis, who bas one of the best characters in the cast of The Yankee Prince, and who plays it with such good grace, was ever an acrobat and tumbler with a circus? His stage career has been varfed and he at one time formed one of the team of Lewis and Ryan, in variety. Manager Leoni was well pleased when he related the facts of the saving of the effects of The Crackerjacks Company at the Trocadero Theatre fire in Chicago. Owing to the heroism of the Bowman Brothers, La Belle Marie and the Misses Thompson and Monroe, the costumes and other effects were saved with only a loss of about one hundred and twenty-five dollars, which included some stage effects of the Five Piroscoffis Family, and all the music of the company. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Manchester were wonderers from Painesville, O., the fore part of the week. They were guests of Manager Leoni, of The Crackerjacks and looking over the company at the Garden Theatre. When the Newark Hotel opens up in February it will show the effects and good taste in selection of decorations, of Manager White, of the sarden, who will look after the furnishings and other particulars. Owing to the great success of the contest of Irish beauties, which Manager Laughlin. of the Lyric Theatre, and the Evening Enquirer, are running, a contest of German beauties will have a chance to send their photos. Manager W. W. Woodaul, of The Boy Detective Company, who has been on the sick list, joined the company after a three weeks’ absence and reports business fair. The company goes from here to Montrerl and Boston. The Great Question, which had its initial tryout at the Star two seasons back, in stock, as a drama without a name, and made quite a hit at the time, has been tried on the road with Jessie Bonestelle as the star, without munch suecess, and her many friends in the city will regret to hear of its withdrawal so early in the season. Two popular sketch artists of this city, who are also popular on the Empire Cirenit, are at work on a new sketch for summer time, in the East. Joseph MeGraw and Richard Skilding is the team, and their date on the Empire will be played in the near future when their many friends will give them a welcome. The week at Shea’s was a good box-office lordstone and honses were crowded. Clara Belle Jerome. in Tovland, made good. The Three Reynards in their aerial novelty, were great. Billy Van was a big hit: Gordon Eldrid and Company. in Won by a Leg. pleased: Rosina Casselli and her midget wonders, were excellent; Josephine Davis, a new face here, was good; Cunningham and Marion, in an acrobatic talkfest, were clever: Irene Franklin and Bert jreen, in her latest, Red Head, was a great snecess. The pictures closed. The amateurs are getting In some good work this winter end several productions have heen given by the several dramatic clubs. At Holy Angels JIall. February 8, The Private Secretary, by the St. Patrick’s Civb, will be given by a cast including some of the best amateur talent in the city. JOHN 8S. RICHARDSON. PITTSBURG, PA. Mime. Nazimova opened a week's engagement at the Duquesne, Monday night, to a large and enthusiastic audience, presenting The Master Builder. Mme. Nazimova will present during her stay, Hedda Gabler, A Dolls House, and Comtesse Coquette. Geo. M. Cohan and his royal family, in The Yankee Prince, is the Nixon's bill this week, and a rousing good bill it is, too. Mr. Cohan will play to capacity during his stay, at least the box-office sules so indicate. Lena Rivers, with Beulah Poynter in the title role, is the Alvin attraction this week. Miss Poynter has a large following here, and her work brought out a liberal display of applause and enthusiasm. Business is always good at the Alvin and this week will be a repeater of previous ones. The Grand has another of its excellent highclass bills. Every act was well received and there was a general clamor for more. On the bill were several old-time favorites, the new ones have won friends, and their return engagement will help to keep up the reputation this house has for presenting the best at all times. In Old Kentucky is playing the Bijou this week. and is doing excellent business. Blaney’s up-town theatre has The Straight Road. Minnie Victorson plays the leading roie of Moll O'Hara. A large audience greeted the opening performance. The New Highland opened, this week, with the Levison Opera and Dramatic Company, in Yiddish. The Yiddish, Italian and German which this house will hereafter present, marks a new era in theatricals in our city. The opening week has proven all that Manager Polack could possibly expect. Our two burlesque houses continue to play to elegant business. The Gayety has a strong bill, this week, in The Night. Owls, with John L. Sullivan as a feature attraction. The Academy has The Sam Devere Show, and also a eae line of high-class artists in vaudeville s. The fire which promised to put the Cameraphone out of business, caused only the loss of a couple of films. The loss to the house was small, yet the burns that Mr. Shephard received will keep him from operating for a few weeks. His injuries are not of a serious nature, yet he is still at the Pittsburg Hospital. Business continues good with the M. P. houses. Such is also the report from vaudeville houses. The Family, Hippodrome and Liberty are enjoying a decided improvement in attendance. Manager Fitzpatrick, of the Exposition, has arranged for the appearance at Exposition Hall of the Ben Greet Players and the Russian Orcrestra, March 1. Employes of the great establishment of Jos. Horne Co. gave a carnival at Exposition Rink, in an effort to raise funds for their annual outing. The affair was a great success. Push-ball has sprung into very popular favor since the respective teams have strengthened, and the closeness of the contests are the means of drawing good business to the Auditorium Roller Rink at each contest. LOUIS L. KAUFMAN. BOSTON, MASS. Little Nemo is the only new attraction to open here, Monday, at any of the best theatres, and all the other houses continue with last week’s shows. Little Nemo is booked for a five weeks’ run at the Colonial and comes direct from its New York and Philadelphia triumphs. At the other theatres, for the current week are Follies of 1908, at the Tremont; The Devil, at the Hollis Street; Marcelle, at the Majestic; The Circus Girl, at the Castle Square; The New Lady Bantock, at the Park: Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway, at the Globe; The Bandit King, at the Grand Opera House, and The Black Flag, at the Bowdoin Square. McIntyre and Heath head the bill at Keith’s, and at the Orpheum, Severin is the star attraction on the new bill. At the burlesque houses are Miss New York, Jr., at the Columbia: Fads and Follies, at the Gaiete; The Hastings Show, at the Palace, and the Imperials at the Howard. All the picture houses have new bills, along with vaudeville. to fine business. The Follies of 1908 will end its long Boston engagement, at the Tremont, Saturday of the current week. The show has been most successful and will be followed by The Talk of New York, for two weeks at this house. Little Nemo opened Monday night to a capacity house at the Colonial. The show is considered one of the biggest musical comedy productions that has ever played in this city. In the cast are Joseph Cawthorn, Billie B. Van, Harry Kelly and Master Gabriel, four wellknown comedians, who are making a big bit with their clever work. London Music Hall policy was inaugurated at the Orpheum, Monday, and will continue during the remainder of the season. There is an all-star bill of fourteen acts and, judging by the attendance Monday, it looks as if the new policy will be a big success. The Devil closes at the Hollis Street next Saturday night, and will be followed by Love Watches. for a short run. The bill for the current week at the Old South inclndes Willard and Miller, Louls Beanvais, Collins and Welsh, Clem Foster, Joy and Harther, Crawford and Zimier and new motion pictures. The Cameraphone tis attracting large audi ences to the Premier, and, for this week, Manager Moshier, has arranged an excellent program, featuring Alice Lloyd, Collins and Harlan, and Stella Mayhew with the marvelous invention. At the Comique, Manager Downey is present ing moving pictures of the recent earthquake in Sicily, to tine business. In addition to the regular show, Wee Laddie Waddell, Martin Walsh, Mildred Emerson and Eva Young complete a strong bill. Several novelties have been secured by Man ager Browne, of the Pastime, which are being presented this week with the following vaudeville: Marion and Brisson, acrobats; R. T. Williams, musical novelty; Joe Clary, Dutch co a and McNaught and Broseau in a musical skit. Sousa and a band of 400 musicians, will give a benefit for the Charitable Fund of the Musicians’ Mutual Relief Society, at Mechanics’ Hall, Sunday evening, February 14. The Candy Kid will return to the Grand Opera House early in February. A Broken Idol will probably be put on for a summer run at one of the Boston theatres. Maude Adams will soon begin rehearsals of Schiller’s Joan of Are, which she is to play in the Harvard Stadium on June 22. A company of several hundred players will be engaged in the production. Master Gabiiel, who opened at the Colonial in Little Nemo, Monday, does not fear the society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and does not believe the society in this city will take as much interest in him as they did in New York. He gets his title as Master of Comedy. Earle Reynolds and Nellie Donegan are booked for Keith's next week. The clever skaters are very popular with Boston playgoers and .their act has always made a big hit in this city. Others to appear are Herr Grais, Ward and Curran, Laurence Crane and Company, Brown and Nevarro, Alba, and Eva Tanguay. John Mason, in The Witching Hour, will begin a short engagement at the Majestic Theatre, February 15. P The great success of The Cireus Girl, at the Castle Square, has revealed to Mr. Craig that Boston playgoers want musical comedy. He has therefore secured The Runaway Girl, from its owners, and will present a complete production at his theatre in the near future. Ethel Barrymore, in Lady Frederick, is one of the coming attractions to the Hollis Street Theatre, next month. The Red Moon comes to the Globe early in February. McIntyre and Heath, who are at Keith's this week, have only a few more weeks in vaudeville, after which they will resume their starring tour in a new play. They have been partners for 35 years. Among the attractions bocked at Austin and Stone’s for February are Mlle. Carrino’s Bears, Mme. La Blanche and the Royal Cingalese Troupe, just over from a season in London. EDWARD A. COADY. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. W. H. MecElfatrick, of New York City is busy preparing the plans for the new Gayety Theatre, which will be erected this spring at the site of the old Windsor Hotel, First Avenue North and Washington, and it is expected that bids will be asked for in the very near future. The backers of this deal are the National Amusement Company of Milwaukee, including Mr. Fred A. Landeck, and others, and is an off-shoot of the Columdian Amusement Company, popularly called the Eastern Wheel. This theatre will cost about $250,000. The first Club Night was given at the Family Theatre in East Minneapolis last week when a party of four hundred members of the St. An thony Commerical Club and their families, attended the performance, in a body. The members of this East Side Club are planning to give a series of Club Nights at the Family, during the balance of the winter Something of a novelty in selling tickets for the big T. M. A. benefit, to be held at the Metropolitan Opera House, Feb. 5, has been instituted hy the committee in charge. Misses Bessie Clifford and Elgie Bowen of the Three Twins Company, which plays at the Metropolitan the last half of this week will occupy spectal booths, erected at the corner of Sixth Street and Nicollet Avenue, and will sell the T. M. A. tickets for the same. Miss Cliford will be dressed in the Yama Yama costume which she uses in the production, and Miss Bowen will also be garbed appropriately. Miss Clifford has hed considerable experience in ticket selling, having sold tickets from a hay-rack, for the benefit held for San Francisco earthquake sufferers. Louis Nethersole, the well-known theatrical manager, spent a day in this city last week, on his way from Sidney, Austrailia, via Seattle, arranging some special business affairs for Margaret Anglin. He passed most of the time here with Wallace Munro, who ts in the city completing negotiations for the coming of Louts James to the Metropolitan Opera House. Pupils of the drematic department of the Minneapolis School of Music, Oratory and Dra matic Art presented Tennessee's Pardner, at the School Auditorium, Thursday evening, Jan