The Billboard 1909-02-20: Vol 21 Iss 8 (1909-02-20)

The Billboard FEBRUARY 20, 1909. IN NEW YORK PREMIERE OCCURS IN PHILADELPHIA Musical Farce By Franklin Winter Scores After Twenty Years’ Continuous Management of the Montgomery Theatre in Alabama Town of That Name, The Hirschers Retire---Richard Clinton Dies WALNUT ST. THEATRE—Philadelphia—In New York, a musical farce in two acts, by Franklin Winter. Song lyrics, by George Totten Smith. Music by George L. Spaulding. THE CAST: “5 Betsy Bacon, who keeps boarders........... cpnwbhis cae sbebeteh ees sedenvgeess <ate Morton Ma-ree Plavetsky, her maid of all work...... iden hs oh 0b She bg0b O5 020 de as oe hs be Belle Gold “Mister’’ Russell,stage carpenter and a privi| ED RENE s 08 cee pan can cabal Sam Morton Mile. Duntolli, a self-alleged prima donna.... eee b eho FéNeseobnseendescstuves Adele Oswald String Bean, of Bean Brothers, vaudeville SN obs aswegea's so 0edoee Joseph MeDevitt Fatty Bean, of Bean Brothers, vaudeville UN as cn s'0s-08'> p00 on neenuns Andrew Kelly Cissy Tiny, of the Tiny Family, refined enterCs dp etncdkbnenee dhe csemmn & Clara Morton Theodore Tiny, of the Tiny Family, refined 0 ee: Major Jas. D. Doyle Emmeline Tiny, of the Tiny Family. refined tics busns shveteecna’ ulia Frary Mae Montmorency, posing as a singing sketch SNinioh ogee die> Spd 0h 90000 sa8eb & Phoebe Loubet Herr Hocheim, an artistic beggar for revenue, Ni 55. de 65s c 0c cuay 6 ...Cliff, Gordon i i TOT.» op-csesancdeane Gretta Grew Signor Paulo, tenor of the opera and chef or SE TIDE 5 04 anu cdarwsee ts ceo hen 6 Gianninni Sig. Griffo, of the opera......... Herman Tipper Therese Taxicab, leading lady of No Mother Sd LB ae ee Nellie Beaumont Addie Paite, with money and hot-house brains Se ee errr rr Paul Morton was at the Walnut In New York, the two-act musical farce, iven its premiere performance treet Theatre, Philadelphia, February 8, 1909. it was staged by Ben Teal and the orchestra was under the direction of Gus Salzer. The new offering proved to be a hodge-podge of music and comedy with numerous vaudeville specialty numbers interpolated. It is a light entertainment with a host of pretty girls in the chorus and with many musical and dancing specialty numbers to give them a chance to display their abilities. Nellie Beaumont, The Four Mortons, Cliff Gordon and McDevitt and Kelly did their usnal vaudeville specialties and were received with favor. After In New York is sharpened up a bit, some superfluous dialogue cut out, and new business substituted, it will make a very good show for the spring and summer season. It will remain at the Walnut Street Theatre as loug as business is profitable. THE HIRSCHERS RETIRE. After twenty years continuous of the Montgomery Theatre, Montgomery, Ala., Messrs. Sam and Arthur Hirscher have _ reaigned to enter into other business. Hirscher Brothers were managers of the Montgomery Theatre from 1888 until last year when it was closed to give way to the Grand, owned and controlled by the Jake Wells syndicate. They assumed the management of this house and it is needless to say-that they were most successful. The Hirschers are well known among the profession and will be missed by many traveling managers and others. Mr. Jack Young, formerly secretary of the Grand Theatre of Atlanta, has been appointed manager of. the Grand Theatre. For the past three years all three playhouses in Montgomery, the Grand, the Montgomery Theatre andthe Bijou, have been under the control of the Wells syndicate. Gran? has been open for the past two years. The lease on the Montgomery Theatre expires very shortly and it is rumored that this house will be remodeled and rented. DEATH OF DICK CLINTON. Richard Clinton, past exalted ruler of the Portland (Ore.) Lodge of Elks, and at one time prominent as a theatrical manager in Portland, was found dead in his bed at 8 o’clock A. M., January 31, at his residence in that city. Death is said to have resulted from an attack of heart trouble. He was 64 years of age, and came to Portland in the early ’70’s as a member of a theattrical stock company, of which Annie Pixley was also a member. He was also connected with the company in which the parents of Miss Blanche Rates appeared. Clinton located in Portland and became man ager of the Orofino Theatre at First and Stark streets. He afterward took charge of the Elite Theatre on First street, near Alder, and later started the Standard Theatre, at First and Madison streets. His last theatrical venture was the management of the Theatre Royal, that was located at Third and Alder streets. He is survived by a widow, who is visiting in the East. DENMAN THOMPSON ILL. Denman Thompson, the veteran actor of The Old Homestead, was critically ill at his home in West Swanzey, about six miles from Keene, N. H., Sunday, February 7, with pneumonia and his children were summoned. His son, franklin Thompson, was at his bedside and his two danghiers, Mrs. E. A. MeFarland and Mrs. A. I. Kilpatrick, arrived in Keene on the express that night and were driven to the home of their father. Mr. Thompson was taken ill the previous Thursday. but his condition was not considered serions until Sunday, when he had two sinking spells. He was attended by Dr. J. B. Hyland, of Keene, who administered oxygen, and from that time has slowly but steadily improved. management | but only the , Mr. Thompson was taken with pneumonia three years ago in lung, bu Boston, which affected the same t his condition was not as serious as in the past week. _BELASCO LEASES HARTFORD oP. ERA HOUSE. David Belasco has leased the Hartford Opera House, at Hartford, Cc nn., for a long term, and will install a permanent stock company on February 15. not Cooke will be the but The names of the players have yet been announced, Charles Emerson manager of the house. His wife has been unable to find trace of him up to the time the company left the city. Mr. Charles Snowhill, member of Local No. 5. I. A. B. P. & B., leaves St. Louis February 20, with his brigade, for New York, where they will bill the opening of Ringling Brothers’ Circus this spring. One of the particular favorites of The Time, the Place and the Girl Company, playing here this week, is Bonnie Bunyea. She has been made a special favorite all week at the Grand. Mr. Frank Smith, of Local No. 5, I. A. B. P. & B.. leaves St. Louts next week of billposters for the West. lin for the Sells-Floto The big Automobile with a brigade He joins Mr. Frank Shows. Show opens at the new Coliseum February 15th. Mr. Lloyd Pickert and Mr. Guy Golterman have made a wonderful picture of the decorations for this event, and it promises to excel anything ever held here. Mr. Savage, manager of the Pemple Theatre, Ill., is in St. Louis this week and states his business this ~semson has record and it is almost impossible to believe the big receipts the companies have been playing to, but his books show immense business. Mr. Charles H. Tompkins, here this week with the Round-Up, bas had a jolly time visiting friends made by him during his connection with the late World’s Fair, and it has helped receipts at the Olympic. Dan S. Fishell is still wearing means big business at the Garrick. weds and their Baby has proved one for Dan. a smile that The Newlvanother big WILL J. MONTREAL, CAN. FARLEY. The offering of The Climax, after having our heads in a whirl from The Merry Widow, is se a change that we were hardly expecting. he cast of The Climax is in capable hands, co ‘ he H. L. LEAVITT. Harry L. Leavitt, who has charge of the general booking offices of the Sullivan & Considine Circuit, is one of the best known men in the show business, His knowl edge extends to every department of the theatrical business, he having been respectively performer, stage manacer, manager, advance agent, and manager and owner of many different theatrical enterprises. He takes a great interest in fraternal affairs, was one of the organizers of the Order of Eagles, founder of the Owls, is an enthusiastic Elk and president of the local T. M. A., which through his energy and efforts has a very representative organization in Seattle, and do a great deal of good. By all his friends and associates he is known by the sobriquet of ‘King,’ and King of good fellows he is to all who have the pleasure of knowing him for any length of time. Be F Tom Brothers ST. LOUIS, Norton, * Dog who h Opera, as piloted will MO. the year Gentry this become part of the staff of Ringling Brothers’ Circus. Miss Week ar Mrs. Anna Cameron left the stage here ul «became Edward this W. Bender. She bade farewell to all members of ber company and will retire to private life. Delmar Garden will be entirely this summer the theatre and remodeled for stage enlarged to provide for the production of the largest dramas and com highest priced stars. One will carry tres. other dr dramatic edies. amas. theatr Blanche Walsh passed week en route They will this season play the They will have two theamusical comedies and the D. E. Russell will manuge the e. through St. Lonis last to Kansas City, dangerously ill. Miss Walsh was conveyed to University Hospital. She is suffering from a complication of stomach r troubles. and live Johnny Young was this week engaged by the Oppenbeimers, to be one of the principals in his company at West End Heights here this sum mer. His great popularity here will make many dollars fer the Heights this summer. There are to be sixteen principals in the company. His contract calls for sixteen weeks. commencing May 16. The annual election of Local No. 5, of the International Alliance of Billposters and Billers of America has been held aml the following Was the result: C. G. Moon, president; Joseph Murtay, vice-president: Walter Gazzolo, Fin. Rec. an secretary; phy, business agent. 1 Secretary; Ja Willt am Blake. John Breunning, mes Gilmore. tres recording Ss. S. Mur sergeant isurer; ot-Aarms: Frank Smith, Geo. Bruenning and Jack Togser, trustees. Local No. 5 is in the most prosperous condition of its existence. Alexander Francis, of Rye company Company, while suddenly playing the disa in St. Coming Thro’ the ppeared from the Louis last week. which has much to do with its success. It passed aft? | planation of | B. Warner, ‘INTERNATIONAL Reputation Possessed By Actor ‘ Charles Warner, who Dies in New York —John W. Albaugh also Dead —Notes Charles Warner, the English actor, who won fame in Europe and America through his production of Zola’s tragic drama, Drink, was found dead in his apartments at the Hotel Seymour, New York City, February 11. When hotel clerks burst into his rooms at half past 5 o'clock in the evening, they found his body lying across an escritoire. In the room was a piece of paper on which he had written: “IT am hounded to my death by thieves, blackmailers and liars. Fischer Hansen, the criminal lawyer, principal rogue, who proffered to save me from ruin—they fooled me out of thousands and thousands. “Now he is in prison. “God bless you all. “God bless you at length. “© dear one, O my beloved, Good-by!"’ Coroner — was unable to get any ex this As soon as Coroner’s Physician Schultz pronounced’ the actor dead ‘his son, Harry was summoned from the theatre in the clothes he was donning for his appearance in The Battle. From him and from his wife the authorities tried to get some light upon t dead, had ‘strange letter the suicide had left behind, but } went | He the young man was too shocked to tell. Warner was 66 years old. He played Drink 5,000 times in London; then brought it to ap overwhelming success in this country, and never back to his native land. etween the play and his vaudeville engagements he supposed to have amassed a competence. was a member of the Lambs’ Club and several other prominent organizations in New York and London Zola was JOHN W. ALBAUGH, SR., DEAD. John W. Albaughb, Sr., long a prominent theatrical manager, died February 11, at the home | of his daughter at 301 York street, Jersey City. | Death was due to acute indigestion, | Opera House in Washington, D. C. Mr. Albaugh built the Lyceum and Holliday Street Theatres in Baltimore and the Lafayette He was 4 member of the Players’ Club. Albaugh and Mary Mitchell, a sister of Mag gie Mitchell, were married in’ 1866. The starred throughout the country, playing leg | timate roles in the Shakespearean and classic ‘drama, embracing such parts as Hamlet, Othel is original but lacks that essential of being | mene. jernard Daley, at the Academy, a good house in Rosy of the Hitt,’ Bieweea with a beautiful voice which he makes use of in singing Irish ballads is where he was at his best. The Boy Detective opened well at the Francais. The youth of this city seem to be greatly taken up with this play. It will draw well for balance of the week. The Princess has a good drawing card in Bob Manchester's Cracker Jacks. It is made up of good, bright — and vaudeville. Good houses are the result. The usual capacity houses are to be seen at Bennett's, where the bill for the present week is of exceptional quality. There is not a weak number in the ten. This house has the honor of serving out nothing but the best in the vaudeville line. Tom Miner’s Bohemians opened to packed houses at the Royal. Two nice burlesques and good vaudeville turns form the bill of fare. The management has always some added attraction to offer, either in wrestling, waltzing, chorus girls’ contest, ete., together with the regular bill, that the Royal is holding more than its own with the other places of amusement. A decidedly attractive vaudeville bill is to be found at the Casino. The management has increased the prices and with the bill offered, capacity houses are the result. The continuous business has been discontinued, and stated hours prevail. tSennett’s Nouveautes are drawing well among the East Enders. They have a very good bill to offer in vaudeville and moving pictures. The Cameraphone moving and talking pictures huve come to stay, judging by the houses they are having. Another phase of the moving pic ture show—but a little better. N. W. SHANNON. . Roy James has joined Stock Company, now gagement at the Iris the Gahan laying an indefinite enheatre, Globe, Ariz. lo, Macbeth, Iago, Romeo, Richard Il., Edgar and Edmund in Lear, Jaffier tn Venice Preserved, a noted play of the times, Louis XI.. and the like parts. son, John W. daughters. Albaugh is survived by one Albaugh, Jr., and two married SEMBRICH’S FAREWELL. Amid a stage setting more picturesque than Meyerbeer ever devised and more graceful than the fancy of many a skilled scenic artist could have imagined, Madame Marcella Sembrich, Sat urday night, at the Metropolitan Opera House. received the tributes of every interest asso ciated with the Metropolitan Opera House, and bade farewell to audiences that she has delight ed for nearly a quarter of a eentury. 5 after the first act of Traviata, which waa the last portion of the triple bill, being Madame Sembrich’s farewell program, the curtain finally swept apart to the musie of the march from Le Nozze de Figaro: it did so to disclose the scene above characterized, The stage was filled with all the prominent artists of the Metropolitan Opera Company. garbed in their best and waving flags. GOOD YEAR FOR MUSICAL COMEDIES. From all reports from musical comedies play ing in the various parts of the country, this season, is proving a remarkably prosperous one for them despite the cry of some pessimists to the contrary. The Top O° Th’ World, The Alaskan, Marcelle, The Gay Musician, Three Twins, ern Company; The Prima Donna, The Fair CoEd, Babes in Toyland. The Red Mill, The Pied Piper, Mary’s Lamb, The Newlyweds, The Soul Kiss, The Prince of Pilsen and Ragged Robin all report that they are making money wher ever they play. So what's the use of being discouraged, MINNELLI BROS. ACTIVE. F. P. Minnelli, of the tractions, is spending Minnelli Brothers’ At the winter in Phoenix. In addition to their summer attraction, the Shubert Theatre, in Des Moines, and other interests in the East, the firm will operate a number of vandeville hovses in Arizona and New Mexico the coming season. IT MADE A HIT. Phillips and Jones, black-faced comedians and banjoists, made a hit at the Bijou Theatre, in lowa City, Ia., during their recent engagement there. One of their best jokes involved a kindly reference to ‘“‘Billyboy,’’ and the audience applauded as if every auditor in the house were a subscriber to The Billboard. THEATRE DESTROYED BY FIRE. The Columbia Theatre at Bath, Me., mana by H. A. Huse, was visited by fire on Sunday morning, January 31. The stage was partially burned and the scenery was totally destroyed. The canse of the fire is unknown. No definite plans have been made tn regard to the repairs. rambling message from = the MS ee ir aaa ae a bid