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

saps oy ECS ER = ¢ 4 & 7 é . FEBRUARY 20, 1909. The Billboard 11 FROM POLITAN TERS In All Big Cities Aside from New York and Chicago ey tailed Report of the Complimentary Dinner Tendered to Oscar Hammerstein by the People of PhilaBrotherly Love---Reports that William Morris will Build a Theatre in Philadelphia not Justified. settle an estate of which Re Is he will send Mr. D’Amon, ‘the Great Mystery, on a tour of Pennsylvania. The Actors’ Union of Vhiladelphia gave their annual ball on February 5 and it was largely attended. James Collins, who was chzirman of the committee, had: arranged a pleasing entertalnment, made up of the best vaudeville acts White in the city and it made a big bit. The Actors’ Union is made up of all the local vaudeville irtists of the country. They maintain handsome club rooms here, which afford vaudeville people a eczy and comfortable place to look ifter business while playing this city. Horace Miller, of the Miller Costume Com pany, secured the contract for the costumes for In New York and, although the notice was short, he get out the preduction on time. The beauty of the costumes got many favorable newspaper criticisms on the opening night. The Peonsylvania Pure Food Show, which was to have been held at the Second Regiment Armory, beginning March Ist, has been ‘postponed until the week of April 5. Colonel J. W. Ritchie announces that the change of date was caused because of the authorities of Pennsylvania taking the Armory for annual drills at the time the exposition was to have been held. Mr. Ritchie, who has promoted many expositions of this kind, states that the delay will help make the exposition much more = suc cessful. A number of our prominent citizens who spend the summer at Beach Haven, N. J., have formed the Fearless Band, and are already practicing for a concert to be given at that resort on the Fourth of July. Carl Pohlig, conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary his birth this week and the members of the orchestra gave him many valuable presents to show him the esteem in which he is held. The patronesses of the orchestra congratulated him on his success in bringing the orchestra up to its present high standard. The International Tuberculosis Exposition. now being held in this city, is billed like a cireus on all of the billboards of Philadelphia, Camden and the adjacent territory, and in con sequence that exhibition is daily thronged. Nearly all of our theatres gave special mat inees on Lincoln's Birthday, and although this was something unusual for this city, business Was very good. Frequent shifting of attractions at the high price theatres in this city makes the managers and press agents work over time to keep the public acquainted with the attractions to play at the houses, Several of our larger theatres will try vandeville and moving pictures during the spring and summer, keeping open as long as business Warrants, BOB WATT. : 806 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa February 11, 19€9. CALGARY LETTER. At the Lyrie Theatre. Calgary, the Pollard Lilliputians are underlined for the first four nights of next week. this being their farewell performance here. After playing Vancouver and Victoria, they leave for their homes in Aus 'ralia. Mrs. Chester, half owner of the company, is retiring, and will make her home in Vancouver, Mr. A. Pollard returns to Anstralia with the company. It is doubtful if the Lilliputions will return to America for some time. We have the James Fax Concert Company underlined for February 12. and the Appolo Concert for 15 and B8. Coming attractions: Monte Cristo, with Frederic Clarke, March 2 and San Francisco Opera Company, week of March 8, : , Opera House, Edmonton, Alta.—The Allen Stock Company still continnes to play to good business, giving general satisfaction. _ Opera House, Nelson, B. C.—The San Francisco Opers Company ts underlined for March '-3. Also Monte Cristo for March 15. There is a lack of one-nighters in the terrttory, and is, a good opening for them. Calgary, Alta.—Empire Theatre: Daily mattnee and one-night show. The advent of modern veudeville in the Canadian Northwest was sigalized by the opening of the Empire Theatres * Calgary and Edmonton, Alta., December 28 and January 4, respectively, since which time a h houses have rapidly grown in public favor. ne Empire Cirevit are the owners. and M. wie who established the Dominion Theatre In nninpeg., in 1904. is general Manager. Many well knows ects have already played this time, and the people this week are as follows: Ed| rae oe Luttringer, Lueas and Company. =. Bollingers, John Nelson, Campbell and The onald, Steele and MeMasters. Calgary— Ms e Hayden Family, The Seotech Macks, Four tnglish Belles, Chinese Walton, Robzart. Besides these pete, ilivstrated songs end Kineto“copes are at each house. ewe honses seated with opera chairs. have Hes stege equipment, and are artistically fin‘shed, having been built specially for the purpore, Capacity 700 and 900 respectively. All “ts reserved, and two performances a day. Six piece orchestras at both houses. P Lyceum Theatre. Calgary—The Lreeum Theare opens next Monday and is controtled by the Calgary Amusement Co. The licy of the house is daily matinees and two shows at night. eating capacity ebout 500; prices, 15-25. Van‘eville and moving pictures, Yourg truly. KR. WILLIS. the executor | SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Several of the newspapers published long articles stating that William Morris would build a new vaudeville theatre in San Francisco, amd it would be close to the new Orpheum, and that he will begin to put on shows about the end of October. The writer thinks this is somewhat premature for every possible theatre site in San Francisco has been hawked about look ing for financial men to back up, but in every instance where the size of lot and the location could be used, prohibitive rents and other details always placed a stumbling block in the wey of closing the deals. There is plenty of capital here only too anxious for just such investments, but eny sane business man must and will see his way clear before he puts his hands in his pocket. The writer has seen many plans all on good sites, but when the promoters mentioned the rents asked, every one of them fell through. Frisco must double its population before managers can afford to pay exorbitant rents, and especially for limited capacity houses. The Board of Supervisors, at a meeting held recently, gave its approval for holding the big carnival. The dates selected will be October 19 to 23, inclusive. The Mayor will issue a proclamation later in the week in accordance with the recommendation of the resolution. C. I. Norris, formerly of the Norris & Rowe Circus, is busily engaged these days training dogs, at the circus headquarters for a dog and pony show which he intends to put on the road in a couple of months. R. A. Boehlke, manager of Creo, a most won derful illusion, was a _ Billboard caller this week. Creo was the big headline attraction at the National last week where it caused con siderable talk, and got the public guessing how it was done. William Morris, while here, heard of it and a special performance was given for him after the regular matinee and it was approved by him. The illusion is performed on a lighted stage, and at no time is anything used to obstruct the view of the anui#lence. It is the formation of a real live woman from wood, plaster and cloth. It takes place in a sculptor’s studio and special scenery props are all within keeping. The effects are very pretty and entertaining, A very classy picture theatre opened last week in the North Beach district, on Montgomery avenue near Union street. It is a strictly class A building, virtually the only one of its kind at present devoted to moving pictures exclusively. It is called the Bijou and is owned by the American Amusement Company. It has a seating capacity of three hundred, a most imposing front liberally illuminated and has a 3.500 orehestrion. Since its opening it bas played to capacity. Turner and Dahnken, the big film agency, has removed to large quarters down town. They now occupy the ground floor and basement of the fire-proof structure, numbers 136 and 138 Eddy street. They have four spacious show windows which attreet much attention. Mr. C. N. Sutton, who has been manager of the Portland Orphenm, has been transferred to Butte. Mont. James H. Errickson, who has been managing the Grand and Star, will take the management of the Orpheum also. John F. Cordray will assist Mr. Errickson in looking out for the Grand. The Star Theatre will be closed. Florence Roberts has been engaged as a stock star for a season of six weeks or longer at the Alcazar Theatre She will present Du Barry. The Struggle Everlasting. Zaza, Sapho and Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Her season commences abont the middle of June. The Lambardi Italian Opera Company left here direct to Portland, thence to Victoria, B. C.. Vancouver. Seattle and other Northern points. It will reach Denver early {n March. James Mellarky, who killed a cireus musician by the name of James Dongherty, in Bloomfield, Neveda County, California in 1888, during a poker game, has been granted a full pardon by the Governor. Industry and good behavior since his parole three and a half years ago, were the factors that prevailed with the chief executive In the favorable consideration of Mellarky's case. Roth men were connected with a circus, and Dovgherty was shot In the back while he was plaving In the bane. Jack Johnson, the champion heavy welght prize fighter. has been cabled an offer for $1.590 rt week for fifteen weeks. It is hinted that William Morris ts behind this offer. Vigorous tactics are being employed to bring to California gatherings of members of import ent netional and international organizations. Throveh the committee on conventions of the California Promotion Committee. correspondence hes been taken up with more than one hundred associations. As a resnit see the convention list in this isene of The Billboard. The Silver Palace. a very elaborate picture house, located on Market street, between Third end Fovrrth, is scheduled to open next Saturday. The fittings, ete.. cost in the neighborhood of $10,000 and is the most expensive and by far the finest in the city. It is under the management of Ren Michaels. Seating capacity is 500. The Wolf ts this week's attraction at the Van Ness Theatre, and althongh the advance press notices were worked for all It was worth. and the city was liberally posted with excellent paper, the piece failed to Interest the public. It was hoped that it would pull big houses and duplicate the success made by Paid In Full, by the same author. Corinne, in Lena From Berlin, at the American Theatre. She was always a Frisco favorite and was welcomed again this week. She portrays her character of a buxom German girl in an artistic manner and is a comedienne. All her singing specialties were applauded to the echo. Mark Sullivan, also well known here, shared honors with the star. The balance of the cast and the well-trained chorus were well thought of. The Light Eternal follows for one week’s stay. Bankers and Brokers, by the Kolb and Dill Company, continue to pack the Princess Theatre. Lonesome Town will be presented February 8S and is expected to run until the close of the engagement at this house, Febrnary 28. At the Orpheum this week, Seldom’s Venus, a reproduction of ciassic statuary was geadlined and was indeed the best artistic poses we have had here for some time. Three men and one woman compose the turn. Frank Byron and Louise Langdon in their funny skit, The Dide Detective, although seen here on former occasion, were one of the big applause winners. Johnny McVeigh and Four College Girls, in catchy songs and excellent dancing, jumped into — ander DeCorva and Company, citing dramatic playlet, called Wivreless, is full of novelties, helped much and al! the electric stage effects were good. Paul La Croix is an eccentric hat juggler and made good. Charles A. Wayne, assisted by Gertrude Des Roches and R. M. Remley, appeared in an amusing sketch called The Morning After, in which there was a lot of funny stage business and horse is a success in: an ex pley. The Harvey Family and Murray Sisters were the holdovers. Genuine Italian earthquake pictures were shown at this house for the first time. Manager Sid Grauman had an excellent and expensive bill at his National Theatre. Carson Brothers, rightly called ‘Marvels of Grace and Strength,”’ made an unusual hit with an act of their kind. This team are real finished artists, performing all their diffienlt tricks in a most easy manner. Radcliff and Tannehill present a cowhoy sketch interspersed with some good songs and were well liked. Phil Staats, a heavy weight monologist and pianist, found no trouble raising all the laughs he wanted. Petching Brothers, a musical act seen here on numerous occasions, presented it over again. Emily Benner, a female baritone, sang into favor. Buster Brown and Dog Tige with Geo. Phelps as Brown and Phil Dwyer as Dog Tige, is a good matinee drawing card. Big houses continue to rule at every performance. Manager Winstock, of Pantages’ Empire Theatre, is making a feature with the music rendered by the orchestra which is now under the direction of Bartlett Briggs. It is much appreciated by the audience, which applauded the numbers nightly. MeCune and Grant, comedy acrobats, open the bill this week. Jim and Kitty Brady, in a singing and talking turn. follow. Kingsbury and Munson offered a dramatic playlet called. The Girl and the Millionaire, which met with approval. Tlodges and Lamichmere, colored team, in a singing and talking act. Jimmie Regan, a champion prize fighter, was an added attraction. Kresko and Fox are a pair of real live singers and dancers, Thalero’s Dog and Pony Circus, offered the novelty of a dog doing backward somersan!ts the exhibits with the State Agricultural Board. and alleged that his scheme has the endorse ment of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and the City Council. Presumably, the cost of transferring the exhibits to Oakland is to be borne by the States which would be no an considerable expense, but Miller argued the benefit of advertising that would acerue from having the exhibition closer to the center of population. Mr. J. H. Fitzpatrick, manager of the publicity department, has already put in hard licks and it is the intention to have a circuit of parks to play big attractions during _ the season. | House on the back of a running horse, also four dogs , riding one horse at the same time. Mile. Summerville and her beantiful horse. Columbus, is a big feature at the Wigwam Theatre, and draws horse lovers from all parts of the city. Neona and Francis and Company, expert rifle shots, created no end of favorable comment. Don Carlos and his trained giant gorilla, is also quite a feature. Payne and Lee, John Birch, Brown and Hodges. Holmes and Holliston and two reels of motion pictures, make up the balance of this large bill. At the Gayety Theatre. for the second week, Daw and Daw, Mason, Wilbur and Jordon, Ronaldo Duo appeared in the olio and James Post and Company with the Ruty Korus, presented The New Motorman, which made good. The attendance kept up the average of the first week, and so far everything looks bright. Hesse and Riordon are at the Grand Theatre, this week. The Victory Theatre. for one week only. had Sam Langford. prize fighter. and a big colored troupe, in A Trip to Africa. The Sullivan-Considine Cirenit, throngeh Archie Tevy. have signed the recently divorced wife of Colonel Evans for a geason of twenty weeks. The salary stated is sald to be &1.900 per week. Mrs. Evans Is to apnear In a sketch assisted by two peonle. and also will present her singing and dancing snectalty, the same that made her popular in England before she became the wife of the Colonel. IN OAKLAND. Manager BR. P. Miller, of Idora Park, apneared before the Board of Supervisors this week and seenred from the board a resolution favoring a transfer of the State Fair exhibits to his perk. Miller said that be was not in favor of removing the fair entirely from Sacramento, but he wants to secure the exhibits after the fair closes. Above the sum of $9,800 Miller stated a willIngness to divide the receipts of admission to | with Benjamin Chapin in Richard Hataling. in Richelieu, at Ye Liberty Theatre, filled in the week. Creo, the newest of illusions, created a pro found sensation at the Bell Theatre. Manuger Cohn featured the act and advertised it liber ally, offering cash prizes for its solution and the result was considerable town talk and big attendance. RUBE CODEN BROOKLYN, N. Y. George M. Cohan, supported by his father. mother, sister and a company of one hundred others, in appearing in Mr. Cohan’s musical play, The Yankee Prince, at week, is making a farewell tour for the sea son; he will probably not be seen here again for two years, as he intends to spend two years in travel, Moreover, he is building a play for his sister, Josephine, intended for her first starring vehicle this fall, to be called A Christmas Doll. Via Wireless will for one week, Manager Leo C. the Montauk this come to the Grand Opera on Monday, February 15 Teller, of Teller’s Broadway Pheatre, certainly k»ows how to get his share of good business. The attractions at this the. atre have been excellent. The popular Sunday night concerts given here are also made up of the cream of vaudeville. The house staff of Hyde & Rehman’s Olympic Theatre is as follows: Nick Norton, manager; John J. MacDovnel, treasurer; Walter A. Gildersleeve, press agent; John Walsh, Purney. electrician: ties; Joseph Jacaues, gen. chief usher, The Star Theatre fs no hest paying theatres in the Eastern Burlesque Wheel. All of the managers are pleased to play it, being sure of large returns. Manager John Murphy deserves great credit He is one of the hardest workers in Brooklyn, as his success proves. Manoger W. C. Fridley has booked The Time the P'sce and the Girl for week of February 15. This is the first time the big attraction has appeared here at popular prices, and big business will rule. Many changes are being made at Dreamland, Coney Island, which will be managed by Sam W. Gumpertz this season. It is stated that A. H. Woods will have a big spectacular production in Dreamland. W. A. Ellis, the well-know showman, has ap indoor carnival company on the road, which ts meeting with big suecess. It is rumored that the Ringling Brothers’ Cirens will play Brooklyn week of April 26 Many notable theatre parties have been hooked by Manager Willlam Trimborn, of the Fulton Theatre, for the ensuing two months Henry I. MeMahon, of this city. formerly press representative of The Clcnsman, is now the presentation of asst. W. R. stage treasurer; D. E. Sasseen, Burgess, advertising agent; manager; Edward F. M. Joseph Glennon, proper Covert, scenic artist; John acy. manager; Wm. Farley. doubt one of the Lincoln at the White House. Walter D. Nea land. also of this city. is in charge of the Publicity Denartment of the Actors’ Society Harry Leonard, an expert in getting free from handenffs, shackles. straight-jackets and other contrivances to restrain dangerous per sons, Will appear at the Empire Theatre thie week, Manager Lew Parker will this week Intro ‘nce to the patrons of the Crescent Theatre # new leading lady. in the person of Miss Alice Fleming, who will make a bid for favor to Chanting Pollock’s charming play, In the Bish op’s Carriage. Miss Annette Kellermann, the famous ‘‘dlv ing Venns."" champion woman swimmer. diver and diabolo plarer of the world. will he seen at the Ornheum Theatre the week of Feb. 15. Miss Blanche Ring will be the first singer to introtnee Billiken in life-size on the stage in Prookivn. Percy G. Williems has engaged Miss Ring to return to vandeville for a lim ited nomber of weeks before her contemplated starring tour in a new musical comedy. Mise Ring will present a repertoire of new songs at the Orpheum this week. The change of policy at the Pijou Theatre, whereby vaudeville has been substituted for dramas and ‘nusical comedies, has proved # popular one, iudging from the good-sized aad j lenees that saw the opening week's bi'l. Harconrt. this country In looks and action she famous sister closely, and become as popular. Miss Ev from Austrelia. GEORGE H. HAKES Certie Everett. a s‘ster of Daisy is making her first appearance in at the Rijou Theatre resembles her more she promises to erett comes ee om a oe eB ee I aia eee Se _? , n-snenniin inline a . ; @ ; i a i | 5] ; @ : ; 5 a a ii a ii i | ' & | 4 : + 4 a 4 . ) ee ee peptic I