The Billboard 1909-02-27: Vol 21 Iss 9 (1909-02-27)

FEBRUARY 27, 1909. The Billboard BANQUET Given By Friars at Monastery In Honor of Ryan Walker, the Cartoonist, One of the Biggest Affairs in History of Club. Friar Ryan Walker, the cartoonist, was the guest of honor, February 13, at one of the most remarkeble complimentary suppers ever given at the Monastery, the famous club house of the Friars in New York. Although the main assembly hall can only comfortably seat 65, the friars and their guests numbered considerably over a hundred. The menu was superb, and was served from the culinary department of the club without outside assistance. The menu card was in the form of the Epistle, the periodical published by the Friars, | and contained half-tone cuts and cartoons of the principal guest, as well as other matter of | novel and unusual interest. In the absence of friar Abbot Charles Emerson Cook, the Friar secretary, Willard D. Coxey, officiated as chairman, and announced each number on the prcgram with a short but appropriate address. e program itself was a remarkable one, and served to introduce a number of well-known professionals and others. Senor Florencio Constantino, of the Manhattan Opera House, a tenor of remarkable vocal sweetness, sang Celeste Aida, and was compelled to respond to a double encore; there was form all the motions a drunken man returning from a swell affair would go through. This man is placed in one of the leading show windows in each town the show plays; a sign on his back reads—‘‘I’m Going to see The Awakening of Mr. Pipp To-night.” BUFFALO, N. Y. The Lake Amusement Company are successors | to the Harry Davis Co., in the management of | the Bijou Dream, this city. John Morton, a noted local singer is the manager. He has | introduced a novelty by having the singers of songs placed in a stage box under a spot light | and by changing the colors a very pretty effect is obtained. Business here is great, and the management only complain of lack of room, as stringent police laws. May Hillman, a member of the Creole Slave’s Revenge Company. which played a date at the Academy, was left behind on account of sickness, and is now at the Sisters’ Hospital, where | she will have to undergo an operation. She is receiving kind attention from friends. The Woods management paid her two week’s salary in advance, which was very much appre| elated. Joseph W. Edmonston, the local manager of A. H. Woods’ Central Publicity Department. | leaves this week as the advance of Convict 999 on the Southern Circuit. The Manufactory Club of this city finding the present Convention Hall too small for the accommodation of large crowds, have appointed a committee of leading citizens to consider the building of a structure to accommodate a city market and a greater convention hall, on the site of the Chippewa Market, a very central | site, at am estimated cost of $1,000,000. | Klimt & Gazzolo’s Rocky Mountain Express | Company will close the season at Detroit, Feb. 20. Manager L. E. Pond claims a good season, and the company has made some money. Buffalo has no use for problem plays. the situation is different than in New York. | The local managers heartily concur with th: New York Managers’ Association, claiming that the five or six plays running in New York would not be drawing attractions here, as the plays H. Here a splendid piano solo by Julius Schendel, who is | rapidly leaping into fame in the East; Max Do| lin, a clever violinist, played, with Platon | Brounoff, the Russian composer, as accompan| ist; John W. Sargent and Roltair gave exhibi— tions of legerdemain; W. J. Lampton, New York World, gave original from famous poets, Ryan Walker was cleverly introduced: appreclative speeches were made by Channing Pol| lock, Dr. Alexander Irvine, of the Church of | the Ascension, ciate editor of Current Literature, and Taylor Holmes, of David Warfield’s Company, contribut ed a number of notable imita ions. One of the incidental features was a song, en| titled Ryan Walker, especially written for the | occasion, anw sung by Clifford Wiley. The words were by Willard D. Coxey and the music | by Paul Titetjens, composer of The Wizard of | Oz. It made a pronounced hit. Another incidental feature was a cartoon of Newlyweds, printed in colors and presented to all those who attended the affair. | STAGE paratliege ELECT OFFI s. The annual election of officers of the Interna| tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, | Pensacola (Fla.) Lodge No. 60, was held Feb | tuary 14, and the following officers were chosen | to serve the ensuing year: | President, A. J. Schmitz; vice-president, Sam | arry Blake; | | B. Flynn; secretary-treasurer, business agent, W. . Walker; Sergeant-atarms, C. L. Touart. Trustees: J. C. Clarke, | ®. W. Peake and C. F. Lehr. Delegates to Cen| trel Trades Council: Thos. Harris, Sam B. Piynn and Harry Blake. “NEW THEATRE FOR HAMILTON, OHIO. J. H. Broomhall, of Richmond, Ind., and John Schwalain, of Pittsburg. Pa.. have leased two ‘osiness houses In Hamilton, O., and will transform them into a vaudeville and moving pileture theatre. Plans are now being prepared for improvements, which will cost about $10,000. The new theatre will be called the Jewel. of the | paraphrases | in which the name of | and Alexander Harvey, asso| every one has to be seated on account of the HARRY LAUDER TO GOOD OLD NATIVE SHORE SAILS AWAY Given Royal Send-off by Last Audience Henry Miller Announces Plan for Building a Theatre on Broadway---Raymond Hitchcock Makes Assignment ---Empire Burlesque Executive Committee Meets. Harry Lauder, after a tour of the country, under the management of Mr. William Morris, bade farewell to America, February 16, sailed on the Lusitania, the following morning, for home. The evening of the 16th, was one long to be remembered by Mr. Lauder and those who were in attendance at Blaney’s Lincoln Square Theatre, New York City. His tour began at the same house, October 12, last year. After the evening’s ceeded to the center of the stage and thanked all for the generous attention shown him, pro| fessionally and socially, during his stay in this country, but before he had an opportunity to retire, a curtain in the rear was raised ex posing a large number of presents from friends | and admirers, among whom were Liberty Council Knights of Columbus, St. Paul’s Guild of the Paulist Parish Fathers, and William Morris, Incorporated, the gift from the latter being an elegant silver service. Mr. Lauder was in fine spirits, leading the audience In Auld Lang Syne, and the whole was a fitting conclusion of a tour which probably has no parallel in the annals of vaudeville. YORKE AND ADAMS. JIE Appearing in Playing the Ponies. produced in the city were open to criticism, and did not favor the box-office. That the stag? can preach a sermon as well as the church was illustrated the past week at the Teck, where Mrs. Fiske, as Salvation Nell, | showed a weary traveler the error of his ways. | A noted city character who was in attendance THOMAS H. WILLIAMS DIES. | Thomas H. Williams, an English actor, on a visit to his father’s home in Kentucky, was found dead in his room, the night of February 5. Evidently he had taken his own life. He had just returned from a stock engagement in the West. Mr. Williams was also well known “!l over the South and East. BOB McGINLEY’S MISFORTUNE. Bob McGinley, a vaudeville performer, ts the victim of a very peculiar accident, and as a result he has been compelled to cancel all his time. McGinley had the misfortune to get a hot cinder in his eye and he is now under the care of an eye specialist in Steele, N. D., who is endeavoring to save his sight. DENIES REPORT. 8. E. Bennington denies the report that one Y the Bennington children (Mable) dropped dead in the Opera House, Minneapolis, while ‘doing her act, some time ago. Mr. Rennington states that both children, Mable and Myrtle, are enjoying the best of health. BERTHA GLEESON ILL. asnerthe Gleeson (Mrs. Fred Houlihan) of The eesons and Houlihan, underwent a_ serious Soration at the New York Polyclinic Hospital New York City, February 9. for an internal Strain, caused by dancing. The operation was very successful and she is improving rapidly. NEW ADVERTISING FEATURE. Mr. E. G. Davidson, manager of Mr. Charlie Grapewin, in The Awakening of Mr. Pipp, has undoubtedly the latest advertising feature out. : is feature is a mechanical man, well dressed. | ard to distinguish from life and who per| joined the local branch of the Salvation Army as the result. Polly of the Circus, which put in a_ very prosperous week at the Star, with Mabel, instead of her sister, Edith, Taliaferro, was wholesome and delightful. The company £0 from bere by special train to Chicago for an | indefinite engagement at the Illinois Theatre. The Three Trapnel! Sisters and Brother George made one of the greatest of hits at Shea's, as acrobats and tumblers. Shea’s Theatre, which is in a class by itself, has crowded houses, and always a good show. Joseph F. Sheehan was the headliner, and received a fine welcome. This week, Buster | Brown and Tige were there, also Amelia Sum merville, Walter Law and Company, The Three Sisters Trapnell, Johnnie Johns, Snyder and Buckley and The Sutcliffe Troupe. e moving pictures of the Italian earthquake were ex | cellent. Crystal Beach, Luna Park, Olcott Beach, Belleview Park, Electric Beach, Bay View Reach, Fort Erie Beach and the Buffalo Industrial Exhibition will be some of the summer resorts this season. Some of the nearby county fair dates are: Franklin Fair, August 25-28; Hamberg Fair, September 6-10; Cuba Fair, September 7-10; Batavia Fair, September 21-24, as decided by the Western New York Fair Managers’ Assoelation, which met in this city February 12. A marine Mardi Gras Floating Carnival, a very unique show, will be held in this city, August 19-21, under the auspices of the Buffalo Launch Club, the first ever held in this country. All kinds of water sports, races, pyrotechnic displays, all blended in the three days’ pageant, will take place. The splendid floors at each rink are the best | im the country, and are always filled with skat ers. Basket ball and three days with Prof. A. P. Demers, in trick and fancy skating, at the | Coliseum, and a two-stepping contest at the | Palace are the attractions this week. Polly of the Circus, A Man and His Mate, Me, Him and I, Buster Brown and Tige, Tony, the Rootblack, Dainty Duchess and Follies of the Day are billed this week. JOHN 8S. RICHARDSON. ACTORS’ SOCIETY NOTES. The Play Readers’ Committee of the Actors’ Society formed at the suggestion of Augustus Thomas, finds that its original intention to proeduce all the desirable plays it finds, is rendered unnecessary by the attitude of co-operation on the part of many influential managers, who have expressed a willingness to read immediately, @ny manuscripts the committee passes on favorably. The numerical strength of the committee is one great asset; a play instead of lying on the shelves in the managers’ offices for months at a time, then to be rejected by one man, his professional play reader will, if sent to the committee, receive immediate attention, and be read by at least five people before final rejection. The committee has increased its numbers to twenty, among those are Thomas A. Wise, George Arliss, Mary Shaw, Edith Ellis, John E. Kellerd, F. F. Mackay, Wm. Courtleigh, Richard F. Carroll, George Warren, etc. HENRY MILLER WILL BUILD THEATRE ON BROADWAY, NEW YORK. Heury Miller has announced that he will commence building a theatre in New York early next autumn. The theatre is to be on Broadway, in the vicinity of Longacre Square, and will probably be opened in November of this year. The plans provide for a fireproof building of re-enforced concrete large enough to hold 1,200 persons. The tnterior arrangements include a revolving stage. after the fashion of some of the German stadt theatres. It is planned that aside from Mr. Miller's personal productions, the new theatre will house the Henry Miller Associate Players in modern plays of Mr. Miller’s own selecting for nine months of the year. During the summer months the playhouse will be given over to other attractions, possibly to comic opera. APOLLO, WHEELING, OPENED. The New Apollo Theatre (Wonderland rebuilt) at Wheeling. W. Va.. was opened Monday evening, February 15, with the Uncle Sam's Belles Company. for a week's engagement, and the pretty little house was packed to its utmost, standing room being at a premium, and every and | show the comedian pro| | one lucky enough to get in was agreeably sur| prised at the beauty of the house. The house was designed by Mr. E. B. Franz. heim, a home boy, who designed the Court Thea| tre, Wheeling, and who formerly managed that house, but is now connected with the new house just opened. The seating capacity is about twelve hundred and it is the intention of the management to run musical comedy. The executive staff is as follows: Harry W. | Rogers, manager; Thos. Laroux, assistant and stage manager: Prof. Geo. A. Becker, orchestra | leader; Jos. Kletzly, treasurer; Jas. Richbard son, stage carpenter, Frank Warner, master of properties; Geo. Warner, flyman, and Jess Shallcross, advertising agent. RAYMOND HITCHCOCK MAKES ASSIGNMENT. Raymond Hitchcock, in voluntary tition filed in New York February 15, gives lMabilities as $28,294, unsecured, with no assets save $16 on deposit in the Mutual Bank. Hitchock says he owes the Johnson Service Company, of Milwaukee, $4,000 as a jndgment ‘on a note given for an automobile, which wag returned as unsatisfactory; Herman Fromme, of Cranford, N. $6.000 on notes given for legal services; Thomas Mott Osborne, of Auburn, N. Y., $10,000, money loaned; Dr. Max Lauterman, Montreal, $1,500, for attendance at the trial of the People vs. Hitchcock; Carl FisherHanson, No. 9 West Forty-seventh street, $3,000 on a note given for legal services: Flora Zabelle Hitchcock, No. 241 West Forty-second street, $2,000, for money loaned, and the John| son Service Company, of Milwaukee, $294 for automobile parts and storage. | RAYMOND HITCHCOCK IS A MINSTREL STAR. Raymond Hitchcock, the great comedian, was given a short notice that he was to be a minstrel star. Owing to the sudden illness of Geo. (Honey Boy) Evans, at Utica, N. Y., February 11, it left the big Cohan and Harris Minstrels without a star. Hitchcock, who is under Cohan and Harris contract, was in New York at the time and was chosen as the man te take Evans’ part. Hitcheock was then hurried to Syracuse and rehearsed Evans’ songs and dances and when he appeared in burnt-cork in Auburn, N. Y. (his home town) he was a big hit. Hitch cock will be with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels until the recovery of George Evans. EMPIRE BURLESQUE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS. A meeting of the Empire Circuit Company, which controls one of the wheels of the burlesque shows, took place in the offices of People’s Theatre, Cincinnati, ©0., February 15. Routine matters occupied the attention of the meeting. Those who attended were: oe Butler, of St. Louis; George W. Rife, of Baltimore: H. Fehr, of Milwaukee; H. Clay Miner and Thomas W. Miner, of New York; | Fennessy, of New York: W. T. Campbell, of Cleveland, and George W. Heuck and James BE. Fennessy, of Cincinnati. This executive meeting is preliminary to the annual meeting of the company, which will take place in May. GREENUP THEATRE OPENED. The New Ewart Theatre, Greenup, Iil., was opened Thursday, February 11 with The Isle of Spice, to capacity business. The new theatre is a beauty and would be a credit to a much larger city than Greenup. The stage is 30x50 and 50 ft. to gridiron. It is fitted with a complete set of scenery and has all modern appliances. Hot and cold water in dressing-rooms, furnace heat and lighted with electricity. The auditorium is profusely decorated and will seat people. The theatre is a model for convenience and beauty. COOK STOCK PLAYERS OPEN. The Cook Stock Players, the new permanent stock company installed in the Hartford Theatre, at Hartford, Conn.. by Charles Emerson Cook, general manager for David Belasco. opened to big business in Zaza, on February 15 and made good at once. Governor Lilley, Mayor Hooker and a delegation from the Friars’ Club, of New York, consisting of Chief Friar Willard Coxey, Edward Salts. Earl Ashe and F. M. Nor cross, occupied boxes. The Friars’ Club also sent the company a large Billiken for a mascot. STOCK COMPANY CLOSES. The Lyric Stoce Company, which has heer playing at the Lyric Theatre, Ft. Wayne, Ind., for some time, closed February 20. Announcement has been made of a change in management of the house, but information is not yet available as to the future of this theatre. NEW SCRIPTURAL DRAMA. Announcement has just been made that Manurice Maeterlinck has completed a new scriptural drama and that it will probably be staged with Mme. Georgette Lebranc, his wife, in the principal role. ns AAC ANE A TE a 2 ome I lt mai A + CT OR. Ae A it i ME A Dl AP: CC sans Oe