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

FEBRUARY 27, 1909. The Billboard 13 HITCH IN PLANS Exhibitors Disappointed Because of Independents’ Fail ure in Getting European Product Before Them ITHOUT doubt the greatest disappointment W of the New York Exhibitors came when the Independents had no film to display. At the meeting recently held at the Orpheum Music Hall. it was announced that thirty or forty reels would be placed on view, so that the exhibitor could make his own selection. It was explained then that the reels were in the custom house, but would be taken out within two wv three hours. A tome and place was set for showing the film. but something went wrong. Neither film vor officers were on hand. Just what the trouble was nobody seems able to find out. Some claim that the film was not even recelved In New York, while others are just as positive that it was received there but through lificulty experienced in the custom house, onld not be taken out In time to make good the appointments made; in consequence all the of film were shipped direct to Chicago. where they are to be held, and the film shown to those Interested. A wellknown exhibitor. after the meeting, had the following to say: “It looks mighty funny to me that the Independents are going about this thing the way they are. I can’t understand why there is no film or even the McKinney on exhibition, especially as every man in the meeting was vi tally interested, and most of us were there to jo business. Probably it was poor busines= judgment to call a meeting at such an early reels date. At any rate it's the way it looks to me. If they had the new. projecting machine and five or six reels of film, I do not question but what we would have signed up for a good many thousauds of dollars right then and there. “Another thing that we independent exhibitors can’t understand is why Mr. Gaumont, who was in the city, and Mr. J. J. Murdock, who was . also in the city, stopping at the Knickerbocker Hotel, were not present at this meeting. Mr. Murdock is the president of the new organization, and it seems to me that he should bave been there to address the meeting and take the chairmanship. We all know him to be a fearless gentleman, and his very pres ence at the meeting would have added a great deal to it. For weeks we have been told that Mr. Gaumont is going independent. Why was he not there? If the Independents can get together and put up a good strong fight, they have some chance of doing business."’ It is generally conceded by the legal fraternity in New York that the temporary injunction handed to Percy G. Williams, of the Orpheum Circuit, against the Vitagraph Compeny, will be dissolved. The injunction was granted by Justice Gerard. Morris Goodman is the attorney for*the Orpheum Company, and Levintritt. Cook and Nathan are the attorneys for the Vitagraph and the Motion Picture Pat ents Company CINCINNATI, O. The business of the past week was of an order that pleased everyone, and will probably stand out as the record-breaker of the season. There seemed to be an awakening of the dormant ones who begin to realize that the season is fast coming to a close. The attractions were, f course, of the highest order and the appetites had been whetted for them. The Merry Widow turned them away last week at every performance, and the patrons seemed to have been well satisfied with this offering at the Grand. Some little commotion was caused by the effort to show that tickets had gotten into the hands of speculators. Manager Rainforth and the company cleared themselves of complicity and showed that the reports of block holdings of. tickets were imaginary. This week, Frank Dantels, in Hook of Holland, is drawing large houses and is putting up a decidedly entertaining show. Next week, Henry Miller The Lyrie {ts certain to enjoy heavy business this week, due to the presence of George Arliss in the Fiske version of The Devil. The only other presentation was a few weeks ago by Henry Dixey, at the Grand. Those who have beard much of the variance between the different versions will satisfy curiosity by witnessing the play this week. The play is pleasing those who are able to appreciate a subtile story acted by an artist of wonderful powers. May Robson comes to the Lyric, next week. William A. Brady's production of The Shepherd King, in which Wright Lorimer fs appearing, at the Walnut, this week, is very gratifying to the sight and ear. This beautiful play is one that has drawing powers of a high order and business is correspondingly good Eccentric Gennaro and Clayton White Marie Stewart head a very good bill at Columbia, this week. The balance of the bill is made up of the following: Gardiner and Vincent, Raymond and Caverly, Two Vindobonas, Wools and Woods Trio, Salvail, Carter and Blnford, and moving pictures. _ Versatility is the one characteristic of the Forepaugh Steck Company, which has made that igeregation successful. Attempting any production, irrespective of difficulties and hard work required, it now ranks among the best stock companies in the country. Lost Twenty-four Hours, the enurrent attraction, is a farce which won immediate favor at the higher price theatres several seasons ago. The play is a big entanglement containing the usual comical sitnations and the usual salutary culmination. The several roles In this play have been most concenislly assigned, the leading parts being in terpreted by Herschell Mayalp and Miss Ida Adair. Crowded houses witne Sunday's performances, The second annual entertainment given by the pen and Penell Club at the Lyric Theatre on the afternoon of February 12, was one of the really notable theatrical affairs of the season. Every act on the list was a headliner and the performance as given, created a profound impression on the andience that filled the honse to the last seat. Included on the bill were Miss Uillian Russell; Amelia Stone, Templar Saxe. Lottie Kendall, Carroll McComas and Harry Short, of The Gay Musician: The Six American Dancers and the Jupiter Brothers, from the Columbia; Joe Morris, from Too Many Wives: lerschell Mayall and members of the Forepaugh Stock Company: Elsie Kramm, from the German Theatre; Burton and Jordan, from the Al. Reeves Company, and the Sioux Indian Quartet, from Hencks. The affair was a great financial success and the newspaper boys of the city desire to tender, through The Billboard, their extreme gratitude to the members of the profession who so generously volunteered their services and to the Theatrical Managers’ Asso+ a of Cincinnat!, for their hearty co-opera on, There is munch interest throughout the country in the African trip of President Roosevel* and none is probably better informed concerning that country and its big game than Peter MacQueen, the celebrated African explorer and bunter, who gave the Travel Talk at the Lyric Theatre Sunday afternoon. Mr. MacQueen told all about the wild African territory where the President will hunt and the story was Illustrated with beantifully colored views and a most oeertal picture of the wild jungle scenery. Ir. MacQneen fs just back from Africa and all his material is fresh, which enables him to present to his audience Wildest Africa just as President Roosevelt will see {t. Lovers of good, first-class, and let us say, the = Style melodrama, big scenic effects, and deightful comedy have a chance to satisfy their } ae at Henek’s my House this week. ppg of a Great City is a melodrama of the sort, full of real heart interests, and not ex and the | Weadick and LaDue, of the 101 Ranch, aggerated as is often the case with similar plays more recently written. It is one of the most elaborate productions on the road and is an old favorite in this city. The scene showing Hell Gate, East River, New York is given with real water. A tank fifty feet long, fifteen feet wide and from one to five feet in depth, is used. Real boats with people in them, sail to and fro. | The great Blackwell's Island Prison is shown. The New Century Girls, presenting two extremely funny burlesques, and bubbling over with high-class vaudeville, opened at People’s Theatre Sunday afternoon. The show Is a con glomeration of pretty girls, gorgeous scenery, glittering costumes and tuneful music, together with clever and funny comedians, and amusing situations and complications. The cast contains some of the best known and most popular players on the burlesque stage. Knowing that the mysterious and supernatural possess strong attraction and potent interest to many people, Manager Cooney Holmes is presenting the patrons of the New Robinson with a feature in that line this week in Mme. Pearl Tangley. the famous Egyptian Mentalist who has created a sensation by her mind reading. proving a veritable priestess of prophecy and astounding the andiences by predictions and marvelous revalations of the past, present and future. Miss Thelma DeVerne, in a funny fascinating musical comedy sketch, is making a hit. assisted by Charlie White Crow, #n Indian Sioux Chief, in lariat twirling and Wild West scenes, take well. The bill concluded with Prof. Jack Wi!Hams in illustrated songs of interest and motion pictures of merit. Excellent attendance at Sunday's performances. Waldron’s Trocadero Burlesquers made an instantaneous hit at the Standard Theatre, Sunday. The two burlettas, Sweeney's Finish and The Isle of Nowhere, are full of laughs, and the company got the audience quite well enthused at both performances. Miss Minnie Burke, a chic little miss, was a candy kid of the show, and she made a big hit with her singing. In the olfo are Jack Elliott, Walter Belair and Rill Elliott, acrobats. Frank Finney and Company, in a one-act play, A Fiftyto-one Shot, and Frank Ross, the singing Jew. Charles Madison, with the lisp, got his share of applause. Those who enjoy a program of refined vaudeville that is very entertaining, will find it in the bill at the Lyceum this week. One of the cleverest singing acts containing originality, is that of the Three Methven Sisters, very clever little misses, who harmonize beautifully and who sing a variety of songs. They had to respond to many encores at Sunday’s performances, Another act of much merit is that of Ivy and Ivy, in which the comedy is very clever aud the musical numbers excellent. The La Selle Trio perform many difficult acrobatic feats, their head balancing being especially good. Miss Marie Laurent, soprano vocalist, has a very pleasing voice. The pictures this week are new and up-to-date. ; As usual, the popular Auditorium Vaudeville Theatre played to crowded houses at all performances Sunday, and the entire bill is exceptionally fine. It is headed by Cora Lawton. Mitchell and Co., in their refined sketch, The Devil, which is well acted and shows a beautiful love story. It is followed by Hufford and Chain tn a singing and talking act, in witich Mr. Hufford in the chsracter of a negro minister, preaching his farewell sermon to his con gregation, created much applause. Latell Brothers, who have been singing here at the high-priced houses, have a decidedly good equil ibrist act, also cabinet posing, showing their wonderful strength. Miss La Adelia, in an act of toe dancing, makes a number of changes and is well received. The motion pictures are new and up-to-date. The song which the management had especially written for George | Washington's Birthday celebration, showing him crossing the Delaware, was beautifully illustrated in colors and well sung. An operetta, new to this country, was produced by the German players at the Grand Sunday, in the first performance here of The Doll, an opera comique, of French origin, the com poser being Edmond Andrau and the librettist, Maurice Ordonneau. The work ts a distinct departure from the average run of light operas, both In its musical handling as well as the manner of its dramatic coustraction. The male choruses of the monks in the first and last acts, with the incidental solos of the Superior, are easily the best in the the entire work. The Contentment song or the Superior in the final act Is an especially good number, and was finely sung by Otto Ernst Schmid. The operetta had been well prepared, and under the direction of A. Schlobach, the choruses and ensemble numbers, as well as the | individual solos, were given with commendable security. Elise Kramm played the daughter, and Was exquisite in her performance as well as her singing. Fery Bettesch was good as Lancelot, and Fredi Amorogio was delightfully droll as Baron Chanterelle, the rich uncle. Mueller-Frabricius was very good-as the doll manufacturer, Hilarius, while Otto Ernst Schmid sang the role of the Father Superior with dignity and beautiful vocal effect. The | Smaller parts were also well done. made by the | Extensive arrangements were management of the New Music Hall Rink for a fitting celebration of Washington's Che program for the day was characterized a Washington's Birthday Skate, in which nothing that is not patriotic was allowed to creep in. fhe musical numbers, given by Prof. Jung's Military Band were of a patriotic order. The hall was beautifully decorated in honor of the cecasion, adding much to the general enjoyment of a few hours on the rollers. Henry Miller, who comes to the Grand next week, in The Great Divide, will put in the mornings with his company, rehearsing the new Vaughan Moody play, The Faith Healer, which is to have its premiere production in St. Louis next month, aY J. R. STIRLING BUYS HOTEL. John R. Stirling, Detroit Lodge the park commission and Citizens’ Railway, becomes proprietor of tbe Hotel Ste. Claire, Detroit, Mich., on May 1. The matter has been under consideration for some time and the deal was closed February 13. Mr. Stirling succeeds William P. Beyer and Edgar O. Sutton. The hotel has been a success under the Beyer & Sutton regime and enjoys a splendid reputation among the traveling pub exalted ruler of the former secretary of afterwards of the past of Elks, c. Mr. Stirling has lived in Detroit all of his life and is one of the most popular men in the city. He retired from the street railway company when it was suld to Tom L. Johnson and R. T. Wilson. For many years Mr. Stirling has been prominently identified with the theatrical business as manager and part proprietor of the Star, Teck and Academy Theatres in Buffalo and with several road attractions, the principal of which is Rose Melville, in Sis — Which still receives his personal atten tion. Mr. Stirling says that he will not withdraw from his theatrical connections, but on the contrary he is arranging to be more interested than ever in that line, maintaining his theatrical headquarters at his present location in the Detroit Opera House Building, Detroit. He will be assisted In his work by his son Jack (J. M.) Birthday. | ‘Performer has Experience that | for | me Stirling, who has had much valuable experience | in that line, and who will give his personal at tention to the office details. THE UNBROKEN ROAD, BERTHA KALICH’S NEW PLAY. A play, giving opportunity for the enactment of powerful emotional roles, such was The Unbroken Road, launched at Providence, R. 1., February 18. Its author is Thomas Dickinson, and the production is made by Harrison Grey Fiske. The locale is a western town and deals with the manipulations of machine politicians, involving the antagonisms of rival factions. The intricacies of the game, in which the heroine becomes involved, admit of strong emotional acting in which role Mme. Kalich seems to have won a great success. The production was one of note and the star was supported by a cast which included, among others, Frederick Truesdell, Eugene Ormond, Riley Chamberlain, Dean Raymond, Thomas L. Coleman, Clyde Benson, J. Hartman Roeder, Blanche Weaver, Florine A. Arnold, Merle Madders and Jane Congreve. HELEN ROBERTSON TO STAR IN THE CONFLICT. The Conflict Is the title of a new four-act psychic play, which will be produced by Paul H. Liebler, about April 1. Helen Robinson has been selected to appear in the title role. Rehearsals are now in progress in New York City. The cast for the new play tis: Raphael de Valentin, Robert Drouet; Caesare Resapha, Antonin Guerbet, Frank W. Gardner; John Bodie, Harry Leighton: Francois Picet, Siward W. Lyons: Berenice Dorian, Miss Florence Lester; Madame Dorian, Miss Helen Beresfors, and Fedora Varona, Miss Helen Robertson. SPARKS CIRCUIT GROWING. The Sparks Vandeville Circuit has made rapid and pretentious advances in the past few weeks, having added houses to the circuit, bringing the number of weeks to be given to first-class vaudeville acts up to thirty-five. Managers of the houses of which this cireuit is compostd are loud in their praise of the grade of acts they are receiving and of the general satisfaction they are getting from this progressive, and upto-date agency. NEW THEATRICAL EXCHANGE FOR CLEVELAND. Messrs. Lucius Fairchild and R. E. White have formed a partnership and opened a new booking office and theatrical exchange at 746 Puclid avenue, Cleveland, 0. They have a number of special acts and their field of operations will extend over the States of Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and New York. JEANETTE BAGEARD IN VAUDEVILLE. Jeanette Bageard, who has had important roles in several recent successful musical pro duetions, has gone into vaudeville. Miss Bageard is to To a singing and dancing specialty. Richmond (Ind.) Lodge No. 98, T. M. A., is fast coming to the front. They Rave just secured lodge and club rooms at Ninth and Main streets, and will fit them up in first-class style. New members are also being received, the latest to be Initiated being Wm. Harmon, a well-known vaudeville performer, and Wi. Torbeck, of Richmond. The Cliffords, sword swallowers, opened on the Royer and Balsdon Cireuit recently, and reports say their act is a big success. | sta®bed her three times, BIG INDIAN Runs Amuck in Cincinnati Will be Vivid in His Memory the Balance of His Life A Navajo Indian Chief ran amuck {no the train sheds of the Grand Central Depot, Cincinnati, 0., February 21, and succeeded in stabbing and probably mortally wounding three people. The Imlian was one of a party of four en route to Washington. Ernest A. Dupille, a vaudeville actor, who was on the same train with the Ih dians, coming into Cincinnati, had, prior to the arrival of the train engaged the mad red-skip in conversation, but growing suspicious of his actions changed seats. Mr. Dupille tells the following story: “I began to get suspicious and left the seat beside the Indian a few moments before we pulled Into the depot. I was in front of him when the passengers started from the car. As I put my foot on the lower step the Indian gave me an awful push that sent me reeling to the other side of the tracks. “T turned around just as he pulled a large knife from his poeket. Brandishing It above his head and yelling like a mad-man, he started toward the gates. At this moment he spled Gorden leaning against a car on another trac’t, and rushing toward him, buried the knife in his chest. Gorden fell to the ground without a ery. The sight paralyzed me with fear, and not car ing to buckle up with a crazy Indian, I started the gates as fast as my feet could carry Had it been a white man that had pushed from the stair, I naturally wenld have as certained what reason he had for doing it, but a ‘loony’ Indien on the war path with a wicked knife in his hands was too much for me and I certainly was glad when I was safely behind the railing and gates. “Pulling the blood-covered knife from Gorden, the Indian again started for the gates at the same time that Mrs. Bevord alighted from one of the end cars. With ber two children by her side the woman had just placed her foot on the platform when the Indian ran up to her and Not waiting to see the result of his work, the savage ran toward Meyer, who was standing with hia hands in his pockets alongside the gate. Several people shouted to him to run, but Meyer paid no atten tion to their warnings, and as the Indian ap proached him he held out his hand tn a friendly way. Heedless of the zreeting, the Indian struck Meyer twice in the abdomen with the knife. As the maniac was about to pass through the gate after tinishing his ghastly work. a trainman sneaked up behind him, armed with a heavy spike, and hit him a crushing blow, the red man falling In bis tracks. “IT never again care to witness such a scene as took place in that musty train shed and harcly ever expect to have such a close escape from death as I did when the Indian started in another direction from me when he left the car.”’ me, CAN’T PROMISE STATE FAIR FOR TEXA Will Texas have a state fair this year or not? This question is being agitated by Texans, as well as by exhibitors, concessionaires, etc.. throughout the country. It seems that there has been some delay tn the Legislature making appropriations touching the State Fair, consequently arrangements are not progressing. In referring to the situation, President E. J Kiest. of the State Fair, sald: “We are at a standstill. We cannot enter into contracts with exhibitors and concession people and undertake to give such a fair as we have given. We are not In a position to promise that we will give a fair at all. It ts true that we are receiving a great many appli cations for space, but we are merely filing them, telling applicants that we cannot enter Into con tracts with them until we hear finally from Austin. ‘“*‘We had hoped to have the preparations for the 1909 fsir well under way by this time, but owing to circumstances over which we have no control we have so far done nothing.”’ It was planned to hold the fair October 16 to 31, at Dallas. SOUTHERN SHOWS COMBINED NOTES. We are in Tallahassee, Fla., this week Aimee opened in her new top to a good business Dr. Barfield has bought the Ferris wheel and merry-go-round that was booked with him, and now has control of most of the shows on the Midway. The roster of the show is: Barfield’s Old Plantation, Aimee, fire dancer: Armstrong's Electric and Vaudeville, Edwards’ Illusion and Marionett Show, and Stevens’ little horse. There are two free acts, Armstrong Sisters, in double trapeze, and Kannell. in his high dive. There are also two bands, white and colored, and ten concessions, Nat Nardu still has the confetti and candy wheel. Regards to all friends. Cc. E. BARFIELD, Mer BREAKS RECORD. At the New Rink, Cincinnati, 0., Saturday February 20. the finals decided the champion ship for the one-mile race. The winner was Willle Blackburn, registered, Greater New York City: second, Frank Bacon, McKeesport, Pa. and third, Joe Altman, Cincinnati, O. In the preliminaries, Blackburn broke the local track record of 2:493-5, Thursday night. rolling the mile in 2:48 3-5. Bacon lowered Blackburn’s record to 2:474-5 the same night. In Friday’s semi-final, Blackburn again lowered the time 2-5 of a second, negotiating the mile distance in the remarkable time of 2:47 2-5. the best record on a ten-lap track In America. es at am ete ae ai I Ct” th eee ees ee ; i a ate eae et ee en ee Ahlen thal, Gi NE Ie