The Billboard 1909-04-17: Vol 21 Iss 16 (1909-04-17)

The Bi llboard APRIL 17, 1909, THE GAY LIFE OPENS VETERAN DIES. Will S. Rising was rehearsing with The Girl From Rector’s Company when he was summoned to the death-bed of bis father, Phillp Rising. } at Laneaster, O Mr. Rising was a weteran of 3 ‘ “ | the Mexican War, and a patriotic and phitan M'’CARDELL PLAY WELL RECEIVED Many of New York's Broadway Favorites More or Less Carefully. Depicted or Successfully Disguised in the Characters Employed to Work Out the Plot. PROVIDENCE (R. 1.) OPERA HOUSE.—The Gay Life. a comedy, in three acts, by Roy L. McCardell. CAST OF CHARACTERS: William Thornton, Sr. ........... Frank Currier William Thornton, Jr. ......... Schuyler Ladd EE ocbnccecdssanen Thomas Thorne George Russler Tritt Th A. 8. Byron Louis Zinsheimer ......... Bertram A. Marburg Abie Woggiebaum ..............Jobn Kloville it) iE ccahenedssaneeusi Charles Kennedy i MD. shetéeece coset William Wadsworth ee 2 a rere ements R. J. Moy EE PS fe”). Byron Marsh Dt cessben nse oterccety William Wadsworth OT RR eae Carl UHemman ee ee eee Robert Craig ES eee ee Mickey Finn DT » op abededd se tonsese wks Richard Clarke OE 2 ses sone ces beanie Lester Allen Richard Le Gallon ............ B. V. Townsend eae James L. Campbell PON -+bnnees han eneskacmne Frank Deroin | DPE. cdseseasesabecs owe cece William Robertson i PAO £66 encesesenened Consuelo Bailey Mama de Branscombe ..... Katherine De Barry Amy de Branscombe ........... Helen Hancock fuss Montgomery ............ Violette Kimball tt: Pe chGuwscensponntonnen Marie Haynes A Ss otine sav nwe vcwne Serene Lillian Dix i. seh dedebe 190 docvnsenee Sallie McRee SD SED, «= on os ig o's ay Ghee Marie Haynes OT errr Mable Stoughton SPOR. aybnadosapyeecse> osewecad Josie Williams SYNOPSIS: ACT I.—Sitting room in the railroad boarding house of Mrs. Lorrimer, Altoona, Evening. ACT il.—Parlor of the de Branscombe flat, on West Forty-fifth Street, New York. Several months later, ACT II1.—A table d’hote restaurant, in Bohemia. The same night. The Gay Life, a new comedy by Mr. Roy L. McCardell, produced by Mr. Harrison Grey Fiske, had its initial presentation at the Providence Opera House, April 8. The gay life pictured in this comedy is the frivolous, entertaining. and glittering life of upper Broadway in New York. The little romantic love story which is set amid these surroundings shows a young girl at first attracted by the white lights, who is gradually dis-illusioned, and ultimately marries the man she reaily loves. The first act shows a railroad boarding house in Altoona. the second act the parlor of Mama de Branscombe's flat in New York, and the third act represents a 50-cent Italian restaurant in New York, where so-called Bohemians gather. many copies of easily recognized celebrities in this scene. Mr. McCardell has devised a unique and highly entertaining set of characters, among them Mama de Branscombe: her daughter, Amy, a soubrette: George Russler, the wine agent, Amy's fiance; Luln, the chorus girl: Miss Puss Montgomery, a show girl: Mr. Maginnis, her busband, a. tight-wad from Marietta; Dopey McKnight, the human pianola; Abie Wogglebaum and Louie Zinsheimer, two traveling genlemen; their friends and familiars, together with sundry flotsam and jetsam from the Coast of Bohemia. Individual hits were scored by Miss Katherine de Barry as Mama de Branscombe; Miss Consuelo Bailey as the chorus girl; Miss Helen Hancock, as Amy de Branscombe; Miss Violet Kimball as Puss Montgomery, and by Thos. Thorne as Dopey McKnight, the continuous piano player from a rathskellar. Mr, Thorne’s creation of this extraordinary role will probably take rank as a really remarkable achievement. Mr. Fiske has mounté@ the play carefully. After a few nights on tour, it will be seen at Daly's Theatre, New York. PERUCHI IN AUGUSTA. It has just been announced that Peruchi, of the Peruchi-Gyrpzene Company, had secured the Lakeview Casino, at Augusta, Ga., to house his company this summer. So far as learned it is the intention of Peru chi to bave a summer circuit of his own, alter nating his own tronpe with the Edna May Spooner Stock Company and a musical comedy aggregation yet to be selected. The sea son will be about sixteen weeks in duration and will open at the Casino April 26 with Pernchi’s own players in a repertoire of his well-known plays. Tle will remain = several weeks and will be fo'lowed by the Spooner ag gregation which in turn will give place to the musical comedy. Peruchi will then return and the alterations will continue thronghout the season MAJESTIC THEATRE, TORONTO (Can.) CHANGES HANDS. On Monday. April 12, the Majestic Theatre, representing the last melodrama theatre tn Canada to fall beneath the public antipathy to sensational shows. passed into the vandeville and moving picture field. The United States Amusement Co.. it is understood, is the new controlling power and recentivr leased the balld ing from Stair and Havlin, who are joint part ners of Mr. Ambrose Small. of Toeronte. con trolling a big cirenit of theatres In Ontario. All arrangements have been made for the in etallation of a high-class picture machine and the booking of the necessary acts, Prices will run from five cents to thirty cents. Four per formances will be given every day from 2 to 4 P. M. and from 4 to 6 P. M. and in the eve ning from 6:30 to 8:30 and 8:30 to 10:30. There are The new lessees have taken the building un| til the end of August, but may renew it at that time if the venture is a success. The Ma jestic will form a ¢ircuit with the Academy in Buffalo, Pike’s Theatre in Cincinnati, Burk’s in Toledo, and others. WIDOW OF HARRY C. STANLEY. A meeting in the interest of the widow of the late Harry C. Stanley (formerly Stanley & Wil son) whose death, February 18, left her des titute, owing to unlucky business ventures, a limited amount of booking, and poor health of both, will be held in the otice of Sullivan and Considine, Broadway and 36th streets, New York, Thursday, April 8, at four o'clock. Professional friends are requested to add their names to the committee on that day. Wm. Morris, Fred Niblo, Harry Mountford, Chris 0. Prown, Louis Tincus, Ed. 8S. Keller, Tim Me Mahon, W. 8. Wright. Harry Mountford will receive all communications for the widow which will be acknowledged. AL. G. FIELD'S INCORPORATED. For the purpose of rewarding his old employes and to perpetuate the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels in case something should happen to the present owner, Al. G. Field, this week took out articles of incorporation fot the Al. G. Field Amusement Company. The stock will be distributed among the members of Mr. Field's family and those of his emploves who have been with him for eighteen or twenty years. The organization has been in the field for 23 years and has bronght a large fortune to the present owner but hereafter the profits will be shared by the old employes who have done so much to make the show the success it | has been proved, NAT WILLS’ UNIQUE STUNT. Nat M. Wills helped liven up matters in Gotham last week with the unique stunt of flying throvgh the streets of the metropolis in a big antomobile, attired in his stage cos tume. Wills was appearing at the Fifth Ave. Theatre, and as the Colonial was minus one act, owing to the non-appearance of some performers, arrangements were made with the comedian for his appesrance at both hoasex daily. In order to do this Nat was compelled to make bis way from one theatre to the other withont changing his costume. Incidentally, the stunt was quite a littl advertisement for both Wills and the theatres. CLARA MORRIS’ BENEFIT. A benefit performance for Clara Morris will be given in New York City, April 16. Among those who have tendered their services and will appear on the program are E. H. Sothern, Wilton Lackayre, Chauncey Ole-tt, Edmund Breese, Lawrence O’Orsay, Frank Worthing, Fdwin Arden. Robert Warwick, Edgar Norton, Ira Hards, Alfred Hickman, Henry Miller, Jr.: Chas. Laite. Grace George, Frances Starr, Vir ginia Harned, Elsie Janis. Elita Proctor Otis, | Eleanor Moretti, Sally Williams, Leslie Bing ham, Anna Wynne. Carolyn Kenyon, Ina Ham mer and Helen Macbeth. WILL PRESENT IRISH PLAYS. Miss Benlah Laurton will play the leading roles in the Irish plays which will be produced by the Irish Stock Company. of New York, this ; summer. The company will give a series of 28 performances, presenting such plars as A Gentleman from Ireland, The Irish Weshington, Robert Emmett, ete. The supporters of the stock company are endeavoring to secure a Rroadway up-town theatre for this stock season. BRANCH OF. UNITED BOOKING AGENCY AT CLEVELAND, O. The United Booking Offices of America has established a sub-agency in Cleveland. 0., under the tithe of The Keith Vandeville Exchange Offices of the new agency have been opened in Keith's Tlippodrome under the snpervision of Mrnager Daniels. The chief work of the new ventnre will be to furnish professional enter tainment for lodge an other society entertain ments in Cleveland vicinity. GARRICK THEATRE, SAN DIEGO, CAL Manager J. M. Dodge, of the Garrick Thea tre. Sen Mero. Cal., has sicned op the James Tost Stock Company for a summer encacement, heginning the early rart of Mas This t« ove of the ponnler organizations of the Pacifie Corset, and tt te predieted that the summer's business at the Garrick will be a record-breaker ANNA WHEATON INJURED. Mies Anna Wheaton. the star of The Toner mooners, met with arite ai seriere aectdent tn Fr. Smith, Ark... ef the Grand. Treaday nicht Merch 31 Mies Wheeton etarted for the stare for the third act when she caneht the heel of ber shoe In the etairwar and fell An under etndy took her rlace and «he wee removed to the company's private car in a carriage thropic citizen Ile was a retired bauker and one of the most esteemed citizens Among the heirs in the theatrical profession are Will 8 Rising, his two sons, Phil Rising and Will 8 Rising, Jr.. Mrs. Richard F, Outeault (Buster Brown) and Neil MeNell, of the Red MII Company. LEAVES MIMIC WORLD. Miss Ada B, Gordon, the popular soubrette, has terminated her engagement with the Shaberts’ Mimie World Company, and will go with the Will Page Stock Co. for the summer sea son, playing second leads The Page Company opens in Washington, D. C., April 26 FRANK WORTHING TO STAR. Frenk Worthing, leading man with Grace George, will be sterred next season in The Doe tor, a new play by C. N. Barrett, under the management of Wm. A. Brady Mr. Worthing will remain with Miss George until the end of the present season RUTH VINCENT The operatic star of the musical comedy stage who will play the name part in A Persian Princess NEW VAUDEVILLE THEATRE OPENS Conditions Augur Well Milwaukee's Columbia Launched Auspiciously By Local Theatre Men. ' by Chas.. A. Taylor. ~ | Millward Milwaukee's newest vaudeville theatre, the Columbia, opened Saturday, April 10, under con ditions sald by the management to ecugur well towards the snecess of the undertaking. The Columbia is now the only theatre on the north side. It's manager and owner, Henry Trinz. is owner and manager of the Empire, the on'y vaudeville house on the South Side The Columbia is one of the largest theatres in the city, having a seating capacity of 1,900 Large, roomy seats are provided and the Inter ior decorations—green and gold—have a pleas The house is being booked by the Western Association The Colombla ts the fifth vaudeville theatre In Milwankes Accord ing to Milwaukee managers, while this number may seem to be too many for a clty of ite size, It is nevertheless true that Milwsukeeans are better patrons of vaudeville than the legiti mate, Hence, the many vaudeville houses DAVENPORT’'S NEW VAUDEVILLE THEATRE. lL. G, Peters has opened a new vandeville house at Davenport, Towa, known as the lowa Mr. Peters is to open onother theatre In the near future in some town mid-way between Cilesge and Davenport this being done to break the large jump which the acts are com pelled to make In order to appear in Davenport, Iowa FLUFFY RUFFLES CLOSES. Hattie Williams, in Fleffy Ruffles, closed her seneon in Brooklyn, April 10 Mies Williams will be seen In a new play next season, called The Marriage of a Star NEW CIRCUIT Includes Cities of Kansas and Oklahoma General Booking Office to be Maintained in ‘Topeka— Plans for the Enterprise A theatrical circuit, including many of tne leading cities of Oklahoma and Kansas, hae just been formed by James R. Kearney, of To peka, representative of the Central Theatrica) Company. The company has secured control of vaude ville theatres In the fullowing cities, which wil be booked in connection with the Majestic Thea tre, Topeka, and the new Princess Theatre at Wichita Enid, Oklahoma City, El Reno, Guthrie Shawnee, McAlester, Muskogee, Tulsa, owes artlesville, all in Oklaboma, and Coffeyville Kan. Arrangements have also been made to take wer the eirdomes in Chickasha, Lawton, E) teno, Guthrie, McAlester, Muskogee, Sapulpa Okmulgee, Bartlesville and Tulsa, in Oklahoma and in Coffeyville and Parsons, Kansas. The company willl bulld $5,000 airdomes in Tulse anl MeAlester, Okla. Stock companies and musical comedy com panies will be secured for the airdome cir eult, Headquarters of the Central compan: will be maintained in Topeka, with local man agers in every city. A general booking office will be maintained there, “BILL” VALENTINE DEAD. The death was announced, April 4, of the first man to establish a variety theatre in the United States, Willlam Paulding Valentine He was 93 years of age, and had lived for more than 25 years at Coney Island. Ile became partner In 1882 of Solomen Perry, the first map to establish a formal place of entertainment op the Island. It was known as Perry's Glas Pavilion, and was fitted up with scenery and dressing rooms and every accessory. Joe Weber and Lou Fields, Dutch comedians: the Rogers Brothers, Billy Van. George Felix, of Felix and Barry: Sam Collins, and others who have since become famous and wealthy in the theat rical profession, were performers in the little theatre. “RL Valentine was born on Clinton street in New York City, and was named for William Paulding, one of its early Mayors. There he started a theatre on’ the East Side on May 22 1847, in which appeared Dan and Neil Bryant Dick Carroll, Jim Carlin and Charlie White. famous performers for many years. He made money and established shortly after the Greene Street Theatre in Albany, the first winter sea son ever played in the State capital. He then established Vauxhall Garden, at 199 and 20) Rowery, Manhattan, the most pretentious of its kind in the United States. It was bere that Tony Pastor first appeared in varieties, after ward sueceeding to the management. “Rin” Valentine wes kpown to all the early variety performers of the country. and war generous to all when they needed aid. THe war comparatively destitute at his death, relying op the generosity of friends at bis old age. He had been living at Nineteenth street and Surf avenue. PLAYS COPYRIGHTED. Washington, April 3 Seventeen dramatic compositions were filed in the Bureau of Copyrights this week as fo! lows: The Yankee Tlornet, a dramatic composition in three acts; by John F. Mallory. Yosemite: or, The Spirit of the Wilderness Yot-Che-Ka, an Indian drama in one act; by Helen P. Kane Zollenstein, a play in four acts; by Henry 6 After the Raid, by R. W. Christy. All in the Family, a farce in three acts; by James Crawford All That Glitters, a farce in three acts: by Phillip H. MeCaigne. Amateur Night, a vandeville monologue; by rene C. Love An Arizona Incident, a sketch by Roy Foster The Army Nurse, by Arthur Ellery. The Arrows of an Auto, a sketch in one act by John M. Whies As Who Shall Say, In four acts; by Efe F& Weston Aunt Matilda's Birthday Denison The Baptism. in four acts; by Geo, J, Smith The Rattle: by Cleveland Moffett A Rattle of Hearts, a play of military and social life at Old Point, The Rattle of Too Soon, a military travesty tp one act; by Ed. Gallagher HARRY "SHANNON'S ATTRAC. TI Party; by T. 8 Harry Shannon's The Banker's Child, wil! clowe the season April 18, at Madison, Wis This sesson was the elehth one the tour of thir attreection was managed by Mr. Shannen Shannon Brothers’ Tent Show will open tte third season May 20. at Ludington, Mich, The company will present a repertoire of comedter ond dramas. plaving week stands, The route will cover Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Min hesota CHARLESTON’S NEW AIRDOME The Pestime Amusement Co,, of Charleston &. C.. recently purchased the afte at the corne: St. Philip and Wentworth etreets, that city for the purpose of erecting an open-alr summe’ theatre Light operas will be produced The proposed theatre Is on a etreult, Including Char lotte, Savannah and Angueta, and other citer