The Billboard 1909-11-20: Vol 21 Iss 47 (1909-11-20)

sd ~ ,? je ; ‘ lee ef 28 The Billboard NOVEMBER 20, 1909. r Heard in Advance By TOM NORTH Voa never can tel to turn out. jvst bow things are going I was welking down Vine street, Cincinnati, recently, mind bent on a story, I was more than anxious to get some sort of a real, beart interest for, when I was accosted by what looked to me tie president of the Downand-Cut Club. After the pittance had been accepted, I listened to the deliverance of a short paragraph that truly wes that which I sought for, for hours. I immediately hurried to the editorial rooms of a lerge paper nearby. beat out my story, submitted to—well that would be telling—it ‘vas accepted, given dandy location, but what I would really like to know is: “Did the witnessing of John Mason’s mental telepathy scene in The Witching Hour, a few hours previous, have anything to do with it?’ can see a certain Cincinnati editor thinking right pow, *% Walter Murpby is back in Cincinnati for the winter a successful engagement as contracting agent with the Hagenbeck-Wollsce Shows. “Morph’’ certainly made an envieble reputation (uring the season just closed. So much so tbat be has been re-engaged for next summer. + Looking over the os of the Fuclid avenue Opera House, Cleveland, the other nicht. I discovered the following, displayed very promi nently “Be Good! Jake Mintz Iie in the Ilouse “ Of course I looked for a “follow-up” on thia. Found it. Here it is Now you find it and remember this is A. F. Hartz’s staff for the Fuciid Avenue Opera House, Cleveland, 0.: FOR A. F. HARTZ. PGP ocosvvsussvcesevceses Fred. M. Coan Asvistant Treasurer ............ Jcin P. Fuster De CE cosscessvéesseseas James Jappe Advertisiag Agent ............. Geo. W. Snow Pt COD écvcsccccsncesesse Touis Rich ROT A. E. Newman Asst. Stage Director ............ Chas. La Valy Master of Properties Chas. C. White Chief i-lectrician ........ H. Estinghausen Avsistent Electrician ................ Bob Ross i ME avecetesovecsccsta Wallace Russell tn SO sccocescecssessecess C, H. Campbell tt i ssiebisneesceeseeva’ Albert A. Coan PC naseeunvsoenn Frank Richardson PEE cocccescccvesessccecoses Albert Kozany Night Watchman ...........seesee0. W. Bittel PPGRTOM .. wccccses The Den 38. Wertheimer Co. eee Bryan & Co. Advertising Signs -.-Ragg & Son Pe EEEEEEED onsen recovctsensceene Jake Mintz George A. H. Gardner, Iusiness Manager and Press Representative, + Two years ago Helen Malisge, pretty and attractive, joined the cheius of the opera com pany then playing at the Cleveland Hippodrome. At the close of the season there the girl was given a position in the chorus of another company which was going on the road. The company of which she was a member playe1 in Eastern cities for a year and then started on a Western tour. Mrs. Malisge often heard from her daughter, and always received optimistic reports about her work and advancement. Her last letter, received by her mother ten sonths ago, was from Columbus, and said she was ploying in that city and expected to be there for sove time. Since that time no one in Clevelend has heard from the girl. Her mother, Mrs. Stella Melisge, No. 4308 E. 72d street, S. E., Cleveland, O., asked me for assistance in ‘er search for her daughter. She fears that the girl is dead. I assured the dear old soul that if ber daughter was living this appeal would certainly locate her on esccount of the world-wide circnbation of The Billboard. Here's hoping the girl is found. + This chap Hope is quite versatile, In fact, a wonder with the pen. This is his review of the bill at the Grand, one of Cleveland's tive and ten-cent shows: ‘‘The bill at the Grand this week has not been properly exploited. It should have been advertised as the ‘grandest aggregation of happy families on earth.’ There are brother acts and sister acts, and brothers’ and sisters’ acts and married folks’ acts. First, there are the Loof Brothers, who sing; then there ure the Three Millers, European novelty fuzglers (brothers); Sanford and Darlington ‘Misrs Darlingten heing Mr. Sanford’s darling), who sing and dance; Lambert end Williams (see above), who dance ind sing; Gibney and Earle, who aren’t married in the sketch they play, Put are in real life: and the Four Tossing Lavallees, a French family of brothers and sisters. the girls young and pretty. in a high-class acrobatic act. Every happy family in Cleveland should attend ‘happy family week’ at the Grand,’ + ‘The following is the cast of principals presenting In Panama, this season: jus Adams, Geo, Guhl, Philip Leigh, Frank Holmes, H. 8. Brummell, L. E. Hartley, Michael Curren, J. Woodford Ray. Fred Munsey, Jack Coleman, Féaward Marlow, Ernest Meyer, Ralph Johnson, Sibvl Brennen, Enita Julius, Kitty Reiter, Daisy Telmar, Josephine Oarter, Emily Leask, Mattie Moore and Eveline Weber. Here’s the execative staff for the Al. Rich Production Company. (Ine.): Al. Rich, manager: Ted Miller, agent; Leo H. Rich, treasurer: Oscar Luckstone. musical director: H. 8. Broumme!, stage p.ianager: Samuel Sigmon, assistant stage manager; Charles Satler, stage carpenter; Geo. Addington, electrician; Frank Marchant, prop erty master, and Mrs. Laura Larkins, wardrobe mistress. *+ Acams ond Suhl are doing the Rogers Bros.’ parte in In Panama this sesgon. under management of Al. Rich. Here’s whet C. R. Hone said shout ‘em in the Cleveland Leader: “If you ever saw Rogers Brothers when they helped Jig the «anal you'll be satisfied that Adams and Guhl can shovel just as big piles of Dutch fun out over the orchestra, and for Ross, well, the original whoever she was, couldn't have heen as captivating as Miss Sibyl Brennan. The biggest hit In the evening’s enjoyment was the progressive encore of choruses in the "Neath tue Misses Carter, Leask, Moore and Weber, whvu Old Palm Tree number, when the | | at other times joined in the choral work with | the ordinary chorus girls, each in turn did a character sketch."’ + R. M. Harvey, with a smile | | | that bespoke | of a prosperous season, as tonic as a breeze that | dashes the weves of the break-water, dropped into Cincinnati for a short stay recently, and it wes my good fortune to have a Ieng chat with him. Im saving it for a later issue. Mighty interesting. Watch for it. * Sxw Denny Lynch, during my stay ia Cincin nati. Denay just got beck from Sells-Floto Shows. He advises me he has been re-engaged for wext season, same position, contracting agent. Over in Columbus, O., his home town, during what he says is “‘A Cook-Peary in the tent, all winter endeavoring to congeal a couple of busted lungs,”’ is one of the best lads that ever “cooked dope’ for a paper, Jimmy DeWolfe. It sure is bad enough to lay off all winter, but | laying off that length of time in Columbus, and | ill, too; well, don’t you think a little encouragement is necessary? I do, and am sure you do. Here’s a plan of mine that will place bunches of encouragement in Jimmy's way. Follow it up. No matter what town you are in when this comes to your notice, get a souvenir ecard, scribe some cheering lines upon it and mail it to “Jimmy DeWolfe, 163 S. 18th street, Columbus, 0O."’ It deesn't make any difference whether you know him personally or not. You sure know him by reputation, and to know him that way is to know kim personally. Great chap, sure. A great number of his friends ere unaware of his illness; therefore, I take this means of advising them, and trust all of you will take the wd minutes necessary to drop him a card or etter. I figure that 5,000 cards will reach Jimmy one week after this is in print. Would listen kind of good to you or me, or to any one if we were compelled to lay off ill and have hun dreds of our friends drop us a line, wouldn't it? You bet it would! Come on, now, everybody: mail that card at once. Get busy. Do it now. * Alleging that the Cuyahoga Theatre Company, Cleveland, O., is insolvent and unable to pay its debts, H. D. Berner brought suit against its principal stockholders, Guy L. Warson and F. C. Friend, for $1,600, which he says is due bim on a note. The petition was accompanied by an afhdavit for attachment on the $1,600, claiming that the Citizens’ Saving and Trust Company, as receiver, bas money belonging to Warson in its possession. Berner charges Friend and Warson with having Operated the Majestie Theatre, on West 25th street, Cleveland, O. E. R. Whelen, Four, Cincinnati, party,’’ Is city passenger agent, Big and by the way, ‘“‘some some story teller, a mighty good chap and a railroad man that has the good will and graces of all theatrical agents and managers. “Ernie has a favorite yarn. He told it to me. I tell it to you: “Some time ago a man at Yysilanti, Mich., became crazed on the subject of hypnotism, and was sent on a Michigan Central train to an asylum. When the conductor asked for tickets the crazy man began telling of his hypnotic powers. *“* *1°ll hypnotize you,’ he said. “Fire away,’ replied the conductor. “The man made several passes before conénector’s face. ***Now you are hypnotized.’ he said. “The conductor looked the part as best he could. “*VYou're a the conductor,’ the hypnotist said. “That's right.’ replied his victim. “*You're a good conductor,’ went on the hypnotist. “Right again,’’ said the conductor. “*You don’t smoke, drink or swear at passengers. Yon are honest. You turn in all tickets and money you collect from passengers. In fact, you do not steal a cent. *“**That’s right’ asserted the conductor. “The hypnotist eyed him for a moment, then said: “*What an awful fix you'd be in if I left you in this condition.’ "’ Geo. W. Goett, manager of The Newlyweds and Their Baby, calls his chorusmen his seeretaries. * Never had any dealings with Harry Shockley, manager Walnut Street Theatre, Cincinnati, un til a few weeks ago. Now I know why Shock ley is such q universal favorite. Certainly a fine gentleman. Long life and much good Juck, say I. Cc. C. Clark, general agent passencer department. Big Your, Cincinnati, enjoys a langh and a visit to Kentucky’s famous chicken farms. Soe does Conner, of the Southern Pacifle. So do I. Guess we all do. Ever meet these boys in ‘*Zinzinnati’’? Paul Benedict, the C. H. & PD. theatrical man, Cincinnati. is building a new home, and expects to move into same by December 1. Got a mighty warm spot in my heart for Paul. Parrels of good luck to a mighty fine fellow. The Jewish Independent, Cleveland, 0O., ried the following editorial recently: “BLASTS FROM THE SHOFAR. “De not patronize a moving picture show, when a Hebrew comedian is on exhibition, either in life or represented pictorially. The stage Jew is an abomination. Drive him from his last ditch.’’ car J. S. Elburg.. manager Academy, Norfolk, manipniates the Majestic vaudeville house, same city. Amateur acts are his specialty. He received an application not long ago, accompanied by a card. This is the applicant's cart: CAMILIA VICERE, Shoemaker and Stage Singer. The Spaghetti Portsmouth, Baritone. Va. T understand that Hans Wagner and Johnny Miller are contemplating a plunge into vandeville, doing a hand ball exhibition with a few words of conversation on the sides. Somebody sald $500 a week. + “Ry the side of the box office, a telephone ard clerk will be found at your disposal,” is one of the many clever idea Manager Gardner, of the Opera House, Cleveland, gives his pa trons. + C. W. Wilkins is gaining great reputation this season piloting Buster Brown. So is C. W. HONORS FOR LEW FIELDS Finney, ahead of The White Squaw. Keep! your eye on these two boys. “Gee, this holiday season's awful. A man goes around with the pores of his heart open, and he’s liable to catch most anything.’’ That, | to me, is one of the best lines sprung by Frank MelIntyre, as Bob Blake, Traveling Salesman. The poker game in the show is so realistic that would like to show a white and draw cards. + November 10, a car load of Elks and Eagles came to Cleveland frem Painesville, to greet their former townsman, Bob Manchester. and his Crackerjacks certainly treated ‘em swell, fine and dandy, and | think the Paines the crummer in The second act the average map one in the middie ville band that accompanied the bunch rendered a selection or two. Vaughan Glaser made a great Indian ino Strongheart, recently. when he put it on witb his stock company in Cleveland, but his appearance in gridiron clothes kind of caused a titter. * James Mester, of Vaughan Glaser’s stock, Cleveland, played the part of Saunders, the big fet college boy with a little dog, and a big heart, in Strongheart so cleverly that Frank McIntyre complimented him highly and graciously. McIntyre used to play the role him self, and. my! how he cid play it! Nell Brinkley, in the New York Journal, declarel the gowns worn by the young women in The Girl from Rector’s to be the prettiest she had ever seen on the stage: and Miss Brinkley is supposed to be a judge. She has not seen the tea-gowns Lefficr-Bratton Co. has placed on their show girls in The Newlyweds. Guess that John W. Bratton isn't some judge, too! Just a reminder. The Christmas edition of The Billboard will be just about as complete a theatrical and amusement magazine as was ever conceived. Wait until you see it. George Fawcett, who is starring on the Coast in The Great John Ganton, the intuitive instinct in the highly developed than in the New Yorker. “New Yorkers do not admit it,”’ says Mr. Fawcett, *“‘but they are provincial. Take a re believes that Westerner is more cent example from dramatic history in the case | of Mrs. Fiske in Salvation Nell. In every city excopt New York the play had a successful run, but it was a failure in Manhattan. I believe the reason of this was that the scenes were laid over there. Chicago is very much the same way. The Great John Ganton was a success in every other city where I have played except Chicago. I suppose it takes a broad-minded class to get away from the small, local viewpoint.’"’ So say all of us Westerners. The Olympic Theatre, Cincinnati, home of the Forepaugh Stock Co., carries the followiug cap tion on their program that is very good: Patrons will show a fine sense of considera tion for the feelings of others by observing two rules of courtesy. the theatre before the performance begins at 2:15 o'clock in the afternoon and 8:15 at night. Late comers must not expect to be seated until the end of the first act. The other is the very disagreeable practice of putting on hats and wraps during the progress of the last act. This is decidedly annoying to your neighbor and the painstaking players, and largely detracts from the enjoyment of every one. The following are the members of the Forepangh Stock, Cincinnati: Frank Mattison, Jennie Ellison, Theodore Gamble, Thomas Moore, Brenda Fowler, Arthur Edwards, Louis Albion, Ethel Clifton, Carrie Thatcher, George Barbier, John Daley, George Melford, P. D. Quin, Roy Wilmer, Edwin Evans. Clever company. Here's the staff: Georke F. and L. Forepangh Fish, managers: Edwin H. Curtis, stage director; Frank S. Mattison, stage manager; George T. Lafferty, treasurer: Dennis Flood, chief artist; George Smith, assistant ar tist; Charles A. Havie, master carpenter; Harry Rohe, property master; John Zuber, chief elec| trician; William J. Kopp, musical director; Wm. Beck & Sons Co., costumers. Al. H. Woods’ Queen of the Secret Seven has the following members: Frank P. Haven, Ralph J. Herbert, John P. Lockney, Pauline Fletcher, Cora Quinten. Emily Curtis, James Roberts, George H. Sinclair, Bert Coler, Nat Davis, Thomas Ward, James Rader, John Hilton, Beverly Hutchins, Dave White, Pearl E. Abbott. Staff: John P. Lockney, stage manager: Chick iennings, master mechanic: Kirby, master of properties: trician. Geo. Told is the affable, accommodating man ager of the Lyceum «nd Cleveland theatres, Cleveland, 0. Mr. Todd is EB. D. Stair’s brother-in-law, and a clever man in the right place. Ted Miller is now ahead of Al. Rich’s In Panama Co. A mighty good hustling boy. Get that card richt Jimmy DeWolfe. Right now, now. TOM NORTH. GIL AMUSEMENT COMPANY. and mail it to Formed to Manace the Tour of Dario, the Illusionist. The Gil Amusement Company, of Rochester, N. Y., tts been formed to direct and manage the tour of Senor Dario, the Spanish magician and illusionist. Bookings have heen secured br W. W. Shuttleworth, the general manager for the comrany. and a complete line of special lithoxraphed paper in the Pnglish language has been ordered. Senor Dario will give his performance in two parts. An ollo of several vaudeville acts has also been secured. of this | Rob | One of these is to enter | James | Albert White, clec| Following Premiere of Old Dutch is Made Member of WilkesBarre Press Club NEW SHOW BIG SUCCESS Lew Fields was paid a signal honor by the | Press Club of Wilkes-Barre, when he was made the third guest of distinction in the quarter leentury history of this organization. e@ Was given what is known as a “Night,’’ which means that a golden key of the Press Club door was handed him and he was made a life member of the club. All this happened after a dress re hearsal of Mr. Fields’ latest individual starring venture, Old Dutch, which has its first presenta tion at the Grand Opera House, Wilkes-Barre. and then went to the Adelphi Theatre, Philadel |phia. The two other men thus given a ‘‘Night"’ at the Wilkes-Barre Press Club are William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska, and Col. Henry Watterson, the veteran editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Mr. Fields is the first theatrical man to receive this distinction. Practically the entire membership of the club was present to pay its respects to Mr. Fields and his asseciates in the production of Old Dutch. Mr. Victor Herbert, the composer, was given a solid silver key to the clubhouse and a leader’s baton made of coal from a Wilkes | Barre mine. Mr. Edgar Smith, the author of the book, George V. Hobart, the lyricist, Ned Wayburn, the stage director, and Louis Gottschalk. | the musical director, each were given a solid silver key, as was also Mr. Fields’ representa tive, William Raymond Sill. There were present from Mr. Fields’ company nearly all of the principal male members of the cast, including John Henshaw, Johnny Bunny, Charlies Judels, William Raymond, Vernon Castle, Mack Johnson and Victor Hyde. Mr. Fields’ brother, Charles Fields, was also present, but was unable to induce ‘‘Lightning Charlie’’ to enter the club rooms, ‘“‘Lightning Charlie’’ being a horse, and one of the principals in the cast of Old Dutch. The excuse which “Lightning Charlie’’ whispered into Mr. Charles Fields’ ear was that he detected the odor of hops and not of oats. PROMINENT PERSONS PRESENT. Daniel L. Hart, reformed advance agent, re | formed playwright, and now treasurer of the |city of Wilkes-Barre, was master of ceremonies, and assisting him, paying tribute to Mr. Fields and his associates in the production of Old Dutch, were President Ernest G. Smith, of the Times Leader; Vice-President George A. Edwards, of the Wilkes-Barre News; Treasurer Harry C. Mil ler, of the Luzerne County National Bank; Secretary Elias Cohen, of the Wilkes-Barre Record. and Trustees A. W. Betterly, chairman, John A. Sweeney, P. J. Ramsey, Wm. P. Gallagher, Isaac KE. Long, and that representative of the common people, Manager Harry Brown, of the jrand Opera House and Nesbitt Theatre. When Mr. Hart arose and presented Mr. Fields with a solid coal loving cup four feet high, an innovation likely never to be duplicated in this country was witnessed. Mr. Louls Gottschalk handed Mr. Herbert his famous ‘cello, which the latter brought to this country from Germany, and Mr. Herbert played ‘“‘The Low Back Car,’’ with the baton of coal as his bow. Mr. Fields could not respond, but Mr. Hart apologized for him in these few well-chosen words: ‘He's a bad speaker, a worse singer. and the best fellow, the greatest low comedian. and the foremost actor-manager of the world's stage to-day.”’ SEEN IN PHILADELPHIA. Of the performance given in Philadelphia. The Record says: Lew Fields is one of the most popular enter | tainers on the American stage, but when at the Adelphi last evening, where he appeared as the star of a new musical piece called Old Dutch. he was, at the close of the first act, called be fore the curtain to make a speech, he was 80 deeply affected by the enthusiasm of his greeting that he could do nothing more than utter a few words of thanks. Victor Herbert, the composer of the delightful and very sprightly music that adds so much to the enjoyment of | the plece, will doubtless continue to afford to many similarly enthusiastic audiences, Ikewise had to come to the front to say a few words. and he, too, seemed much pleased by the warmth of the greeting. Herbert, in the conductor's chair, gave the music the benefit of his dynamic spirit, and the occasion was thereby made the more auspicious. Old Dutch really has a story, and the story of itself is interesting in the variety of compl! |) cations resulting from the impersonation of s | Wealthy and somewhat absent-minded inventor. | the Old Dutch of the play, by a Viennese ad | ventorer, who finds the pocketbook of the tn| ventor, and carries off a deception in a hotel! }in the Tyrol. The foreign origin of the storys |is quickly apparent, though Edgar Smith Is | credited with the book, and the source of the | farce is not made known, Smith has used the foreign material quite cleverly for the most part, ; but there is still opportunity to quicken the ; action by the elimination of certain scenes and | Incidents, and the dialogue at times is also too diffuse. However, the fact that there is a | good story as the basis of the plece, makes such | changes as may suggest themselves not difficult fo accomplishment. The production is beautifully staged. | Some very handsome girls in the choruses, and | with well-conceived color effects In the costum | ing to attract the eye. The opening chorus, with | its yodeling melody, is particularly striking, and | Ned Wayburn, who staged the piece. has here contrived a novel and extremely fetching series of chorus movements and tableaux. Alice Dovey j}has the principal feminine part, that of the | daughter of the inventor, and she appeared very | sweet In her dainty frocks. She has the prin= song number, My Gypsy Sweetheart, remindful in a measure of the Barakeesh number of Herbert's Algeria. The chorus effects with this gypsy song were excellent, but the song quickly became a John Henshaw success when he introduced the tambourine specialties for with