The Billboard 1910-01-01: Vol 22 Iss 1 (1910-01-01)

10 The Billboard JANUARY 1, 1910. Managers Have Cause to Rejoice Because Business in Nearly All the Larger Cities Has Been Above Expectations During the Holidays and Reports Show a Better Tone to Theatrical Affairs Generally. SWING AROUND THE CIRCLE| BROOKLYN, N. Y. All Shows Started off with Good Business. The Christmas holiday week shows all started of with big business. Charles Frohman presents Israel] at the Montauk; Henry W. Savage has The Love Cure, at Teller’s Broadway; The Shuberts present Viola A'len in The White Sister, at the Majestic. Al! the other houses have excellent bills. The Crescent Stock Company are presenting Lover's Lane this week, and the house is packed to capacity. This week is anniversary festival week at Percy G. Williams Orpheum Thestre, and one of the best bills in vaudeville is being presented there. fhe Greenpoint Theatre has an unusually attractive bill this week Thomas E. Shea, the tragedian, is appearing at the Amphion this week. Daniel Sully’s new play, The Game, is being produced at the Grand Opera House. Fdmondé Hayes, in The Empire, is the attraction at the Empire this week. Corse Payton Stock Co. is presenting Monte Cristo at the Bijou. The Belle of Richmond drew large crowds to Payton's Lee Avenue last week. Billy W. Watson and The Girls from Happyland did well at the Star last week. They opened Monday night at the Gayety to the usual packed house. Elsie Janis, in The Fair Co-Ed., will be seen at Teller’s Broadway Theatre next week. There is no let up to business at the Fulton. Their big vaudeville bills are drawng immense crowds. Arthur McKeever Lighton, er of the Fulton Theatre ened in September, 1908, has been promoted as the permanent treasurer, owing to the resignation of William J. McEleney, who held the position a short time. The new treasurer is not new to the duties connected with a box office, having been at the Bastable Theatre, in Syra assistant since that treasurhouse op euse, N. . for some time, and also acted as the assistant treasurer of quite a few houses before accepting his present position with the Fulton. Mr. Lighton will be assisted in his duties by Frank Bogart, also hailing from Syracuse, where he served as assistant treasurer of the Wieting Opera House and at sundry times was connected with theatres In Sharon, Pa.; Zanesville, 0.; the Jefferson Theatre, at Auburn, N. Y., and many others. GEORGE H. HAKES. PITTSBURG, PA. Tickled by Grand Opera and Other Good Attractions. __ The first appearance of the Hammerstein Company in Pittsburg, opening the week Monday night at the Alvin, in Lucia, will no doubt be an annual occurrence hereafter, as success beyond fondest hopes will be realized. The opening night was socially brilliant, resplendent {n every particular. Madame Tetrazzini made a decided hit, and the remainder of the cast, as well, were repeatedly encored which was very liberal from the reached a climax during the mad scene. sest in the spacious Alvin was occupied, and each box shone with the splendid raiment of its occupants. It indeed the social of the season. looked after, not alone that there bitch discernable by the audience, but that the many patrons who came and departed in taxicabs, automobiles and in carriages shouldn't be inconvenienced. The sight outside, that of the handling of the hundreds of carriages and anto mobiles and avoiding accidents which have endangered the limbs and lives of thousands of holiday shoppers was 0 PI demonstrates again the superior merit for which our efficient police force has won so munch praise, ] The Manhattan Grand Opera Company will present for the remainder of the week, Tosca, Traviata. Sapho, Lucia Jongleur de Notre Dame. Cavalleria and Pagliacci Pittsburg is one of the few cities where grand opera is successfnl now, snd with the success achieved by the Metropolitan, we can look forward each year to rivalry in this line. The week of Jan. 3 we have the Boston Opera Company, and the Metropolitan Opera Company at the Nixon. The House Next Door, which opened 4 weck’s engagement at the Nixon Monday night, met with decided approval. The fact that grand opera was on at one of the other houses wasn’t discernable here, as the honse was comfortably filled. The House Next Door, a delightful com edy, kept the audience in good humor throughout, and was in every sense a worthy play. The Lyceum has this week Thos. E. Shea opened the week’s en t, with a new play, Coun sel for the Defense The drama is full of intense thrills and seemed to appeal strongly to the large attendance Mr. Shea will present uring the week, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Rells. and will repeat Counsel for the Defense, Saturday Nicht. The Grand has another good Lill of vaudeville this week wt of a Christmas present for the many patrons. Featured on the bill are several headliners: The Gascony Cadets, The Mangean Troupe, Laddie Cliff. Edwin Barbour, The Temple Quartett, Eight Madcaps, Donald and Carson, Pelfrey and Barton, Oscar Lorraine and moving pictnres At the Duquesne, Compeny entertains, this week. where Harry Davis Stock Divorcons is being played he applause, ; Opening scene, | Every | ‘ affair | Every detail had been carefully | should be no} might | Convict 999, at the Empire, seems to hit the mark this week. The storm of applause that was noticeable throughout the whole performance showed the approval of the audience. 3un play, love and hate and striking climaxes are what they want and what they get in Convict 299. The burlesque houses are doing a fine business for Christmas week, and the bills are worthy of liberal patronage. The Academy has The Cherry Blossoms, in Gazook Gazee (whatever that means). A large and well selected chorus is in evidence, and as a whole it is a good performance. At the Gayety, The Dainty Duchess holds the boards—a good Christmas week's entertainment. Duquesne Garden, with its Pop Nite and special holiday features is proving a drawing card, while the races at the Exposition Rink are also very attractive, and the contests at the Auditorium assist in bringing a few additional quarters, The throng of holiday shoppers seem to find time to spend an occasional half hour at the several moving picture houses, end accordingly, the down-town honses, including the cheaper vaudeville houses, are doing a thriving business in spite of the fact that this week, above all, is so dreaded by managers in all lines theatrically. LOUIS L. KAUFMAN. PHILADELPHIA, PA. Managers in the Quaker City Have Much to be Thankful for. This is a week of holdovers. The only real new one is the first production on any stage of George D. Parker's new play, The Stronger Claim, while the next change of importance is Chauncey Olcott at the Walnut. All of the other houses retain their last week's plays, with the exception of the Forrest, which remains dark all of this week up to Saturday night, when Lillian Russell opens in her new play, The First Night. Bright Eyes, which is in its second week at the Chestnut Street Opera House, is doing a record business, while Henrietta Crosman in Sham, at the Garrick: Mabel Rarrison in The Blue Mouse, at the Adelphi; Jefferson DeAngelis in The Beauty Spot. at the Lyric, and Montgomery and Stone, in The Old Town, are all enjoying a nice holiday season's business, Bert Williams still remains for another week at the Grand, last week being exceptionally big at that house, while Keith's has q holiday bill that will be remembered for some time. All of the theatres are dressing in holiday garb, and present a very striking appearance in their trimmings of green and red foliage. Altogether hiladelphia has much to be thankful for theatricaliy, for the business has been very prosperous, and = the __—iboliday season has not been nearly as bad as the season past. Chauncey Oleott came to the Walnut for a fortnight stay in his clever play, Ragged Robin. by Rida Johnson Young and Rita Olcett. The nlay is a clever Irish comedy and it gives Mr. Olcott plenty of opportunity to display his sweet tenor voice. Others in the cast are Mark Price, Rose Curry, Lottie Smith, Gerome Edwards and others. Mr. Olcott remains with | Kennedy, ‘ the |along with ns for two weeks, and is followed by The Gen| tleman from Mississippi, with the original New York cast. The Grand has Bert Williams and his bunch of dusky beauties, held over from last week, | and they certainly are making geod, for in spite of the approaching holidays business hes been away above the average. Manager | Wegefarth announces as the coming attractions The Man of the Henr. Al. H. Wilson, Thomas FE. Shea Paid in Full and The Girl from Rector’s, which goes to prove that the popolar | North Side playhouse is coming into its own. Comedians of class, vaudeville artists with talent, and a chorus that joined grace with vo cal ability, helped to render The Parisian Widows’ bill at the Casino altogether amusing, The two burlettas that began and ended the performance, The Actor's Boarding House and Fun in a Department Store, had lots of laughable incidents, good music and songs to recommend them, Beside this portion of the program, mey be mentioned as praiseworthy in their speclalties Ben Pierce, The Musical Bells, Margie Tiflton and her eight Dancing Dolls, Niblo and Spencer, artists in foot movement; Bennett and Rentley, in sketch: Mae Roso and others, Pleasant times prevailed at the Gayety, where The Fads and Follies Company was the attraction. Roger Imhof. May Walsh, Hugh Conn and May Shirk headed the talent. In the list of features were a two-act musical burlesque, The Green Sod Club. and a roaring sketch called The Doings of Dr. Londer. The vandeville inelnded The Golden Troupe of Russian-Jewish singers and dancers. and other specialties. In addition to the lively comedy proceedings that marked the program, as well as the many tuneful melodies given, the interest was further Increased by a numerous well-trained and pretty costuned chorus. Frequent applause and laughter were evidence that Miver’s American Burlesquers, at the Bijou Theatre, were appreciated The bill, among several other attractive specialties, contained four musical comediettas that called ont the strength of the company, Including of course the chorns [!n a variety of natty cos tnumes. One of the most novel of the ppecial features were the Bennett Sisters in sparring and wrestling bonts. Prominent among the performers were Edgar Bixlay, Bertha Gibson, seu brette; Amy Francis; Felix Krusch and Harry Fink, Comedians, 1 the Trocadero, the Jolly Girls Co. pre sented two merry and musical comediettas, en titled The Two Ruzzards, and They are bullt on the usual sketchy plan as to story, but in fun, In tunefulness and in j opportunity for the handsome chorus contingent to display its grace, it is thoroughly enjoy able. The olio is also good, and introduces Lew Schoenwerk in tricks with cards and coins; Evans and Kennedy, in a sketch, True to Nature; The Coltons, singers and dane ers; Rhoads and Engel, comedy acrobats, and LeRelle Margharita, Parisian dancer Keith’s is certainly ingratiating itself with public this week by giving to the poor of Vbiladelphia and surrounding towns a few happy hours. The correspondent was taken all over the house by Manager Jordan and shown the bright, happy faces that appeared throughout. In keeping with their usual holiday custom, they give the poor children of the cily a special holiday bill as well as a little token of remem brance of the event. On Monday some 1,500 children came in a body where they enjoyed a good show and after the final curtain there was a buge tree all decorated with varl-colored electric lights and Santa Claus, who distributed | to the children over 1,500 presents. This is in deed charity in its true form, for it lightened many hearts and gave good cheer to many little ones who will know po other. Manager Jordan Says that the management has. spent between $3.000 and $4,000 so far for toys and from the present outlook will have to spend much more, for they are having the four days preceding Christmas to distribute to the poor. An exceed ingly good bill is the attraction this week, headed by Albert Chevalier, the Heim Children, Silvers, the clown, Amy Butler and Co., Bowman Bros., the Le Vines, and others. A new play by a new author made Its first bow to the public on Monday evening. It is entitled The Stronger Claim, by George Parker, of the Orpheum Players, and was produced by that company as a holiday offering. Quite a little interest has been aroused concerning a title for it. Mr. Barker, leaving the selection of a title to the public, received nearly a thousand letters | and the above title was the accepted one. The play is one dealing with present-day incidents and has the making of a clever piece of property which, of course, must undergo the pruning and building up of the master hand. Miss Barney and Mr. Wilson Melrose appeared to advantage in the leading roles, while the rest of the cast were excellent. The scenic equipment is superb. Dumont’s Minstrels, at the Eleventh Street Opera House, offer an attractive holiday bill with many merry features, a Christmas tree, with gifts for all the children, being promised for the matinee next Saturday. e People’s Theatre was with a liberal bill of vaudeville and motion pictures. Power's Trained Elephants, Barnes and King, musical comedians, and Bernier and Stella, the “French Whirlwinds,’’ were amongst the leading features. At the William Penn Theatre, delphia, a good vaudeville program includes the Borsini Troupe in a revolving globe Force and Williams in a funny skit, Earl Allen and Company in The Business Man, Leone Dale, and several others. The Girard Avenue Theatre gave its patrons, this week, something unusual in the way of a musical comedy production, The Show Girl being the attraction. There is a good cast, a gay chorus of pretty damsels and all the features of the typical lively musical show. Messrs. Stein and Leonard, the vaudeville booking agents in this city, are incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, a charter being secured last week. It is the object of these people to build and manage new hovses their present circuit, wherein they have been unable to get bookings in order to give their performers consecutive time. = = CINCINNATI, 0. in West Phbila SPARKS. The New Empress Theatre Adds Another Vaudeville House. An attractive line of offerings at the local theatres for the current week will, it is hoped by the several managers, draw better attendance then ie nenally accorded amusements during bol iday weeks. Last week, notwithstanding the fact that the public were busy shopping and prepertng fer Christmas, proved more successful than In past seasons, from an artistic as well 4 financial standpoint. The opening of the new Orpheum was most propitious, the house being sold out at every | performance. | Empire City Quartet, A Young Turk. | For the first time Cincinnat! playgoers have an opportunity of seeing Miss Billle Burke. Her play is Love Watches, the French. in which she made New York last season. Her role is particularly enited to her, consequently she is a real treat The supporting company—the same one that appeared with Miss Burke In New York last win her debnt tn ter—incindes Julien L’'Estrange, Ernest Law ford, Stanley Dark, Kate Meek and Mande Odell, The Shuberts’ production of Havana, the great London and New York musical success, with a thoroughly American cast, is playing at the Iyric Theatre. Havana comes direct from the Casino Theatre, New York, where it has tuet completed its second season. James T. Pow ers enacts the chief comedy part, a matrimo nial outlaw, and Ros'un of the Wasp, with which character it is reediese to say he In fects a fresh and bountiful supply of genuine fooilight humor into the play. Pureuing the establishment of the “There's nothing too good for the public,”’ the Orpheum Theatre, for its second week has hooked = strong bill. The attractions are The and Warren, Dora Pellitier, Marimba Band, Mile. Lorette and Dog, Morris end Morris, Wm Travers and Co., and other headline acts. Har ry Lender, the world’s most famous entertainer, the man who made the King of England langh reopened Monday, | act, | a comedy adapted from | | Co., Hallen and Fuller, Shean | his heartiest, opened his engagement at the | Orpheum Monday matinee. It is claimed that Mr. Lander is the highest salaried artist in the world As announced fight wonld be made between the local vaude ville managers to secure the best talent avall able The bills at the Columbia last week, as well as the current week, include several stellar acts never before seen in the Queen City. Head ing on exceptionally meritorious program, An in this column last week, a. | LaVeen-Cross nette Kellermann, the diving Venus, makes her firet bow to Cincinnati audiences. Miss Kel lermann gives an exhibition in a huge tank seven feet deep, which is surrounded witb large mirrors, so that her every movement is visible to all in the audience. There are sev ral other high-class attractions on the bill, including the famous Models ef Jardin de Paris, Matthews and Ashley, the Cincinnatl boys, in qa new sketch; The Conroy-Lemalre Co., in King for a Night; The Five Mowatts, kings ot club jugglers; Schrode and Mulvey; T Company, in Roman sports and James Cullen, and other features, successful musical comedy, In Africa, in which the Inimitable Yorke and Adams are the stars, is appearing at the Walnut. The locale of the piece is laid in Africa, one act at Mombassa, showing the interior of the leadl hotel. The second act shows the jungles o Africa. Yorke and Adams are cast as two Knights of the Grip, touring the world on nothing. The company includes a big chorus of beeutiful girls, who can sing and dance. The Trocadero Burlesquers, at the Standard Vheatre, and Sam Devere’s Company, playing at People’s Theatre, will be reviewed In The tillboard bearing date of January 8 The Auditorium Theatre is presenting a good bill, headed oy Dora Thorne and Company in comedy sketch, The Broken Pledge; Mabel Star, singing and dancing act; also two other ] Three of the latest motion ple pastimes; The large acts. tures and two new Illustrated ballads complete the bill. The New Empress Theatre opened its doors Monday, evening, December 27. The new playhouse is complete in every detail, and is one of the hbandsomest theatres in the city. It is constructed of steel and concrete and is abso Iutely fireproof The furnishings end fixtures are handsome and costly. It has a seating capacity of 1,60, and will be devoted exclusively to bigh-class vaudeville at popular prices. Messrs. Considine and Sullivan own and control the new theatre. The offering for the open! week shows some of the leading American an European vaudeville acts Among the many big acts appearing is Bothwell Browne, wellknown impersonator of female roles; The Five Merry McGregors, in a big European act, who offer a novelty playlet, entitled A Breeze from Ronnie Scotland; Dolan and Lenharr, in their new skit, entitled A High-toned Burglar’s Christmas Tree; Mitchell and Cain, presenting The Frenchman and the Other Fellow; Mme. Vere de Basioril, known as the Italian Nightingale, is a European product, and The Great Francelia makes his initial bow to a Queen City andience. Francelia is known as the world’s greatest and most sensational heavy weight juggler. In conjunction with this talent the Empress life pictures are shown at every performance Wanted by the Police a melodrama, with Hisrold Vosburg in the stellar role, is the attraction at Heuck’s Opera House, and pleas ing Jarge audiences. The Holden Stock Company has gone back to old English melodrama, the offering at the Lyceum being Over the Sea This play founded on Reed's famous novel, is calling ane. land to account for the cruelty to the ones in nenal servitude in the different colonies of Great Britain. One of the most interesting scenes is that of the gold fields of —— COLUMBUS, O. Leading Theatres Dark During First Half of Week. The Colonial and the Great Southern the atres belng dark the first half of the week gives their patrons an opportunity to do Christ mas shopping, unhampered by thoughts of miasng good matinees. it is predicted, however, that when both these houses open, the last balf of the week, the Great Southern with Ben Hur, and the Colonial with James T. Powers ia Ha vana, a record business wil] be done. The bill at Keith's this week is one of the best of the season and. in spite of the nearnees to Christmas the house is well petronized at every performance. James and Sadie Leonard and Richard Anderson, in their sketch, When Caesar C's Her; Miss Ray Cox, The Girl from Dixie; The Exposition Four, end Stewart, The Male Pattl, vie with one another in poomeeny. The Leonard sketch is one of the funniest ip vaudeville, It bas been the cause of immoderate laughter for years, and from coast to coast, has lost none of its spontaneity Ray Cox is way above the sverage woman who does a single singing turn. She hes a lot of new stuf. Stewart with his wonderful volce and beautiful gowns is a great hit, as he was ffteen years ago, while the Expositien Four do a singing, dancing, instrumental playing and « number of rapid changes, which were well received Maribini the ice scniptor. has a novelty, aud Marcel and Boris do some good hand balancing, which ts spoiled by a lot of silly atalling. The first balf of the week, the High Street Theatre patrons enjoyed Charlotte Temple. The Girl from Out Yonder will be presented by Naney Boyer and her company at the High Street, on Thursday and Friday. This same company, on Christmas, will be seea in B mund Day's play, Pals, a comedy drama of college davs, in which James Corbett came io the highest histrionic honors he has ever known Al Wiswell, who for several years bas been manager of the Garety, bas resigned, to take effect on Dec. 27. H. W. Rowers. of Wheeling, has been named by the Columbia Amusement which owns th» State Street house, as his successor. The resignetion was not made becouse of any trouble between Mr. Wiswell anil the management, but because the former wished to take a similar poettion with another company. The members of A Gentleman from Misetasip: Co., which plays at the Sovthern next week, ere enjoying a 10 dave’ rest before onening te Dayton Christmas. The company bas worked continuously since lut March, with only one nignt off. They are enjevine thelr vecation in a characteristic manner. It is rald that Burr Mcintosh has gone to California to take pietures to Illustrate his lectvres. Will Deming ta at his home tn Jackson, O., where he ts indulging te the limit tn bis pas<ion for cooking. Beulah Wateon t« staying In Dayton, where it ts aald she is putting the final touches to a novel op Mexican Iife. Mary Moran, the leading lady, is at Lake Mahopac, where she ia erecting a jeontry club for theatrical suffragettes, and Evelyn Moore went to her farm in the Orange Mountaina, New York, where she has a rare collection of pheasants. Trvly there is no lack of Individuality in the company W. C. HUMPTON. eee eee amt noe