The Billboard 1910-09-24: Vol 22 Iss 39 (1910-09-24)

10 The Billboard SEPTEMBER 24, 1910. EST SL SO IG MSH SMS 24 BROOKLYN, N. Y. Majestic Theatre Last to Open. Several Metropolitan Shows Booked. The Majestic Theatre was the last of the Brooklyn playhouses to open the season. This beautiful theatre opened September 12, with Cathrine Countiss in The Awakening of Helena Richie. This production is under the management of Stair & Havlin, and the company was up to the usual standard. Manager W. C. Fridley will see that bis patrons have all of the best Shubert attractions at the Majestic this season. DeWolf Hopper in A Matinee Idol is the attraction week of September 19. Robert Hilliard in A Fool There Was, ig the attraction at Teller’s Broadway Theatre week of September 19. This attraction has been presented at this theatre several times, but it has lost none of its drawing powers, and is one of the best box-office winners that has ever played here. Mr. Leo C. Teller has started his Sunday concerts at this theatre. This season he presents a continuous show, starting at 1 P. M. The many friends of Mr. William E. Slafer, and his incomparable band will be pleased to learn that his manager, Mr. Thomas Brady, has made arrangements with Mr. Edward Trail, the manager of the Montauk Theatre, for a series of popular Sunday night band concerts, starting Sunday night, October 2. It is possible that Mr. Willlam E. Slafer and his band will be booked at the New York Hippodrome later in the season. The Third Degree did well at the Montauk week of September 12. Arsene Lupin is the current attraction. The house staff of the Montauk Theatre is Edward Trail, general manager; A. lins, treasurer; Joseph Kennedy, assistant treasurer; David E. Sasseen, press representative; Lowell Mason. main doorkeepar; Percy 0. Stephenson, advertising agent; Jay Nova, musfeal director; Leuis H. Erichs, chief usher; J. Veck Wayrick, stage carpenter; Frank Le Strange, master of properties, and William Curren, chief electrician, (Continued on page 58.) ALBANY, N. Y. Bold Thief holds up Actress in Her DressingRoom. Miss Fritzi Von Busing, who sings the role of Mascha in one of F. C. Whitney’s Chocolate Soldier companies, had a thrilling experience whiie playing Harmanus Bleecker Hall, Albany, N. Y., Sept. 6. The curtain was up for the last act and Miss Von Busing, who had left the stage for a few moments, decided to rest in her dressing-room until her next cue. On entering the doorway she found a man confronting her, who demanded her valuables. Her quick wit made her realize that an outcry was impossible as it might be heard on the stage or in front and she tried to force the man from her room. He, realizing that help was near by, decided to go. but not until he had snatched from her dressing table a purse containing money and rings. He made his escape easily as the stage hands were too busy to notice a stranger. and the best Miss Von Busing could do was notify the management after the show. The police were put on the case, but the clever | thief had undoubtedly cleared his tracks. The season at Harmanus Bleecker Hall has opened with a rush and Manager Gordon has had the satisfaction of seeing three attractions— Chorolate Soldier, September 5-6; De Wolf Hopper. 10. and Madame X, 12-14—given to standing reom only. Gertrnde Quinlan opened her road tour here in Miss Patsy on Sept. 19. bringing with her in support, Miss Florence Nash, daughter of Philip | Nash, and an Albany girl who has not before | been seen on the local stage. The advance manager of Madame X expert F. W. Col| | damsels | to ecanacity business. | city. ‘TOWN that surround the star to the right, left and up stage in Deacon Flood, is a Washington society girl who has just recruited with this troupe. In Washington society she was a prominent member of the Navy set. She is Miss Joan Howle Reeves, and the daughter of Rear-Admiral Reeves, retired, of the United States Navy, and her brother is a naval officer. She has long considered a professional career, but parental objection was an obstacle which she has successfully overcome. She made her debut with the show in this city. She had been summering at Newport, where she enjoyed a brilliant season, and then she came bere to join the show. (Continued on page 58.) READING, PA. Academy of Music to Present a Burlesque Attraction One Day a Week. The past week marked the opening of the dramatic season. As stated in The Billboard some months past, Reading was to have burlesque. It has at last come to those who have waited patiently four long years. On Tuesday of each week, at the Academy of Music, lovers of burlesque are to be satisfied. Miner’s Jardin de Paris Girls was the first burlesque attraction. Phenomenal business and a grand success was the verdict of both the managers and the public. The Passing Parade was presented to capacity business at both performances on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The new Hanlon's Superba opened here last week. It is their twenty-fifth season. They Mr. Stuart Fox. late of the Ben Greet Players, has signed with Hanlon’s Superba. As Mr. Fox has many admirers in this city, there were several social functions held fn hig honor. Philip Lauther, of this city, known as Phil Doreto, is also with the show. His friends gave him a great reception. The Newlyweds and Their Baby was the Labor Day attraction at the Academy. They played Countess Von Hatzfeldt, Leo Hayes and James Rosen appeared in the leading parts. Sousa and his famous band was at the Academy of Music on the 7th, after an absence of three years. Among the players of the new Seven Days Company, which will be the Chicago company of this comedy, is Chauncey A. Monroe, of this He was formerly a well-known newspaper man, having been a member of the editorial staff of the Reading Herald. Dwuring the past two seasons he appeared in The Girls from Gottenberg and Kitty Grey. Dustin Farnum appeared here on the 10th In Cameo Kirby. This season Readingites will have plenty of vandeville. There will be five houses devoted to that popular form of entertainment. Mr. ©. C. Egan, who lately returned from South America, is at the head of Wilmer and Vincent’s house, the Orpheum. | gave four shows. | of considerable educational merit, and it packed | ances were nearly as well All amusement houses look forward to a long | and prosperous season. JOSEPH S. STIRL. CLEVELAND, O. Becky Sharp, at Opera House, and The Nigger at Colonial Score Heavily. See Dame Fortune smiled managers the week of September 12th to 17th. The offerings were sufficiently diversified to satisfy the most fastidious and the theatre going | public expressed their appreciation by liberal cared difiruity te srcuring a suflicient member | friendships in an elaborately staged production of supers for the big scene of his play, and the Teason given is that the State Normal College is not ret open. During the season, hundreds of students are willing to act as supers, and the mansgera come to look to that institution for the material for mob scenes. Howard Nichols is much pleased with the opening of his season of independent burlesque at the Galety. WILLIAM H. HASKELL. BALTIMORE, MD. Novel Plan Adopted to Insure Productions of Grand Opera. patronage. At the Opera House Mrs. Fiske renewed old of Becky Sharp. The house was sold out several times during the week. The company Is very well balanced. The audiences were wholesouled in their appreciation, the work of Holbrook Blinn, Robert V. Ferguson and Harold Russell being esnecially meritorious. The offering afforded an intellectual feast of a classic sub | ject artistically rendered. The Colonial Theatre had The Nigger by Ed | ward Sheldon with Guy Bates Post as the star. | playing to large houses, With the opening of the Academy of Music | and the Anditorium theatres, last week, the theatrical season is now officially begun. The Season will be very successful, according to the general opinion that prevails among the managers, and they are very optimistic as to the results. The bookings for the three leading theatres have been announced and the list of attractions has met with public approbation. From the present indications the local playgoers will enfoy a more brillfant season than has been their experience for many seasons. This is dune to the fortunes of war which has made it possible for a number of stars and other attractions to appear here which had been dented admission to the gates of the City of Monnments: especially the Relasco stars, which have not heen seen here for many years. The latter attractions have been announced with the bhookings of Ford’s Opera Honse. The Sterm, which received its premiere in Washington, and wes conceded by the Capltal critica as worthy of a run, was the opening attraction at the Academy of Music September 12. The play is a strong melodrama, and ig considered as gripping as The Great Divide and The Wolf. Girlles and Three Million Dollars will follow in order. Al. H Wison. In Metz in Ireland, was the opening attraction at Ford’s Opera Honse last week, and was qnite snecessful. Harry Kelly followed. Among the merry contingent of The work of the entire company showed sincerity in the portrayal of their parts. Florence Rockwell as a patrician Southern Beauty played with an effective blending of passion and tenderness. Buster Brown was at the Lyceum Theatre The show is better than last season, Madeline Clark as Mary Jane | being especially pleasing. The Holden Players presented Sherlock Holmes at the Cleveland Theatre. The version offered differs materially from that of Wm. Gillette but went big. John Lane Connor made an excellent detective and Frank Readick was fine as Doctor Watson. Miss Margaret Neville was Miss Marston the orphan and Miss Josephine Griffin the wife of Mordecal. Miners Jardin De Paris Girls were at the Star. The fun is clean cut and there are enough songs introduced to give the burlesque the needed variety. Abe Leavitt, George Scott and Marion Campbell made their presence felt all the time. The ollo consisting of Augusta Phelps, the Merry Minstrel Maids. Davis and Harris and the Broadway Comedy Quartette were well received. Jack Singer’s Behman Show at the Empire Theatre while not up to the standard of Inst year’s production from the standpoint of the olio, yet offered a very pleasing show. Ton Hascall, Will J. Kennedy and Elleen Sheridan are cast in leading roles and worked hard to please. The old time favorites the Courtney Sisters do some excellent work in the ollo. Two hours of wholesome entertainment with genuine comedy interspersed with songs and pretty girls and everybody satisfied, that ought | to help some. (Continued on page 58.) | Fair | than ever. CRAWFORDSVILLE, IND. Change Made in Management of Music Hall Theatre. The Princess Airdome, Ind., Geo. R. White, mgr., nightly in this pretty summer amusement place. This season has been the largest financially in the history of the house. Manager Geo. R. White, of the Princess Airdome, has succeeded Mr. Mace Townsley in the management of the Music Hall Theatre. Mr. White has a long lease on this house, and its future success is assured. Mr. Townsley bas not disclosed his future plans. The Forepaugh and Sells Bros.’ Circus exhibited In Crawfordsville, Ind., Sept. 9, ity both performances. Nothing but praise was heard on every side as the crowds filed out. Truly a great enterprise with marvelous exhi bitions. THOS. V. WHITE. Crawfordsville, AUGUSTA, GA. Augusta Patrons Promised Good Attractions with Open-Door Policy. The theatrical season for 1910 will open on the night of September 21, with The Soul Kiss, followed by Al. G. Field’s Minstrels on the night of the 22d. The opening of the Grand was delayed about three weeks, caused by extensive improvements, which, when completed, will be one of the prettiest in the South. Mr. Wells last year gave his patrons the best line of attractions they have enjoyed in a number of years, and he promises even better this season. All of Wells’ houses, of which the Grand is one, are holding out for the “open door.”’ attractions that are worthy of public | ay wen and from the looks of the list already booked, we will get our share of the best. JAS. L. GROGAN. EAST LIVERPOOL, O. Panoramic Views of Roosevelt’s African Trip Shown at the American. Only one theatre opened here during the past week, and that was McClintock's Electric. ike last season the house will be under the management of G. L. McClintock. This year the vaudeville here will split with the Youngstown end of the National Vaudeville Circuit. The season is the first the National has had a lookin in this city. The roster of the Electric is: Abner O’Toole, stage manager; Oscar Kemmel, operator; Esma Prosser, piano player. The house is now running two new pictures daily, which is the first time a change of film has ever been made here six times a week. The big feature act at Herron’s American Theatre last week was Houston’s Panorama of Roosevelt's trip through Africa. It was an act the house for three days. The Cora Lawton Mitchell Company canceled time at the Ceramic Theatre, and gave only one show on Labor Day. It then jumped to the Columbia Theatre, Bellaire, 0. This is the third year for the Great Tri-State and the attractions will be more varied Exhibits of stock cover the entire Ohio-Pennsylvania baseball grounds. “Hello” Bill Hocking has closed with Rock Spring park management as excursion agent for 1911, and will be on the job all suas upon Cleveland theatre ERIE, PA. Jeffries-Johnson Fight Pictures Well Liked by Erie’s 400. The Jeffries-Johnson fight pictures were shown at the Happy Hour Theatre last week to capacity houses. The people of this town fairly went wild over these pictures. about the audiences was that more than onethird of the people present were women. that the most prominent people of were also present. Great objections showing of these pictures were ministers, but Mayor Liebel to the raised by the refused to inter ere. Shaffer. Genno and English, who own and control skating rinks In New York and Buffalo, opened a new skating rink In the Mavor Block, on Sent. 15. The rink will be known as the Erle Roller Rink, and will play first-class roller skating attractions during the winter. “Deacon” Dellmore, who has hed charge of the Electric Theatre at Waldameer Park. will go into vandeville this season. He and his wife will do a novelty sketch, entitled The Actor and the Girl. He {fs booked to play Gus Sun time and will open the last of the month. BRUCE GRONETT. OMAHA, NEB. Entire New Staff Engaged for the American Music Hall. The house staff at the American Muele Hall, are all strangers to Omaha theatre patrons, but they are fast becoming acquainted and making friends. Manager W. y. Testle has the following assistants: Jos, A. Pile, assistant manager and treasurer; Earl Bell, assistant treasnrer: Walter Nelson, head door-keeper; Harry Silverman, orchestra director, and Ernest Waller, stage manager. The Gavety attraction for the week of Sept. 11 was the Ron Tons. It is a good burlesque production with corgeons costumes and attractive seenery. The plece contains some good comedy, and the song hits were many. The Dunedin Troune of Cvyeliste are above the avy erage In thelr daring acrobatic bicycle act. Busi ness at this house Increases each week. The Orphenm is doing capacity business at each performance. to capac| continues packing crowds | They will book any | | One noticeable thing | Also | our city | AMUSEM Beverly drew crowded houses at the Krug Sept. 8-10. The company was well balanced and the production was even better than that seen at this house last season. The Cracker Jacks, at the Gayety Sept. 4 and week was one of the best costumed companies ever seen at this theatre. The principals and chorus are above the average, and with the goed scenery it was a cracker-Jack entertainment. Raymond Wilbur, an Omaha boy, is visiting his parents in the city after a two years’ absence, during which time he has been playing an engagement with the Gormand and Ford Stock Co. Mr. Wilbur was formerly with the Wood. ward Stock Co, Billy Clifford is as popular as ever, judging from the large attendance he drew at the Krug Sept. 11-14. Mr. Clifford and a company of unusual merit scored a big hit with his musical comedy, The Girl, the Man, and the Game. The Woodward Stock Company is putting on some splendid stock productions at the Boyd to good business. The price of admission has been reduced to twenty-five cents. Manawa closed a very successful season on the Sth. Manager Byrne is well pleased with the attendance. . J. ROOT. SEATTLE, WASH. Three First-Class Houses Opened Sept. 11. Summer Park Concerts Over. The first-class theatres opened the winter season in Seattle, Sept. 11. The Moore, with Walker Whiteside in The Melting Pot; the Seattle Theatre, with the Baker Stock Company, and the Grand, with The Stubborn Cinderella Company. Georgie Girvin, private secretary to John Cort, who has been visiting her relatives in New York City returned to Seattle, September 10. William H. (Dad) Russell is receiving con gratulations from his many friends upon the arrival of William H. Russell, Jr., weighing eight pounds. John Cort has engaged Robert Wayne to play the role of Rome Preston and Raymond Walburn for the part of Barrett Sheridan in support of Max Figman in the Edith Ellis comedy, Mary Jane’s Pa, which began an indefinite engagement at the Globe Theatre, Boston, Sept. 5. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Klawans and Barney, Jr., spent the summer season in the Olympic Mountains while the Moore was closed. John Cort is now booking the one-night stands in California, through the Seattle and New York Booking offices. The last of the summer park concerts by Wagner's Band was given at Volunteer Park Sunday night, Sept. 11. It is estimated that more than 250.000 prople have enjoyed these excellent concerts during the summer. John Cooke, manager of the agrette, has put a system in this house that eased Mr. Considine so much that be has sent him over to Tacoma to establish a similar system in his house there. The Buffalo Bill Wild West Show opened on the evening of September 8, with twelve thousand people, the rest of the five perform patronized. The featnres of the big show were especially noteworthy. Col. Cody was a guest of the Seattle publicity club at the Arctic Club for luncheon. September 8. LEM A. SHORTRIDGE. SAVANNAH, GA. For First Time, Maude Adams, Mrs. Fiske and Others Will Play Here. Savannah Is on the verge of the biggest theatrical season in her history, although the two vaudeville houses, the Liberty and the Orpheum are the only ones which did business last week. The playhouse fireworks, however, are about to be set off, and a dazzling display is promised. With the Schiller Players In Savan nah, and Director E. A. Schiller on the scene, the Bijou Theatre is getting ready for tts second successful season of stock, which opens September 19. The same favorites of last year are here, and a splendid Mst of productions will be put on each week by this tal ented company of players that bears the name of the man who gave Savannah her first taste | of stock. What is probably the most Interesting thing to announce at the present time fs that several of the best plays and stars that are booked by Klaw & Erlanger will be seen at the Bijou Theatre. It has been positively announced that Maude Adams, John Drew, Mrs. Fiske and Ben Hur will be seen at the Bijou this season, the Schiller Players making way for these stars on the nights for which they are booked. Mr. Jake Wells, who is now in the city, made the following statement: ‘‘We feel that the Savannah theatre-going public should not be deprived of euch first-class attractions a Ren Hur, Maude Adams, John Drew, Mrs. Fiske and others of equal note,” and with this in view, “I have arranged to give up the de sired dates requested by Klaw and Erlanger for these attractions during the coming sea son. It has also been atated that other attractlona booked by Shubert. Rrady and Savage wil! also be seen at the Bijou Theatre. Early attractions at the Savannah Theatre are Dustin Farnum in Cameo Kirby; The Newly weds and thelr Baby: Frederick Warde, !p Timona of Athens, and others. Manager Joseph A. Wilensky, of the Orph eum Theatre, left this week for a trip throug! the Carolinas Manager Wilensky !« going to make a tour of tnapection, looking for ‘‘soft spots” for moving picture or vaudeville houses The Liberty Theatre has been doling capac ity business since the re-opening on Labor Day and Mesers. Frank and Hubert Randy are mor than pleased with the outlook for the presen! season of vaudeville, The bill last week wee one of apectal merit, Including the followine acts: LeFevre and St. John, The Great Halnes. (Continued on page 58.)