The Billboard 1910-10-08: Vol 22 Iss 41 (1910-10-08)

OCTOBER 8, 1910. The Billboard 45 PARIS LETTER. (Continued from page 14.) of her repertoire. The London County Council long ago gave out the strange edict (for a group of city fathers to make) that no music hall act should exceed more than half an hour, so Mme. Bernhardt will have to get buew right away quick the minute the curtain rises, MME. REJANE’S HOUSE. Messrs. Maurice Hennequin and Paul Bilhaud | are the anthors of the plece which will in all yrobability serve to reopen the theatre of Mme. | ejane early in October. M’Amour (My Love) is the title of the piece which is a comedy in three acts, and so far as the present and younger crowd of theatregoers is concerned it will be almost new. It was created nine or ten years ago at the Palais-Royal and made a tremendous hit. ODEON’S PROGRAM. As I have remarked once or twice, the Odeon is Comedie Francaise No, 2. Here then is its program for the season and there is not much probability of any considerable change in it during the year. As will be seen, some of the pleces are now, some are translations and others are revivals or adaptations. Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare's, not the proposed work of Edmond Rostand on the same subect); a historical drama by Maurice Donnay; 4 Petite Roque, im three acts, by Bmile and Philippe Moreau; l’Orniere, in four acts by Henry Rothschild; l'Honneur Japonais, in five acts, by Paul Anthelm; Tamerlan, in five acts, by Chekri-Ganem; Le Diable a Vendre, in three acts, by Paul Geraldy and Robert Spitzer; Esther, in four acts, by Andre Dumas and Chas. Leconte; David Copperfield, ten scenes, by Max Maurey after Dickens; Le Grande Confrerie, in three acts, by adaptation by Tristan Bernard and Remon from Lothar; l’an XII., in four acts, by Adolphe Aderer and Ephraim; Les Ronds-deCulr, in three acts, by Georges Courteline, Robert Dieudonne and Raoul Aubrey; Mere, in four acts, by Dick-May; Le Ben Mensonge, in three acts, by Jean Thorel; Un Soir, in three acts, by Gabriel Trarieux; Le Sourire de Nemesis, in four acts, by Serve Basset and Serverin Mars; }' Autre Face, in three acts, by Blumenthal, translated from Auguste Germain and R. Trebor; Mademoiselle de Chatillon, in five acts, by Paul Verola; Rivoli, in five acts (verse and prose) by Rene Fouchois; a new three-act comedy by Alexandre Bisson and Berr de Turique; Helen de Sparte, in four acts (verse) by Emile Verhaeren; La Chanoinesse, in five acts, by Henry Ceard, and H. de Weindel; Elle est de la Famille, in four acts, by Lucien Descaves; Les Plus Beaux Jours, in three acts, by A. Traversi, translated from Mlle. Darsenne; La Morte, in three acts, by Paul Barlatier; La Justice du Roi Louis, in four acts by Grillet-Talrick; Les Deux Tzarines, in five acts, by Philibert de Puyfontaine. There will be, as is usual in France, many one-act plays introduced before the productions as curtain-raisers. The list of authors contributing these is too long for insertion here. THE SCALA’'S PLANS. P. L. Flers and Eugene Heros, two of the best liked makers of musical farce comedies known to Parisians, have concocted a plece which they call Le Circuit de Leste, the name being a takeoff on the title of the last aeroplane race in France over a 500-mile course, called Le Circuit de l'Est (The Eastern Circuit). The title of the Fler-Heros show, Le Circuit de Leste, means an entirely different thing and as nearly as I can translate it, it is French for The Improper Circuit. It is a very happy name and is sure to bring on a rush on the box-office by people who wish to “go’’ this spicy and gingery route. The authors say it is neither an operette, nor a revue, nor a fairy play, nor a wy comedy. It is all that, in one; Therefore t is something different. After this ‘‘affair’’—as I shall call it for want of a better name—the Scala will have a new revue by the authors of last year’s big success at this same house: Michel Carre and Andre Barde. Edmee Favart will be the particular star in this last. After this shall have had its run, the management is speaking of a revival of Paris le Bon Juge, after it has been revised and practically remade by de Flers, Caillavet (Love Watches’ authors) and Claude Ter Tasse. La Circuit de Leste opens this week. THE CHATELET STRIKE. | Things have settled down somewhat at the | Chatelet Theatre where last week I told of a strike among the stage hands. The theatre was closed for about three days when the then spectacle, Les Aventures of Gavroche, was sidetracked for the time being. The new piece, Michael Strogoff, was then put on and in the Presence of about 300 policemen, all went well. It had been announced that the discharged strikers, who had been replaced by non-union men, were going to stop the show by keeping up a disturbance at the front of the house. As this sort of thing has happened here in Paris more than once, the police protection was considered necessary. I fancy, however, that Manager Fontanes has got things in control now. He has been tolerably badly treated by his men, though whether he or the men were to blame I cannot say. But he has had a strike or so every year for a long while. Now he has let ovt all his union men and taken on independents. Some of the old uard remain with him, they having resigned om the union. Those who stayed away from the theatre were replaced. Fontanes has originated a scheme for keeping Peace in his theatre. He has organized a union of his own. He has formed a society to which all the stage employes belong, the which is to re| celve ten per cent. of the theatre's profits. SOME GOSSIP. At the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, the rebearsals of La Conquete d’'Athenes are about finished. is plece, which takes the place of 1’ Aigion, now the bill (with Mme. Blanche Dufrene in the title role) will in all probability go on the first of next week. The Renaissance will not open until the last of October. Mon Amt Teddy, a revival, will be the first ploge to start the Wall rolling, then Le Viet! Hommé will be prodaced. i The Gaite-Lyrique {s undergoing a general overhauling while rehearsals of the different + which are to form the repertory are go on, | Allan Hamilton’s and Rehearsals of Ces Messieurs, the new plece by Georges Ancey, are now in progress at the Gymnase. + Le Duel, Lavedan’s play which had such a big success in America, with Otis Skinner in the principal role, is to be given at an out this show like the bill of fare served up to them nightly, and go regularly to see all that there is to be seen there. A new theatre will be opened in about two weeks right next door to the Glaciarium, and the finishing touches on the interior are > ing given to the re They aré to follow in the wake of the door theatre at Marnes-la-Coquettes this week. to run continuous puerforamences from 10:00 a. The Hippodrome Skating Rink will reopen for the fall and winter season, this week. This house, a8 The Billboard readers know, is under American management. SYDNEY LETTER. (Continued from page 14.) Mr. Jules Garrison and his two Roman Maids, is resting at Wellington, N. Z., Mrs. Garrison having presented him with a son and heir in that city, and as this took place some three weeks ago, I presume that he will resume work at an early date. Mr. Garrison sends his regards to absent friends in the States, jst medium of The Billboard. McGrath and Page, banjoists, arrived on the last Vancouver steamer and at once opened at the National. They have made good from the first. Gray and Graham also Americans, are just closing at this theatre and will sail on 8rd Prox, for New Zealand under the Fuller management. Mr. Brennan has American artists arriving by each Vancouver steamer now, and is well pleased with all that he has brought out up to the present. Mr. J. C. Williamson is at the present time in Europe, or was at the latest advices and has got together a big company for grand opera in these parts, with Mme. Melba as the star. All his various companies are playing to great business here and in New Zealand. J. C. Williamson has had his business floated into a limited company with a capital of $1,000,000, and it is now known as J. C. Williamson, Limited. It looks as if they were preparing to meet the ever-growing competition that is springing up on this side of the world. Clarke and Maynell have succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectations, and they are nightly refusing money at their theatre, the Criterion, in this city, where they are now producing The Arcadians. The same reports as to their Melbourne business is fully borne out by facts. Mr. Maynell is at the present, in London, and they are also to bring out an entirely new company for some of the new productions they have purchased in the London market. At the Theatre Royal, J. C. W., Ltd., is presenting to their patrons nightly, Australia’s favorite, Miss Nellie Stewart, in When Knighthood Was In Flower, and the last ten nights of her season at this theatre is announced. This company is to be followed by Allen Hamilton's Dramatic Company, in Clyde Fitch’s play, Lover’s Lane. Miss Nellie Stewart is giving a matinee to raise $5,000 to be expended in the purchase of radium for the Sydney Hospital, and as it now looks, she will not only succeed, but she will obtain more than that, as the house is all sold out, some of the boxes having brought as high as $500 for this performance. On Saturday last she took her motor car and went out for an hour and sold nearly three hundred tickets, at not less than $1.75 each. As she told them no change would be given, many paid as high as $5 for a seat and thought little | of it at that. That reminds me that Mr. Hugh J. Ward, in Wellington, New Zealand, last week, took it into his head to help raise $25,000 dollars for the Welington Hospital, and as some of the clergy has spoken ve strongly against the play that he was producing, he himself donated $500 to the fund and then went out in the pouring rain and sold tickets and handed over to the fund 560 pounds, which to put it roughly into dollars is $2,800. This is not so bad for one day’s work. The showing was more than the sky pilots of the berg had done, or ever would do, for the same cause. J. C. Williamson, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, is producing The Orchid to S. R. 0. nightly. Mr. Harry Rickards, at the Tivoli, have the Kremo Family (10) as headliners, and business is good; all the others are the same as I mentioned in my last letter, but there was an addition to the bill on Saturday night of the Raymong Trio, who are playing a return season with this company. At the Palace Theatre West’s pictures are in their last nights, as they go back to the Glaciarium on the 10th prox, and will be followed at this theatre by Max Maxwell's Dramatic Company, in Henry Petit's A Woman's Revenge, opening on the 10th prox, for a long season. The Victoria Picture Hall is under new management, and since the change they have no cause for complaint in regard to the patronage bestowed on their enterprise. Spencer’s Lyceum Hal! is doing good business and Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are now on their way back to Sydney. They are due here on the 5th prox. J. D. Williams’ Amusement Company breaking all records in the M. P. line, think that it can safely be said, that they are showing to more people daily than any pict show in this city. Programs are changed twice weekly and all the most up-to-date films are screened. Well, they deserve to get on, for they stick closely to business, and not only that, they hustle all the time. I am informed that they are running some suburban shows, as well as the New Coolnial Theatre, and I am also informed that they have several new projects under way and that they will soon culminate into reality. Good luck to all the boys, | is all the harm I wish them. There is a bunch }of real genuine Americans at this place, and j you can hear American spoken with all the idiomatic expressions thrown in, without extra charge, and it is good for we poor benighted Americans who have been so long from the land of our birth to go down once in a while and get some new idioms and phrases to increase our vocabulary, and keep it up-to-date. All the boys send regards to absent friends the U. S. and guess that they are satisfied that they are on a good wicket out here. The Great Western and The International Film: Exchanges, are run by these up-to-date Americans, and they are doing all right. I have yet to hear an uncomplimentary remark made against them. Of course, some of the older houses don't Hike the way that they have got on, but it does not cause them any loss of som, for what others in the game think of them, . . The Bijou Theatre is doing all ht.. This in a West's picture show, and yet is not advertised to the general public as such, as it has a special clientele that never go to the bi show, e class of films that are screen here, are not so highly classical as what the head show screens. :00 p. m., with illustrated songs and moving pictures and maybe some vaudeville turns as well. This theatre is to be known as the Ellisdon Theatre and is owned and FU Dads 8 don, Ltd. The show will be known as e | Magnet Pictures. The entrance is less than twenty feet from the entrance to the Glaclarium ; and the building abuts onto that place of | amusement, but I guess it will not hurt West’s | shows any, as the music of the latter will fill the house if nothing else would, and it will take some doing to get another band to beat West’s band and pictures. : He hiele’s pictures at the Globe or Queen’s E * are doing a good steady business, and Mie has also a very fine show out at Newtown, that will seat many more than any other place in the city. Although built too late for big business last season, he has done a good steady business all the winter. The New Alhambra has gone back to vaudeville and pictures, as well as illustrated songs and is doing a good business. There are so many shows here now that I cannot begin to notice them all and never make any attempt to pay a visit to them all, for you would require a high-speed motor car to do so, and then many of them do not make any attempt to obtain a world-wide reputation. So far, no films have reached this side, of the Johnson-Jeffries fight, and it is not at all certain that they will be allowed to exhibit them if they do come to hand, as the Wowsers have set up an awful howl. The elections will take place in a few weeks, and the tony, politician has got to placate all parties. They want to not oaly hunt with the hounds, but run with the fox as well. A good job it would be, if ninetenths of them were taken out to South Head and dropped them into the sea. What with the half holiday, pure food, and heaven only knows what other laws they have passed, life is getting one race to dodge the laws and try and live in peace at the same time. The priests and the parsons have far too much to do with the laws of this land, and if we go dry at the coming contest at the polls, this will be a good country to get out of. There has just been a fine rink for roller skating opened at North Sydney, and Saturday's paper states that there is to be built, right in the heart of the city, one of the largest and the finest rinks south of the equator. The Bessies o’ th’ Barn Band have given a series of fifteen concerts at the town hall (rent $125 nightly), and are going to play a return season here. Why in the world Sousa does not come out here and rake in some of the good mazuma on this side of the water passes my comprehension. Heavens knows that I have thrown out hints enough to him in the past six years, but he has made no move that I am aware of. If they only stop to think that the winter season in the U. S. is the summer season here, and that our scmmmer is fully nine months long, they would see the golden opportunity. Antonio Delores passed through this city on Saturday last, and she is now doing the smalls. At that she gets top prices and she is one of the most beloved if not the most beloved of any | artist that visits these shores. Now for another class of amusement that can scoop in a pile of money here, and that is a good troupe of jubilee singers, after the Fisk order. They must be good and strong musically. Now is the time for new faces to come and give the people a touch of good jubilee singing and one or two good vaudeville turns combined. But let me add a few words to these remarks. If colored artists come over, they will have to cough up £100 stig. ($500) each that they will out of the country within a certain time. When they leave they will get their deposit back. We have a colored aliens restriction act in force here and it is very rigidly enforced too. There are a good_many Australian artists that are making tracks for the United States and as soon as I get the names bunched together, I will give them to the readers of The Billboard. As it is, I think that I have taken up about all the space the editor can spare me, and so will bring my letter to a close. The season is now coming on for high pitch artists. One other thing I could recommend to cross over to this side with and that is a good street peanut joint. Such a thing as hot tamales are unknown on this side. Another thing that I want to impress on the readers of The Billboard is this fact; that there are many lines of street goods that hustlers can make money with here in the winter months of the States, as that is our summer. This morning’s paper states that last night was the coldest night this winter, the thermometer going down to 42.6 degrees F, so you ean see how cold we get it in Sydney in the middle of winter. When you speak of winter to those like the writer, that were used to a good old New England winter with the glass monkeying round 36 degrees or some 70 degrees below freezing it makes you laugh. To the man that had the pluck and the energy to come out here and sell good well-roasted peanuts and hot salted popcorn, fresh, and chestnuts, etc., in the winter time, there is big money to be made as there has never been seen anything like this on this side of the water. One man who brought two floss candy machines, made a good pile and then sold his two machines to ;one of the largest firms in this country for nearly $2,000, and went back to the States well satisfied with his venture. Another thing. here is not an American soda fountain here that is up-to-date, and were they to serve the American people with the | drinks that they serve here, they would not be in business for two weeks. There are some fountains here that are selling thousands of drinks daily in the summer time, but what would a good smart American firm do, that sold all the up-to-date American drinks served in firstclass American style. Personally, I only wish that there was one of that kind here. They would get many a good dollar out of your scribe. You can get hot savaloys, peas and chip po tatoes here on the streets at night, but to get a good cup of coffee, save the mark, that is impossible, as they, in the first place, do not know how to roast the beans, and in the second place, they do not know the art of making a good cup of coffee. Hot tamales, chop suey and other American | things that would «0 well here, -are never. seen | and there are no places where you ean get them. There was, some years ago, an American came |}out here and he —— a place and sold hot buckwheat cakes and maple syrup, good old New England pies,, baked pork and beans, and green corn and other American dishes. He went back | with a mint, but since then there has been no ut the crowd that attends | places of this sort. To the one who has the dol . D. Williams shows, and are | lars to start right, make the goods right, and give good value for the money expended, they |ean do well, and make money quick, but they must be able to deliy the “a thneve | ea mericans here, and I can | Safely say would patronize the place that was ; run on high class lines. Not a bit of use to come here and do business | in a half-hearted manner, or try to run a place |on a side street, but they must open where the crowds are to be seen night and day, and in | first-class style, and where the rents are high. Then you will get the elite of the city and your business will go up by leaps and bounds. I would like to see any one on this side find a place where they could get such a thing as a first-class sundea or any of the delicious ice cream drinks such as are to be had in all the cities of the United States. You can get in the winter time what they eall beef tea, hot, but heaven save the mark were it offered to an American. He would think that he had oon ge up against a dose of nauseating physic, in place of a nice refreshing | drink. In eight weeks from now we will be having the weather here hot as you wish and up to next April, then the nights will begin to get cool, and then winter drinks will be in order. Personally I should like to see some of these American hustlers get a move on them and come out here and make some good dollars. W. H. H. LANE. BALTIMORE, MD. Gertrude Hoffman Has Trouble With Canadian Custom Officers. Baltimoreans were given a surprise last week when the census returns announced that the Monumental City had been pushed out of its coveted sixth position among the big cities of the Union by Cleveland, Ohio. The Ohio city leads by a margin of 2,178. The -people in this city are now confronted with a terrible drought and that concerns the citizens more than the size of the ation. Conditions are now in an alarming state and if Jupiter Pluvius does not come to our relief soon the city will be without drinki water. city authorities have been oblig to restrict the use of water and the water in the reserve reservoirs is gradually evaporating. The surrounding country is so dry that in certain sections large cracks in the earth are visible for many miles. Girlies wag the attraction at the Academy Music last week and it was considered a swell production and everybody liked the show. The agility and nimbleness of the ladies in the chorus were a marvel to the audiences. Am the merry throng was a Baltimore girl entit Marie Pendleton, but she is known to her local acquaintances as Miss Davidson. She has been on the boards for a little over a year and has been successful. She was the recipient of much attention at the home of her family on North avenue, Three Million Dollars was an attraction of much interest. Large crowds were in attendance to witness this unique production. The Girl in the Taxi was the next to create sensational interest. Bessie McCoy, in The Echo, is announced to follow. The Little Damozel, at the Auditorium, made a great impression. The play bears a —s resemblance to Trilby. The splendid work o the company was much appreciated, May Buckley, in the leading role, was very charming. The show was closed September 24, night, so as to be a New York for the opening Saturday, 1 Seott, in The Lottery Man, fo! The play aroused considerable interest, as it Was written by Mrs. Rida Johnson Yoang a gifted Baltimore girl, whose plays are always well received here. Up and Down Broadway is to follow. Florence Holbrook was not in the cast of Bright Eyes, as she has had throat trouble. Her physicians announce that she will soon be in shape to resume her role. Bright Eyes was largely attended at Ford’s Opera House, and its attractiveness did not diminish, although it was here last season. The melodious music proved as catchy as before. The presentation of The Concert at this theatre proved an attraction of great interest. Local theatres have for many years important links in the great chain of syndicate houses, consequently it was impossible for the Belasco productions to appear here. Now that conditiuns have changed, The Concert is the first of the Belasco attractions to be seen at a regular theatre in this city for many years. “ene play was written by Herman Bahr and Americanized by Leo Ditrichstein. The play, as well as the somoany. was well received. Otis Skinner followed. Gertrude Hoffman was the headliner at the Maryland Theatre last week. She came here form Toronto, where she had some difficul with the Dominion authorities. She has wi her a troupe of Cingalese dancers, which were imported from Ceylon, a British possession. She had no trouble in entering Canada, but when she started to leave she encountered a serious obstacle. The immigration officials claimed that the dancers had landed in United States first and therefore she would have to double the bond. Her manager, M . settled the matter by obtaining surety for $15,000 from Toronto friends and the company of forty was allowed to depart for Baltimore. The case will 3.» R later | = ppenta authorities, as offman will w ay a age ment in Canada. — — Savoy Theatre inee September 22. all visiting companies. SYLVAN SOHENTHAL. ave a professional matVitations. were sent to MONTREAL, CAN. _ Reports Indicate That Theatrical Con | ditions are Very Good in Montreal. | The Call of the Wild, with Franklin WoodTuff in the leading role, pleased large audiences at His Majesty’s last week. | The Great John Ganton was the offering at the Princess. George Fawcett, in the leading part, was ably supported by Miss Cleveland, Carl Anthony and Frank Wilcox. A good all ’round bill was presented at the Orpheum with Frank Fogarty as headliner. } e Francais’ vaudeville turns were greatly appreciated, being above the average. Dave Marion’s Burlesquers packed the Royal with their good entertainment. | Capacity business is the rule at the Casino— A. W. SHANNON. omar