The Billboard 1911-01-07: Vol 23 Iss 1 (1911-01-07)

The Billboard JANUARY 7, 1911. BROOKLYN, N. Y. There has been a little improvement in busi ness at the Brooklyn Theatre since the Christ mas holidays, which were the worst that the managers in Brooklyn have ever experienced. The management of the Fulton Theatre has decided to return to straight vaudeville again and is presenting twelve acts at popular prices, varying from ten to fifty cents. This theatre is booked by William Morris. New Year's week the Orpheum Theatre in this borough celebrates its tenth anniversary. Percy G. Williams, its manager, as well as Brooklyn theatregoers, both have reasons for congratuiation at the completion of a decade in the theatre’s history. It is probable that no play house in the entire greater city has been accorded a larger share of public favor than has the Orpheum, and it is certain that no theatre devoted toe vaudeville has more fully deserved the liberal patronage that has been bestowed upon it. GEORGE H. HAKES. ALBANY, N. Y. Marie Dressler gave a Christmas dinner party on the stage of Harmanus Bleecker Hall Sunday night, Dec, 25, that was a hummer. It was to celebrate the first birthday of Tillie Blobbs, of Tillie’s Nightmare, who last Christmas was born on this same stage. This year of ‘*Tillie’s”’ growth has been a profitable one for Miss Dressler and she flatly told her manager, Lew Fields, that this Christmas she would play Al bany or no place at all. Se she arranged this Christmas dinner to which her company was invited and all the local critics and dramatic paper representatives. The turkey and ‘‘fixin’s’’ were brought from Miss Dressier’s farm at Windsor. Vt.. and after a strenuous rehearsal by the company, which had been laid off a week, all hands sat down to the good things. When coffee and cigars were reached, speeches were in order. First came the hostess, who proposed a toast to ‘‘Tillie.”” Then William Dalton, friend, husband and “daddy” as Miss Pressler called him. Cheers and hurrahs punctuated every speech. After this a piano was rolled up and calls for Miss Dressler to “‘oblige’’ were answered by a series of coon songs, given as only Marie Dressler can give them. Other members of the company Sang.. played and told stories, and Miss Dres sler assured them that if she fell ill there was talent enough to give a fine vaudeville show. Miss Dressler and Local Manager Gilbert Gordon acted as waiters for the hungry crowd. and everyone left the party after three rousing No for Marie Dressler that fairly raised the root. On Monday, Dec. 26, after the matinee, a Christmas tree was set up on the stage anid there were presents for each one in the company. WM. H. HASKELL. CLEVELAND, O. The record for practically every house at Cleveland was broken on Christmas day. Six policemen were necessary to keep back the crowds that tried to get in the Priscella and Orpheum Theatres on East Ninth street, while the big Hippodrome was taxed to its capacity. Houses jin the suburban districts reported the same results. Every number on the Hippodrome bill was an entertaining feature. Anita Diaz’s Monkeys opened the bill. They are particularly well trained and the upside down barrel juggling of two of the jungle pets elicited much applause. Dora Ronea, a gypsy violiniste, gave a number of artistically rendered selections. Lottie WilHams and Company presenting Edmund Day’s one-act play, On Stony Ground, moved the audience to sadness and humor at will. Miss Williams’ work is that of a finished artist. Bothwell Browne, female impersonator in girl types, has perhaps the best gestures of any vaudeville performer who has been seen in Cleveland this season. The three Leigh tons, who have recently graduated from burlesque, divided applause with the headliner, while Elita Proctor Otis and Company, in Mrs. Bunner’s Bun, offered a style of comedy that made even the staid critics langh. Mme. Adelaide Norwood was the feature while the Three Macagnos, comedy acrobats, closed the bill. The De Vere Stock Company, which has been playing the season at the Castle Theatre. was greeted with a pleasant surprise on Christmas eve when Mr. John Sleifenheimer, manager of the theatre, presented Mr. De Vere with a gold watch and chain and Vera de Vere with a gold locket. A very pleasant Christmas dinner was given by Miss Bergere at the Colonial Hotel to the members of her company and friends on Christmas eve. None of the guests were forgotten by Miss Valerie and surprises were many as the various Christmas boxes containing presents were opened. Miss Bergere was remembered b: all of her company as well as by many other friends. This company was a feature attraction the week before Christmas at the Hippodrome, in Judgment. Bert Marshall, the popular vandeville man ager and agent, was married on Christmas day to Miss Janice Nichols, who has been asso ciated with him in business for some time. Best wishes and good luck to the new combination. Geo, McKay, a well-known Cleveland boy, of the team of McKay and Cantwell. at present on the Orpheum time, was presented with a baby boy on Monday evening, December 26, by his wife, who is at present in Pittsburg. His meer friends extend their heartiest congratulations. A complete list of attractions appearing in the cities mentioned on this page is given in the department beginning on page 18. Dode been playing on the Polack time, returned home Halsman and Weber Sisters, who for the holidays. They are to spend Christ mas and New Years at Columbus, after which they will open in the West. They are well known local favorites. Fred Hamil’s Musical Kids have been spending the holidays in Cleveland. The many friends of Kalcratus, the juggler. will be sorry to learn that he is confined by serious illness at the City Hospital in Cleveland. Bill Baker, the well-known eccentric com edian, has been renewing old acquaintances in Cleveland. The Cleveland Vaudeville Company report the organization of a managers’ association represent ing the managers of the larger houses on their circuit. A banquet and meeting will be held at an early date at the Gillsey House, Cleve land. Billy Watson's Girls from Happyland was augmented in Cleveland by Miss Flossie Me Cloud, a singer and dancer of local popularity. Miss McCloud will lead a number of choruses and should add strength te this already pop ular aggregation. Arthur Nelson has opened a Cleveland office at 606 Permanent Building for the handling of his musical attractions. The office will be iu charge of Geo. V. Haliday, well known as a stock and repertoire manager, who will devote a large portion of his time to organizing a circuit of houses in the central states for musical comedy and stock companies playing one-hour bills, two shows a night and daily matinees in the regular combination Mr. Nelson is without doubt one of the known producing managers in the middle west and is practically without competition in his particular field of activity. Four of his attractions, The Rajah of Bhong, The College Girl. The Bachelor and the Babies, and Elsie Wil liams and Company, in Topsy Turvy Flats are now in their second year with time to follow running into the coming summer. The new and pretentious vaudeville productions from the pen of this popular producer will open the second week in January. One is a reproduction of A Racing Romance, with sixteen people. The other is a second edition of Topsy Turvey Flats best have | houses. | } called The with fifteen people. Mr. Nelson chose Cleve land for his headquarters as he considers the | Forest City the theatrical center of the mid dle west. DON HOLBROOK. PROVIDENCE, R lI. R. A. Harrington, the well-known proprietor of Crescent Park and Rocky Point, the two pleasure resorts down the bay, has bought the entire property on which Rocky Point is located. The price paid has not been made public. land is in the town of Warwick, R. I., and has eastern and southern water front, overlooking the widest part of Narragansett Bay. It comprises about ninety acres with numerous build ings for summer resort users, and includes the baseball grounds where Eastern League Sunday games are played. Mr. Harrington will install at Rocky Point, the amusements which have given Coney Island a world-wide reputation. At the Westminster Theatre. Xmas day, S. R. 0. sign was out for both the and evening performances. Mr. Charles Clough, the well-known and popular treasurer of the Westminster Theatre, is seriously ill at his home with pneumonia. The purchasers, under recent mortgage sale of Vanity Fair Park, have secured a $150,009 charter and have organized as a land company. The purchasers, who are bondholders, were the previous creditors of the old Vanity Fair Amuse ment Co., and will, it is understood, be given shares in the new corporation to the amount of their holdings. This action no doubt means the end of Vanity Fair Park, as a summer re sort. Through the courtesy of Mr. Albee, of Keith's Theatre, Yankee and Dixie, the performing dogs, which were the feature of the Xmas week bill, visited the Rhode Island Hospital, where they greatly amused the inmates of the children’s ward. The executive staff of the Peor Opera House: Col. Felix R. Wendelschaefer, manager: Eugene F. Wendeschaefer, treasurer; Joseph R. Thorn ton, asst.; G. Raymond Ladd, musical director; Wm. E. Doolen, stage manager; Chas. H. Baeny. press representative; Frank J. McDermott, chief usher; Harry A. Maginnis, electrician. Wm. H. Turner, a local favorite, ber of last season’s Albee Stock appeared last week at the Empire in Father and the Boys, and several large theatre parties formed by his many admirers in the city, attended the performances. W. E. GREENE. afternoon and a memCompany, Theatre, TORONTO, ONT. Miss Gertrude Elliott and the members of her company had a big Christmas tree at the Prince George Hotel Xmas night. It took three hours to distribute the numerous gifts. After ward Miss Elliott entertained the company at a banquet. The star was the guest at several social functions during the week. Mr. Charles Haystead, the tative for A. J. Small, the magnate, out of town was presented by Mr Small with a trip to New York Charles left town on the 26th and will receive a warm wel come in Gotham from his numerous friends in the show business. The Sunday, Mr. Thomas Henry, and Mrs. Henry, their numerous popular represenCanadian theatrical theatrical Xmas who celebrated people day, reache| town on in fitting style. the Gayety, souvenir to manager of sent a handsome friends. The local houses were crowded to the doors at every performance, Dec, 26. JOSEPH GIMSON.. the | ST. LOUIS, MO. Emily Ann Wellmann, who is the leading wom an for Louls Mann, in The Cheater, and who is the wife of Dr. H. W. Wellmann, of this city, will be given the opportunity to appear as Nero in A Doll's House, at the Garrick Theatre next week at a special matinee. Mr. Mann states that if she is successful in the part it will become a special matinee bill of all his engagements hereafter. The personnel of the new stock company now beginning its season at the Colonial Theatre, is as follows: George Roberson, leading man; Jean Weir, leading woman; Mary Emon, ingenue; Fred C. MeCord, heavies; Willis Foster, juvenile; Jack Cassin, comedian; Helen De Land and Harry Victor, characters. Julius Tannen, the vaudeville raconteur, writes that after he had journeyed all the way from Sioux City te New York to see his new born son, the infant hissed him. Mr. Tannen adds that he will make the youth a dramatk critic. WILL J. FARLEY. CINCINNATI, O. Little cause for complaint on account of business could be registered by Cincinnati theatre managers last week. The houses were uniformly good and the attractions invariably pleased. Francis Wilson, in The Bachelor's Baby, had a successful week at the Grand, while the same may be said of The Bohemian Girl at the Lyric. Keith’s Columbia offered an taining bill headlined by McIntyre and Heath, and its contemporary house, the Orpheum, had a good week with a program headed by Joe Welsh and Company. The Sullivan & Consi dine theatre, the Empress, had its usual good bill with the Finneys and Kennedy = and Rooney as the features. Large audiences were entertained with the Forepangh Stock Company in The Squaw Man. Heuck'’s had a new show Minister's Sweetheart, and the two burlesque houses had offerings that drew profitable houses. The small time vaudeville theatres, the American, New Century, Robinson and Auditorium, held their own. The Walnut had an exceptionally good week with School Days. A Christmas banquet was given in honor of Miss Elsie May Willson. The Gibson Girl, who is this week playing at Robinson's Opera House. Miss Willson is a Cincinnati girl and the youngest daughter of Police Officer Karnes. | She is a member of five lodges. including the A. A. A., an organization aTiliated with the White Rats. Sixty-four guests attended the banquet and Miss Willson was the recipient The | of many presents. Gus Sun’s Minstrels were banqueted on Christ mas at the Hotel Atlas, Hamilton, 0. The burnt cork men who attended the festivities were: Tom Powell, Happy Golden, Ed. Ott Archie Nickolson, T. B. MeGee, Eddie Kline, Floyd Simpson and T. B. Gremmir. Clever Conkey, the juggler, was last week substituted on the bill at Robinson's for Little Count Teddy. A permit was granted last week to Manager George H. Jordan, of the Orpheum, for the operation of the theatre for a year from the date of the permit. The license was taken out in the name of the William Morris, Inc. Billboard visitors last week included Clever {Conkey, Knight and Ranson, Malone and Ma lone, and Kimball and Donovan, all of whom | were appearing at local vaudeville theatres Another caller was Frank L. Smith, business manager of the Harry Hastings’ Big Show, which is this week appearing at the Standard Theatre. Smith claims the distinction of be ing the only press agent in burlesque. It is probable that the Holden Stock Com pany, which was at the Lyceum earlier in the season will locate at Robinson’s Opera House. At the time this is written no confirmation of the report can be obtained. Bradford McGregor, business agent of the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens, is passing the cigars. It’s a boy. Mrs. McGregor was form erly Della Meyer. Chas. Gallagher, a local boy with The Bo hemian Girl, at the Lyric Theatre, last week. renewed Billboard acquaintances during his stay In the Queen City. VANCOUVER, B C. Mr. G. H. Carlyle, a well known theatrical man, recently opened a dramatic school In Van couver. The school is the only one of its kind in the city, and fills a long felt want. The school has been a success from the opening and the en rolilment is increasing daily. Mr. Carlyle has also established a booking exchange and is pre pared to give artists good time in British Colum bia. It is Mr. Carlyle’s intention to send two companies on tour through British Columbia and Washington early in January. Mr. Carlyle car ries on business under the name of The Canadian Theatrical tooking Exchange and Dramatic School. The Press Club Concert held in the Opera House was a big success. he professionals who took part in it are as follows: Alfred Pench, Pantages; Charles Sweet, the musical burglar, Pantages; Eddie Martin, Pantages; Phil and Nellie Peters, Orpheum; Miss Huntington, Or pheum; Carroll & Cook, Orpheum and Arthur Eliwell, National. The annual meeting of the Vancouver hibition Association was held two The following officers were elected: J. J. Miller; vice-presidents, C. Crowe, Thos. Duke, J. Pex weeks ago president, E. Tisdall, 8. J L. MeTaggart; hon. treas., FE. J. Clark: directors, F. T. Walker, E. 8. Knowlton, J. T. Little, H. Cowan, Dr. E. 8 Rowe, H. T. Lockyer, J. T. Wilkinson, G. H Hutchings, R. G. McPherson, T. J. Smith, W. S. Holland, Robert Kelly, Thos, Bell, W. E. Flumerfelt, Jas. Roy, F. W. Welsh, W. Dal ton, and J. D. MeNeill. A new moving picture theatre will be erected on Granville street, between sixth and seventh avenues, by Mr. Armstrong. The building will be five or six stories high and will be fire proof and modern in every respect, and will cost $10,000, enter| MUSEM The Crystal moving picture theatre December 10t | h, after being closed for | Weeks undergoing repairs, The thearte now is | one of the handsomest in the city. The feature } film for the opening will be Buflalo Bill's Wild West Show, Messrs. Lambert & Sedney will open a moving picture theatre on Hastings street between Abbott and Cambia streets in the course of a few days. The workmen are Just putting on the finishing touches. The theatre will be known as | The Savey,. The following is from an advertisement: ‘‘Married to |For One Night Only. reopened several English theatrical the Wrong Man” J. M. McLEAN, WASHINGTON, D. C. The event of the past week was the premicre of The Havoc, given at the Columbia Theatre before large and select audiences. It may well be said that they consisted of what is best in Washington society and of those who are most critical of theatricals, especially when they are sresented for the first time. On Thursday evenng, President Taft and several friends occupied lone of the boxes. The cast of the play consists | of only four persons and the scene is the same in the different acts. The plot introduces a new school of philosophy, and while the acting Is excellent, it is principally the philosophy presented on the stage that attracts the serious minded as well as the pleasure loving public, Mr. Miller's acting, as always, was superb. Through the generosity of an evening bewspaper of this city, four thousands newsboys were made happy during the week. ‘“‘Noodles’’ Fagan, | former newsboy of New York, was engaged to do }a vaudeville act at the Cosmos Theatre daily for la week. ‘“‘Noodles’’ Fagan is well and favorably | know n to the majority of the newsles of the na| tional capital, and as a courtesy to hustling | little fellows the newspaper issued four thousand tickets to as many boys so that they could attend } the Cosmos at their convenience, and In addition to seeing the play, they had the benefit of some wholesome advice from ‘“‘Noodles’’ on getting along in the world. Work on the new Empire Theatre is steadily progressing. It will be a period of long waiting before the place is ready for business. A number of buildings had to be removed, old foundations replaced, etc. They are getting there, however, and some day we will have a show place to be proud of. ree ED WYNN. KANSAS CITY, MO. The need of a Rialto in Kansas City was never |go necessary as it was the week before Christmas, | There were more actors and actresses in town that week than ever before at one time. Between eight hundred and a thousand stage folk were here. Besides the regular companios playing Kan=as City theatres that week, these companies “laid off here for th» week before Christmas: The Three Twins, the Christmas attraction at the Grand Opera House; The Gentleman from Mississippi; The Cheater company, at the Sha bert Theatre the week of the 25th, and The Shoemaker company at the Gillis Theatre Christmas week. These four companies resumed their tour the week of the 25th. Eva Tanguay came here December 19th, and she was in town several days, not working but just bere on a visit. She came to see The Frey rins who were on the bill at The Orpheum, the week of December 18th. Miss Tanguay Jumped from Philadelphia to Kansas City. Miss Ellen Terry will be at The Shubert Theatre the afternoon of Friday, January 13th, In a discourse on Shakespearean heroines. Miss Terry comes under the auspices of the Kansas City Women's Athenaeum. Fernanda Eliscu, who had been playing Annie Jeffries in The Third Degree for the past two seasons, was here the werk before Christmas spending her Christmas holiday with her husband, Carl Anthony, of the Anditorium Stock Co. She left for Baltimore to join her company which jumped from New Orleans to Baltimore, to open in Baltimore the night of December 25. Miss Eda Van Lake and her husband, Pete Raymond, of the Auditorium Stock Company, have left Kansas City and the Auditorium Stock Company to begin their engagement with the new stock company which opened the new Imperial Theatre in Chicago. The huge benefit performance of The Three | Twins at the Grand Opera House, Friday after| noon, December 23rd, for the pleasure of the poor | children of this city was the biggest kind of a success, and brought much happiness to their hearts. Each and every one of them voted The Three Twins ‘the real show’’ and to Mgr. Judah, of the Grand Opera House, who, with the manacer of the show. gave them this joy, a rousing | vote of thanks. Fay Baker, a Kansas City actress who has been playing ingenue roles with the Forepaugh Stock Company, in Indianapolis and Cincinnati the last three years, visited her parents during the holidays. She returns to her work after the first of January. Miss Baker is one of the many Kansas City young women who developed dramatic talent in the days of the old Woodward Stock Company here. A Christmas dinner at midnight, unique in many respects, was given the night of December 25th, by Charles Robinson, to the members of The Robinson Crusoe Company in the cafe at the hotel Edwards. The members of the company were called upon for speech making, and the dish es on the menu were pamed after the members of the company, such as blue points a la Charile Robinson, hearts of celery a la Ed Davidson, Queen Olives a la Ida Emerson, ete., ete. The menu was printed on white silk and bore a pieture of Robinson and a toast. Harry Fields and Howard Powers, of the Shoemaker Company, gave the members of their comyany a six o'clock dinner at the Hotel Edward, | The menu was elaborate and at its close presents were exchanged, The Washington Society Girls had their Christ. | mas celybration in the grill of the Hotel Edward,: at midnight. Larry Smith wee toastmaster. The Bohemian Club, an organization of thea | trical people, entertained actors and actresses at their club rooms on Wyandotte street, Christmas | afternoon and evening. | WILLIAM W. SHELLEY. ' —