The Billboard 1911-01-14: Vol 23 Iss 2 (1911-01-14)

w On er eeeRe ne we a The Billboard JANUARY 14, 1911. AN AGENT’S VIEWS The Century, defining its attitude toward the Stage, and why it has published the memoirs of four dramatic artists in forty years of life, says: “We believe that we are some day to bave a golden age of American drama, when the stage, newly inspired to lofty ideals, will take its place among the arts as a source of happiness second only to literature.”’ C. F. Lawrence and G. F. Wagefarth joined bands and intellect thereby producing one of the song hits (a genuine hit) of the season, en| titled Won’t You Be My Sweetheart. Remick is publishing same and at this writing is on the fourth edition, It’s a bully number. Every time I meet Emil Ankemiller, at present managing Bailey and Austin, I think | | how he furnished Nat Goodwin with one of his most famous jokes when he was Goodwin's agent. Ankemiller had left Salt Lake City for Seattle ahead of the Goodwin-Elliott company. e was nearing his destination when he received a telegram from Goodwin calling him back to Salt Lake. Ankemiller replied: ‘“‘Can’t come. Wash wut on the line.”’ Goodwin wired back: “Buy a new shirt and come anyway.”’ A great surprise awaits you if you have lunsing, Mich., on your route. It’s a dee-light ful surprise I assure you. The old upstairs laird Opera House is no more, but in its place rises Sphinx like a playhouse that for beauty and comfort is surpassed by very few. Those who look upon the theatre as a great influence for intellectual development will in the future be deprived of the ‘‘pleasure’’ of an actual clamber up the heights of Parnassus to this temple of Thespis. The old twisting stairways to the main floor of the erstwhile Baird’s are a thing of the past and in their place patrons of the new Gladmer enter the theatre through three handsome arched doorways of marble and mahogany and on passing through the lobby find themselves on the main floor. A room of novel beauty is this lobby. Its color scheme combines the rich shadings of Pavanozzi marble, Spanish leather and old gold with a touch of mahogany and dull brass. The wainscoting is of the white marble with green veinings, while above this the walls are covered with the dark leather. The whole ceiling is overlaid with duli rose gold leaf, the whole giving a quiet, almost sombre effect of great richness. The lighting of the lobby is very effective and novel. With the exception of those on a large chandelicr, not a lamp is in sight in the room. In the center of the ceiling is a large dome effect around the lewer edge of which and concealed from below by a projecting ‘‘screen’’ the lights are arranged in a brilliant circle which reflected from the gold covered interior of the dome, casts a soft radiance over the whole lobby. The ticket and information windows are located in the rear ans to the left. A flight of marble stairs at the extreme left lead to Manager Williams’ suite of offices and agent’s room on the second flour. } Four doors of mahogany open into the foyer | just behind the seats on the ground floor and the | view obtained of the auditorium from this point shows the stage over the gently sloping tiers of seats from vo one of which is the view in any way obstructed by supporting pillars as the two balconies and the ballery are sustained by great steel girders which leaves the whole house free and open. The color scheme of the interior is dark green, ivory and gold, while a trace of lavender is found in the paintings around the proscenium arch. The asbestos curtain is a kind of golden brown with dull purple wreaths painted upon it, Behind this is the curtain proper which is of heavy green velvet with a large Cld English ‘‘G’’ embroidered. This, as well as the deep fringe, are of dull gold. On each side of the foyer stairways ascend to the first balcony, entrance to the second balcony and the gallery being gained by the former stairway leading to the gallery. From the right and left stairways lead down to the men’s smoking room and the ladies’ parlor, respectivety. Both of these rooms are very comfortably furnished. To the left of the entrance is a check room. Advancing down one of the two aisles and taking one of the really comfortable and roomy seats in the center of the house one’s attention is first attracted to the new arrangement of the boxes on either side of.the proscenium arch, Three of these are on the ground floor on each } ond assistant carpenter; Joe Magnolia, | little story, side and three above them, the center one of the upper tier raised a considerable distance above the other two. These as well as the arch itself are finished in old ivory and dull gold. At intervais between the boxes are tall, fluted pillars in the rococco or Louis Quinze style which bas been followed with considerable consistency throughout the theatre. On the capitals of these columns are groups of gilded cherubs playing various musical instruments, while over the proscenium arch and seemingly supporting the roof are four figures, comic and tragic. Between these are paintings of dancing nymphs. The boxes themselves are finished off with heavy brass rails and green velvet hangings. They contain comfortable Austrian bentwood chairs. The Gladmer Theatre has a seating capacity of 1,600. Of these 600 can be accommodated on the first floor, 500 in the first balcony, 200 in the second balcony and 300 in the gallery. So much for that part of the theatre occupied by the audience. The stage and its equipment as well as the accommodations for the actor folk are no less complete. The stage is fully twice as high as formerly, thus giving ample room for the hoisting up and storing of sets not in use. | Its depth is also much greater than before the change. Big double doors open on each side so that drays bearing luggage and scenery can be backed up to them and the paraphernalia unloaded alongside the trap door in the stage through which it is lowered to the basement below. The properties and the big trunks of the chorus are hauled toward the front in under the auditorium where are located the property room and large dressing rooms for the chorus and “supes’’ when used. The luggage of the prin cipals is taken to the twelve large individual dressing rooms which are found under the stage itself. Each of these rooms is piped for hot and cold water and gas for use in softening makeup materials. These are the only places where an open flame will be found and to eliminate any danger of a fire spreading from this source, each room is made as a unit, entirely enclosed with tile and concrete. There is an outside entrance to the basement which will enable the show folk to enter the theatre from the street and therey eliminate the oft found alley and bad stage entrances so prevalent over the country. And all of this in Lansing, Mich. Copn| gratulations, Mr. Williams, and many of ‘em. E. Frederick Hawley bas a reguiar dramatic | playlet in The Bandit. Mr. Hawley is a regular actor, too. |} ion even if | Co.: There's an elegant nest egg awaiting the manager that places Frank North in a play to his liking and style. In my estimation this versatile chap is the real second Sol Smith Russell, Jack Wilson, the eav.emporaneous comedian, is a veritable wonder. His quick stuff is several knockouts combined, and figuratively speak king, as well as cleverly, don’t overlook the lady of the act, Ada Lane, nor the clever straight and vocalist, Franklyn Batie. What a delight to the eye is the wardrobe displayed by Miss Lane and Mr. Batie. There's some class to Wilson's attire, too, believe me. While Vilmus Westony, the Hungarian piano phenomenon (that’s the way he is billed) was giving an imitation of a beginner on a piano in Detroit recently, a little girl of nine or ten summers, seated along side of me (but mark ye well, unknown to me) fairly went into raptures over the imitation. The little lady. it was plain to see, was in the throes of piano lessons and not very far advanced, but far enough to know every time the ‘‘phenomenon’’ struck a wrong note during his exhibition, and she would shake her little tousled head very vigorously, and unconsciously whisper, ‘No, no,’’ feel upon phantom keys for the correct note, same as the ‘“‘phenom,’’ and when it was struck, ah, a sigh of relief, and the little thing would settle back in her seat with a triumphant, thoroughly satisfied expression. Really. the little lady’s exhibition was the better of the two. * Stage staff of Raymond Hitchcock's Man Who Owns Broadway Co: James Gorman, stage manager; Wm. Hovey, assistant stage manager; Harrie Johnson, master carpenter; Edward Quinn, assistant carpenter; John Bradley, secelectrician; Abe Mendelssohn, assistant electrician; James Doyle, master of properties; James Bramlett, assistant properties; Mrs. Antrim, mistress of the wardrobe. There’s a gal in Witt’s Girls from Melody Lane with a phenomenal soprano voice, a fetching magnetism, charming face and exquisite form. Her name is Ednah Creutz. There are so many alleged sopranos with musical shows that it is really surprising that some manager hasn’t contracted with this young lady. She has a great future. The staff at the Detroit Opera House, Detroit. Mich... is as follows: B. C. Whitney, proprietor; H. F. Parent, manager; H. H. Steiner, assistant treasurer; Nate Keiter, advertising agent; Chas. Quinn, musica] director; Cc. P. Hay, chief usher; W. S. Foster, stage carpenter; Geo. Craig, electrician; Abe Davis, property master; H. M. Fechheimer, program publisher. + Those who have read George Ade’s delightful The Slim Princess, from which Henry Blossom made the libretto for the comic opera in which Elsie Janis is appearing in this season, may be interested in reading again the graphic description of the slim princess from Mr. Ade’s little book. It is as follows: “No one had dedicated any verses to Kalora She had come to the alarming age of 19 and no one had started bidding for her. “‘Kalora weighed less than 120 pounds. was tall, lithe, slender and sinuous, willowy and, by oriental standards, hideous. She showed a far-western preference for pickles and olives, and had been detected several times in the act of bribing servants to bring this contraband food into the harem. ‘Worse still, she insisted upon taking exercise. She loved to play romping games within the high walls of the inclosure where she and other female attaches of the royal household were kept penned up. Her father coaxed, plead ed and even threatened, but she refused to lead the indolent life prescribed by custom; she scorned the sweet and heavy foods which would enable her to expand into loveliness; she persistently declined to be fat. “Kalora had a way of getting around her father. After she had defied him and put him into a stewing rage, she would smooth him the right way, and with teasing little cajoleries nurse him back to a pleasant humor. He would find himself once more at the starting place of the controversy, his stern commands unheeded, and the disobedient daughter laughing in his very face. “Thus, while he was ashamed of her physical imperfections, he admired her cleverness. Often he said to Popova: ‘I tell you she might make some man a sprightly and entertaining compan she is slender.’ ‘Whereupon the crafty Popova would reply: “*Be patient, your excellency. We shall yet have her as round as a dumpling.’ "’ She Executive staff of Stair & Havlin’s The Wolf Geo. Nicolai, general manager; C. F. Lawrence, manager; John Bathurst, business manager; Roberto Deshon, stage manager; J. Hall, mast-r mechanic; W. L. Tingle, proper ties; J. Flugy, electrician. By TOM NORTH. MONTREAL, CAN. The Winter Sports Committee have decided on the 28th of this month as the opening day. Mrs. Wadley, formerly Miss Barbara Tumant, leading lady of the Ren Greet Company, entertained the ladies who attended Mrs: Lionel Guest’s reception, on December 29, with a number of her delightful Shakespearean readings. Capacity business was the mark scored by all the amusement houses in this city Christ. mas week. The Casino has a very good turn in Wilbur Cosgrove and Co. We have had extremely cold weather, the murcury going as low as twenty below zero, but still the theatres did not suffer. N. W. SHANNON. The members of Aulger Brothers’ ie Tramp Company had a merry time at Ar kansas City, Kan., Christmas Day There were numerous exchanges of presents and a general good time for all. Aristocrat ——_—_____ —— Manager CC. H. Griehel. of the Mankato The atre. Mankato, Minn. had as his guests all the attaches of his theatre at the annual employes’ dinner, last week. NOTES OF Corrigan and Vivian, rifle experts r excellence, while playing their Chatnasilt” enaenement with The Cozy Corner Girls, recently, called at The Billboard office to renew acquaint ances, Miss Vivian, it will be remembered, was a member of the famous Two Vivians. This team is the feature attraction with The Cozy Corner Girls. They are now framing up a new act, and are adding new paraphernalia to their 900 pounds of stage accessories. The new act will be ready sometime in February, or about the time the show reaches New York. Bob Gordon, Hamilton's well-known Punch and Judy manipulator and black face comedian, who, with his clever bunch of Canadian vaudevillians have been playing independent bookings with much success throughout Ontario for the few months, have temporarily disbanded, all have returned to their respective homes for the festive season. About the latter end of January the company will be reorganized and the tour resumed. Bob will spend the lay-off period at his cozy home in Waterdown, a small hamlet a few miles west of Hamilton, Ont. The Hamilton Theatre in Chicago, has reverted to the Jefferson Amusement Company and is playing eight acts of vaudeville supplied by Walter De Oria, of the W. V. M. A. The house plays one show a night and offers dif ferent programs for first and last half of the week. The bill for Jan. 9-11 was: Coy de Trickey, Knight and Deyer, Rudolph and Lena, Mortimer Sisters, Donald Graham, Charlotte Duncan and extra added attraction. Ed. Meredith and his dog, Snoozer. Wm. Suavage, manager of the Temple Thea tre, Alton, Ill., tendered his employes and the hewspaper men, a banquet, which was given on the stage of the Temple Theatre. An excellent vaudeville performance was also on the program. Manager Sauvage was presented by his employes with a fine set of mission oak office furniture. Adelaide Keim and Company offered her new sketch, The Little Mother, at the Willard Theatre in Chicago, last week and are at the Wilson, Chicago, this week. Miss Keim proved a strong attraction for the South Side house and her new playlet has received nothing but the most enthusiastic criticism. J. L. White has assumed the interest of C. P. Martin in the Arcade Theatre, Lake Charles, La. The Arcade is playing vaudeville and pic tures, acts being booked by Chas. E. Hodkins. Road attractions will also be booked, the vaudeville program being suspended on nights given over to productions. Arthur H. McKechnie, recently the manager of Owen and Hoffman wlayers, has left that firm and been retained to direct the world’s tour of The Great Clivette Company. Frank M. Willard, recently ahead of The Squaw-man, will direct the advance work for the tour. Harry Langdon has recently drawn caricatures of Grace Wilson, which she will adopt as ber advertising trade-mark. The two play ers were formerly with The Show Girl and met for the first time since deserting combinations for vaudeville, recently. Keogh and Kohler played the Hamilton Theatre in Chicago for the four days ending Jan. 8, and their act attracted a great deal of interest from the Chicago theatrical colony as Ed. Keogh was formerly stage manager at the Ash land Theatre. The Sisters McConnell, owing to the strenuous work incident to work in the one-night stand towns, have left The Girl in the Kimono Company. They have been booked over the W. V. M. A. time. Lola Yberri, of Yberri and Taylor, presented stick pins to Chris 0. Brown and Norman Friedenwald at Christmas time. She obtained them in California. The stones are known as turquoise matrix. The Bush Temple in Chicago, played vandeville last week. Norman Friedenwald placed Count de Beaufort, Gladys Vance and Burt Earle and Frank Q. Doyle provided the remainder of the bill. The veteran comedian. Chas. McDonald, who has been starring in Rip Van Winkle in the Aiton Company, retired from the show Dec. 31, in Winchester, Ill., and is now playing On the Frontier. Jessie Russell and Company, spectacular elec trical novelty, who recently closed on the Hodkins time, opened last week at El Paso, Texas, on Bert Levey'’s Pacific Coast Circult. Clair Tuttle mourns the loss of her father, Hudsen Tuttle, the well-known writer and lecturer, whos: death occurred December 14, at his home, Berlin Heights, Ohio. Bill Dunn, musical comedian, Greenwood time at Pensacola, and opened for Williams, of Mobile, at the Palace Theatre, Shreveport, La. Ed. Raymond, manager of the Crystal Theatre in Milwaukee, was in Chicago last week to see the first performance of Adelaide Keim and Company, in The Little Mother. The President Theatre in Chicago, is strongly closed on the Fla., Dec. 30, advertising Melbourne McDowell and Virginia Drew Trescott, who will headline the bill at that house, week of Jan. 16. Back on the road after fourteen years, John J. Forsythe is ahead of the motion picture, The Cowboy and Indian Frontier Celebration, beld at Cheyenne, Wyo. Joe Kennedy, novelty roller skater and dancer, is again able to work, after three weeks’ confinement at his home in Knoxville, Tenn., due Sam Liebert is In receipt of a telegram from Nathan Burkan, attorney for Aaron Hoffman, giving him all rights to present The End of the to illness. World in vaudeville. Fielding and Carlos, roller skaters, closed a season of twenty-two weeks over the W. V. M. A. time, on January 7. In February they open in New York, Francis and Virginia Rogers, billed as The tube and the Girl, have closed with A Texna Ranger Company (Eastern), and resumed their vaudeville bookings, Iola Milton, who has been fl) at a hospital in Cedar Rapids, lowa, where an operation was performed, is able to be out and reported in Chicago last week. Th: Langdons laid off last week at their home at Racine, Wis., and there were many ‘“‘big | Christmas eats,"’ according to a letter from Harry Langdon. past | and | THE ROAD | Knight and Dayton were a b bit at the Crystal Palace, Hamilton, Ont., where their engagement was extended. The act is on the Griffin time. I. Rubin, manager of vaudeville theatres in Des Moines and St. Paul, is building a new house in Waterloo, Iowa, which will be ready to open soon. Duliette Niner, of Niner and Niner, has been compelled to cancel all time on account of illness. Until her recovery, Mr. Niner will work single. Don Barclay has joined hands with Harry Hamlin in a new singing, dancing and talking act. They open on Mrs. Goodwin's Circuit this month. The Davis Square Theatre is the newest of Chicago's outlying vaudeville houses. It opened last week. Earl J. Cox Is booking the 8 H Davis, of Gilroy and Davis, wishes to deny the report recently circulated announct her death. Miss Davis says she is very muc alive. Messrs. Houser and Kraft have disposed of the Grand Theatre, Orrville, 0., to Gus Lambrigger, who assumed possession immediately. Ray Crocker has given up the pick act, with which she was formerly connected, and is now in a three act on the Earl J. Cox time. Arthur Keene, of Keene, Dorris and Keene, announces that he has in preparation a new act which will be seen shortly in Chicago. The Great Everett and Company have been engaged to play return dates of twenty weeks over the G. H. Webster Circuit. Miss Sydney Shield and Company, playing Rroadway, U. 8S. A., will again open on the Orpheum Circuit, in April. Rush Ling Toy put on a new illusion at the Verdi Theatre in Chicago during his four days’ stay there, ending Jan. 8. Pat Henry, a Chicago artist's representative. is able to be out after a serious illness in which he was given up to dle. R. Ives, having finished a successful season over Fisher's coast time, is now working over the Association time. Frank Clark, manager of the Ted Snyder Music Company, has returned to Chicago after a trip to New York. Stevenson and Nugent are meeting with great success on the Pantages Circuit with their singing and dancing act. Nick and Lida Russell open on the Interstate Circuit in a aa They are now working the W. V. A. ap tA! Mathieus opened on the Wm. Morris time, Dec. 25, at the American Music Hall, New Orleans. Apollo (Harry Moller) opens on the NixonNirdlinger time at Uniontown, Pa., Jan. 9. Grimm and Satchell open on the Poli time, January 16, at Poli’s Theatre, Bridgeport, Conn. Brookes and Carlisle open on the Pantages Circuit, March 23, in Calgary, Canada. Harry and Flo Lamont opened on the Taylor & Kaufman time at Philadelphia, Jan. 2. The Three White Kuhos are appearing in their home town, Denver, Col., this week. HATTIESBURG, MISS. The Auditorium season so far has been satisfactory here to the managers, but it is hoped that theatrical producers will get together and favor the South with more bookings. The Lomo and Gem moving picture theatres continue to produce the best attractions in this line, and their attendance, usually good, met with S. R. O. during the holidays. The managers of these two theatres vie with each other in securing films that will be most pleasing to the masses, which competition results in both doing a lucrative business. L. P. DANTZLER. Joe Lane is now manager for Richard J. Jose in Silver Threads; A. A. Powers is the company's agent. GREEN STOCKINGS PREMIERE. Jan. 7 (Special to The Billboard).—Margaret Anglin etarted her season under the direction of Liebler & Company at the Russwin Theatre, Monday evening, when sbe appeared in the first performance of a new comedy, called Green Stockings, by A. E. W. Mason and George Fleming. The story centers around the efforts of Celia Farady, spinster. to create the impression that she is well-beloved by a dashing Colonel. The play takes its name from an old Irish custom which has the unmarried woman wear green stockings at her sister's wedding. Miss Anglin was seen as Cella Fara dy, aod H. Reeves-Smith played the Colonel. The others in support of Miss Anglin were Geo. New Britain, Conn., Woodward, Ruth Holt Boucicault. Maud Granger, Charles Garry, Ivan F. Simpson, Lewis Howard, Leonard Howe, Frederick Powell, Crosby Little and Ruth Rose. -Karl J. Cox, a vande of Chicago, is reported to string of houses formerly booked by Coney Holmes, including theatres in this eclity, Portsmouth, Jackson, Alliance and Akron, Ohlo, and MeKeesport and Beaver Falis, Pa. It is sald that Cox is ef to get houses in four other Oblo citlea shortly. LEVY UPON SHOW PROPERTY. Canton, 0.. Jan. 2. ville booking agent have taken over a Des Moines, In., Jan 7 (Special to The Bill board).—-Six costumes and the scenery for the entire first act of The Girl tn the Kimono were levied upon Monday morning the Jefferson Theatre Vrogram Company, of Chicago, for an indebtedness of $402, alleged to have been contracted by Wm. Ziegfeld, manager of the show, for circulara, programs, ete. Manager Millierd, of Foster's Opera House, adjusted matters so that the performance of the com pany was not interfered with. MISS BUTLER IN CINCY. Helen May Butler iting friends in the band leader, Cincinnati, She has several in vis offers under consideration to direct bands and orchestras, and it is quite Ukely that she will accept an orchestra position In Cincinnatt. Later #@he will take out ber band,