The Billboard 1911-06-24: Vol 23 Iss 25 (1911-06-24)

JUNE 24, 1911. The Bi llboard 19 The Amusement Week in Chicago “CAP” MONTAGUE MANAGES PARK) THEATRE. Chicago, June 16 (Special to The Billboard).— Mr. L. Montague, formerly connected with | the Empress Theatre here in the capacity of | manager, and who last season looked after the destinies of Luna Park, is now lending his ef forts to the success of Lake Michigan Park Theatre, Muskegon, Mich., a vaudeville house which will entertain the summer resorters at this watering place during the warm days. The theatre will open on June 18 and will be booked by Sullivan & Considine. The feature act for the opening week will be the Loja Troupe, an European novelty act. There will be four acts on the bill which will conclude with moving pictures, It was noticeable that the Muskegon papers gave much space to Mr. Montague's harem skirt girl who paraded the streets of that city different colored dress of that make each for a week. oda Captain Montague house he is managing. As a publicity promoter and manager, claim that he has no equal. He showed his ability along this line when he managed Luna Park of this city and the Marlowe Theatre, as well as several of the other stock houses. in day used to popularize the “BILLY” CHASE LEAVES CHICAGO FOR NEW YORK. Chicago, June 15 (Special to The Billboard).— “Billy” Chase, president and ‘plugger’ of the Chase-Scott Music Co., left town this morn ing for the great white way, where he will look over his big New York offices and incidentally close a big business deal of which the only in formation elicited was, ‘‘For the good of the cause’’ (what ever that is). Mr. Chase leaves a very capable manager in charge of the Chicago office im the person of ‘‘Happy’’ Morris, who is swinging Chase-Scott numbers into some of the real big acts now rehearsing for the seagon, and they do say that ‘‘Hap’’ isn’t satisfied with big acts alone and that some of the big Bastern Wheel burlesque shows have been caught in the Chase-Scott net and are featuring the star number of the catalog My Alabama Queen, with special scenery and electrical effects, LAURETTE TAYLOR LEAVES THE SEVEN SISTERS. June 15 (Special to The Billboard).— Laurette Taylor, the charming little co-star now playing in the production of Seven Sisters at Powers’ Theatre, is to leave the cast after Saturday night's performance and will be succeeded by Jean Murdoch, a Chicago girl, who will make her debut as a professional Sunday night, playing the part of the fourth sister. Miss Taylor will be greatly missed by the host of friends with whom she has established her self permanently. Her reputation was established here through her successful appearance in some of the following productions The Devil, The Great John Ganton, Alias Jimmy Valentine. and the piece in which she last appeared here, The Girl In Waiting. Owing to the fact that Miss Taylor has bern so steadily employed in the last two years she has decided to take a much-needed rest and vacation, but states that she will not return to the cast of The Seven Sisters, Chicago, NEW SHOW ‘FOR CORT “THEATRE. Chicago, June 16 ecial to The Rillboard).— For some time it seemed as though a nautical show would entertain the theatregoing public of Chicago at the Cort Theatre for the summer. This new attraction, which was in rehearsals, was called the Larboard Watch. However, more recent announcements tell us that The Lady From Oklahoma will be the summer attrac tion and that July 1 is the date set for its opening, The play is from the pen of Elizabeth Jordan and has gone through several experimen tal performances in Atlantic City and other New England States When this production is put om at the Cort it will be headed by Herbert Kel cey and Effie Shannon, however, it Is sald that the remainder of the cast will be changed. THE O'NEIL SISTERS IN VAUDEVILL Chicago, June 16 (Snectal to The Rillboard) The O'Neil Sisters (Marguerite anfl Rhea), two clever singers and dancers who have lately ap peared tn musical comedy, are now playing in vaudeville in and around Chicago, prior to the fall season, when they have some excellent beokinge ahead, They recently played the Loo mis Theatre and next week are booked Into the Grand Theatre. They are working under the direetion of Miss Cario Protello. The girls are dainty and pretty and should make a distinct hit wherever they appear. CHICAGO’ Ss HOLDOVER SHOWS. Chicago, June 16 (S Snectal to The Pillhoard).— At the Olympic Theatre, Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford retains the popularity it received since Its opening night and every a summer run. indication points to The Aborn Grand Opera Company still holds forth at the MeVicker’s Theatre, much to the delight of the music lowing public of Chicago The operas they are presenting are meeting with favor and are favorably commented on by both preas and publie. Jack Norworth and Nora Rayes, In Little Mies Fix-It, at the Chicago Opera House, are be coming quite ai center of attraction They have been supplied with splendid support, and the song nnmbers written by Mr. Norworth are becoming quite popular, especlally his Moon Man. Mort Hl. Singer's The Heart Breakers, still graces the boards of hia pretty Princess Theatre. is new production is proving itself a summer show of merit Miss Fischer, In the leading female role, lenda her tuneful volee to the wany numbers assigned her. @ Seven Sisters, at Powers’ Theatre, ts minus one of its stars; Miss Laurette Taylor many | | the assistance al This is only one of the many meth| has left the cast. However, Charles Cherry sives his same amusing and cheerful assistance. At the Garrick Theatre, Lyman Howe's brand of conversation. He depicts many interesting and exciting scenes, SAID AND SEEN IN CHICAGO. Lina Abarbanell and with Madame Sherry Eddie Garvie, James Spottswood, Charles W. Butler, Ruth Maycliffe, June Mathis, Carrie Perkins and James E. Sullivan have been re-engaged to help Julian Eltinge play The Fascinating Widow next season. It is announced that Eddie Foy begins hig enZagement at the Olympic on September 4 with of Harry Fox, The Millership Sisters, Charles Morrison, Henrietta Lee, Belle Ashlyn, William Sellery, Robert Barberretto, The Eight Berlin Madcaps and a big chorus. Madelyn Jouroe, who played the name part in Merry Mary recently at the Whitney Opera toe again next season. House, will play the pare of Mary mn Chartes | Marvin and William Roche's production of George M. Cohan’s Forty-five Minutes from Broadway, at the Alhambra on July 23. Billy Newkirk, who for a long time was connected with the Haymarket and more recently | with the Temple Theatre at Grand Rapids, Mich., has joined the Robinson Famous Shows. ©. H. Miles of the Miles Vaudeville left for New York this week, vulge the nature of his visit. GUS HENDERSON SIGNS WITH E. F. CARRUTHERS. Chicago, Ill.. June 13 (Special to The Bill board).—Gus Henderson, the bounding rube of slack-rope fame, has signed a blanket contract Circuit, but did not di with E. F. Carruthers of the United Fairs Booking Association, dating from this week | when he will open in North Battlefield, Canada, to December 26, pires at Beaumont, Tex. Mr. is without a doubt considered popular acts playing county and state fairs. as his originality and comedy causes many justifed ‘‘by hecns’’ from the grangers, whom he impersonates so faithfully. His work as a “*hick’’ in front of the grandstand on the track previous to the rendition of hfs rope act, has been a great factor in establf{Shing his popularity and it may be truthfully said ‘‘He’s in a class by bimself.’’ Henderson’s act FEMALE MINSTRELS ON LONG TOU Kansas City, Mo.. June 15 (Special to The Rillboard).—Dunean Clark's Female Minstrels, who are traveling in their private car, are meeting with all kinds of success. They are now getting ready to start on an extended tour through the Southwest, which will take them » whole season. None of the big towns will he skipped, and many of the little cities will see them. CHICAGO PARK NEWS. RIVERVIEW. Chicago, June 14 (Special to The Billboard). Arthur Pryor’s Band is furnishing the musical end of the entertainment at Riverview this week and they are playing to large crowds nightly in the garden in front of the band shéll. The many new rides and special features are doing very large business, The new features in the Monitor and Merrimac and Creation spectacles are adding interest to these attractions. WHITDB CITY. The Liberati Rand and grand opera company will offer free grand opera for an extended season at White City. During this week they will offer Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The musicians and singers will hold forth in the band shell in the terraced garden. ous riding devices, The Rattle of Manila, Tan agra and the other park shows continue in prosaperous operation. FOREST PARK. Hand and his Band will offer free concerts daily in the band shell Sunday. The Fun Factory and the Monse Trap are two of the many novelties that convulse visitors with laughter and amuse spectators as well. The Steeplechase is always well patronized and surrounded by many cheering onlookers, SAN SOUCI PARK, Sans Souct Park is attracting thousands of visiters nightly. The park is more beautiful this year than ever and the feature attraction is the free vaudeville, which {s held In the large Crvstal Casino. The big hit of last season, The Rathskeller, {s more L scncnmad than ever. GREATEST MEET OF ALL. Ill., June 15 (Spectal to The Rill Guaranteeing Chicago the greatest aero earnival in the histery of this country. James FE. Plew, chairman of the executive committee in charge of the international aviation meet, re Chicago, board) turned to Chicago yesterday from New York, where he has been tn conference with a num her of the foremost aviators of this country and Furope relative to their entering the local meet in Auguet. The $80,000 tn the competitors twelve-day program will result in of birdmen In competition, while the terms of fered by the Chiengo syndicate have already re celved the sanction of the aviators, Instead of the customary guarantee, which leaves optional with the exhibitor and airmen whether the latter shall leave the ground at any specified time and in anv specified event, the local promoters will specify in the contracts that he shall appear and enter the contests on his merits, the promoters to pay the actual expenses of the competitors, No contracts have been signed as yet, but as coon as the form is approved at a meeting of the executive committee today, the entry list will be opened, prizes that have in the several been offered events on the a record field of moving pictures are becoming quite the topic | Elizabeth Murray will | at which time his contract ex| one of the most | The numer| commencing with next | WARM WEATHER CONQUERS. Chicago, Ill., June 19 (Special to The Bill| board).—Theatrical business in and about the Wigdy City has come to a full stop. Business is reported to be bad in all houses playing vaudeville, also the ‘‘legit’’ houses have been losing steadily. There are only a few more of the small time houses open here. The Kedzie, which had been holding its own for the past few weeks against the warm wave, closed this week ith the airdome, taking its place. ‘The American, which closed here a few weeks ago, will remain with closed doors till the early part of August, when it will uome back by playing big acts the same standard as they were running when the hall closed its doors. Several of the smaller houses along Madison and State Streets, which play pictures with a few acts for good measure, the only and real business around the town. The crowds continue playing them from morning till night, but it is predicted that they will pull down the banner should the warm weather continue as it has been in the past few weeks. | No allotting time has been given the Majestic | for its closing date, but no doubt it will shut | its doors around July, penne | of August. It seems that the in Majestic management is to keep the house open all last season, but did not succeed as the house ' shut down during the month of July, remaining closed for about 35 days. All the stock houses about the city have been closed for some time. Stock somehow or | other does not seem to meet with success about here, but it is claimed by certain parties in summer the same thing being agreed upon | the early part tentions of the | seem to be doing | | terested behind the stock movement that next! season a majority of the ‘‘legit’? houses and several of the smaller ones will attempt to play stock. Agreements have been made with some ef the smaller houses that in case stock should fail they would be able to get right into the vaudeville field again without losing any time making arrangements. MAJESTIC—CHICAGO. Where are you going? Answer—to the Majestic. Who’s the headliner? Eddie Foy. Yes, it was Eddie Foy who held the top honor of the Majestic program last week but the saying of “Poor Yorick We Knew Him Well’ can again be brought back to the recollection of | many who witnessed the bill through the week. For did his part in attracting the public, but fell short on entertaining them. Many surprises were sprung at the house on Monday evening, where as acts practically unknown to the Windy City theatregoers jumped in and without half trying. scored hit after hit. Le Roy and Paul, with a comedy bar act, started the real dishings of the long dinner to} be had. For their first portion they served out was their difficult acrobatic stunts on the bars, winning the appreciation of the audience from all over the house. Their comedy was of the first water and quenched the thirst of many of the theatre’s patrons. Robinson Newbold and Marie Louise Grib | bin, with singing and impersonations on No. 2 | scored quite a hit. into the two-a-day and ought to be a hit on any “big time’’ bill. Campbell and Yates, with their comedy sketch, Two Hundred Miles From Broadway, will never do. There is no comedy, no langhs and the only thing to do with this sketch is to put same on the shelf and get a new one. Will Rogers and his lassoing caught attention immediately. Working in his simple character Rogers had the house with him at every turn and dished out little morsels of rope eats till he had the house asking for more. He has a routine of clever tricks and gets away with all the comedy that he pulls. Bernard and Dorothy Granville, late of Mar followed Rogers and simply tiage a la Carte, eleaned up. Bernard is some dancer and had the house going mad with his seft-shoe steps. Mile. BRianei Froehlich, assisted by Ivan Bankhoff, displayed class in their character dances. Mr. Bankhoff’s routine of dancing will have to be treated to a dose of overhauling, as he does the some routine through the entire act and this tires an audience. Several of the dances were very well done with the exception of a few mishaps. Tate's Motoring Foy, still | old, and kept the house outright to the finish. | The Eight Original Berlin Madcaps down, closing the bill. These eight little misses | kept the house seated and treated the audience | to the final dessert of the evening. Melville Ellis was billed to appear, but failed to do so. following on the heels of giggling and laughing CHICAGO CHATTER. Chicago, Ill, June 19 (Special to The Billboard).—J. C. Matthews, Chicago representative of the Pantages Circuit, is booking a number of parks through the Middle West. Cook's Park at Evansville, Ind., opened last week with a bill including Masoa and McClaire, Van Camp, the Laurient Trio and the Shubert Musical Trio. The Airdome at Lincoln, Neb., opens this week with a bill including: Cathaldo and Curtis, Hardy Langdon and the Flavio Rrothers The Riverside Park at Hutchinson, Kan., resumes vaudeville shortly after a brief spell of musical comedy. Another important addition to summer bookings is the Wayne Roof Garden at Detroit, Mich. which opened last week with Five Musical McLarens, Irwin & Herzog, Waiman and Ruth Addington. Homer Lind opens with the Aborn Opera Company at MeVicker’s this week and begins a tour of the Pantages Circuit on Ang. 6. J. G. Conderman of the Julian Theatre, is playing pictures this summer and reports a profitable business. He is undecided regarding his policy next season. a. C. Pantages’ Theatre in Los Angeles, he will have framed for the adornment of his agency. It shows a big crowd in front of the house and the billboards announce a second week of Pauline. The Sprague Opera Huse of Elkhorn, Wis.. {s trying summer vaudeville and the bookings are supplied by the local Pantages’ office. | Indiviiwal White Rats are greatly pleased Cal., remains the same laugh-getter as of | finish simply This is a new act sprouting , with a big notice which is prominently displayed in the booking office of Norman Friedenwald. It reads: ‘‘Nothing but White Rats and A. A. booked in this office.” Mr. Friedenwald is the most important independent agent in Chicago and this action on his part is the more appreciated as it was on his own volition, Virginia Drew mav go into stock this summer. She is entertaining several offers. She was in vaudeville last winter with Love a la Mode. George De Onzo left Chicago Wednesday of last week for Momence, Ill., where he will spend a couple of weeks at a log cabin, in the hopes of regaining his strength. He is suffering from locomotia ataxia. Onetta opened at Escanaba, Mich., the last half of the week for a tour of the Barrett & Curtis Circuit. She had just finished six weeks of Sullivan & Considine Time and will open on the J. C. Matthews’ Parks in a few weeks. J. M. Kayne, who has made Chicago his headquarters for several years, and who recently concluded a tour of the Hodkins Circuit, has gene East to try his fortunes. e Beardsley Sisters arrived in Chicago last week after two years absence, in which time they have grown to be ‘‘coast defenders.’’ Bert Bennington, of the Bennington Brothers, has fully recovered from a siege with the smallpox and the boys resumed work recently. Provol returned to Chicago last week, having concluded a tour of the Sullivan & Considine Southwestern Time at Houston, Tex. Sigmond Engle of the Renee Family, who is proprietor of the Davidson Theatre at Beaver Dam, Wis., opened another vaudeville house this week at Watertown, Wis. Both houses are booked from the Chicago office of Sullivan & Considine. Masou and MeClaire played Cook’s Park at Evansville, Ind., last week and the park management made them a big feature of the newspaper advertising. The act is under the direction of Norman Friedenwald. Abner Ali is reported to have been swamped with applications for membership in the White Rats the last “days of grace’’ extended by that order by which actors could join without having any reason to fear the blackball. ‘ NEW ACTS. EDDIE FOY, Comedian; 10 minutes; opens in one; closes full stage. Majestic, Chicago. The Windy City greeted Eddie Foy with a warm reception at the Majestic last Monday evening, but was handed a cold one at his exit, Flivvers have been sent into the house one right after the other and all leave the same impression that their former comrade left when they departed. Chicago is the first song of the comedian’s repertoire dealing mainly with a lot of local stuff that hardly got over. The second one, entitled Englewood and a parody on Winter, also met with a cold finish. Mr. Foy still continues to use his Hamlet scene. Windy Cityites greeted him and also applauded him at the because it was Eddie Foy, eee NEWBOLD AND MARIE LOUISE BIN, Singing and Character Imper pe ns 15 minutes; in one. Majestic, Chicago. ° On No. 2 at the Majestic, is generally a hard spot for an act as nearly all the seating of the attendance is gone through. With all these things to contend with, Newbold and Gribbin caught the attention of the house and held them. Position counts a great deal and had this act been further down on the program they would have gone as big as any attraction on the bill. Robinson Newbold impersonates for his first character, Ralph Hertz, looking a great deal like the comedian and naturally sending this impersonation over to big applause. Miss Gribbin then fills in with a song. giving her partner a chance for the next change. She has a fairly goed voice and all her efforts were awarded. Raymond Hitchcock was the next impersonation, very well done. Ain't It Funny What a Difference Just a Few Hours Make was the song that accompanied this impersonation, which met with the approval of the audience. Character songs from The Arcadian and Pipes of Pan were both put over well by Miss Gribbin. were his | Matthews is in receipt of a picture of | which | BERNARD AND DOROTHY GRANVILLE, Singing, Dancing and Talking; 15 minutes; in one. Majestic, Chicago. Bernard and Dorothy Granville were one of the big surprises that were sprung on Monday evening at the Majestic Theatre. Fresh from the musical comedy, Marriage a la Carte, which had been playing at one of the local houses to the two-a-day, this clever pair carried off the honors of the evening. Clever songs are the main thing with this act also a dance that the male member puts over. And what a dance; it kept the house in roars of laughter from start to finish. Miss Granville is a pretty little girl and helps her partner out in such a way that it makes them a great working combination. Mr. Granville also recited several recitations which met with approval. They were the only real classy act on the bill and scored a hit almost instamly. COLUMBIA STILL OPEN. Chicago, Ill, June 19 (Special to The board).—Burlesque at the Columbia still continnes although the Windy City is still under the hot wave. Business is reported to be far above the average and from the outlook will net the troupe a profit after the six weeks’ engagement is over. The Bowery Burlesquers and Madame Ex Cuse Me have been the drawing card there for the past two weeks. Charlie Jansen still continues in the leading role. Bill THIS WEEK’S VAUDEVILLE BILLS. Majestic Theatre. Louise Dresser, Three Eg cardes, Edwards-Davis and Company, Harry Fox ond Millership Sisters, Taylor, Kranz and White, The Four Huntings, Corrine Francis and Narrow Brothers. i