The Billboard 1911-07-29: Vol 23 Iss 30 (1911-07-29)

=*&8 Tes 8 B47 72" BEY" 7S FP Swr?A S7FFHF4A5E A sar ran @8n Sa" * + o_o lee ed => ° SST wwe JULY 29, 1911. 2 The Billboard Ne 19 ment Events in Big American Cit ies =a bad as big am audience as the first perform ance. ingling Bros are scheduled to make two pera... here July 31. The Ringling Show is always eagerly awaited here and they know the Kansas City stop means filling the tent. The Grand Opera House announces its 1911-12 opening Saturday night, Aug. 19, with Menry Woodruff in The Prince of Tonight. It is a safe bet that capacity will be the word for the entire opening week ~~ gomm House avorite, as is Henry ruff. shale WILLIAM W. SHELLEY. ST. LOUIS, MO. The week of July 16 will probably be the feature week of the summer season, inasmuch as with a premiere at the Suburban Garden, Pain’s Pioneer Days at the Campus Grounds and Raymond Hitchcock at the Delmar Garden, gives us more that is of absolute worth than all the previous weeks. The most spectacular display of fireworks seen in St. Louis for a long time was the crowning feature of what is the best spectacular spectacle given us by Mr. MacLean in his many visits. The ingenuity and perception wiih which Pioneer Days is surrounded by fire and the explosion of guns, makes the production indeed most thrilling. The specialty numbers of the show include The Six Flying Herberts; Mme. Lavelle and her thirty dusky maiden dancers; Wills and Hassan, head balancers and ac robats; The Siddons Comedy Trio, acrobats and foot jugglers; Pioneer Day Ballet, introducing Mme. Rose and a big corps; Prof. W. Bristol's Equine Wonders; and Germaine and Herbert, comedy acrobats. Pain's fireworks will remain for two weeks. The first week's business has proven thus far most satisfactory and a profitable engagement must follow an exhibition such as Mr. McLean has welled together. At Forest Park Highlands last week, the letter carriers of St. Louis held their annual summer frolic. This meant a week of enormous receipts for the Highlands, as last year the tickets for this affair had to be extended three days over the allotted time to accommodate all those who had them to use. Miss Anna Tasker, prima donna of the Delmar Opera Company, now playing at Delmar Garden in this city, will join The Pink Lady at the close of her summer season. Miss Lucile Saunders of this same company will again play the coming season in the kustern company of The Chocolate Soldier. The Wolgast-Moran fight pictures were shown last week at the Gayety Theatre here and did a fair business, The pictures are good. Jefferson De Angeles signed twelve of the Delmar Opera cherus to join his new pro duction, The Lady's Lion, at the expiration of the Delmar season here on Laber Day. The wonderful cooling plant of the Princess Theatre here is now open for inspection daily, between the hours of 11 and 12 a. m. The plant occupies a space 16x48 feet and was installed at a cost of $16,000. The method of operation consists of the fanned air being moved over a sheet of iced water, then passing throngh an electric alr purifier, through the large wall cadiators into the auditorium, the change being made every thirty seconds. The reception of the pure cool air is assisted by a tremendous electric fan motor on the roof, which fans the hot and impure air out of the huge caps built there to receive it; this, of course, causes the flow of pure air constantly to circulate, and has so far shown a temperature never highet than 80 degrees, being from fifteen to eighteen degrees lower than outside temperature. Lonora Navasio’s success at Delmar Garden has been so pronounced that Raymond Hitchcock has promised her an important role in his new winter production. Mr. Hitchcock says the little St. Louisan will develop into a wonderful actress. Mr. Hitchcock is to star next Season in a new piece called The Red Widow. Mr. Hitcheock says he finds great enjoyment tn his summer work here, The elongated comedian is the owner of one of the best farms in New York State, and hopes to retire soon to the quietude of grass and new-mown hay. Little Bey Blue, which saw the light of day at Delmar Garden here this summer, is to be made a spectacular production by Henry W Savage this season. Madison Corey, Daniel Frowley and Edward Paulten of the Sav: staff passed favorable judgment on the show during !ts premiere here recently. . Commencing July 16, Delmar Garden went back to the free gate policy. Delmar was the Grst St. Louis park to charge an admission fee, and will be the first to take it off. This will result in more people attending the gardens, as it had no free attractions and the theatre pattons did not relish the extra cost to attend the play. The concessionaires at Delmar Garden have got ten together and will, commencing Sunday, July ns put on a free act each week to stimulate isiness. Last Sunday the pay gate was removed and with the free attraction the Pike should take on new life. This is the first time a free attraction has been used at Delmar Garden and the first honors go to the Wm. O'Brien Troupe of Acrobats ’ » who have jne sense as the feature act with the Coulter Show. Z. = Geste =. interest about town, as « wonde pre ~ pe i i erful success here under a e Girl and the Mask was the feature act ut out in the city by the E ) ) » Eastern Theatrical Bxenange over their circuit of airdomes last ek. It had wonderful success and is a splen did dancing act beantifuliy 4 4 ily costumed, PR Columbia Theatre will be the first of — St. Louis downtown theatre to open. It a set the date for August 15 and will again ay Western Vaudeville. WILL J. FARLEY. DENVER, COLO. The Mande Fealey Stock Com any closed their —— engagement at the Gcoleons Be ‘re on Saturday, July e cain” Melting Pot, which the Elitch Stock Comny put on last week, proved to be a big a . heargnk @ard and the patronage was extra The work of changin the Sallivan ging the big electric signs Considine house from Majestic “mpress was viewed by hundreds of a , ocked the way in front of this popular at to BE who th The Jeff-Mutt pictures are taking Denver by storm and all moving picture houses are endeavoring to secure the first run. Society will be out in full force on Monday night, July 31, when the Orpheum opens its 1911-1912 seasen. Manager Carson has a good line of beokings for the next season, The summer season, so far, has been a good one at both the Empress and the Pantages’ Theatre. The Denver Chamber of Commerce elected J. Rush Bronson, Manager of the Empress Theatre here, to arrange and promote a Greater Colorado Parade, which took place this morning, being four miles long and viewed by _ thousands visiting Denver from the East, and films were taken of this parade, «hich will be produced by the Swanson Motion Picture Company and shown throughout the United States and Europe. At. the Pantages Theatre they continue the pre-cooled system of reducing the temperature in this popular house and Manager Beaumont is giving the public some high-class acts and enjoying good patronage. SEATTLE, WASH. While the cities are sweltering in the Hast, the barometer registered sixty-seven in Seattle, July 14, and the people flock to the indoor amusement houses in the evening in preference to the parks on account of the cool weather. The parks and bathing resorts are well patronized during the day. If William (Dad) Russell has his way about it, Seattle is soon to become one of the greatest moving picture film producing centers in the country and with the Alhambra Theatre as headquarters. First of all ‘‘Dad’’ is reported to have engaged the services of W. H. Harbeck, a local photographer, then he will collect a cast ef actors, headed by William C. Dowlan, Elizabeth Hale and Eva Earl French, the cast will include about twenty-five people. Ferris Hartman and his company from Los Angeles opened at the Seattle for a short enagement with The Toymaker. Duncan Inverarty, manager of the Lois Theatre, when that house is open, is spending the summer at his ranch at Renton, Wash. L. W. Buckley, manager of the Omaha Land Show, which will be held in that city in September, was a guest of Seattle, week July 10. Seattle will have an exhibit there. The three big men in matters theatrical on the Pacific Coast live in Seattle and maintain their general offices in this city. Curiously enough, a few years ago all three of them had hardly made a start. Naturally these men feel friendly towards Seattle. They have made their start here from humble beginnings in this city they have spread out even back as far as Chicago and in the East John Cort, Alexandef Pantages and John Considine are recognized for what they are and what they are worth. It is impossible to pick up a daily paper published in any of the cities of the United States without finding reference to at least one of them and the big things he is doing. There is only one city where they seem to be taken as a matter of course and that is Seattle. There have been rumors lately, gradually grewing more persistent. that all three of these men are contemplating removing their headquarters to San Francisco. John Cort was recently offered a suite of offices, rent free for five years, in any office building in San Francisco that he might select. The Lewis & Lake Musical Comedy Comany made a short tour of the principal cities n Canada the past three weeks, playing at Vanéouver, B. C., Calgary and Alberta. Landers Stevens will put in a stock company at the MacDonough Theatre in Oakland for a season of eight weeks, opening July 16. Frank Graham will have charge of the management. Eugene Levy, manager of the Grand Opera House this summer, and lessee and manager of the Circuit and Exhibit Theatres in this city, is in Spokane, closing a deal to take over the Spokane Theatre, which he proposes to turn into a combination moving — Bay vaudeville house at 5 and 10 cents admission. L. A. SHORTRIDGE. TOLEDO, O. Why doesn’t Harry Clark take a carrier pigeon with him and let it come home and tell the neighbors where he is; no word from him in a long time. Reports are currented that a Western vaudeville agency at Chicago has taken over the Valentine Theatre here for six weeks of highclass vaudeville attractions. Sunday, July 23, will be their formal opening. The American is to have melodrama once again and work has started for an opening in September. The house will have an_ overhaulIng from pit to dome. One big balcony will oceupy the old gallery. Battling Loule lost his glasses and cannot sign his next-year contract. Manager Sewell, who had the one-nighters of Lena Rivers, last year, has purchased the city production from the Stair & Havlin office. He will play the same circuit under new management. Mr. Sewell is now in Chicago on business and will open in that city about the middle of August. Newt Bronson ts going to handle his own attraction during the coming season. Jake Kibbel. leading clown of the Robinson Shows, came In last week to say hello to the boys. Jake and the show are doing well in this section. Manager Moore of the Lyceum, was in Rochester, N. Y., attending the Shriners convention. Had some time and lest his voice. Rabe Andrews of the Arcade stage force, took his vacation last week. He was caught In the grandstand at the ball game and was asked not to rise the tide at Toledo Beach as many small children were in bathing. Will welghs more this year than last. Rattling loule Layman has placed him with baggagesmasher Stevens to reduce his weight. Joe Pearlsteine {s rushing things at the New Keith house and should have it ready for the opening about the middle of August. The Bradley, new picture and vandeville house on St. Clair Street, ‘~ rapidly going up and will be among the finest amusement places | late in the season, fof having in the city. It will have a fall opening. Toledo will have about all the theatres it can stand this year. J. J. McCormick of the Wayne, has the seeond section of the Twentieth Century. It is a Peerless. Little Joe Conley came home for two days last week. His show was in this vicinity. Casey, get in line and from now on read this letter each week. Always something do ing of interest in the Toledo letter. If you have any notes of interest call around when in the city and have it in The Billboard. Dave Kline made me a short call en route for a few weeks resting up at Mt. Clemens. Dave has something on the hip for the coming year and will soon be in New York. Both of the Tierney boys are married; Tom and John. Jimmy Spriggs and his wife made Toledo for a short visit Sunday, en route with the RinglinShows—Youngstown to Canton, Ohio. This is Mrs. Spriggs’ first year with the white tops. She and her husband are doing great. JACK TIERNEY. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. This is turning out a very prosperous season for the Twin City Wonderland Park, which is practically the only summer amusement park operating in this state, and which is being heavily patronized beth locally and by out-eftown visitors. The week of July 17, King Pharaoh, a highly-trained educated horse, was the free attraction on the open-air platform and entertained thousands with his clever work of reading, ceunting, adding, distinguishing colors, etc. In addition to two free attractions, the park has about fifty-seven amusement features, all cooling, with many thrillers, and the promenades, walks and free band concerts also claim their share of public attention. The Pete Raymond Stock Company, operating a summer stock engagement at the Metropolitan Opera House of this city, closed their season with the performance of Saturday night, July 15. Mr. Raymond stepped upon a broken bottle while at his home on Cedar Lake, and although he did not at first anticipate serious injury, he is at present so crippled as to incapacitate him for several weeks. As it is now it was decided to close rather than to place some one else temporarily in Mr. Raymond’s place. A miniature riot ensued at the Lyric Theatre, Sunday night, July 9 during the presentation, or supposed presentation of a play—The loss of Jerusalem by the Hebrew children of this city for the benefit of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum in St. Paul. The orchestra of the theatre had been engaged for this performance with the understanding, it is said, that they were to be paid after the first act. At the time for payment, the manager of the show declared there were no funds to settle with them. The children, who were to receive $25 for their share in the play, also thereupon made demand for the same, which, it is said, was refused. Orchestra and performers immediately departed, and as the house was pretty well sold out, there was a general rush made to the box-office to get the admission money back. As there was no relief from that source, the speetators massed themselves upon the sidewalk until the police dispersed them. The play had been arranged by Max Altschuler of St. Paul, with the assistance of Henry Morris, a Hebrew printer of Minneapolis. Altschuler disappeared about the time the trouble started, it is alleged, and Morris States that he is out about $25 as he paid $100 for the rental of the theatre and also furnished all -the printing and advertising. As the stellar attraction of this week’s bill at the Unique Theatre, The Venetian Four, a Minneapolis act, which was put oat by Manager Jack Elliott of that theatre last year, and which has been winning laurels upon the road, Is attracting much favorable comment and praise of the patrons. A strong additional bill includes the Baitus Four, Olympian athletes and others. The Minnesota State Band, which has been playing in concert so far this season at the Twin City Wonderland Park, concluded its engepneeent Sunday, July 23, and will begin a ve-week eNgagement at Como Park, St. Paul. They will be sueceeded at Wonderland by Koehler’s Military Band of Minneapolis, which will play at the park until the close of the season. The First Regiment Band of Minneapolis, Minn., National Guard, hag recently been re organized, appointing D. B. Boland, a cornet soloist. as director. Rehearsals will be held every Monday evening, and a drum and bugle corps will be formed at once. The band will Dumber about sixty men and expects to accept some engagements for concert work, both local ami aleo outside of the Mill City. The Electric Show of 1912 will be held in the Minneapolis Armory, March 16 to 23, according to the statement of R. W. Clark, manager of o has just returned from New Fifty-four of the ninety-one booths are already taken. Electric vehicles will be an {important item of the exhibit, and all leading electrical manufacturers of the United States and also of Germany will have exhibits. Prizes will be offered for the best and most practical electrical apparatus exhibited by students of the University of Minnesota, and it is planned to make this third annual electric show the most successful of any held so far. Charles B. Stowers, an atterney of Wheatland N. D., spent some time in this city the week of July 9 in an attempt to Induce Gertrude Duncan. 18 years of age, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duncan of Thunderhawk, 8S. D., who is arg feats of horsemanship with Indian ete’s Wild West Show, to return to her par ents. but to no avail, and Miss Duncan went on with the show to Red Wing, Minn., Saturday night, July 15. Miss Duncan ts Scotch and one-eighth Sieux Indian and together with Anona Wagner, a quarter-breed Sioux girl joined the show in South Dakota, the show hav ing been organized this year In Lemmon County of that state. Mr. Stowers stated to Dr. D. B. Royd, the manager of the show, and Dr. E. E Sonnenstine, assistant manager, that Miss Dun can's parents are scowing old ‘and are desirous their only child with them. The management stated that Miss Duracan was with the show of her own choice and that they ha? to desire to keep her ggainst her will, but she | evinend a preference to stay with the show, e though she stated she would return te parents at the close of the seasen, RODERIO STE. FLEURBE. KNOXVILLE, TENN. Work on remodeling Staub’s Theatre is now under way. Several thousand dollars will be expended and the work will be finished by Sept. 1. The tier of boxes which circles round the theatre above the orchestra seats will be taken out and a balcony substituted. New toilet and dressing parlora will be installed. The contract calls for a complete renovation of the theatre, calling for a high standard of equipment. Mr. Staub recently visited New York for the purpose of inspecting theatres and had his plans drawn s0 as to have his house up to the highest standard. The house will be generally changed in appearance and made more commodious, having three additional exits. The architeets claim it will be the easiest theatre empty hereabouts, Staub incorporated his theatinterests the following applying, besides Mr. Staub, for a charter: L. D. Tyson, B. E-. MeMillan, George F. Callahan, V. F. Sanfor, C. B. Atkin. Chilhowee Park continues to draw good crowds, who go away well pleased. Crouch’s Band, under Prof. Wm. H. Crouch of Crouch’s Music Academy of this city, is offering some good music at his daily concerts. The band is one of the best attractions booked here for some time. Next to the band the roller coaster and penny arcade are the popular places. The shooting gallery and bowling alleys, however, get a fair share of the business. At the dancing pavilion each evening may be seen a large crowd of the city’s best a. The Appalachian Exposition is hustling now, sending out much advertising matter, covering surrounding territory thoroughly. Charlie Aeb? business manager of Staub’s Theatre, has charge of this branch of publicity and is doing it throughly. The company announces big doings as follows: Races, Sept. 18-23; Vesuvius and Grand Valet, Sept. 25-30; Dog and Beach Show, Sept. 19-22; Poultry Show, Sept. 25-30. he local picture theatres are doing a good business, profiting materially by the recent cool days. GUY SMITHSON. NASHVILLE, TENN. After playing a successful week the George Paul Stock Company at the Lyric The tre here, closed its engagement on July 15. The company has been transferred to Owensboro, Ky., where they will occupy the Grand Theatre. While in Nashville, Manager Pau) made many friends. . 2 . Petway of the song-writing team of Arnold & Petway, who recently completed a new rag, the title of which is That Billboard Rag, same being respectfully dedicated to The Billboard, is in receipt of several requests from vaudeville performers for professional copies of the new number. e new rag will make its appearance very shortly, and no doubt will make a great hit for its writer. Manager Cassidy of the Orpheum, is giving his patrons an extra high-class run of vaudeville. Manager William Wassman of the Crystal, is giving Nashville something new in the way of motion pictures. The pictures Manager Wassman is showing is the Mutt and Jeff series and from the looks of his house during the run of these pictures, its a pretty safe bet that the innovation is proving to be a big drawing card. This house has contracted to give these pictures each Wednesday. A very high-class run of moving pictures was given during the past week at the Grand Theatre. These pictures give the exact story of the “Night Riders’’ in Tennessee and Kentucky. The pictures are very plain and distinct as well as highly interesting. The manager, ‘“ Letteer intended to close Saturday, July 15, but business was of such a flattering nature and the people of Nashville seemed to appreciate these artistic pictures so well that a special request was sent to Manager Letteer te remain a few days longer. This agty _ = = a big run of business since too e road. W. R. ARNOLD. te OMAHA, NEB. Just what will be the fate of the American Music Hall is not known, Several stock and vandeville managers have been figuring taking the house, which is one of the most attractive places of amusement in the city, and the writer can only attribute the failure in the past to the fact that we have too many theatres for the population of the city. Vaudeville acts and moving pictures have replaced the Lloyd Ingraham Stock Company at the Gayety. The low water in the lakes at beth Courtland Beach and Manawa has greatly interfered with boating and bathing at these resorts. Dancing is about the only real attraction, other than the roller coasters. These parks are not having any free attractions or traveling bands this season, which is a disappointment te those who enjoy good music. Business has, however, been very satisfactory, taking into consideration what the managers have had to contend with. Barnum & Bailey Shows did capacity business here Jnly 11. The performance gave splendid satisfaction and was up to the asual high standard, The Sells-Forepaugh Shows are billed to ap pear here Aug. 3, and the Buffalo Bill Show Aug. 14. H. Chauncey Jessen, an Omaha bey, has accepted a position as tenor soloist with the Savage Grand Opera Company. He leaves in ® short time for New York to begin rehearsals. His many friends in this city predict a bright future for him. H. J. ROOT. The Three Rambler Girls have closed their season in vaudeville, and have gone to their home for a vacation. after which they open M. A, for twenty September 3 for the W. V. five weeks,