The Billboard 1912-03-23: Vol 24 Iss 12 (1912-03-23)

MARCH 238, 1912. The Billboard LESQUE WEEK IN CHICAGO Vaudeville Notes Elizabeth Otto, the piano girl in spite of | following a big act like Victor Moore at the! Indiana last week, had no trouble in putting over her nightly act and almost stopp'ng an enusually strong show. The Orpheum Time fs said to be in sight for th's clever little lady. Grace Wilson, who has engaged Alf T. Wilton to manage her act in the East, has several more weeks to work on the Western Time before she starts for New York and many weeks of work. She was at the Casino the last half of the week and more than pleased all who saw her. E. 0. Child has assumed the position of booking manager of the Western Vaudeville Managers’ Association, vice Kerry Meagher who bas been sent out as the general representative of the association on a Far West trip. Ethel Robinson, of the W. V. M. A. Fair Department, was at Hampton, Ia., the latter part of the week, selling attract'ons to a number of fair managers who were in meeting there. She returned to her office on Friday morning. Holland and Holland have arranged a long route over the W. V. M. A. Time as the result of their recent showing in Chicagu. Manager Harry Baily at the Haymarket is adopting several sensational advertising schemes wh'ch are showing their results by the Increased attendance at this new home of first-class vaudeville, Charges were made before the Civil Service Commission this week that graft leaked into the building of the Indiana Theatre, a recently opened South Side theatre devoted to vaudeville, e charges are to be given a through investi ation. ° Dobes and Borell, who were at the Linden the first half of last week, made su:h an impression that a long route of the Pantages me was offered this clever pair from the Pacific st. J. C. Matthews is chairman of a monster entertainment committee which has charge of the \ cmeratn Society Circus to be given in Apr'l. Axel Christensen is playing various outlying theatres in Chicago, which are booked by the New York and Western Agency. Now comes the snnouncement that the Louise Amnsement Co. is to erect a theatre at Fortythird and.Ellis whi h will open August 15, next, te will have a seating capacity of 1,500. Oll’e Mack will be featured in a Casey Jones eompany which opens at Oshkosh, Wis., March 17 and goes to the Pacific coast. Casey Jones is one of the big winners of the season. There are no less than elght companies out, or now being organized. Grace Densmore left Chicago this week for Joplin, Mo., to start a tour of the Hodkins’ Cirenit. . Louise Willis, late of West and Willis, and Gertrnde Steele, have jo'ned hands and will sent an act with the title The Birth of the jutterfir. Jack Sutton has completely routed contestants for the right to use certain mechanism connected with the act of the Tasmanian-Van Diemans and has been assured that the last op rtunity for appeal from the court decision as passed. This case was in courts several] years, The musical comedies playing on Western Vandeville Managers’ Association Time are re rted to be doing well. A Winning Miss, The nny Side of Broadway, Merry Mary, Adams and Guhl, et:., are well liked by the managers and this must be because they attract business, The Haymarket Theatre has ‘‘tryouts’” on Tuesday and Friday nights of each week. Hardie Langdon. who has just finished the Rutterfield Time, {is playing at Gary, Ind., for Tommy Rurchill, of the association. James Flutton has been made press agent for George M. Cohan's Grand Opera House. Mr. Hutton ts a veteran publicity man and is wellknown In newspaper circles. =. J. Timpont has taken the management of Fernilo’s band which is playing for the land ow 'n Kansas City. The band has been booked for Flectri Park tn thet city for June. Nat Fields has taken The Girl Rehind the Connter out on the road. His brother Lew formerly appeared in the attraction in Chicago, Rernard Granville, of the Loutsiana Lou show at the La Salle, is planning to put out a vaudeville act. It w'll consist of a male quartet and six dancing girls. The girls will be trained by Mr. Granville, who 1s known as one of the beet dancers on the atage. Marariee, Miller te arranging the music of The rn Eve. which will soon produ Chicago br Mort HI. Singer. . —s Merry Mary and The Cowboy Girl hare been Put Into tablotd form, and are now heing offered on the vandeville stage. The business of boiling down attractions seems to be the fad Just at present. Frank ©. Peers, manager of the Whitney, won Lngyt this week on business for RB. q ney, who the ‘Rewtetaton s now one of the owners of Timothy J. Finnegan, the handsome freckled. faced property man with The Goose Girl Com| pd and a member of the North Adams (Mase,) al. has a penchant for making himself agree able to the leading Indies of the several organlag — which he has been connected, am Kegan, property master with Rianche Rates in Nobody's Wite. Was a cnest of Thomas Ines, master mechanic of the Raker and Castle attractions dnring his stay in Chicago. Regan ates. fweare by Mice RB . George D. Raker, dramatist of The Goose Gtr. as been congmissioned by Sidney A. Ellis to Write a new comedy«irama for Al. Ti. Wilson, the same ta he ready for a epring trial In May. og ees McDowell. representing Liebler & Co's _ Wires of the Cabbasre Patch, In to take that ps ae the British Maritime Provinces this John A. Harley. who has been dotne both the greene work and ent-collecting with Alias Jimmy slentine dnring Its run at MeVicker's Theatre, ta eat thie attraction week becinning March b a 4 x Thea senme the nilotage of William Flodge r. an From Tome on a spring and summer Southern California Circuit, up alona ; the top-notchers among the male players. | versatility. pliability and absorbability, none of the Pacific Coast, and thence East over partially the Northern V’acific aud Canadian Pacific terri y. Lee Williams, formerly manager back with When Bunty lulls the Strings, bas been switched over the same position with Little Women, while the same is en tour over the Shubert Circuit tn the Middle West. Victor Sutherland, the twenty-three year-old leading man of The Goose Girl Company, is just finishing his sixth year in the dramatic field, and if indications point aright, he will ere auother six year have gone by, be reckoned omens ‘or the younger men now playing leads seem to have the faculty of assimilation that this youngster apparently possesses. Sutherland is a handseme physical being, six feet in height, an Adoni fivure, and so striking in his work that audi ; ences immediately take to him and his delibera} tlons. We shall hear much of him in the near future, Ww. V. M. A. MOVING DAY, Chicago, March 16 (Special to The Billboard). —Wednesday and Thursday were moving days in the big association which now occup‘es three entire floors in the Majestic Theatre Building. The tenth floor on which the carpenters have been engaged for the past month is now completed and the various departments affiliated with the Western Vaudeville Managers’ Assoclation moved ‘nto new locations thereon. From the ninth floor, the club, fair, band and Lyceum departments were installed in handsome new offices, and the General Publicity Service was also placed in new quarters on the tenth floor. From the twelfth floor Adolph E, Meyers, with his big booking force were moved, and from the fourteenth floor the Allarat Bros. were also taken to the office on the lower floor. Large quarters on the new floor were also taken over by the Interstate Amusement Co., they having taken much larger and more commodious quarters embracing the entire corner of the floor. This is divided into three large rooms taking care of the artists and managers in addition to the general offiies of the officials of the circuit. the new floor are also offices for the Butterfield Cireu't of which James McKowan will have charge, and offices for the Heiman Circuit, which will work in conjunction with the Allardt Bros. The Western Vaudeville Managers’ Association now occupies three whole floors In the Majesti Theatre Bu‘lding. the third, the tenth and the eleventh. The daily press deveted considerable attention to a row between Bob Fitzsimmons and an alleged friend of his wife, one Jack Taylor, in | the lobby of the eleventh floor of the Majestic Theatre Building las week. The net result was a lot of public'ty for all hands. The General Publicity Service of the W. V. M. A. have signed contracts to handle a number of State and County Fairs in the West this summer, among those already signed being the Lyons County Fair and the Sac County Fair, at both of which Jimmie Ward, the aviator, will make three filghts. NOTES OF THE ROAD, Grace and Monte Wilkes sailed from San Francisco, Cal., March 6, for a tour of Australia, on the Brennen Time, and expect to return again in time to eat Xmas dinner in the United States, The male members of the bill opening on the Sullivan & Considine Circuit during the first week in May, will be selected for the Sullivan & Considine Baseball Team, for the 1912 sea son. This aggregation is booked to play teams composed of players in the theatrical profession, during their tour of the Circuit. The plan was inaugurated last season and aroused considerable comment in the West. The teams play exhibition games in the mornings and the gate receipts are donated to a local charitable erganization, Last year Mr. Considine furnished the players with uniforms, sweaters. shoes, gloves, etc., and a8 soon as the new team Is completed orders will be placed for new uniforms and supplies, Terry's Big Two-Car Uncle Tom's Cabin Company is now in shape for the road. The new 8 feet baggage car has just arrived. Fred. Hottensteln has signed as general agent. to replace Harry Blish, who has left the road. Wm, Lahey. second, and Bert Heard, third. E. have the band (this making bis third season); Frank Laitenberger, musical director and Orien Lewis, stage manager (seventh season). Several new features will be added. The twenty-third season open at Little Sioux, Iowa, April 27. Another genuine novelty has heen discovered by the Sullivan & Considine booking representaves in Willard, The Man That Grows, This remarkable buman being has been the sensation of the Middle Wesi. His performance consists of legerdemain entertainment, and concludes with his marvelous feat of focreasing his height from six to elght Inches. He has baf fled the Bertillon System all over the world and it is predicted he will be one of the season's foremost sensations, Ben J. Lander and Lettie M. Kiscaden, of the team of Lander and Kiscaden, have recently purchased the property six miles from Tampa, Fia., known as the Dalton Home Farm, from the Florida Development Co., of Tampa. The farm comprises twenty-four acres, and has been leased for three years to G. F, Farley, of West Tampa. After the lease runs out the team expects to retire from the profession and raise citrus fruit. The Franctscos, mind readers, have just completed twenty weeks on the Sun Time, and are at present taking a week's vacation at S07 Wayne Street, Sandusky, O., their home town, y will again take to the read, probably working independent. They are contemplating putting out a complete show with a comedy hypnotic act as the first part. and closing with Mme. Rosa in her great mind-reading act. James and Rilla Clements, professionally krown as The Clements, will hereafter be known aa James and Rilla Jackman. owing to other Clements In the profession. They rejoined the as Show January 8, after their layoff at Acts New to Chicago MABEL TALIAFERRO AND COMPANY, Dramatic playlet. Majestic, Chicago. Seventh in nine-act show. ime, min utes; full stage; special setting. This dainty and versatile actress scored a gigantic hit in the clever playlet Taken on Credit, which is a clever story of heart interest written by Edward Peple. isg Tallaferro is ably assisted by Messrs. Joseph Greene, as a police officer, and Thomas J. Carr‘gan, as the grocer. The stage is realistic in its portrayal of a small groery. Miss Taliaferro plays the part of a tenement child who is obliged to steal in order to support her invalid mother. However, to her, it is not stealing, but merety tak’ng the goods on credit, and she proves the fact at the time she is caught by showing a little note book wherein she has entered every item which she bas taken. The officer is one of the tender-hearted sorr and after hearing her story, pays the bill. Then when the climax is reached, it develepg that the copper is her father, who, some years previously, had deserted her mother for ‘‘anudder skoit.’”’ He wants to return and help his w'fe and child, who has been made pauperg by his act, but is refnsed the privilege by the little waif. She is finally convinced of his sincerity and agrees to take him to “‘the old woman."’ It is a stereotyped .limax, but goes over with good results, Miss Taliaferro and her company taking a half dozen bows on their splendid efforts. MARTIN JOHNSON’S TRAVELOGTES, Wilson Theatre, Chicago; Illustrated lecture: closing five act show; time, 22 minutes; in a One of the most instructive and interesting offerings I have ever seen in vaudeville, or any other place, is offered by Mr. Martin Johnson !p his lectures and moving pictures of life In the South Sea Islands. The material for the offering was obtained when Mr. Jack London made his great trip in the “Snark’’ for the benefit of on of our leading American publications. The lecture or talk Is clear and distinct, and made more vivid enhanced by the beautiful films and sides. The story is Interesting and a great many opportunities for laughs are afforded. The Wilson audience proved thelr interest and appreciation by a perfect riot of applause, which followed the illustrated lecture. It is an offering worthy of the headline position in the most pretentious houses in the country, and though Mar tin Johnson has been in vaudeville less than a month. it is a safe prediction that within a year his name will be one of the biggest in the vaudeville field. ROBBIE GORDONE, Statue poses. Majestic, Chicago. Third in nine-act show. Time, 9 minutes, in full stage. The work of Robbie Gordone is not only a success from an artistic view, put several other incidents which greatly enlance her at. She makes 14 complete changes in 9 minutes and each pose is worthy of the great applause and commendation which it received. She reproduced the following standard works of sculpture, in the order named: Persecution of the Virgin, Sword Dance, Schuweide Vi tory, Roses, Night (from Dante’s Tomb), French Clock (beautiful electric effects), Fritz (the German pexsant), L'Echo, The Angel Lucifer (cast down as King of Devils), The Scout (an Indian Warrior), The Lions Bride, The Secret of the Fountain, and The Death of the Dancing G'rl. All the studies are in solid white, and artistically produced. The act was a big hit, PETE LAWRENCE AND COMPANY, Wilson Avenue Theatre, Chicago. ‘Third in five act show; Time 15 minutes; in full stage. The Fresh Freshman is the title of the vehicle used by Mr. Pete Lawrence and company, in a feeble and pitiful imitation of the work of that master of slang, Bert Leslie, or that other tangler of the American languave. Mr. Dick Crolius. The two latter mentioned gentlemen are at least fun makers, and are appreciated for the keen humor embraced in their respective offerings. Pete Lawrence as the Fresh Freshman is impossible. His line of attempted siaux wele ued vust rather than admiration. And | wight here add that when the aforementioned Mr. Pete | Lawrence dored out the Wilson andience as a bunch of green ‘‘boobs’’ who will stand for any amount of kidding from a secoud-rate actor, he was dead wrong. He referred tu them as Swedes and Vollocks and a number of other terms that were su~ nosed to be funny. It mivht be good policy in the future, Mr. Lawrence, to cet a line’ on the class of your audience before you try to make mollvcoddles of them. The W.lson andlence, as arv one with the ordinary amount of py, matter of perspective will sev at a glance, one of the most refined and cultured in Chtieago. It is composed of people of brains and education, and people who appreciate real art fun, but are ouickiy disrusted with presumptuous persons who are entirely out of their class. The lady and gentleman whe “‘support’’ Mr. Lawrence are fairly clever, and deserve some credit for the few goml points of the act. Mr. Lawrence is undoubtedly clever but is unfortunate In having the wrone idea ofpopularizing himself with an audience. That's all. their residence in Omaha, Neb., and have been doing nicely ever since. They will close with the Lucas Show April 1, and will work fairs in the summer, The roster of the Yama Yama Girls Musical Comedy Company is as follows: Will H. Cross, mer. and princi-al comedian; Mabel Darrah, rima donna; Fred Cuillard, characters; Jack est, straights; Eddie Tannihbill, tenor; Harry Sheldon, orchestra leader; Luverna Summers, soubrette; Mlle. Veialo, character and leads, and a chorus of ten. Young and Manning, presenting A Coon’s Temp tation, have just finished a fifteen weeks’ engagement over the Frankel Bros. Circuit in Oklahoma Texas and New Mexico, and considered it a very successful season. They will be at Fort Smith, Ark., for a few weeks, where they are at present resting. After that they expect to go on a Southern circuit. The Harry Burton Company Is still playing one. two and three night stands in the playlets, St. Elmo, Cast Adrift and The Love Pirate. The company is made up of the following people: Harry Burton, Earl Parish, W. N. Hammitt, Joe Toniutti, Chas. Worthan, Maralrne Fink, Evelyn Bennett, Lida Pownall and Sadie Howard. Among the feature attractions of the Carter Vaudeville Company are Carter and Laughlin, musical artists: Baby Roline Morse, clever child soubrette, Laughlin, magician: T. L. Brown, characters, and Miss Vina Morse, leads. The rest of the company are equally as capable. The company is now playing return dates. Henry W. Link was forced to close his Fatty will be entirely different dle West in the smaller time. Mr. King wih put out the same play next season. Harry Thompson has jnst finished sixteen weeks over Sullivan and Considine Time. was a feature in His Iloner the Mayor, at Waterloo. Ia., week of the 4th. and was en tertained by the Elks of that city. The Coffree Amusement Company is now tour {r~ Louisiana with six shows, merry-jolly go round and eight concessions. Ilappy Iti llubbard, ublicity promoter and advertiser of the Amaza, ined the company lately. G. L. Power, a brother of Tyrone Power, arTived from England March 1. to play the part originated by Galwey Ilerbert. in The Servant in The Flouxe. Ile is now touring the Middle West with his brother. Baby Jim has just closed a two weeks’ engage Ment at the Crescent Theatre New York City, where he proved to be a bie stuceess. Cress Simmons, his manager. has him booked up until the canvas season opens. J. Jolly Jones has plans made to put out a big road show in the musical line August 1, which will be made up of 30 people. The show from anything ever attempted before. Lew. Cantor's Seven Merry Kids and Harry Levan, the Hebrew school boy with the funny laugh, are breaking all records through Wiseon-ein and Illinois. The act is booked solid over the 8. & C. Circuit. The Four Mayos. one of the latest importatieng for the Sullivan & Considine i Cirenit, arPived on the S.S. Presiden’ Lineoin Friday, yp tye “While air, Link was ey March 8. They will open at Cincinnat!, Mareh the show. his comedian, who has been playing . Fatty Fellx, got drunk and quit, thos making The Marlo-Aldo Trio. who have ployed the Or it impossible for him te get a good man to fill | pheum Circuit consecutivety for two years, will his place on such a short notice. elose on that cirenit at Indianapolis the week of Col. Fred Phillips, manager of the Princess April 1. They will then go on the United Time. Theatre, Rensslaer, Ind.. has leased ground opLaFrance and MeNab)h sre now in their eighth posite the McKeever [lotel, east of the court week, working for Nerman Jelferics with thelr house, on which he will erect an airdome. Work Rew double black-face nevel y acti, Parred from will commence in April. It will cover 5,000 Society. They will open in New York April 9. square feet, and will have a seating capacity of| Ray Rush sold his theatre af Grecnsturg. Pa., 800. and will hereafter devote his eniire time to bie The educated horse Mascot, after a successful | two shows, known as Sovann Carier’s Minstrel tour on the teu a — purtng | Malds and the Metropolitan Minsire! Maids, most of the principal theatres in the est) Dell's Hypnotic Company is as in end a Southwest. will sail on the S.S. Manito ce ‘Mot co the Yo ry Antwecp iicizine within @ shert the, ond around Minneapolis and St. | » the largest expects to remain in Europe for some time. Fdw, Barnell of the Rarnells, is playing his sixth week on the Michigan Ciren!t, booked through the Sefton Exchange of Detreft. ITis wife, known as Lauretta Violiniste, will join him in a week or two when they will do thelr double acts. Mise Ania Wateter (Mrs. Mack) of Hathaway, Madison and Mack, who wag bitten by one of Herr Albers’ beara recently tn Malden, Mass.. while playing the Auditorium. fortunately escaped blood poisoning and is back to work again, Grace Wilson was an extra act added to the recular bill at the Majestic at Waterloo, Ia., week of the 4th. and made a distinct hit. She is a Waterloo favorite, ae were also Mr. and Mrs. L. H, Rose, who have a summer home at Waterloo, FE. Hf. Jones (Jonesy) has returned to his first love, ahead of Frank King’s Company now playing Shuberts’ piece, Billy, through the Mid business ever done by a lwonetic M. Cook Is manager an! owner Mr. Nelligan, Mr. Wildman and 9 roller skating champion have been walkine ee January 22 Dell company, having started at New York (i) They are to. reach Kansas City, Mo.. by May 59 Weurlck and Waldron are mecting with great Success with their new act. The Solder Com dian and the Min«trel Tenor. fn the Middle West. They are booked! up to May 4 Frank Mahara. of colored minstrel fame, ts now ahead of John G. Rae's Mildred Co., ta Nebraska. but will have h's Ilello Elli Co. oat early again next season. Robinson Newbold an! Marie Louise Gribbin, now playing the Orpheum (Cirenit, have already hed their tickets reserved for the Minavchaha, to sall for Londen, June 8, Chas. L. Marshall, who has recently taken over the management of the Orpheum Theatre, Albuquemue, N. M., reports that business is very good with him. pee, sem rqaee coe dea papee eat Ae ORR pany LR REG RPS FE Ess eee rer ae PEER} > = stem ean = re ae 4 deg vuueubcwined SS ee SOP OLED SABE ENE ats ete ag a: ane