The Billboard 1912-03-30: Vol 24 Iss 13 (1912-03-30)

The Billboard * MARCH 8@, 1912. Kalei doscopic Review of Amusement CINCINNATI. Christie MacDonald and her splendid company an Werba & Luescher’s production of The Spring Maid, at the Grand Opera House, week of March 25, scored one of the greatest musical successes of several seasons. Chief in Miss MacDonald's support was Tom McNaughton, and among the other principals were Ann Tasker, Ben Hendricks, Thomas Bradbury, Isabel C. Francis, Beth Store and Arthur Thalasso. There was also an excellent chorus of sixty and a large orchestra. The Lyric offered for the week Rupert Hughes’ pleasing farce, Excuse Me. The piece was presented by a capable company and was well re ceived. Mother, which was seen here earlier in the season at the Lyric Theatre, proved a stellar attraction at the Walnut. The production was a very good one, and the play delighted large audiences. Seemingly at their best in comedy, the Orpheur players presented in a clever manner Leo Dit richstein’a Before and After, and scored an immense hit. The players were well cast, and the usual elaborate production was given. The Olympic reopened Sunday with a company of colored performers in a musical comedy, en titled, My Friend from Dixie. J. Leubrie Hill, a Cincinnati comedian, headed a capable company. Judging from the Sunday crowds, a good week's business will be played to. Sidney Drew and company headed a good bill at B. F. Keith's, appearing in a one-act playlet, entitled, The Still Voice. This is a strong dramatic sketch, and easiiy carried off the honors. The Florentine Singers, an octet, consisting of four men and four ladies, were very well recelved Trovato, the eccentric violinist, is a musician ef considerable ability, and scored quite a hit. Brown, Harris and Brown were seen in a funny sketch, entitled, Just to Laugh, That’s All. Mile. de Fallieres offered a clever dog act, and the Paulham Team a good bicycle act. Jones and Grant are two clever colored comedians. l’atsy Doyle amused with a very funny line of talk. Another elaborate bill was offered by the Empress Theatre, headed by the Dollar Troupe of acrobats, In one of the best acts of this kind seen here for some time. The Monarch Comedy Four have a funny talking and singing act, and were well received. Ted Gibson, a Cincinnati favorite, scored in a clever sketch, entitled, After the Game. The Musical Grassis have @ good musical act. Another musical act was presented by Charles Sharp, who is a clever come‘dian in addition. Marie Dorr, a singing comedienne, proved very entertaining. The bill at the American, week of March 18, was headed by the Castellane Brothers in their sensational cycling act, a corking good act, and one of the best of its kind. Happy Jack Lyle, monologist, was next in favor with a raft of new jokes and several good parodies, receiving considerable applause, J. . Livingston and company in a dramatic sketch, entitled, A Cororation Lawyer, were well received, as was Hattie McIntosh and her two dancing boys Rogers and Bumstead in a refined and classy singing act also went well. Charley Johnston, bounding wire artist, pleased, the bill closing with photoplay. The Behman Show, one of the best burlesque shows on. the road, was the attraction at the Standard Theatre week of March 25, scoring a great hit. The company includes such clever performers as the Watson Sisters, Lon Hascall, Will J. Kennedy and Charles Falke. With Jack Johnson, the pugilistie champion as a featnre, the Moulin Rouge Burlesquers hadé a bie week at People’s. The Moulin Rouge show in itself is a very good one. with an array of pretty girls and clever comedians. Oharles M. Robinson, member of the well known family of circus owners, was granted a decree March 20, divorcing him from Josephine M. Robinson, a former noted bareback rider. ‘Willful absence was charged. The veteran showman, ‘Governor’? John Robinson, was a witness. Col. Ike Martin announces Sunday, April 7, as Chester Park’s opening day. It will be Inspection Day, and weather permitting, a large crowd will no doubt be on hand. The fire of last August, which destroyed practically all of the buildings west of the clubhouse, necessitated a great deal of rebuilding. and the new structures are a handsome and substantial set of buildings. The vaudeville this season will be given in the opera house. The dance hall has been rebuilt and enlarged, and the clubhouse has also been enlarged. The regular season will open some time in May Maleolm McIntyre, for many years the popular and efficient superintendent of Coney Island, has been chosen for the responsible position of man ager of the New Union Central Building, a new 38-story sky-scraper being erected here. Marcus Loew, the well-known vaudeville manager, spent several days in the city during the engagement at the Iyric Theatre of Lew Field's Hanky-Panky Company. Mr. Loew practically got his start in the amusement business here in Cincinnati. having been one of the pioneer movying picture men here. The Empress Theatre is now under the management of George F. Fish, former manager of the Forepauch Stock Compamy here. Mr. Raynor, who has been acting as temporary manager, returning to his old position as treasurer. Mrs. Helen Searcy. a singer. was granted a divorce March 19. from her husband, George Searcy. a vandeville actor. A municipal theatre, like the one in Denver, Colo., has been suggested for Cincinnati by Coun cilman Joseph Berning, chairman of the Conven tion Halli Commission. He stated that if the sentiment of the people is against having a market house in connection with the proposed convention hall, he believes that there should be some cther municipal enterprise connected with it. His idea is that a municipal theatre ‘would be a good thing. and that it splendidly with the convention hall. Bobby North, of the Hanky Panky show at the Lyric Theatre, gave a dinner party at the Havlin Thursday evening, March 14, to Frank R. weiler. In the party were Max Rogers, F. R. Gusweiler. Mr. and Mrs. Matt several other Hanky Panky stars. is associated with the Gordon and North Amuse ment Company. owners of several shows and vaudeville numbers, and represented by Frank R. Gusweller. The dinner was followed ‘vy a box party at the Lyric Theatre. LYRIC—Valeska Suratt, in The Red Rose, week 17; Excuse Me 24 and week. GRAND— Mme, Nazimova in The Marionettes week 18; Christie MacDonald 24 and week. ORPHEUM— would fit in Gus Mrs. Glaser and (Stock) A Man’s World week 18; Before and After, week 25. WALNUT—The Old Homestead week 18; Mother, week 25. OLYMPIC—J. L. Hill and 40 colored stars in My Friend from Dixie, week, 24. STANDARD—The Honeymoon Girls week 18; The Behman Show week 25, PHOPLE’S —Merry week 18; Moulin Rouge Girls with Jack Johnson, week 25. EMPRKESS—Three Dixie Girls; Walter Rogers; Barrows, Lancaster & Co.; Uno Bradley; ‘the Five Nosses week 17; Dollar Troupe; Monarch Comedy Four; Ted Gibson & Co.; Mary Dorr; Grassis Bros.; Herman & Riely week 2. B. EF. KEITH’S—Ergotti & Lilliputians; Jane Boynton and Marie Myers; Sager Midgley & Company in Barly Morning Reflections; The Four Fords; Josie Heather; Agnes Scott & Harry Keane in Drifting; Nat M. Wills, The Happy Tramp; La Titcomb, Singer on Horseback, week 18. Sidney Drew in the new playlet, The Still Voice; Trovato; violinist; Brown, Harris & Brown; Mile De Fallieres; Paulham Team; Ar lington Four; Patsy Doyle, week 25. BALTIMORE, MD. Although Montgomery and Stone are using The Old Town for the third consecutive season, the stars in this attraction played to capacity audiences at the Academy of Music last week. One of the most unique theatre parties was given at this house on Monday night. The residents of Mt. Washington had a sociable reunion at the theatre and there were about fifteen hundred people in the party. They occupied the entire lower floor and part of the second. The United Railways provided special cars for the party, and the long string of cars looked more like a circus crowd than a theatre party. The people were all garbed in evening attire, and presented an attractive appearance. The show was very enjoyable and highly appreciated, Nicholas Ertel will erect a new moving picture parlor at 617-619 North Duncan Place. The plans as outlined by John Freund, Jr., will have a unique and attractive front, and the interior will have novel arrangements. The building will be 28 by 123 feet, and will have a slag roof, and cost $4,000 to build. Maryland week, which was held at the Fifth Reciment Armory last December, proved such a decided success that it will be held again next November. Those who promoted the last event held a meeting at Mount Holly Inn, March 11, and discussed the subject. The great display of Maryland's natural resources has been so beneficial to all concerned that they are eager for another exhibition. Last December the visiting Governors from the Western and Southern States were present. Miss Amelia Bingham was at the Maryland Theatre during the past week. Although she is president of the Professional Women's League, she is not a Suffragette. However, she is very keen on national politics. Harry La Belle had a five-in-one show at River View Vark last summer. The management can celed his contract, and he entered suit for the alleged breach of contract. The case was tried in the City Court, March 12, and the verdict was awarded to La Belle, with $350 damages. That a bear can have a good character, was part of the testimony. La Belle had a bear in the front of his show for the ‘‘ballyhoo,”’ and the manage ment objected to the manner in which he conducted it. For this interference, he reduced the admission price from 10 to 5 cents, and was forced to return te the former price. The Chicago Grand Opera Company will fur | nish the local music lovers with grand opera if | Bobby North | | old. burlesque | | Baltimore County. one of thred propositions is accepted. The first one is that a subscription sale of $5,500 for boxes and seats at each opera must be assured. The second is a guarantee that the total receipts for each opera shall be not less than $8,000. The third is a subsidy for the company of $2,500 for each opera, amounting to $20,000 for the sease: Manager Andreas Dippel offers to give eight per formances next season, and his plans will be submitted this week. Ten operas were given this season at a deficit of $25,000. Edwin R. Kendall, known in private life as Norman S. Bean, formerly of Baltimore, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester B. Bean, 929 Madison Avenue. Mr. Kendall now makes bis home in Philadelphia. On March 13, his parents were surprised to receive news of his marriage to Miss May M. Boyle, in Wilmington, Del. His parents never heard of him speak of the young lady he has chosen for his life partner. Kendall is appearing in Revenge, a sketch which he wrote himself. To give quicker transportation service between the Eastern and Western Shores of the Chesa peake Bay, a ferry service will be started Apri! 15 by New York capitalists. The boats will operate between Claiborne and Annapolis. Con nections with the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway will take passengers to Washington and Baltimore. Noodles Fagan, once a newsboy but now an actor, was a headliner at the New Theatre last week. Fagan proved a good drawing card for the house, as he received much advertising through the activity of The Baltimore News. This afternoon journal had him entertain § the hundreds of boys who sell the paper. The house was packed with newsboys, and Noodles was their hero. He gave them several logical talks on how to be a newsboy and still grow up to be a useful citizen. The College Girls proved a strong attraction at the Gayety Theatre last week. In addition to the regular show, the audiences had a treat to see Lillian Graham and Ethel Conrad. Edward Faby. who was with the New Century Girls on the Empire Circuit this season, was brought to the Johns Hopkins Hospital recently for treatment. The operation was quite serious, and he died from blood poisoning March 16. His wife and her mother were with him when he died. Faby, with his wife and her mother, comprised the musical act known as the Musical Stewarts They had an engagement with the Empire Cireuit for this season. In Pittsburgh, eight weeks ago Faby’s left foot became infected, and the all ment developed into blood poisoning. He came here for treatment at the Johns Hopkins Hospi tal. Last Friday. the last of six operations was performed on the sick man. Faby was 32 years Besides his wife, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Faby of Fullerton The body was taken to Ful lerton for burial March 19. It may be a sacrilege to visit the theatre during Holy Week, hence in the past it has been nec essary to lock the front door and say that the house ts in darkness. But the advent of the mo tion picture film has relleved much of this sacred depression. All the theatres but one have an | nounced that moving pictures will be shown dur| tractions. ing Holy Week. the first presentation of the Sarah Bernhardt films in this city. The Auditorium Theatre will | present the famous Kinemacolor films. Albaugh’s Theatre will present Dante's Inferno, and other houses will have interesting films to entertain the patrons and keep the houses open. The Toronto Baseball Club passed through March 16 enroute to Macon, Ga., where they will | train for the coming season. Mr. Tunis F. Dean, manager of the Academy of Music, was manager of the club for several summers, and the Canadian ball tossers stopped off to greet their former | chieftain. The boys occupied boxes at the Acad emy of Music to witness Montgomery and Stone in The Old Town. Joseph Kelly, another Balti morean, is manager of the club. He was once an Oriole. The Torontos are scheduled to play here during the week of the Democratic National Convention. Society went to the dogs last week. There was a dog show at the North Avenue Casino, and canines of all breeds and species were on exhi bition. The show attracted large crowds, and the exhibition of aristocratic and wealthy animals was quite an attraction. The society ladies. under whose auspices the show was given, will give a larver show next year at the Fifth Regi ment Armory. Baby Mine was at the Auditorium Theatre, with Marguerite Clark in the leading role. Ever since the Empire Theatre on West Fayette Street was started, rumors have been circulating that this house was to pass into the control of New York managers, who operate a chain of theatres in this country, playing dramatic and musical attractions. However, the rumors went so far as to say that the burlesque shows now playing at the Empire would move to Holliday street, and the shows at the Holliday Street would play at the Savoy. Mr. Geo. W. Rife. who has large investments in the Empire Circuit, has denied the truth of the rumors. The Empire Theatre was built by local capital, and there is no thought of making any changes. Mr Rife stated that he will soon complete the nego tiations for the purchase of a site on Pennsyl vania Avenue, in Washington, to build a new theatre to take the place ef the present Lyceum Theatre. This new theatre is expected to be the handsomest in the United States. The Lyceum Theatre was formerly owned by James L. Kernan before he retired from the burlesque field. Mr. John W. Berry of New York is making an effort to interest the merchants of Highlandtown in having an aviation meet there during the Democratic National Convention. He has the support of the Highlandtown Aerie of Eagles. SYLVAN SCHPNTHAL. BALTIMORE.—ACADEMY OF MUSIC (Tunis F Dean, mgr.) Anna Held in Mlle. Innocence week 18; Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm week 25. FORD’S OPERA HOUSE (Chas. E. Ford, mgr.) The Concert week 18; Holbrook Blinn in A Romance of the Under World week 25. AUDITORIUM (Robt. W. MacBride, mgr.) Baby Mine week 18; The Blue Bird week 25. MARYLAND (F. C, Schanberger, mgr.) Gus Edwards’ Song Revue, Yvette, Joseph Howard and Mabel MeCann, Little Billie, Jere Grady & Co., The Four Lukens, Ralph Edwards, Jack Ryan and H. Aus tin Tierney week 18. WILLARD’S TEMPLE OF MUSIC, The Fieldings, Veder and Morgan, Merkle, Gracey and Burnett, Wilson and Hayes, Travers and Lorenz, Jimmy Green, Fred Weber week 18. HOLLIDAY STREET THEATRE (W F. Rife, mgr.) The Girl From Rector’s week 18; Smart Set week 25. EMPIRE (Geo. W. Rife, mgr.) The Cherry Blossoms week 18: The Duck lings week 25. GAYETY (W. L. Ballauf, mgr.) The Serenaders week 18; The Midnight Maids week 25. LYRIC (Bernhard Ulrich, mgr.) Chicago Grand Opera Company, Aida, March 21Tristan and Isolde, March 22. 8ST. LOUIS. Three days of real spring weather has had a tendency of waking up the attendance at our amusements here. After a most severe as well as the longest stretch of cold weather we have had in many years, these spring days have added new life to our desire to be amused. The at tractions on tap this week include the best of the season, and although the lenten season is not yet over an increase in attendance is notable. The Spring Maid at the Olympic will close a most successful two weeks at the end of this week. At the Shubert Theatre we have Marlowe Sothern in their repertoire and the attendance has been large enough to cause the playing of a special matinee on Friday of this week to take care of the business. The other attractions are doing a nice week's business and next week's bookings are no worse than this, so another good week is in prospect. A peculiar incident in town this week Is the appearance of Jan Kubelik at the Odeon Theatre here, and the appearance of Kublick at the Hip vodrome, It has caused no end of comment and has increased the receipts at the Hippodrome. Many arguments can be beard as to where Kube “lik is to appear, few people knowing the differ | | | ence in the spelling of the name. It has been extensively advertised for the Hippodrome and also for the Odeon and both managements were aware of thie bookings falling upon the same week. Both are violinists and unless one knows or is familiar with the circumstances they find Kubelik at the Odeon and Kublick at the Hip podrome. Miss Irmgard Diedrich and George La Tour Albrecht, both members of the German Theatre Stock Company now in their season at the Odeon Theatre were married here on March 18. Both will take a vacation and spend thelr honeymoon in the East at the close of their season here The Great Sutton Shows will give the first carnival of this spring on April 15 and week at Madison, Ill., under the auspices of the firemen it promises to be a successful affair inasmuch as the local committee has been making great strides toward its success. Two pay days which occur during the life of this carnival adds much encouragement, Priest’s Park will be the first of our sum mer gardens to open this year, the date being set for April 15. The many concessions added this year will make this resort of the South End a popular place this season. The park cleared 100 per cent last year and will do better this season, its second year. Frank H. Priester will again manage the garden. The annual benefit tendered to manager Leo Reichenbach of the Standard Theatre, March 18, proved to be a big event. The house was packed from pit to dome, and many were the added at The Daffydills and Sam Rice Bur Ford's Opera House will give | lesque troupe furnished the attraction, Dan S. Fishell has organized another of his companies which now split the week at his theatre with his famous Minstrel Maids. They are known as Fishell’s Funmakers and promise to prove just as popular as has bis Minstrel Maids. Manager Fishel! will besides his l’rincess The atre, book the attractions at the Maple, Hamilton, Missouri, Cherokee, and other of the first class airdomes this summer. They will play vaudeville out of Chicago. Spearman Lewis, who has been identified with Suburban Garden as press representative and the St. Louis Times during the winter, has just completed a trip to the Panama Canal, and \s at present giving lectures upon this topic at the Princess Theatre. Sidney Belmont of carnivel fame is in St. Louis at present preparing for a tour through California as special agent and press man with the feature films of Nick Carter. Mr. Belmont's qualifications for this tour should make the state profitable for his employers. The new play which had its first production in Milwaukee, and is now playing the Garrick Theatre here, is a complete success from every point of view. Ready Money, its title, has proven to be most Interesting and absorbing, and the press of this city has been loud in its praise. The attendance has been big during the week and it looks that if it reaches New York this season it will come in for a long un, The Hippodrome this week has the most evenly-balanced bill of the season and most of the acts while not sensational are strong and all of equal strength. Kublick is the headliner and is easily the drawing card; attendance does not seem to drop any even though the people have been standing in line for hours at a time each day to gain admittance ever since the opening. Manager Payne of the Coliseum has announced that the dates for the annual St. Louis Dog Show is April 10 and week. Mr. Payne has bis Household Show going on this week and is making a complete success of it, both in class attendance. and WILL J. FARLEY. ST. LOVIS.—OLYMPIC. The Spring Maid, second and last week: March 24, Blanche Bates. CENTURY. Helen Ware in The Price; March 24, The Servant in the House. SHUBERT. Marlowe-Sothern in Repertoire of Shakespeare; March 24, The Chocolate Soldier. JARRICK. Ready Money: March 24, Little Women for two weeks. AMERICAN. Hanlon’s Fantasma; March 24. The Girl in the Taxi. STANDARD. Sam Rice’s Daffydils; March 24, The Pacemakers. GAYETY. Queens of Bohemia; March 24. The Golden Crook. COLUMBIA, Week March Theodore Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Jack MeMadame Besson, Conlin, Steele and Bert Terrell. Sharp and Wilkes, Lynch HIPPODROME. Week March 19: Palmer and Lewis, Kublick, Jim, the Wrestling Bear: “x Weber Family, The Bruces, Dalto-Freese and Company. Reno McCrea and Company, Barr and Evans, Peter C. Rosar and Family, and motion pictures. KANSAS CITY, MO. The new design furnished by the Alpha Floral Company of the Bridal Bouquet used by Jniian Eltinge starring in The Fascinating Widow at the Willis-Wood Theatre last week was on exhibition the entire week in the Floral Co.'s window on Walnut Street and attracted a great deal of attention. Mr. Eltinge said that this Kansas City concern had gotten him up some thing entirely new in a@ bridal bouquet. d Week of March 31 will enable Kansa« City to see another premiere at the Shubert Theatre. Singer’s production of A Modern Eve will be tried out here. Among the principals of the company are Adele Rowland. Joseph Santley and Harriet Stanton. Kansas City has bern chosen as a “good”? town and will doubtless premieres frequently in the near future The mail-order sale of tickets for ‘he SothernMarlowe engagement, which opened at the Shabert Theatre week of March 24, hos been run ning two weeks and the proceers reached the 5.000 mark March 15. Earl Steward, manager of the Shubert, said he was keep'ng as a souvenir the adding machine tape on which the amounts of the receipts were tabulated It is more than 35 feet long < almost makes 8 ouble circle of his office walls. . Ada Reeve, the London comedienne, headliner at the Orpheum werk of March 17, anffered a see slight attack of laryrigitis on the opening day onl was unable to go on. Later in the week she was enabled to continue her act satisfac torily. The Six Bracks, who were unable to appear at the Orpheum week of March 17, were Ee placed by Marie Glennon, who had some very vivacious songs. The team of Reynolds and Donegan, roller skaters, on this same pill, were tied np on snow-bound trains and were not able to make their appesrance at the afternoos performance but reached Kansas City in yond for the Sunday evening show March 17 The Laurel Quartet took their place at the afternoos performance. Manager Lehman sure did get busy and the other temnorary gap in the pre gram wes filled by the Wilburs, @ team of com edy acrobats. At the Grand Theatre St, Patrick’s Day, the attraction was Fiske O'Hara, in Love's Young Dream, and almost without exception the andl ence ‘wore shamrocks to commemorate the saint. Mr. O'Hara said he never felt ‘fitter and that ft aid his heart cood to see so many loyal song before him on Pat's day. Miss Genevieve Hager, the Globe's permanent singer, is a Kansas City girl and has made good here in her home town as well as elsewhere Jim Flynn, who hopes to blast the pugilistie fortunes of Jack Johnson next Julv, was ee tured at the Century Theatre week of March 1 . and the theatre was unable to take care of th crowds. me W. W. SHELLEY KANSAS CITY.—SHUBERT (Par! Steward, res. mgr.) The Gamblers week of Mareh 17; Sothern and Marlowe week of 24. WILLIS WOOD (0. D. & Frank Woodward. mers.) Ju lian Eltinge, in A Fascinating Widow, week 17: Helen Ware, in The Price, week 24. GRAND OPERA HOUSE (A. Jndah, mer.) Fiske O'Hara, in Love's Young Dream. beh 17; The White Sister week 24. ORPHEU