The Billboard 1912-12-07: Vol 24 Iss 49 (1912-12-07)

x =< ad S e. a ec to 4 The Billboard DECEMBER 7, 1912 BIG CITY NEWS PITTSBURG. PA The exclusive announcement in The Billboard | last week of the plan to erect a number of new vaudevil houses in the Pittsburg district came as a distinct surprise, both to local wanagers and also to the bum+rous booking agencies it this vicinity. Ipasmuch as _ thre given by ibe Billboard t caused ali information was absolutely correct the more comment. Managers of | local film exchanges declared that the comletion of these bouses meant more business for then and that they only hoped that the plans of the promoters would not miscarry. F, < tiggs, aSsistant general manager of the Colonial-Annex Hotel, of this city. and a con stant reader of ‘ihe Billboard, declar-d to the writer to-day that he found this publication of more valve to hotel ma atrical folk an any ot 1 certainly like the st sa Mr Kiggs n¢ r more interesting t a ave Pat st f they are admirers of The you this from actua: pi rser ‘ b ‘ lou 1A ‘ = " ted to be one »f } 10st popular of local hotels among the theatrical profession Mr. Morgan, for several years stage director for the Mask wznd Wig Club of Vuhiladelphia, which is a noted collegiate theatrical organiza is making a decided hit as a stage man for general productions. His first enement was with Webe: and Luescher, and tnight ago be was ‘‘loaned’’ only by that interest to Sem Bernard, who ig starring in All for the Ladies to re-arrange and introduce some new effects in this pew production. He | worked for two weeks whipping things into line, and his work in l’ittsburg attracted wuch favorable comment from theatrical interests. His work is such that he will soon gain fame in his chosen fi: ld. Hall Hughes, of East Liverpool, Ohio, a weilknown stage hand of that city, bas been work ing at the Nixon during the last two weeks. It is possible that be will locate permanently in this city. Harry Dunkel, a doorman on the Nixon stage, ean talk Arabic and a few other languages. He got wise to this dope during the last two weeks, and all because the Garden of Allah was at the Nixon. The Hartman-Wallace Stock Company, which has been playing all season at the American Theater at East Liverpool, has jumped to Sharon, I’a.. where it will remain indefinitely. The American at East Liverpool is under the manag: ment of L. J. Herron and is now playsing vaudevil, belng on the Gus Sun Olle circuit. The profession located here has been advised that William Courtenay, an actor well known in this city, has just bad his name legally changed from William Hancock Kelly to the first mentioned. Little Women, Company No. 2, is now filling a nomber of one-night stands in this section, awaiting time to go into Chicago for an extended run As a result the play is still in a state of preparation. Miss Bonstelle joined the company this week in Youngstown, and the task of forming the company into shape for its Chicago run will go on. The Halfway House, which was a pleasing part of the bill at the Grand this week, being presented by Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, is from the pen of that well-known stage light—BEzra Kendall. Few know this fact. Jese Dandy, the lead in the Prince of Pilsen, is really a fa vorit in Pittsburg. He dropped a lot of post cards into the burg a week before he came, and this was a signal for his friends to greet him upon his arrival at the Colonial-Annex Sunday night Manager Kenyon, of the new Kenyon Opera House, has not advised The Billboard that the new house at Seventh and Penn will open the afternoon of December 16. High-class vaudevil A. H. Woods spent a few days in Pittsburg last week ‘“‘looking over’? Sam Bernard's In All for the Ladies. This is Mr. Woods’ production, and he was elated over the manner it was presented here, likewise its reception. Of course, this is ‘‘permissable.”’ Under the law, which was given its initial production here by the Davis stock players et the Duquesne Theater a few weeks ago. and which was written by Allen Davis, a local boy, has just been secured by John Cort for its Chicago premiere. The assembling of the company will start almost immediately. Architect P. Li sch, of Fourth avenue, this city has been ordered to draw plans for the remodeling of the house of the Aspinwall Nickelodeon Company, in a suburb of thie city, at a cost of between 88,000 and $10,000. Pittsburg theatrical men hear thet a $50,000 theater is to be built in Canton, Ohlo, In the wear future. Contracts are now being let here for the con struction of the new Liberty Theater. which is being built by Isaac and Henry Jackson in Liberty avenne. While excavating on the site of this house a few days ago, workmen unearthed rare coins and other relics upon which a high valve has been placed. The find ts said br curio dealers to be forth between $5,000 and 310.000 Architecta H. E. Kennedy & Co., of this city, have started to work on the plans for the new theater that is to be built in the East End by Thomas B. Moreland at a cost of $150,000, and which will be under the management of the Harris’. The building will occupy a site 114 by 174 feet and will be 69 feet in height. Bids will be asked within a few days. A new libel has been filed in Common Pleas Court here br J. Orville Corbett against his wife, a talent'd musician, Edith Swan Corbett. The bnseband filed a libel several months ago against his wife, but in the last one filed he charged her with desertion. They were married November 20, 1909. and lived together mntil Oc tober 7. 1910. Then, the husband alleges, he war left withont inst cause. Mrs. Corbett was formerly a member of the Fadette Woman's Orchestra, it being said that she is one of the best trombone p'ayers in the country. The hearing will probab'y come up in January, FRecanse West Virginia as a state voted dry, a new theater is to be bnilt in Wheeling, W Va.. Instead of a modern hotel, as wae first proposed, James F. Lee will be in charge of the new house, which will be erected at 14th | new $4,000 choice | and Market streets Properties to be covered by the new house are owned by F. H. Lang, | the new bouse, Lou city. has startid the « R. S. Jones nstruction of a e five-cent theater in the Kuoxvill district. | J, C. McCauley and B. F McCauley, wellknown theatri met f Altoona, l’a., bave bought property in Apollo, Pa and «will im mediately start the construction of a new $10, 000 said Manager Henry Gayety Theater, to The Bill *‘our b ft and away isinhess 1s ar the only ar. We are yur this ct, and we are giv ing hig iss entert lent. For the tract we have booked the Cra ve at this early date we have r quiries for seat reservations Personall nore than pleased with our bus nes is no more popular man in the burlesque wheel than Mr. Kirchman, Fred Ro>hing of the advertising staff of the Iyceum Theater, is able to be out again after a week's illness. He was suffering from a | threatened attack of pneumonia Fred is popular with the bors, and they are glad to see | him ‘‘on the job’’ once more | When it comes to work out of their regular |} line of employment, you have got to hand it |} to Charles Mansion and Cenrad Loman, Stage | oe and electrician of the Lyceum. They | bave built motor boats on the Lyceum stage during the dark season, and the latest effort of these well-known mechanics is the perfecting of an evectric paragon electric basebail board, patent papers upon which have just recently been tssued. The board is an immense affair. and !s edmitted by electricians and theatrical people to be the most elaborate of the kind that bas ever been presented to the public. John B. Reynolds, managing director of the Alvin Theater, possesses one of the most re fined offices to be found in Pittsburg. It just resembles a large parlor—beautiful oils gracing the walls, bandsome lighting effects and al! that sort of thing. Fact of the matter is that Mr. Reynolds takes great pride in his “place of business,’ and it is a pleasure to bear the happy comments made about the office by the visiting road agents ‘Our business all season has been most excellent,’’ said Mr. Reynolds to the writer. We have made every effort to give the people that class of attractions that has made our place so popular. Bought and Paid For, which we had last week, proved to be one of the best attractions from a financia! point of view that we have had this seasor The public was also pleased, and that counts for a whole lot.’’ Dame Rumor has it, and we are only speaking from the rumor, that Cupid bes won the hearts of Miss Mamie and Miss May Donnelly, lady ushers at Wie Lyceum, und that ere long the!r engagements will be announced. Since the boys at the house have heard of this coming event they have been planning some surprises which a are sure will prove pleasing to both young adies. “You ate certainly getting a lot of news in The Billboard these days,’"’ commented Manager C. R. Wilson, of the Lyceum. “A very attractive newspaper, indeed.’’ The writer ex tends thanks and awaits commands. Everything is in readiness for the three performances which will be given at the Lyceum December 16-17, with a matinee on the 17tn for the benefit of the Pittsburg Labor Temple Mortgage Fund Beulah Poynter, in A Kentucky Rumance, will be the bill at the Lyceum that week, and the Labor Temple Committee has bought the house for the first three shows. The boys are working like trojans for the success of the event, and the sale of seats indicates that the house will be sold out each day When the new theater building program In Pittsburg has been finally completed there wil! be certainly a lot of popular-priced vandevil houses in the district. The thought honse managers now express is: “Will they pay?’’ This remains to be seen. Edgar Foreman and company, headliners at the Harris Vavrdevil Theater, this week possess the unique distinction of being able to give eight consecutive changes of bill, if required. One Circus Day was the bill the duo put on here The entire bill at this house during the current | week proved a pleasing one. On Christmas Dey (and many a story ix prefaced by these three words), the stage crew at the Harris Theater will have worked together for just one year, without one of the crew missing a single day. It will then be just one year ago thai is house was opened. But, this event is not being allowed to pass unnoticed A large farm bird has been bouzht and is being fattened. It is to be cooked by Mrs. Jerry Collins, the pleasant wife of the stage manager, and there is going to be an anniversary feast among the boys on the stage, for the crew wil) have then attained its first birthday. There will be lots of other good things to eat besides the farm turkey on that day, too. Lou Gilbert, advance for the Mollie Williams’ Burlesque Show, which was at fhe Gayety, December 2-7, spent last week in Pittsburg. Mr. Gilbert is one of the most pleasing advance men who comes here, and he spent much time at the office of the Gayety in greeting old friends. John P. Hill, the well-known theatrical man ager, and for many years a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., is now manaver of the Harris Theater. in this city, and he is making good. Accepting en invitation to visit the attractiv office of Mr. Hill, The Billboard representativ was shown some of the most historical theatrical announce ments ever shown In Pittsburg. all the tndividna! property of Mr. Hill. “I would not take a farm for these,"’ said Mr. Hill. ‘My, how they re call the old days back in the Seventies Tlere is a ‘hanger’ of the old Trimble Theater in Sixth Street,"’ as he gently unfolded a time-stained bill. Then it was that Mr. Hill said a word or two about this or that actor or actress, who was made famous in the days of the old variety theaters. “You are certainly making an attractive paper out of The Billboard,”’ he said “So much news, and put up in good* form. 1 frequentiy get a line from the folks down Lome, in which they say twey saw in The Billboard sumething about this or that old-time friend.” Mr. Hill is a member of the Eik and Masvunic fraternities. Hie was one of the first members of the Elks Lodge, New York, No. 1, am! as sisted in the institution of Elks No. 2 in | adeiphia, No. 3 in San Francisco and. No. 4 in Chicago. Since coming to Pittsburg, be has made a host of friends thru his attractivness ; and good fellowship. M. K — BALTIMORE, MD. Last Christmas tertained the Tunis F. Dean en all the Baltimore inst! Manager orphans of tutions at the Academy of Music with a big celebratior In the lobby of the theat@r a large tree was erected nd was bountifully s<trew! with presents for the children. This, year the be repeated on a more lavish scale the co-operation of Charles @ Frohman and Zimmerman, Mr. Dean adverlocal newspapers for 500 ‘girls and will a to tribute a doll . For tl ten best dolls handsome prizes ¥ will be awarded If addition to this 500 dolks will be ntributed by ladies of the theatricgl rofes | sion. Maude Adams, Billie Burke, Elsie Janis, | Blanche Bates, Ethel Barrymore, Frances Starr, Bessie Abbot, Nazimova and others have in formed Mr, Dean that they would eagh seni @ doll to aid his cause Mr. Dean has” so many intimate acqua.ntances among the ladies of the have little difficulty in secur Stage that he will ng tbeir aid, and of course any uctress or chorus girl can send a contribution if she de sires The matinee performance on ‘December | 24 will be given over e ¥ to orgbans and poor children, and the attraction wi Vibe Pass ers-By Not a stat in the house will be sold, and a will be free for the orphans and their attendants. tuth Reynolds walked into town November 19, and after brushing the dust from her shoes, went to the City Hall and secured the signature of Mayor James H. Preston The young lady is an amateur pedestrigh of the Edward P. Weston type, and is on a hike from Beston to Brazil! Her plan is to walk 30 miles each day. She dresses in the raiment of a cowgirl and carries a revolver for tection at night on the highways If she returns to Boston within one year fron? Monfay, November 11, she will receive $1,000 Ruth Reynolds will walk from Boston to New Drieans and take a ship to Panama. She has letters from the mayor of each city she has visited. Miss Reynolds is 235 years old and bes been on the stage since 1897. H The funeral of Mrs. Julia Dean Hyland, wife of Edward Hyland, and eister of TunigF. Dean, took place November 21 from the athedral. where solemn requiem high mass was cele brated. The Cathedral choir was reinforced by Misses Anna Bussert and Lonise le ron and Signor Misha Ferenzo, of the Robin Flood com pany. Signor Ferenzo sang Liddle’s Abide with Me. Miss Bussert sang Gounod’s AvegMaria ir F, with violin obligation by John It#l Mis« Le Baron sang Gounod’s O Divine Redeemer. The church was filled with friends of the family The pallbearers were: Fred C. Scfanbercer, John D. Little, Harry Sutton. John Hinds. W'! liam Hylands, Barton Kreis, John T. MeGarigle and Samuel Martin. Floral offerings were sent by the following: Employees of the A@ademy of Music, members of the’ Academy brehestra David Belasco, Robert B. Mantell, James M. Brophy. Blanche Rates, Charlotte Walker Emma Trentini, Frances Starr, Ohrigtie Mac Donald, Ethel Barrymore Billie Rurke, Helen Ware. Ray Goldman, Nazimova. Mr. and Mrs Harry Henkel, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Little Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Parrish and others Telegrams were received from Charles Frohman. Samuel F. Nixon, Henry W. Savage, Toomas M Love. Lew Fields. Joe Weber. A. L. Erlanger, Al Woods, Clarence Hyde, Clifton ‘Crawford and others. The decorations in the lobby of they Academy of Music are changed every Monday so as to he appropriate with the attraction on the boards Last week Robin Hood was on the atage and the lobby was decorated so as to represent the Sherwood Forest. Several rows of pine trees were arranged from the entrance from Yhe street to the doors leading into the foye! These decorations give the theater a dixtinetive at mosphere which anneals greatly to the represer tative clientele that this honse enters Mr Dean gives his personal attention to the decora tions and in this capacity he displgr« originality in conception and design 4, e novel deas which are pnt into effect are remarkable for their artistic charm. The lobby is abont 85 feet long and @ feet wide. This epabe affords wide scope to bold artistic conceptions and Mr much Dean spares no expense to carry out his pur pose. The pines that are used came trom Rer lin, Md. An orchestra plays in the lobby be fore the nerformances and during the ‘interm', sions. George Schneider. manager ofthe New Theater. on West Lexington street, ie In danger of losing his life if he is not earefnlg Schneid er goes to New York each week to Nook acts, and if he sees anything attractive at the Gotham theaters he bags the act for his theater, While on one of these visits recently he went to the Winter Garden. There he saw a very attractive looking young lady that he thonght -wenld be a good hit for his theater. and he arranged with her for an engagement. This fact hecame known to an admirer of the roung lady. and after Schneider had come home he received severa! letters threatening his life if he did not let the girl stay in New York. Schnelder became alarmed and turned the letters over to the United States postal authorities and mean while gendarmes from the Western Police Sta tion are guarding the entrances to the theater and looking for suspicious characters. The Chicago Grand Opera Company gare Mig non at the Lyric November 22. and thie wil! be the last opera until Febrnary President and Mrs. Taft came over to the opera Other Washington dienitaries were In the party. The President wee the gnest of Mr. Theodore Mar burg, recently appointed Minister te Relginm Governor and Mrs. Goldsburgh were also nresent Onera parties of the lesser light« from Washing ton are always present at the operas The Fraternal Order of Eagles wil) hold their annnal convention In thie elty Anenst 5. 1912 This fact was made known last week at a meet. ing of the crand officers In Kansas City Fd ward Hirsch, nast President of the Raltimore Fagles, was the canse of thie city being chosen for the gathering The Fagles had their con vention here in 1904 and let na hone that they will bring better weather with them, as the last time the weather was some wet . | last Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm was given at Ford's Opera House the week of November 18, and the patronage was euormous. ‘lbursday afternoon a matinee was given under the aus pices of The Baltimore Star and over 1,000 orphans, poor and crippled children from the institutions were entertaimd, Eighty autome biles were contributed by members of the Auto mobile Club of Maryland to bring the children to the theater. Mayor l’reston took a personal interest in the affair and looking after tbe guests. Marshal Farnan was on hand with « corps of his stalwart policemen to look after the comforts of the children Many young society iwwetrons offered their services, and the children had a great treat. Miss Taliaferro and the members of the company were greatly inspired with the occasion and did their best to entertain these helpless children John B. Reynolds, business manager of the Alvin Theater in Pittsburg, D’a., waa in town week on business. The object of his visit was in search of a site for a new theater and to negotiate for the purchase of a house already in existence. Last season William Davis, of Pittsburg, was in town on the same mission Nothing definite has been given out, but Mr Davis is auxious for an opening to establish a theater here. The lease of the Shuberts at the Auditorium Theater has one wore year to run, aud it is not known whether it will be renewed after its expiration. John H. Myers, died at a hos»ital in Philadelphia ter living in this city, Mrs, Heiser, 1404 McCulloh street i'en Mar, a famous symmer resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Hagerstown, Md., is tn danzer of destruction, as forest fires have been raging in that vicinity for several weeks. The spread of the fire has been so rapid that all efforts to check it have been unavailing. The fire bas destroyed much valuable timber le attaches at Ford's Opera House are giv‘ornful looks to VDatrolman Lindug. who ned there during performances. Arthur E. Skaddon, a traveling salesman, went to the theater November 21 to Rebveca of Sunnybrook Farm. He dropped a wallet con ing $83, which was picked up by the police man and turned over to the Marshall's office. Christmas is so near and the bors were natur disappointed after learning of the amount reward. Spthern and Julia Marlowe will be in town December 15. They will not stop at any hotels but live privately in a handsomely furnished home in the fashionable residence section. The Fidelity Censtrnction Company was awarded the contract for the new theater for Pearce and Scheck at 1110 to 1116 West Raiti more street, as described in a previous letter. SYLVAN SCHENTHAL. the veteran minstrel, who has a daugh Frank Barbara see JERSEY CITY, N. J. Ward and Vokes are back at the Majestic this week with their old show, A Kun on The Bank made into another run—on tour. The piece bas been rejuvenated, altho some of the jokea that the stare spring are autumn leaves withered with winter frost, so to speak. But with all their respect for old age in the wus of stage joculaiity we love Ward and Voko= still, and while they live in the flesh they will continue to be ‘‘Percy’’ and ‘‘Harold’’ in their mimic world—at least it looks that way. Next week Henry W. Savage's original New York Company will appear at the Maj stic in Ex cuse Me; Willis P. Sweatnam is with the compony. The New Amsterdam Theater supplies a need of North Hudson. It enters a new field in amusement, thru the efforte of Messrs. Haring and FPlumenthal, the pew proprietors. who have secured an exclusiv contract with the Marcus Loew Vaudevil Agency for that section. The people of Union Hill, West Hoboken and Jersey City will now be assured of a uniformly hich class vaudevil bill and picture show at popular prices. A fine Thanksg ving week bill is being pre sented at the Monticello Theater. It ig Leaded by one of the best acts ever bookt by the man agement, this feature being a musical comeds The House That Jack Built. This novelty has 4 empany of fifteen, composed mostly af girls. who make many costume changes. Special scenery and electrical effects are carried, giving tone to this high-prict offering. The House That Jack Built will remain for the full week After several weeks of preliminary work an! six days of exciting rehearsals the Orpheum Pisyers last night presented their fi st Shake sarian venture, The Merchant of Venice, to a well-filled house. The occasion haa been lone lookt forward to by the admirers of the com pony a8 a supreme test of its abilities and the crowning event of its season, and it should be stated at the outset that every reasonable expectation was more than fulfilled by the excellent performance that was given. In the role of “Shylock,"" Mr. Barnum proved him self a Shakespearian character actor cf patpable merit. The role calls, as every § theatergoer knows, for the exploiting of the varicus emo tions and portraying the different moods, Mr Barnum was entirely successful. His acting in the trial scene was especially noteworthy. Miss Mande Gilbert was charming in the role of Portia, and Alice Riker was a winsome ‘‘Jessica.”’ Wright Kramer did full justice to the cbaracter of “‘Antonio.”” and Lowell Sherman was a dashing ‘“‘Bassanio."" Harold Selman wats excellent in the role of ‘“‘Launcelot Gobbo "' He got off the drolleries of the part with a deal of unctuousness. Mise Mary Curtisa as ‘‘Neriasa,’’ Robert Robson as “Old Gobbo,”’ Frank Peck as ““Balthager’’ and Frederick Roland as ‘‘Gratieno”’ filled their rolea carefully, and other members of the cast were well placed individ ually. The incidental music was an especially pleasing feature of the production. Next week Mary Jane's Pa will be the offering at the Orpheum, ELMER EF. RUSH ROCHESTER, N. Y. The Lyndhurst Theater is the latest addition to the moving picture houses in this city, and Was opened for business Wednesday evening, November 27, under the management of Irving M. Salyards. The theater has severa) novel points of construction and equipment, ine'nding drinking fountains and rest rooms and electric ventilating system and ten exits The management of the Victoria Theater has notified the local Red Croas Stamp Committee that it will cive the theater one day for a “Red Cross’ benefit. Manager Elmer Walters, of the Shubert Theater, has been appointed on POR a er,