The Billboard 1913-10-04: Vol 25 Iss 40 (1913-10-04)

The Billboard OCTOBER 4, 1913. LONDON NEWS LETTER correspondence of The Billboard).—Marie Licyd sails for America On September 24, on the Olympic, for a thirtyShe has, besides giving her One of these took ber from London to the island scenes attended her matiThe Opera House was literally beseiged with people, and crowds had to be turned Marie presented four songs, and then in tremendous ovation, she sang her famous Mother Eve song, I'm Sorry That I Ever attired in a new especially made for her American tour. the well-known English music hall song composer, is accompanying Miss Lioyd His work with the piano for America on October bookt by Kiaw & Erlanger Miss Tate, since her 6, on the Lusitania, for musical comedy for about eighteen months, the Oxford Music Hall, to ber in next to no noveity of her manner was One of the hits of a strong Stoll bill the other evening, was Eddy Martyn, “America’s famous something quite original Keeping up a bee! and toe accompaniment he gives us such diversified types the married and the and Bertie after a night with the Piccadilly Johnny, shortly sets out on a jong Australian tour. is bookt up till 1916, Vera and Syd are and are regarded as really two cute himself for the first audience at the Hammer in an American third degree Deslys is filling the Palace Theater to capacity eight times a week. what compressed, and now goes with even more present great program Made Me Love You, is getting very popular. a taik about the charming frocks she wears, she and the glittering jewel trimming is not a Paris I make most ef my own gowns, and I like doing and domesticated. When we can afford a holiday favorite color—all trees outside my not a Yellow Peril.’ MeIntosh tour in the African Theaters Trust houses on the return debut at Stoll’s Man and exits appear some Ergland she was trained at the Paris Conserva in opera on the continent since she was 16, Hammerstein heard first London appearance at the Coliseum and her sing of snowdrifts bird being shown in a transparency. the course of which they doing very well here return from America. him for a return visit to Africa and scoring well on this side. topping the bill where tinental tour on October 13 weeks in London zaew show written br at the Chelsea Palace. was quite a bit talk about the passing of syn given an all-star matinee for the benefit of the widow of Colonel Cody. A string of well-known included Bonita and Lew duologue from Hullo Kag trousing much interest on the occasion of his visit over here. telling the story of his life to an interviewer end encosraging our home ceediagly. He opens at the Bedford Music Hall song writers ex Lere on September 29, singing his own songs, a:sisted by Al. Lewis, formerly of the Rath skeller Trio. He claims that his wite, Miss Anna Chandler, was the first American woman to introduce ragtime over here, opening with syncopation at the Liverpool Empire at $125 per week and jumping suddenly to $500 and then to $750. Toby Claude is back in London with Le Petit Cabaret. Snookey-Ockums in French is an attractiv novelty in this plecs The dances of Veronica Connell and Harry Pearce are good. The fact that the Two Bobs were on the same bill with Miss Claude and gave six ragtime melodies is another proof that ragtime dies hard. With people talking of the decline and fall of ragtime there is all the time, on this side, a big output of new syncopated melodies The English composers are well to the front with these now. The latest home-made productior is the Ragtime Posiman, the syncopated story of a letter carrier. This is to be featured in Austen Hurgon’s new revue, And Very Nice, Too. The program describes The Gay Lothario, produced at the Leicester Square (London) Em pire on September 16 as a ‘‘vaudevil,’’ but it might just as well be called a lyrical romp in which the whole of the standing Empire company and others take part. It contains a definite farcical plot based on a*° whole string of somewhat conventiona] coincidences occur ring at a seaside hotel. Tuese are carefully ex plained between the rending of musical num hers, but the complications merely serve as a background for mimicry of famous actors or the buffoonery of a red-nosed waiter and a spirited skit on the tango. Perhaps the best of the topical songs is that sung and danced by Shaun Glenville, You’d Never Know the Old Place Now, describing social and other changes in London, with a final hit at the opera—lIt's a bitter pill for Beecham when ragtime he has to teach ‘em. Miss Unity Moore has a pajama dance, in which she sings of the pass ing of “The chilly, frilly, flighty. nighty fashjon won't allow.’’ The scene that brot down the house was the one in which Sir George, throwing out his arms in despair, caught the waiter a resounding smack on his red (false) nose, Arrangements are being made for Harold W Goslyn to produce over here The Dance of Death. Hugh D. McIntosh is at the Hotel Cecil just !now busily booking turns for Australia. His books will definitely close on Octoba 1, no more dates then to be made for at ieast a year, Zé There is perhaps no more popular turn in this country than Bransby Williams. His long suit is impersonations of characters from the works of Charles Dickens On these he made his name, especially with such characters as Fagin the Jew, Uriah Heep, Montagu Tigg and Micawber. To these he has auaed monologues of the old-showman type and he has recently jextended his range with strong. recitations euch as the is besides a Tale of An Indian Bazaar. Williams most engaging personality. He is one of those men who can safely joke with the audience and the band when the act he is pre admits of this His heavy bookings have compelled him t refuse lately 26 weeks in America under B. F. Keith; also a road shew under Marinelli and a one-night stand tour under William Morris. hese would have kept him away for about two years Come Over Here celebrated its teo hundredth performance at the London Opera House on September 16, which was made a souvenir night Over 400,000 people have seen this revue now and it is still attracting large audiences. Even where he Was popular amongst the Eng lish populace, Jack Johnson’s stock is now ercpping. At a press view on the morning of September 17, some films were shown, under the beading of ‘‘Adventures of Jack Johnson in Paris.” These are to be released shortly and “amongst other things show the ro fighting three rounds with another heavy weight, besides adventures with apaches. etc. Shortly after Hanneford’s Circus innded here at Southampton two lion cubs were born. They have been named Southampton and Cherbourg, after the respectiv opposite English Channe! ports. Manager Alfred Butt had a few words to say at the annual genera] meeting of the Palace Theater shareholders on the excessiv compet! tion question, The competition in London has been helpt by the addition during the past twelve months of one large new inusic hall with extensiv seating accommodation; and secondly, by the successful development of big spectacular productions of the revue order involving enormeus expenditure both in the initial outlay and the subsequent running. The Palace Thea ter has avoided revues so far: but, according to Butt, has suffered in the profit region by being forced to pay much higher salaries than formerly, expenses in this respect for the twelve months ending July, being 50 per cent. higher than they were in the corresponding period five years ago. The Palace Theater Ltd., has invested Its reserve funds considerably in the Varieties Thea ters Controlling Company, which operates a large number of vaudevil houses outside Lon don. This investment, besides being a profitable one from the dividend point of view, has also had many other useful things hanging on to It After the termination of the engagement of Gaby Deslys at the Palace, Harry Lauder will make his farewell appearance on this side there, pricr to the long tour he is meking in America and Australia. When the constitution of the mand’ program to be done by muste-hall ists at the Palace Theater last year was krown, !t induced Infinite heart-burning. It was felt that th King and Queen had been In duced to sanction the art of the music hall but rot to consider a characteristic exhibition of the *Roral Com art made music-hall art. The reasons for the selection of the artists were obvious to anyone versed in the commerce of the variety stage. just as they were obvious tn respect of the recent performance by music-hall artists arranged for the delectation of their majesties by the Far! of Derby. At the Coliseum shortly there is to be @ per formance for the benefit of the Charing Cross Flospital and ef the French Hospital] in London. at which the King and Queen will be present. There can have been no restriction im this case on the architect of the program. and it Is a thousand pities that the opportunity of bringing | BIG before the King and Queen for the first time a carefully-devised am really characteristic selection of music-hall art has been lost. The Coliseum performance will be magnificent, but from the point of view of the variety stage it is emphatically not the music ball. Miss milen Terry speaking a piece by the eulor 06 *“Punech,”’ a musical with Seymour Hicks for its central figur 1 Kirby Lunn of the concert-room and contingent of Gaiety favorites—what the asseciation suggested with the hall Sarah Bern hardt in WVhedre, calls f i remark—she is Boadicea at the chariot wl of the triumfant Stoll. And Sir Henry Wood conducting a performance of the Marseillaise Mile. Lydia Kyasht we are certainly glad to fee It is the glory of the music halls to have maintained the tradition of the ballet since its «xclusion from the opera heusg up to the mod ern cult of dancing And Ljdia Kyasht is a greater dan¢ than maty who have been more essiduously ‘‘boomed.”’ Yvette Guilbert, no coubt, punctuated a period in music-hall history at the Empire with what John Holiingshead called her ‘‘chansons de brie." Harry Tate's “fishing’’ sketcl Fragson’s pianoforte pranks, W. C. Fields’ juggling—these are music hali performances of the fine style. tut people have never greatly cared for the exploitation of the “two captains’’—nor does the army; these are two ex-army officers of the rank of captain who do a cabaret kind of act first popularized here by the Two Bobs. wonder what a dozen of fuirly-acceptab music-hall performers will do as a “single turn’’ described as ‘Ten Little Nigger Boys all 4 in a Row” Frankly, we miss from. this miusic-ball program most of the music-hall performers whose names might be recorded ten years hence as representativ of the music-hall art of the day. It seems right that the most remarkable of the furces of modern entertainment should be more properly and fairly ‘‘set before the King.’’ The curtain will rise at 8:30 on the entrance of the royal party. The veme of decoration will convert the hall into “A golden palace of a thousand lights."’ New royal boxes are being erected on right of the anditorium next the scl the Stuge, and access to them will be gamea trom Chandos street, where he old exit is being converted into a reception-ha!ll with royal lounges. Cowboy sketches are always popular on the music-hall stage here. One of these now play ing the syndicate theaters is Silver Creek, with Helena Millais the heroine. which has just teucht its one thousandth consecutiv perform ance, The company which began by being whol as ly non-American and non-cowboy, has now be come the reverse, the last addition to the cast being a cowboy acquired in Liverpool. He was an Arizona mar born 22 miles from the actual Silver Creek. One of the most popular songs of the year bere has been Two Eves of Grey. It is a sweet, plaintiv little thing Daisy MeGeoch is the composer. She has written about 40 other songs so far and is now turning her attention to music-hall sketches. A fourth one of these is to be presented at the Oxford on S ptember 22, in which Hayden Coffin, the famous English tenor, will star. CHICAGO GOSSIP, By Chas, Andress. I just received a letter from Cody today which follows: “Cody, Wyoming, Charlie: We are Prince of Monaco is are getting lots will continue to GAME HUNT. Dear Old Col. Sept. 24, 13. getting along fine, enjoing himself, and of good pictures out here do so to the end of his We have got a beautiful camp, establisht about 70 miles from the town of Cody up in the Rockies. I expect to leave here about October 5 with the Essanay Film Co. gentlemen for Pine Ridge, So. Dak., where I will be during the month of October, taking the last battles and last surrender of the Indlans to the white men. General Miles and quite a number of other generals, who participated in these battles, will also participate in the camera war. How is the Showmen’s League of America coming on? If the big benefit does not take place until later, say January or February, perhaps I could be there with one of these big moving-picture battles and lecture on the battle myself. It would be a drawing card for the benefit. Please address me here up to October 5, after that during the month of October at Pine Ridge, So, Dak. God bless you. W. F. Copy.” It is not generally known that O. J. Laylander, who is now one of the big stock holders and manager of the Ginn Publishing Co., the biggest school and educational book publishers (outside the trust) in America, was once a ‘circus man,” and if he is now ashamed of it and tries to deny it, I can produce his picture taken with one of the big circuses when he was taking tickets on the front door. ‘‘Look out, 0. J.” That's what you get for winning all those ‘‘Kelly pool games.”’ Cass. Andress, (yes, my eon) who had two concessions at Riverview Park, split up his two shows and sent his wife with one to Cleveland and took the other to Milwaukee, Wis. Both did good business when the rain did not interfere, but “Grandma A”’ put a quietus on the wife’s being away from home with Chas., Jr., and wired for her to return to Chicago at once. “Just couldn’t stand it without that baby any longer.”’ Cass. plays Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., and then returns to Chicago for the winter. Dear The we and CONCERNING SUPPLY AND DEMAND. New York, Sept. 27 (Special to The Billboard). —Supply is active rezgardiess of demand in dramatic preparations hereabouts. With the Shubert theater dedicated Monday night by Sir Jehnston Forbes-Robertson, the booth at the other end of the same theater structure is about ready to open. We now learn that C. R. Hopkins has filed plans for a theater to be built at Nos. 153 ' Company, | which 55 Forty-ninth street, east of Broadway, which is to be the smallest house in the city. The Ilarris Theater is still dark, but has been leased to the New Era Company, producers of Adele, at the Longacre, for a production of The Love Leash, October 138. John Cort will next week start rehearsals of The Marriage Game, which he wil! produce forthwith, somewhere or other. Oliver Morosco will put out still another Peg O' My Heart show for road purposes, Hungerford been signed for the David wil assemble a company Monday next to begin re hearsals of The Man Inside. Felix Edwards is here from England to stage for Charles Frohman the production of Jobn which will soon be made. Nora having name role. Belasco General Regan, Forecasts of dramatic activities to come within a few weeks are: Oliver Morosco’s production of Jack Lait’s drama, Help Wanted; Crosman'’s presentation of The Henrietta Tongues of Man; Charles Frohman’s presentation of William H. Crane, in his annual starring tour; Florence Nash's appearance as a star in The Little Striker, and H. H. Frazee’s productions of Iole, with Jack Henderson featured, and The Madcap Duchess, with Ann Swinburne prominent, the two last mentioned being musica! plays. HARRIS THEATER OPENS OCTOBER 13. New York, Sept. 25 (Special to The Bill | beard).—The Harris Theater will open its sea son October 13, when the New Era Producing J. P. Bickerton, Jr., managing director, will present a new comedy, The Love Leash, by Anna Steese Richardson and Edmund Breese, with Grace Filkins featured. MATHEWSON’S PLAY PRODUCED. Atlantic City, Sept. 23 (Special to The BillLoard).—Fair Play, a comedy, written by Christy Mathewson, the pitcher of the New York Giants, in collaboration with Rida Johnson Young, author of Brown of Harvard and The Iettery Man, was produced at the Apollo Theater last night, by Edgar Selwyn and Company. It is a four-act play which tells a story of base ball life and Intrigue and has an underlying rcmantic Interest. The principal characters are ball players and among the well-known actors who appeared are William Courtenay, George Faweett, Frank Craven, Ralph Stuart, Calvin TLomas and the Misses lone McGrene, Lola Fisher, Marion Ballou and Ethel Stannard. The piece was staged by Edgar Selwyn. reventy people are in the company. About BROADWAY HONEYMOON OPENING. Chicago, Sept. 27 (Special to The Billboard). —Joe Howard is busy rehearsing his Broadway Honeymoon, which is scheduled for opening at the Joe Howard Comedy Theater on October 8. Mr. Howard recently closed a vandevil engagement in Los Angeles and has just arrived in Chicago with his partner, Mabel McCane. Emma Carus will head the cast and is now working on a number of new songs, which she will use in the new play, written for her by Mr. Howard. The cast of the plece includes, besides Mr. Howard and Emma Carus, Mabel MeCane, Knox Wilson, Francis Kennedy, George Delmore, Car) Randall and Elenor Fish, DAMAGED GOODS OPENS. Chicago, Sept. 27 (Special to The Billboard.) —The engagement of Brieux’s Damaged Goods, begins at the Blackstone Theater, September 29, Is under the auspices of the Amert can Federation of Sex Hygiene and the Amer!ican Vigilance Society. Charles Eliot, president emeritus of Harvard University; David Starr Jordan, Dean Walter Summer and Cardinal Gibbons, are the officers of the organization. The play will be presented before a specially invited audience, all of whom will contribute their little mites to the success of the gex play. SHAKESPEARIAN PLAYS FOR BERLIN. Berlin, Sept. 27—Herr Reinhardt, manager of the Deutsches Theater, intends to produce not less than 18 Shakespearian plays during the coming theatrical season. In addition to Mr. Reinhardt’s Deutsches Theater, three other Berlin houses will devote considerable attention to the same thing. KUBELIK, VIOLINIST, ARRIVES. New York, Sept. 27 (Special to The Billboard).—Jan Kubelik, the violinist, with his $100,000 violin, and Mrs. Kubelik arrived on the liner Kaiserin Auguste Victoria today. Kubelik will travel with Mme. Melba, playing eighty times In America, Canada and Cuba, under the direction of Loudon Charlton, and receiving $120,000. STEELE WITH BARBARA WORTH CO. E. W. Steele, manager with the Winning of Parbara Worth company, was for eight years manager of the Colonial Theater in Chicago, and only relinquisht that position when the house was taken over by Jones, Linick & Schaefer and its policy changed to vaudevil. Mr. Steele has been in the theatrical business for a number of years, and was at one time manager for Andrew Mack.