Variety (Apr 1906)

VARIETY 13 CORRESPONDENCE YANKEE ROBINSON SHOW NOTES. Ttu> Yankee Robinson Shows, now In winter quarters at Dos Moines, la., will no doubt be one of the best equipped wagon shows In America, as Fred Buchanan la sparing neither money nor inducement I to secure the best. The show will carry 25 wagons. It will have one elephant, two camels and over 75 head of horses. The organization will consist of about 100 people. The show will open In May and tour Iowa, Mla- aourl, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Two wagons will be In advance. II. V. REAVER. HAGENBECK IN PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, April 23— The Carl Hagenbeck Greater Show opened the circus season here this week with the usual street parade, pomp and ceremony. Weather conditions were not favorable, It being cold, but those who braved the weather were amply repaid. There are several rings with the usual equestrian stunts, acrobats, clowns, hi cycling, performing elephants and cages of animal* of every description. Rose Dockrlll and Lulu Davenport carried off the honors for bareback rid- ing. The Six Flying Jordans, the Four Aragons, in a clever wire act; LeB Freres Koroly, troupe of bareback riders, and Mile. Rose Edythe, premier dancer, heading a large ballet troupe, were among the moat interesting features. KINKS. ALBANY, N. Y. PROCTOR'S (Howard Graham, res. mgr.)-- Week of 23, standing room only at every perform- ance. Wolpert Trio of acrobats have an act of their own. which Is par excellent. Goforth and Doyle, entertainers, entertained nicely for fifteen minutes. Vernon, a ventriloquist of good calibre and amusing talk. Cabarets Dogs were very well educated and amused the audience. Augusta Close, a clever comedienne, who captured the en- tire house. Hope Booth A Co. presented "The Little Blonde Lady." It waa presented In an artistic manner, and kept the audience In good humor. Brown and Navarro, with their character changes, were very good. "The Futurity Winner," (see New Acts.) ALPENA. MICH. BIJOU (Steele A Denlson, mgrs.)— Week 23, opened to standing room only; bill fair. The Four Ellsworths, billed aa headliners, went fair; Maurice Samuels, character Impersonator, waa well received; Claude Austin, comedy Juggler, waa the hit of the bill; Warrington Bros., tumblers, do good work for young tumblers; Alf. Mousseau, tenor (local) made a hit as usual; pictures closed the bill. GEO. J. OUILLETTE. ATLANTA, OA. STAR (J. B. Thompson, mgr.)—Bill for week of 23 drew good bouses, the following appearing: Kit tie La Wolf, baritone soloist, good voice, song selection, poor; Fred Russell, monologlst, only fair; Georgia Thomas, singer, went big; Chas. Llndley, illustrated songs, fair; Florence Moore, dancer, only average; Ed Jordan, comedian, aame class; moving pictures of the McGovern-Nelaon fight were unquestionably the hit of the bill, concluding with the burlesque. "She." by the house stock company. AUDITORIUM (J. P. Anderson, mgr.)—Helen May Batler'a Military Band was such a big draw- ing card last week that they remained over an- other week. BRIX. BALTIMORE, MB. MARYLAND (Fred C. Schanberger, mgr.)— Week 23, a very strong bill to big business, headed by Nina Morris and company In their comedy sketch. "A Friend's Advice." Is entertaining and unique; the Plcchlanl Troupe of Acrobats give a refined and very clever entertainment; Geo. W. Monroe has new songs and sayings, and received a hearty welcome; Emma Francis and her two Arab boys, in her dancing act, scored heavily; Wllla Hold Wakefield, in instrumental and vocal selections, made a decided hit; Ferguson and Wat- son, conversational comedians, average; Zazell and Vernon and company present a pantomime acrobatic act, which they have named "Elope- ment," which la very funny and pleasing. GAYETY (W. L. Ballauf, mgr.)—Week 23, to capacity houses. Rentx-Santley Company. The entertainment opens with the burlesque entitled "Lady Teaser," which waa well received. The vaudeville comprises Lew Welch, Hebrew come- dian, only fair; Mills and Beecher, In their sketch. "The Last Rehearsal," average; Buakirk and Rich, musical comedians, pleased and scored; Mc- Lain Sisters, singers and dancers, are poor sing- ers; but good dancers; the Riceobono Horses are far above the average of trained horses, and were the feature of the evening; Thelma and Fowler, operatic change artists, made good; Cor- nalla and Eddie, Juggling comedians, took well. The performance closed with the one-act comedy, "A Night's Frolic," in which all the company takes part. MONUMENTAL (Joe Kernan, mgr.) —Week 23, The Alcazar Beauties to fair bouses. The opening number Is entitled "The Romance of a Suit Case," with some laughable climaxes. The olio constats of the Ley on s, in their comedy skit, "The Census Taker," good; Kelly and Bart- lett, eccentric acrobatic comedians, fair; Sawtell and Sears, singers and dancers, scored heavily; Halght and Dean, In their funny sketch, "A Misfit Meeting," received a hearty welcome by the audi- ence; Frank and Howard, aa the "German and the Cowboy," atrong hit. The entertainment closed with the burlesque, "A Midnight Dream," In which the entire company took part. NOTES.— Manager W. I. Ballauf, of the Gayety, will give benefit performances for the San Francisco suf- ferers Thursday, Friday matinee and Friday night. He saya that he will realize a nice sum.—Man- ager Jaa. L. Kernan will sell special tickets, good for exchange at their face value for reserved seats at any of hla four playhouses for Friday after- noon for the benefit of the San Francisco suffer- ers.—Ethel DarreH, of the Rentz-Santley Com- pany, will spend her vacation with her mother at her home in Kansas City. G. J. WOLFF. BATTLE CREEK, MICH. BWOU (W. &'. Butterfleld, mgr.)—Margaret Severance, comedienne, Is very clever, making sev- eral changes In her costume, and her lmpersnna- tlona are very good; Beaaie Champion, a local singer, took charge of the Illustrated songs, sing- ing them In a very pleasing manner; Helen T*ren- vllle, lyric soprano, has a very pleasing voice: Mohler and Baxter are two young men who make up as blackface newsboys, doing some good sing- ing and dancing N. RITCHWB. BUFFALO, N. Y. SHEA'S (If. Sltea, mgr.)—Business good week 23. The Columbians, very pleasing act; Linden Beckwlth, very good voice, poor enunciation; Gertrude Mansfield and Caryl Wilbur In "01 Pros pect Street," very good sketch cleverly acted; Waterbury Brothers and Tenny, very good; Moaher, Houghton and Mosber, best three men bicycle act ever seen here; Walter C. Kelly, very good; May Boley and the Polly Girls were fairly well received, hut as The Vllage Cut-tips scored a hit; Kitty Traney, excellent. BUI week of 30: Emma Cams, McMnhon's Watermelon Girls, Four Lukens, McMahon and Chappelle, Snyder and Buckley, Radford and Winchester and the klneto- graph. LAFAYETTE (Charles M. Bagg, mgr.) —May Howard's own company drew good houses week of 23. The burlesques are fairly good. Chorus good. The comedians. Max Lavelle, War- ren Locke and Edward Morris, are very good, especially the latter. Marlon and Thompson, cornetlsts, do a good musical specialty during the first burlesque. Olio exceptionally good. Casey and Craney, good act spoiled by poor singing. Their act In "one" Is much better than the sketch used the week before at the Temple Theatre. Russell and Locke, very good; The Musical Cralgs, excellent; Lavelle and Grant, very good. Week of 30: The Star Show Girls. GARDEN (Ed J. Carr. mgr.)—The Casino Glrla drew fairly good houses week of 23. The per- formance Is much better than when seen here earlier In the season. Tim Healy continues to make a big hit in the burlesques, which are very good. Sid Fern gets more laughs out of the German comedy part than George Yeoman did. A vivacious and comely chorus, well dressed. Is one of the best parts of the attraction. Grace Foster made a strong Impression with a small part In the burlesques. The olio: Allan Coogan, good; Garden and Somers, very good; Miss Dale Wilson, excellent; The Philadelphia Four. good. The comedy of Sid Fern Is the best part of the act. Belle Gordon, the beat In her line of work. Week of 30: The Gay Masqueraders. LINN'S MUSEUM (Dr. Hugh J. Linn, mgr.)—Business continues to be very good. Frank Farron, Dolly Dimple, a clever and magnetic little Miss, and Professor Jamison's dogs were the acts that made the bill week of 23 the best ever seen at this house. Bill for week of 23 Includes Shaw and Shaw. Orla Valyare. Bessie Nltran, Thomas H. O'Nell and If. Hamlin. NOTES.—T. J. Farron, Jr., is up and around with the bovs again, after being 111 with Brlght'a disease since Christmas Day. He has formed a partnership with C. J. Murray and they will furnish con- cerslona at many of the near-by summer resorts this coming season. T. J. Farron. Sr., has re- turned from San Francisco, where he went to settle up an estate. He fortunately left there Just a few days before the lamentable calamity. Tim Healy. the leading comedian of The Casino Girls company, received a telegram from Syra- cuse the 24th. stating that hla wife was on her death bed at the Women's and Children's Hospital from an operation for appendicitis. Al- though he left for Syracuse Immediately he ar- rived too late to see hla wife breathe her last. She was burled April 25 at St. Agnes Cemetery, many Eagles attending the funeral. Mrs. Heaiv was known professionally as Ella Farnum. of Healy and Farnum. CHIME. BURLINGTON. IA. GARRICK (Vic Hugo, mgr.).—The bill for this week wss very strong, Including Raader-Levelle Trio, acrobatic cyclists, who please at all per- formances; Trask and Roger'a Black Face Min- strel Entertainers, made a hit; Tom Hefron. very good; The Llpplncotts. a very clever team of sing- ing and dancing artists, well received; Vesta Montrose made good with her illustrated song en- titled "The Preacher and the Bear." Blograph closes the show. Business excellent. D. G. C. CINCINNATI. O. COLUMBIA (M. C. Anderson, mgr.)—The offer- ing this week Is one of the best this season, some acts appearing here for the first time. Sadl Alfa- rabl, equilibrist, opened the bill with a clever turn; McCue and rah 111. songs, made a big hit; Mallory Brothers and Brooks A Halllday, musicians, sing- ers and dancers, have an excellent turn, and divid- ed the honors of the real headllners with Sidney Deane A Co.. who presented "Christmas on Black- well's Island." Both turns scored heavily. Sisters Rappo, dancers, are hard workers and clever. Blanche Mebaffey scored a distinct hit. She has a rich soprano voice. Nat Haines, monologue act, was a hummer, and he kept the audiences in an uproar. Louis A. Simon and Grace Gardner A Co. presented their farce, "The New Coachman." which has been seen here before. It has been greatly Improved, the coarser parts being entirely eliminated. Mr. Simon made a great impression as a comedian. Next week: Marshall P. Wilder, Georgia Gardner and Joseph Maddern, Emmett DeVoy A Co., Dlonne Twin Sisters, Rosa Ire A Doretto, Beatrice McKenzle A Co.. Phyllis Allen and Melville A Conway. STANDARD (Charles B. Arnold, mgr.)—Rice and Barton's Rose Hill English Folly company. In "A Knight of the Red Garter." was well received. The performsnee Is the same as was given earlier In the season and scored heavily. George W. Rice and T. F. Thomas did all the comedy work. In the olio Blanche Newcombe more than made good. John E. Cain, blackface comedian; Wheeler and Evans, the Bison City Quartet and Van Brothers presented their usual turns. Next week, Transatlantic Bur- lesquers. PEOPLE'S (James E. Fennessy, mgr.) —"Yankee Doodle" Girls, T. W. Dlnkins, mgr. The performance began with a burlesque named "Misfitable Insurance," In which Frank Murphy did all of the comedy work. The company Includes George Guhl, Jack Magee, Louis Schoenwork, Myron Baker, Anna Yale, Sadie Huested. Franclno LeMarcbe, Annie Rooney, Gertrude Morton, Irene Goodwin, Olive Henry, Mabel Bellwood, Eva Bar- rlngton. Nellie Leno, Louise Harris, Alice Curtis, Maud Black, Mllll Fayette. Carrie Lawrence, Rose Davenport and Gladys LaMolne. The closing num- ber, "A Trip to the Hippodrome," was pleasing In spots, but on the whole waa poor. The olio had a few redeeming features, among which were Fox A Duball, dancers, who perform some marvelous steps. Guhl and Yale have a pleasing turn In "The New Professor." Etta Victoria, contortionist, la very clever, but spoils what otherwise Is a good act by a vulgar disrobing part. Murphy and Ma- gee, Irish comedians, had the house In an uproar. Schoenwork, magician, la a clever entertainer, but could eaaily make hla act go without keeping In the "Chatterbox" stakes. The Baker Troupe, cyclists, do an ordinary turn In looping the gap, but the balance of their turn Is a real headline act. Next week: Kernan and Rlfe'a Baltimore Beauties, with Edna Davenport, Martini and Maxlmlllian, Armstrong and Bertrand, Glenroy and Hughes, Margaret Baxter and the Zarrow Troupe, cyclists, aa a special added attraction. NOTES.—A ape- clal performance was given by Managers Anderson A Ziegler Tuesday afternoon for the benefit of the San Francisco sufferers. Eva Tanguay donated the services of herself and company and other perform- ers volunteered. Among those who appeared we.-e the Rappo Slaters, McCue and Cahlll and Eva Tanguay. A neat sum waa cleared. Manager John H. Havlln, Richard Mansfield. Hon. George B. Cox, H. M. Ziegler and M. C. Anderson, Jos. Rhlnock, of the 8ulllvan-Conaidlne Circuit, and the Schubert Theatrical Company each purchased seata, paying $100 apiece for them. H. HESS. DENVER, COL. (By telegraph.) ORPHEUM (Martin Beck. gen. mgr.)—There is another week of good business to record, and the bill 23 Is a capital one throughout. Elizabeth Spencer and company In "Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, Detective," has a capital act which received a good round of applause. Eva Mudge, "the Mili- tary Maid," makes some quick character changes that/ caught the fancy of the house and at nearly every performance she was forced to make a curtain speech when her act was exhausted. Fos- ter and Foater, In "The Volunteer Pianist." are not only good singers, but they offer a capital brand of comedy and have encores to save up for future use. Watson and Morlsaey were one of the weak spots on the bill. They have little to offer In the singing and dancing line and leave the stage to no applause. Rose and Ellis have a regulation barrel Jumping act with no novelties to enliven the hackneyed tricks. They did not command much attention. The Great Francellas in light and heavy balsncing and Juggling, show both strength and dexterity and in both depart- menta won the approbation of the house. Valerie Bergere and company In "His Japanese Wife" are doing much better than they did last week In "Carmen." A apeclal Japanese setting en nances the plcturesqueness of the act and the sketch la a decidedly lntereating one. affording Miss Bergere greater scope than Is offered in the other piece. The Kinodrome closes aa usual. F. H. KEPLEY. black face monologue, waa poor. The amoving pic- tures were fair. Friday, 20th, a benefit was ten- dered Jack Roepke, the assistant manager. The Bijou will be painted and refitted during the sum- mer and will open September 1. ROBERT L. ODELL. DES MOINES, IA. EMPIRE (M. J. Karger, mgr.)—Bill week of 2?, Including Nalada and company, present- ing "The Nymph of the Sea;" very clever and makes hit. Jennings and Jewell, who follow the footsteps of Weber and Fields, are good; Four Dancing Harris, good; Green Brothers, fair; Ver- den and Dunlap, a good laugh; Tllton and Hender- son, fair; Hallle White and Moving Pictures. Ca- pacity business. BIJOU (Fred Buchanan, mgr.) —Bill week 23: Sheck Brothera head the bill and make a hit. Rosco und Sims' musical act, good; Solora. fair; Turkey Boyd and Moving Pictures. Business good. H. V. REAVER. EASTON, PA. LYRIC (S. A. Meyers, mgr.)—The program week 23 was one of the best that has played this house. George Cunningham and Geneva Smith, presenting 'The Shoplifter." were well received. The tumbling of Mr. Cunningham was verj good; Karl Dugan, Illustrated songs, pleased; the Al beitya. head and hand balancers, made big hit; Camilla Parson!, singing comedienne, encored; Foster and his Dog Mike made big hit; Salmon and Cher-ter, singing costermongers, well received; Carrie Bowman and her Four Little Ginger Girls were the feature. The Klnetogruph closed. NOTE.—"Whltey" Mortz has resigned his posi- tion as stage manager to accept a position as operator for the Klnetograph Co. Harry Conger is now in charge behind the drop. MAC. ERIE, PA. PARK (M. Rels, mgr.)— For the week April 23 a varied bill drew excellent attendance. Cleota, a mind reader on the order of the Fays, waa the main attraction. The Toreador Trio with selec- tions from grand opera is one of the best musi- cal acts here In some time. Arthur and Bessie Krona do some good Juggling, but the comedy isn't ao good. Waldo Whipple In blackface seemed to please with hla songs and dances. Jessie Hereford, serpentine dances and poses, good. Bassett with his Imitations, good, and the Parkoscope concludes the program. NOTE— This house will play syndicate attractions next sen son under the same management. It will be rebuilt. L. T. BERLINER. FALL RIVER. MASS. SAVOY (Geo. Albert Haley, mgr.)—Thia week's bill marks the cloae of the vaudeville season and It la a bill that will leave lmpreaalona on many people until the ever popular vaudeville la once more continued. The business at thla house for the past two weeks has been enormous. The head- line act la Staley and Blrbeck, a musical sensa- tional act that waa good. Another headline num- ber la Mr. and Mra. Sydney Drew In their comedy success, "When Two Hearts are One." It Is a captivating sketch, full of merriment. Fred Ray and company, In burlesque, made a big hit, aa did Cora Grey. The Arlington Comedy Four are good singers and two of the quartet are excellent dancers. Frazler Trio pleased. Shaw closed with Max Wilson Trio showing some ex- cellent feats In strength. Next week: Wright Huntington will present bis excellent stock company, headed by Alex Von Metzel and Eugenie Hayden, in "The Charity Ball." BOSTON (Chas. Scbleslnger, mgr.)—The shows at thla house seem to be gradually Improving. Thla week's bill Is headed by Dolly Clifford, who la eaaily the hit of the show. Olio Is good, consist- ing of Flora De Leon, Gorman and Francis, Albam- bra Four and Dolly Clifford. S. M. 8. FORT WORTH. TEX. MAJESTIC—Week 10, Arthur Demlng, blackface monologue, is good. His Jokes are new—aome of them. The Three Connolly Slstera, singers and dancers, give a fair turn, but their proper aphere la not quite ao high aa polite vaudeville. Burrows, Travis A Co. give a sketch that seems to please the majority. Cole and Cole, novelty acrobats, are good. La Gette does a trapeze stunt that la a little above the average. The Ramsey Slstera, with a musical turn, should not be allowed to ap- pear In public. Con ley and Maussey have appeared here before In the "Liberty Bellea." Their singing and imltattona are good enough. TARRANT. GLOUCESTER CITY, N. J. EMPIRE (Jaa. E. O'Brien, mgr.)—BUI 23 In- cluded The Fraleya, alngers n..d dancers, big hit; Billy Bowers, character comedian, encored; Mark- wood and Neal, sketch artists, strong hit; Massey and Massey, comedians and dancers, good; The Fords, singing sketch, big bit. BRIGHTON (Chaa. B. Young, mgr.)—Bill week 23 Includes Anna Wright, vocalist, good; Seymour Slstera, singers and dancers, big hit; Marie Abendona, setio comic, good; Myrtle Young, refined songs and dances, strong hit; Reese Le Roy, musical artist, good; Hettle Reynolds, vocalist, takea well. Note —The concert balls and summer theatres along the beach are undergoing extensive re- pairs, the season opening about May 15. B. 8. L. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. GRAND OPERA HOUSE (E. C. Burroughs, rea. mgr.) Week 22, the Mexican Gonzales, who are singers from the Mexican Opera Company, gave several operatic numbers. This act, being some- thing out of the ordinary here, took the audience by storm. Frank Comar, in a novelty wire act, pleased; Mills and Lewis, Dutch comedians, sang some good parodies; Harry Baker baa a fair musical act; Jack O'lbole, in Illustrated songs, la favorably received; McGee and Collkus, In a comedy sketch, get the laughs. The Kinodrone closes the bill with some good moving pictures. SMITH'S OPERA HOUSE (Mrs. W. B. Smith, mgr.)- -Week 22. Williams' Ideals opened to good business. The burlesque is good for many laughs. Among the speclaltiea the Livingstone Family of acrobats tarry off the honors. Next week. Sam Devere's own company. NOTES.—On April 23 the Grand Opera House turned over the entire receipts of the mntlnee for the San Francisco relief fund. C. II. HALLMAN. EVANSVILLE, IND. BIJOU (George Selllnger. mgr.)—This popular theatre closed for the season the 22d with the fol- lowing bill: Fantatla Midgets, musical act, only fair, although tbey were billed aa the feature act. Dick Lynch, In comic illustrated songs, took th • house by storm, as did Lizzie Wilson In Dutch comedy. Haverly and McUae were good in their comedy sketch. Prof. Robertson with his trained dogs was well received. Harry Von Foasen, In HARTFORD, CONN. POLLS (Lonls E. Kllby, mgr.)—Week 23, the Hungarian Hussar Band, composed entirely of boys, was fin", and their American Patrol brought rounds of applause. Flske and Nellie McDonough had a pleasing sketch; Nettie Vesta makes a pleasing stage picture and sings very nicely; Tom N'awn and Miss Appelle, in their sketch, "A Bit of Nature," were good; Carroll Johnson gave pleasing recollections of the days when be starred with the big troupes, and received a big band; Ma It hewn and Ashley, in a sketch, "A Smashup in Chinatown," show what an effect opium baa; the Two Meers, in comedy wire work, did aome novel and startling stunts. WILLIAM II. RHODES. KANSAS CITY, MO. OBPHEUM (Martin Beck, gen. mgr.)—Week of 22, this playhouse played to big business with Foy and Shields as beadlinera in a very funny sketch entitled "The Modern Jonah," Frank and Bob, as slated by "Tip." a wonderfully well trained fox terrier, give an excellent acrobatic performance; La vine and Waltone present an entertaining farce which Is a big go with the audience; Claudius Dane and Scarlet Melody furnish a musical en- tertainment on banjos; Mile. Chester and her dog give living pictures of hunting scenes; Burt and Bertha Grant, real "coon" entertainers, are good, the Sclplj Arger.antl Trio pleased with their se- lections from Italian operas. —CENTURY (Jo- seph Barrett, mgr.).—The Avenue Girls are dis- playing their charms to good business week 22, In a laughable skit entitled "A Trip to Bohemia." which Is both funny and entertaining; olio included some very good vaudeville turns; the Gregory Brothers have a novel hoop rolling act; Murphy and Reynolds appear In a comedy aklt; Olga Or- loff presented scenes from the everyday life of the fireman and policeman and made a hit; the second part Is full of tuneful numbers; the chorus Is well trained and comely. Week 20. Rellly and Woods Big Show.— MAJESTIC (Fred Waldmann, mgr.).