Variety (December 1907)

28 VARIETY IN THE DAYS OF LONG AGO By ARCHIE LEVY. San Francisco. Dec. 1. From the wall above my do,sk looks down upon me the counterfeit present- ment of, to my mind, the greatest of all minstrels, the late Billy Emerson. My thoughts go back many years to the day when he made his first appearance in. San Francisco, more years ago than I care to count. I was but a boy then, and the theatre wa9 Maguire's Opera House, on Washington street. The triumph of Emerson was immense and complete. His graceful dancing and melodious singing stirred the audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm and the building fairly shook with applause. That night was the beginning of a friendship between poor Billy Emerson and myself, only interrupted by his death. It was not until many years afterwards that I became associated with him in business. Billv had his faults, but I could see none of them. His "Big Sun Flower" and "His Love Among the Roses" made a stronger im- pression upon me than even Booth's '•Hamlet" or McCullough's "Virginius." It was to a certain extent my proud privilege to be the means of bringing Billy Emerson and Charley Heid together, (me day I wa,s standing outside the old Standard* Theatre on Bush Street talking with Emerson when Reid passed on the other side. ""Reid, in those days, was play- ing at the old Adelphia Theatre on Cali- fornia Street. The idea seized me that it would be a great picnic of good fortune to the public and of great benefit to them- selves if there were any way of bringing these two geniuses together. I quickly broached it to Emerson and I still remember hi,s words. "Have a talk with Charley." I stopped Reid in front of Con Mooney'i sporting emporium and the con- versation that took place was as follows: "Charley, how would you like to join Emerson's Minstrels ?" Charley looked at me and said: "What do vou think of it ?" My answer was "Charley, it will be the making ol you. Walk down the street and have a talk with Billy." Twenty-tour hours afterward^ Charley Reid signed a contract with Emerson to join his band of minstrels, and the fol- lowing season the three sheets announced "Emerson & IJeid's Minstrels." And these two Emperors of burnt cork trod the boards of the Standard Theatre for many a sea- son to the great joy of packed houses. My professional experience antedates ihv first meeting with Emerson bv several years. In fact, it goes back to 1872, when I was but 14 years old. I made my first professional debut then, and I declare that no ballroom belle, rouging and pow- dering herself for conquest, felt more elated than 1 when I .smudged my visage with burnt cork. In fact, if L .id consulted mv own inclinations I verilv believe I would have gone to Bleep in my sable coat. One of the bright particular stars in these early days was Johnny Mack, who long since went to that bourne from whence no traveler returns. He was kind- ness itself to me and most liberal with good advice. "Archie, boy," he said to me, "if you are going to stick to the profession, be resolved to acquire and beget temperance. Avoid liquor as you would the devil. Work hard and whatsoever your hands find to do, do with all your might. Be true to yourself, be true to your fellow beings and never go against the dictates of your INNESS AND RYAN. THE TENNIS TRIO. (Will Campbell and Stock Sisters.) Who on their arrival from the West met with instantaneous success In the Kast :- They present one of the prettiest Juggling acts In vaudeville, carrying an elaborate stage setting (Japan garden ■cenet and an extensive wardrobe. The act is well booked up on the United time and Is under the sole management of Mr. JACK I.KVY. conscience." This is advice which I have always tried to follow, and I may be pardoned if I say, with a fair amount of success. My faith in my idol received a severe /shock a few days after when I perceived him staggering down the street very much under the influence of liquor. He was sufficiently sensible to notice my look of horror and amazement, and in the thickest of speech said: "Damn it, kid, don't do as I do, but do as I say." Verily, the past decade has wrought a marvelous change, and the variety of the past is the vaudeville of the present, but only in name. The other day I glanced over the shoulders of the press agent of our leading vaudeville house in this city, and beneath his advertisement the in- structions were "The names of all artists to be set in caps." "Artist,s" forsooth! In my young days they were "perform- ers," but then everything has changed, and I suppose for the better Contrasting the days of the variety, actor of the past with those of the pres- ent. Nowadays a performer's—I beg par- don, artist's work averages from 15 to 20 minutes, and at a time when the finan- cial .situation h most serious, when the big banks, corporation! and companies are discharging their liabilities with Clearing House certificates, the vaudeville manager promptly pays his salaries and claims in gold coin. Truly, the vaudevillian of the present is flourishing in a golden era. Now $75 per week is considered a paltry salary, JfrHM) to $.">II0 per week a medium one, while a very few artiatl receive as much as $2,500 per week. In the days of long ago $17.50 was tho +75 salary of to-day, and the recipient of $25 or $.'{0 per week was a man to be envied. And then the work. Picture on the P. 0. side a notice which rend: x x : PERFORMERS, TAKE NOTICE! : Your services belong to the einent from the rise fall of the curtain. : Management from the rise to the : Charles luuess and Maude S. Ryan coniixtse the vaudeville act known a* Inness and Ryan, noted for its entertaining qualities. A marked feature also of the luness and Ryan offering It the cos- tumes of Miss Ryan. She is said to change her dress more often and more swiftly while on the stage than anyone engaged in the same line of amusement endeavor. Mr. Inness Is a singing and dancing comedian, well dressed in harmony with the expensive gowns provided hy Miss Ryan, and the act Is a popular number wherever It plays. Last week at Keith's, Philadelphia, Inness and Ryan were credited with a very large sized and solid hit. : x x Artists of to-day! Those of you who repent your same 10, 15 and 20 minutes, year in and year out, sit up and take notice while 1 tell you what WE variety performers were up against in the Days- Gone-By. First part 00 minutes. Specialty 10 " Interlude act 20 ** Specialty 10 " Middle act 18 " Afterpiece 30 " Total 178 (Three hours, lacking 2 minutes.) Of course, we were not as good as you! Oh, dear, no! We were "dubs." Now, listen to the names of some of the "dubs": Lew Claps (now Lew Lotta. Dockstader). Bobby Newcome. Francis Wilson. Tommy Rosa. Eddie Foy. Waldo Whipple. Junie McCree. Billy Manning. Williams and Walker.Geo. H. Coes. Ross and Fenton. Luke Schoolcraft. Canfield and Booker. Ainslee Lewis. Welch and Rice. Reynold Bros. Joe Murphy. Sen. Bob Hart. Many of the above have signed their {Continued on ^a^c 85.) HOWARD TRUESDELL. Howard Truesdell, who with Mrs. Truesdell left tlie legitimate ranks four years ago, la naturally pnnid of their sucoess In vnudevllle. They owe this success to their splendid legitimate methods, and rorrect dressing. Mrs. Truesdell. through Illness, has retired for this season, but will again take up the reins with her husband at the opening of next season. They have in preparation a novelty sure to find the high commendation of the vaudeville piddle. Their present season la booked solid Into June nfe&t.