Variety (March 1911)

VARIETY «3 Mosetta return* to England 14, wh«rt he will open a week later at the Coliseum. Tom Roblnaon left the "Rents-Bantley" ahow here last week. Count De Beaufort returned to vaudeville last week, having eecured time from Frank Q. Doyle. After Lulu Glaeer "Jumped" the ehow, "The "The Girl and the Kalaer" wae advertised as being preeented by "a splendid unhampered cast." Adolph Marks, the well-known theatrloal lawyer. Is a candidate for Judge of the Cir- cuit Court, at the forthcoming spring election. Margaret Maclyn has succeeded Mra Chaa Wlllard In the cast of "Get Rich Quick Wal- llngford" at the Olympic. "Love and Politics" Is the renamed and revised version of "The District Leader." which Joe Howard Is preparing to present at the Colonial when Julian Bltlnge departs. He has been negotiating, respectively, for the Grand, Princess and Btudebaker, but It seems likely the Colonial. Katherlne Stevenson, a Chicago choir singer, has been given a role In "When Sweet Six- teen," at the Chicago Opera House, and now sings the "Rosalind" song; her professional Initiation. Chicago folk are rather numerous In "The Merry Widow" at McVlckers: Mabelle Ar- iel la plays Natalie; Geo. Dramel, May Helmuth and Myrtle Vail all olalm "Wlndytown" resl- dencea The Bell theatre, booked by Henry Brown, leaves the vaudeville field SO. Specialties will be replaced by a stook company. J. K. O'Nell, manager of the house, states that the patrons requested this move. Frank Q. Doyle has added two more houses to his string of bookings. The Royal, Deca- tur, opened last Monday evening. It will play three acts and pictures at 10-10. The Crys- tal, Logansport, opens 17. playing six acts, prices 10-20-30. Moving pictures will not be a feature of the bllla The new Parkway theatre on North Clark street and Dlversey Boulevard, will open April 17 and be added to the list of houses booked by the W. V. A. Dowaglac, Mich., still remains under the smallpox quarantine declared two weeks ago. For both weeks Karl J. Co* had to withdraw the shows booked In, placing the m elsewhere, Frank Thlelan and Louis Goldberg have purchased a part interest In the Fox theatre, Aurora, 111. The California bookings go to the Earl Cox office this week. Walter De Orlo left here last Friday evening for St Louis, where he Is making arrange- ments to take charge of the Eastern Theat- rical Exchange and the handling of all Frank A. Talbot's housea Mr. De Orlo will also establish a park and fair department* The explosion of black powder and dynamite which wiped out the plant of the Du Pont Powder Co., and the entire village of Pleas- ant Plains, Wla, some six miles from here, shook the earth and created near-panics In several theatres In Chicago and this vicinity. The audiences were Just being seated last Thursday evening at 8.16 when the demonstra- tion occurred. At the legitimate theatres the orchestras had all "rung In" and were play- ing when the vacuum created by the explo- sion sucked open the Ore escape doors and shook the asbestos curtains At the Black- stone. Whitney and Colonial the curtains were twisted and violently shaken. At the Illinois, Rose Stahl came before the curtain and quiet- ed the audience, when the steel curtain which was Just being raised fell shaken by the shock. At the Majestic Mildred Grover and Dick Richards were doing their specialty. Miss Orover having Just started a song when the doors flew open. The audience started to raise from Its seats, but Miss Grover stuck to her song, while Richards banged the piano with renewed vigor; the house superintendent shout- ed for order, and when quiet was restored, Orover and Richards received a tremendous ovation while they were still singing the song which had tided over the scare. The first show at the 10-20's had gotten well under way when the rumble and shock stirred the audi- ences to excitement. Pat Rellly was playing his "war drama" at the Plaza when the shake- up came. The crash served as an extra piece of realism for his work. Hal Kelley was in the midst of his sketch at the Kedzle when the skylight turned turtle and dumped soot and cinders onto his head when the shock was felt. The Four Bards were on at the Hamlin; at the Instant of the quake they were in a "three-high" and the shock spilled the top-mounter from his customary adamant foot- hold, tumbling him to the stage. The Impe- rial's near-panic was Intensified by the house light being shaken out. The Virginia had Its glass doors demolished. The Wilson was shaken twice by the vibrations of the earth. People Inside started for the doors and met an Incoming delegation, much confusion at- tending. Within "The Loop" plate glass In many stores crashed to the sidewalk In smlth- ereena The fact that In many cases theatre audiences downtown had not all been seated probably prevented a disaster which In the middle of an act might not have been so easily averted. The effect of the shock was felt most In the North Side 10-20's, as that section of town lies nearest to the scene of the explosion. Chlcagoans have not been so badly frightened In the memory of the oldest Inhab- itant. Sam Baerowltz, who was lately connected with the Wm. Morris office here, has Joined Lee Krause. The Scbwarts theatre, the legitimate house In Waukegan, IIL, plays vaudeville Thursday night of this week. The policy will continue the remainder of the season. The W. V. A. will book. A. A. Freudenfeld, who operates a vaudeville house at Waukegan. pulled away from the Association recently. PHILADELPHIA By FORREST (Thomas M. Love. mgr. K. A E.) —The long expeoted and happily looked for visit of "Madame Sherry*' was made this week and an audience which completely filled the big playhouse, weloomed the "Madame" and all her lavish surroundings with unstinted praise and the warmest recognition. The mu- sic appeared to delight everybody and there was much honor bestowed upon the authors and those responsible for the production. The Austrian prima donna Una Abarbanell, scored a distinct triumph. There was special honor for Elisabeth Murray, a Phlladelphlan, and a former vaudeville favorite here, Edwin Stev- ens, Violet Dale, Jaok Gardner and othera "Madame Sherry's" stay here ought to prove a continuation of the phenomenal business en- Joyed by "The Pink Lady" during Its four weeks' run. BROAD (Frank Nlrdllnger, mgr.; K. A E.). —"The Twelve Pound Look," a drama In one act, by James M. Barrle. was presented for the first time In this olty, with Ethel Barry- more In the principal role. The new piece Is well written, and In conjunction with the older Barrle comedy, "Allce-81t-By-the-Flre," was well received by a well-filled house. CHE8TNUT 8T. OPERA HOUSE (J. Fred Zimmerman, mgr.; K. A. E.).—81xth and final week of "Seven Day a" Business fair. GARRICK (Frank Howe, Jr., mgr.; K. A B.).—"The Fortune Hunter." Sixth week. Play Is still drawing heavily and winning much favor. WALNUT (Frank Howe, Jr., mgr.; K. A E).—"The Country Boy." Tenth week. Busi- ness continues very good. ADELPHI (Adolphe Mayer, mgr.; Bhubert). —Wm. Hodge, In "The Man From Home." Eighteenth and final week. Business has fallen off, but the play has had a remarkable run here. LTRIC (Walter Sanford, mgr.; Bhubert).— Sam Bernard, In "He Came From Milwaukee." Third and final week. Business fair. GRAND OPERA HOUSE (J. Dayton Wege- farth. mgr.; Stair A Havlln).—"My Cinder- ella Girl," farcical play with music, In three acts, by Richard Walton Tully and Robert N. Baker; muslo by William Frederick Peters. First time In this city. Plenty of laughs and pleasing to big house for the opening night CHESTNUT ST. (Grant Laferty, mgr.).—Or- pheum Players, In "The Two Orphans." Play well presented. Opened well. NATIONAL (J. M. Kelly, mgr.; Stair A Havlln).—"At the Old Cross Roada" ARCH 8T. (Max Thomashefsky. mgr.).— Yiddish Stock Company In repertoire. ELEVENTH ST. O. H. (Frank Dumont, mgr.).—Dumont's Minstrels, In burlesquea HART'S (John Hart, mgr.; booked direct).— "The Adventures of Polly." KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr.; agent, U. B. O.).—It is seldom that two sketches will do as much for a bill as the new offerings of Frank Keenan and Agnes Scott did for the show here this week. Keenan's new sketch, "Man to Man," Is a great Improvement over the one he recently offered here, and it gives this clever actor greater opportunity along legitimate lines than In the over-drawn char- acter he portrayed In "The Oath." The other sketch was "Drifting," In which Agnes Scott, who wrote It, acted one of the two charac- ter It Is one of vaudevlIWs prettiest play- lets With the two sketches of widely differ- ent character well placed In the bill. Lou Anger, "The German Soldier," developed an attack of appendicitis on his way here from the south and was forced to cancel. Fred Du- pres was pressed Into service at short notice, and made good In solid fashion with his snappy monolog and songa Duprei has a lot of material which Is fresh here and with his style of delivering it makes It sure-fire. He had to open with a little explanation of his presence on the bill, but soon had his audi- ence with him and finished strong. It was sort of a novelty to find Frank R. Van Hoven In the opening position, but It seemed to suit the "dippy" magician as well as any other spot. He pleased those who were already seated and made the late-comers wonder what It was all about, between the two pulling down a nicely balanced hit. Williams and Segal, with their neatly dressed dancing act, did very nicely. The Primrose Four Is a much Improved act since last seen. The big bunch of harm on tiers have altered the dressing, which Is a strong mark In their favor, and their singing Is good enough to place them right at any time. Belle Blanche returned with practically a new act since her last ap- pearance here. She Is still doing Imitations of well-known stage favorites, selecting sev- eral she has used before and going In strong for the Tanguay number with a copy of Eva's golden-brown cloak and a verse of "Per- sonality." Miss Blanche also takes a light whack at those who do not like to be Imitated in one of her songs. She used "Every Little Movement" from "Madame Sherry" and "My Hero" from "The Chocolate Soldier,' announc- ing both. Her "Telephone Girl" bit brought liberal reward. Miss Blanche was well re- ceived. The Tasmanlan Van Dlemans. with their showy aerial and teeth act and Bradna and Derrick's splendidly mounted and executed riding act added plenty of color to* the bill and won considerable favor. muoh exaggerated, of course, but Just as non- sensical as It has been described. Probably that Is the reason why it was adopted by the man In the aot offered by the Fergusons. There Is a woman In the act, too. but she takes no chances on the harem thing, though she cuts up a few acrobatic stunta The Fer- gusons' act Is nonsense from start to finish, being a mixture of talk and comedy action. but It brought laughs In good voluma Panama, a dancer, was the featured act this week. Phasma Is not very strong on the dancing. moving about the stage with waving skirts, while lights of various colors are thrown from various anglea The effeot Is pretty. Phasma takes no chances of exposing Identity, being content with what the well-staged and rather elaborate scenic effects do for the act. It makes a showy number for small tlma Henry and Llzsell offered a bit of dancing by the girl and some corking ground tumbling by the man. James C. Dixon scored strongly with his songa Dixon is of the old sohool and knows how to put It over. His character song revived memories of the old act of Dixon and Lang, and the warbling went Just as well as ever. Dixon was with Sam Howe's "Lovemakers" early this season. The Three Keenans hove something away from the usual run of dancing and singing turns, but It Is offered In such shape that they are working against their own ohancea The Idea Is a good one, but the boys and girl will need a lot of drilling before they can put It over right The girl has a pleasing voice, but cannot read llnea The big blue bow worn on the simple white dress should be sent back to the five and ten cent store, where she probably got It when she quit her Job to Join hands with the dano- Ing act fired from a "pop" house next door, this forming the story of the act As they are working now, they are spoiling a good dancing act and a single whloh has been mak- ing good. Alberta and Wulfken offered a bit of contortion and a strength act The woman does the bending on a raised platform and then disappears to allow the man to swing gents from the audience around In the air while they grip his hair. He also bounoes chairs on his own head without apparent Injury. It looks like Infringing on the work of a fellow called "Barry," but It Isn't It's a novelty and got over well. The Queens did nicely with a too classy singing turn. James Reynolds pleased with talk and some stepping, and Hamilton and Howlett's musical act was .. .iKi-d. Plotures ss usual. LIBERTY (W. M. Taylor, mgr.; agent Tay- lor A Kaufman).—May Ward ."the Dresden Doll"; The Stoddarts In "The Absent-Mlnded Professor"; Hanson A BIJou; Stelnert Trio; Walter Perolval A Co.. la "King for a Night"; plctui VICTORIA (Jay Mastbaum. mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The much talked of "harem" skirt made Its appearance this week, PALACE (Jules E. Aronson, mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The seven-act policy re- cently adopted here, has Improved the showa This week's bill went up another notch toward the high grade. The signs feature the Mal- vern Troupe of five acrobats and they deserve It, for It Is about one of the best ever seen on the small tlma They do not get far from the usual routine, but work smoothly and cleanly, the work of the youngster who does the top-mounting being especially worthy. Emma Don and Co won a liberal share of the honors with a sinning act she has built up to extensive proportions for the Palace grade of houses. The woman stands out strongly for praise for her male Impersonations. Some of the leaders on the big time might look her over. Miss Don seems to be reaching for a portion of the kind of applause stuff in the tableaux song which she finishes with and the Introduction of a youthful singer. The latter sings well enough to get along without any excuses being made.. It Is a good act Wills and Barron were a good-sized laughing hit with their familiar comedy sketch. The O'Neill Trio scored nicely with singing and dancing. The boys have their offering In good shape with the exception of their exlta There Is no evident need of their leaving the stage at all until finished. They went well. La Salle and Llnd offered a corking club Juggling act, featuring some excellent exchange work with four clubs. The boys dress neatly In outing suits and they have not far to go to reach the better tlma The Aerial Fosters have a showy act, having worked out a rou- tine of teeth tricks which they can do clev- erly. There is a new girl In the act of the Stepping Trio. She's a nffce little girl, too. but has left her dancing teacher a bit too early. The boys might return to learn some new stuff while the girl Is shaping up her part of the act. The Improvement In the shows seems to have struck the film depart- ment, too. This week there are a couple of pictures that are really worth sitting through, the "Baby Fortune Hunters" being a gem. BIJOU (Joseph Dougherty, mgr.; agent, V. B. O.).—Una Clayton and Players. In "His Lo- cal Color"; Musical Halleeys; Clark A Verdi; Ryan A Tucker; George Clark; R. F. Moore; pictures. WILLIAM PENN (Geo. Metzel, mgr.; agent. Fltzpatrlck Agency).—Mr. A Mrs. 8adler, in "A Night at Home"; Four Musical Luclera; The Hylands; Fagln, Merlck A Thurston; Nev- Ins Troupe; Donta A Delta; Montgomery A Wilson; pictures. PARK (F. G. Nlxon-Nlrdlinger. mgr.; agent, Nlxon-Nlrdlinger Vaudeville Agency).— TIio Merediths; Barron A Whltehouse; Lester, Burger A Lester; Dr. Gwynette; Terry Twins; Alhcr's Bears; George Nagle A Co.; Yama- mato Japs; plcturea PKOPLE'S (F. O. Nlxon-Nlrdlinger, mgr.; agent, Nlxon-Nlrdlinger Vaudeville Agency).— Perry & Elliott; La Belle Clark's Horse; Two Sterlings; "The Operator"; The College Duo; Mnble Bardlne A Co.; pictures. NIXON (F. O. Nlxon-Nlrdlinger, mgr; agent. Nlxon-Nlrdlinger Vaudeville Agency).— Bardlrk's dancers; Mac Orths; Tldmarsh A Co., In 'The Littlest Girl"; White. Pelzer A White; Clarice Trio; Mr. A Mrs. Harry Hyde A Co.; pictures. .11 MMo <n. W. Hagner, mgr.; agent, Nlxon- Nlrdlinger Vaudeville Agency).—Agnes Ahern A Co.: Tant-an A Claxton; Robinson A Fan- chettf; Brostlol's Ponies. Second half: Mu- sical Deyo: Alvln A Wood; "The Operator"; Bristol's Ponies: pictures. STANDARD (F. O. Nlxon-Nlrdlinger, mgr ; agent, Nlxon-Nlrdlinger Vaudeville Agency).— Joe Mole A Dro ; Brooks A Wilson; Musical Deyo; Avi-lln A Wood; pictures. FOREPAUGH'S (Miller A Kaufman, mgra; agenta Taylor A Kaufman).—Gotham City Quartet; Musical Vinos; Gertrude Flske A Candy Kids; Chlo A Chlolets; Spauldlng; Du- pree A Ted; Foster A Brown; ploturea COLONIAL (F. Wolfe, mgr.; agents. Taylor A Kaufman).—Harrington, Mildred A Lester; Owley A Randall; Percy A Emma Pol look; Papo A Uno; Brown, the Indian; plcturea GIRARD (Kaufman A Miller, mgra; agenta Taylor A Kaufman).—Terry Elmer A Co.; Mo- Cune A Grant; Stewart A Toung; The Tan- akas; Tascott Second half: Post Card Al- bum; Murphy A Andrews; Mr. A Mra Lavar- nle; L. A. Street A Co.; Steward A Stevenson; plcturea EMPIRE (Stanford A Western, mgra; agenta Taylor A Kaufman).—Poet Card Al- bum; Murphy A Andrews; Mr. A Mra Frank Lovarnle; L. A. 8treet A Co. Second half: Terry Elmer A Co.; McCune A Grant; Stewart A Young; Tascott; ploturea GEM (Morris A Anoke, mgra; agenta Tay- lor A Kaufman).—Searles A George; Downey AAshton; Beth Stuart. Second half: Mar- tin A Beck; Rltter A Bovey; Mae Francis; plcturea TWENTY-NINTH ST. PALACE (C, H. Kell- ner, mgr.; agents, Taylor A Kaufman).—The Rltchles; Rltter A Bovey; Maud Maohen. Second half: Searles A George; The Tanakas; Leona LaMsr; plcturea AURORA (Donnelly A Collins, mgra; agenta Taylor A Kaufman).—Sa Hara; Cole A Clem- mons; Stewart A Stevenson; Frank Bolo. Sec- ond half: Downey A Ashton; Leech Trio; Goodman A Green; Fred Oirard; ploturea DIXIE (J. Labell. mgr.; agenta Taylor A Kaufman).—Stan Stanley A Bro.; Martin A Mack; Marsello A Wolf; Warren A Dala Sec- ond half: Mldgeley A Elton; The Stanleys; The Rltchles; Frank Bolo; plcturea MANHEIM (Fuhrman Broa, mgra; agents, Taylor A Kaufman).—Power's Elephant; Leech Trio; James A Ellis; Leona LaMar. Second half: Washer Broa; Cole A Clem- mons; Kelly A Ward; Fred La Sere; plcturea PLAZA (Chaa E. Oelschlager, mgr.; agent H. Bart McHugh).—Marvelous Mells; Simmons A Carmontell; Orth A Lllllam; Fred Morton; The Eagle and the Girl. LINCOLN (Daniel Bader, mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The Levolos; Wilson A Thurston; Petty A Prucell; Mlsunos Japa Last half: Alvares Duo; James Reynolds; The Parkers; The Llghtner. GLOBE (Ben Israel, mgr.; agent. H. Bart McHugh).—Hlgglns A Kelly Co.; Hurst A Kel- cey; Amgosa; Cutting. AUDITORIUM (W. C. Herchenrelder, mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The CIrteds; John O'Brien; La Telia Last half: DuFrayne A Thayer; Colorado Charlie; Sister A Cutting. GREAT NORTHERN (M. Greenwald. mgr.; agent, H. Bart McHugh).—The Osavs; Wes- ton Sisters; Two Norrlses; The Llghtner. Last half: The Aldeans; Three Harris Broa; Jaok- son A Margaret; Juggling Jewels. GERMANTOWN (Walter Stuemflg, mgr.; agent, Chaa J. Krause).—Transfleld Sisters; Joe Hortlse; Travis York; Bert A Emma Spears; Ugeno Japa Last half: Joe Hor- tlse; English A Carnahan, Jr.; Billy Ray; Three Ravens; The Laughing Horse. 63D STREET (Mr. Wheeler, mgr.; agent, Chas. J. Kraus. Lowell Drew A Co.; Andy Johns; Valdos; Dan. J. MoOarrlgan; Dorothy Randall. Last half: Tom Slddons; Rogers, Fontaine A Moore; Frisco Comedy Fourr Ugeno Japs. IRIS (M. J. Walsh, mgr.; agent. Chaa J. Kraus). —English A Carnahan. Jr.; The Laughing Horse; Three Ravens; Frisco Com- edy Four. Last half: Transfleld Sisters; Her- man Trio; Travis York; Bert A Emma Speara BROAD ST. CASINO (Mr. Jacobs, mgr.; agent. Chas. J. Kraus).—Electric Four; Zenos; George A Shelly; Jack Stockton. Last half: Electric Four; Mike Scott; Dorothy Randall; Lowell Drew A Co. CRYSTAL PALACE (D. Bayllnson, mgr.; agents, 8teln A Leonard, Inc.).—The La Van- Ions; Conroy A Nelson; The Hendersons; La- frasses; Ed. Howard; Mllmard Morris Trio; That Comedy Four. GRANDE (C. M. Rapoport. mgr.; agents. Rtein A Leonard, Inc.).—Kent Stock Co.; Mary Manning; Fred Elmore; That Comedy Four; Pike A Pike; The Howards; Henderson A Henderson. CRYSTAL PALACE. 7TH ST (8. Morris, mgr'.; agents, Bteln A Leonard, Inc.).—Anna Bond; Trent A Trent; Conroy A Nelson; Elsie Stlrkes. COLUMBIA (J. Fox. m»rr.; agents, Stein A Leonard, Inc.).—BIJou Sisters; The Kronas; English A Zelle; Nola Family; Crown Musical Duo; Warfleld A Campbell. LYRIC (D. Tyrrell. m K r.; agents. Stein A Leonard. Inc. ).--M. Marple Stock Co.; Ted Primrose; Hnrton A Wrlghton; Edna Doris. ALEXANDER (Ceo Alexander. mgr; agents. Stein A Leonard. Inc.).—Pike A Pike- (ieo. Leslie; N. Wagnor A Co.; The Smiths. AUDITORIUM (J. Olbson, mgr.; agents, fiteln A Leonard, Inc.).—King A Gillian; Mc- Kenzle A Peter; The Four Rolans. CASINO (Ellas A Koenlg, mgrs.).—"Dainty Duchess." OAYETY (John P. Eckhardt. mgr.).—"Love Makers." TROCADERO (Ram M. Dawson, mir ) — 'Whirl of Pleasure." Alfred G. Cooper, who has been playing the role of "Hezeklah Jinks" in 'The Country Hoy." nt the Walnut Street theatre, was called upon nt short notice Inst week to play the role of Tom Wilson, owing to the sudden Ill- ness of Dudley Hawley. The understudy ac- quitted himself admirably and made a gen- erally good Impression, handling the part clev- erly and without a miss. During Nat Wills' stay at Keith's last week. In- and Mrs. Wills (La Belle Tltcomb) toured