Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY 23 CORRESPONDENCE Unlcti otherwise noted, the following rcportt arc for the current week. m * MP" CHICAGO Representative ~ mmm ~ mm ~' m ~~ m ~' m ^ mmm '' mm ' VARIETY'S CHICAGO OFFICE: MAJESTIC TBEATRK BUILDING AMERICAN MUSIC HALL (A. Worm, mgr.; Shuberts).—"The Chocolate Soldier" doing nicely considering weather and season. Seats at a dollar. BLACK8TONB (Augustus J. Pltou. Jr., mgr.; K. * B.).—"The Senator Keeps House" opens for a run this week with William Crane topping. Up to date business has been rather good at the Blackstone, principally because of the calibre of the attractions playing that house. CHICAGO OPERA HOUSE (George Kings- bury, mgr.; K. * HL).—This week completes the engagement of the "Lonesome Pine" show. Next week Martin Beck makes his metropolitan debut as a legitimate producer when his "The Glass House", comes to the Opera House for a run. "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" has done quite well, although handicapped through being here during lent. COLONIAL (James J. Brady, mgr.; K. & E.).—"The Pink Lady" continues to capacity business despite favorable outdoor weather. CORD (U. J. Herrman, mgr.; Ind.).— "Ready Money" heading toward a prosperous run. The piece should remain here until moved by the hot weather. Business big. GARRICK (A. Worm, mgr.; Shuberts).— Robert Mantell in repertoire. Mantell may do It Several of our best stars have failed, meaning, of course, an uplift on the business end. GRAND OPERA HOUSE (Harry Hamlin, mgr.; K. St E.).—"Officer 666," one of the finest in town, doing big. Looks good for the balance of season. LA SALLE (Harry Askin, mgr.; Ind.).— "Louisiana Lou" has cracked the season's rec- ord and while business shows a slowing down, nevertheless the piece will outlive the season at the house. ILLINOIS (Will J. Davis, mgr.; K. * E.). —This week the new Augustus Thomas play, "When It Comes Home." for a trial. LYRIC (A. Worm, mgr.; Shubert).—"The Drama Players" going. William Brady an- nounces the arrival of Cyril Scott In a double bill. "The Best People" and "The Gods of the Mountain" for three weeka "The Drama riayers" have done much, that la to prove how few people can constitute an audience. No one will miss them. McVICKER'S (George Warren, mgr.; Ind.). —"The Gamblers" will complete the list of popular plays booked for McVlcker's and next week the Aborn Opera Company will arrive for a summer run. POWERS' (Harry J. Powers, mgr.; K. & E.).—John Drew, In "A Single Man." opening this week. OLYMPIC (Sam Lederer, mgr.; K. St E.).— "The Only Son" with Tom Ross moves from Powers' to the Olympic. Because of the fav- orable comments on the Ross comedy, It Is expected to remain at the Kohl-Castle house for the. rest of the season. STUDEBAKER (Edward Sullivan, mgr.; K. St E.).—"A Romance of the Underworld" elaborated by Paul Armstrong Into a three- act piece opened here this week for a run. PRINCESS (Mort Singer, mgr.; Ind.).— "Within The Law" arrives at the Princess this week following successful run of "Bunty Pulls the Strings," WHITNEY (O. H. Peers, mgr.; K. St E.).— Dark. BIJOU (Ellis Gllckman, mgr.).—Yiddish Stock. COLLEGE (E. T. Gleason, mgr.).—Stock. NATIONAL.—"The Test." OROWN.—"A Kentucky Romance.'* IMPERIAL—"Mutt and Jeff." GLOBE.—Borne dark. Billy Flemen, who opens In Detroit next week in a new act C. E. Bray. Kerry Meagher and Ben Rosen- thal will return here some time this week after a month's trip through the west. Upon their return a meeting of the Western Vaude- ville Managers' Association will be called and very likely something tangible will be an- nounced In reference to the "opposition" around this way. Murray Blee, a ten percenter who has b«en In business here for the past several years and at one time was an employee of William Mor- ris, Inc., is going to navigate to New York. Blee may possibly Interest himself in some theatrical venture in the east. For some reason or other he never could connect right out this way. If he ever does, something will drop. Miss E. K. Marble, a magaslne writer with considerable reputation, has completed two new vaudeville acts and arranged with the Beehler Brothers to produce them. Miss Mar- ble has been connected with many of the leading magaslnes and at one time was a staff writer for the Frank Leslie publications. This Is her first effort at stage work. B. S. Muckenfuss will close his offices in the Chicago Opera House Block within the next fortnight and pull out for New York, whers he will probably enter the agency business tor himself or become associated with one of the many offices there. Since severing connections with the Interstate Circuit, where he was booking manager for several years, Muckenfuss has been an outside agent here, but with a small field and large competition he found It impossible to operate as he wished. WILSON AVE. (M. Llcalsl, mgr.; agent. W. V. A.).—Fanny Rice; Conrad ft Whldden; Three Nevaros; Three Juggling Bannans; Powder ft Capman. Last Half: Tate's Mo- toring; Harry Thomson; Monroe Mack & Co.; Davis ft Walker; Esmeralda. A new booklet dealing on the labor question In 8an Francisco has been received here by J. C. Matthews of the Pantages office. Tho law states that children under age will not be permitted to take part In any professional entertainment within the state limits, and In order to appear at a concert, church social or academy gathering, a written permission will have to be secured from the Mayor of the city where the event takes place. A fine of not more than $260 or six months' Impris- onment, or both, will follow a conviction. The present labor commissioner, John P. McLaugh- lin, evidently means business. "The Divorce," the new William Anthony McQulre play which Rowland and Clifford will produce at the Whitney Opera House on April 20, Is the long-promised answer to Joseph Medlll Patterson's piece, "Rebellion." The drama depicts the horrible results of the numerous divorces and presents a picture wherein Is seen the terrible effects of the evil upon the next generation. "The Shepherd of the Hills,", a new show duplicating "The Rosary," opened last week in Valparaiso, Ind. The piece was taken from Harold Bell Wright's novel and was drama- tised by the author of the book and E. W. Reynolda It Is under the direction of Qaskell and McVltty. Franklyn Gale has returned to vaudeville after a season of one-nlghters with "The Third Degree" which closed recently In Du- buque. Joseph OMeara. another principal with one of "The Third Degree." is now with Count De Beaufort Is springing Into the spo'.llght again because of his wife's activity In her desire to lose the titled vaudevllllan. The Countess has applied for an absolute de- cree of divorce and the complaint will prob- ably tell the Inside story of De Beaufort's sudden desire to go Into vaudeville with his dog "Bob." The Count is somewhere in the east. Chicago having grown a little hot for him. If sufficient publicity is secured at the trial the neighborhood "pop" houses may en- dure the Count again for a trip or two around at ten cents a throw. Harry Bonnell is preparing to leave Chi- cago for the Pacific Coast, where he will be- come Interested with Charles Henderson in the production of the latter's legitimate en- terprlsea Henderson is about to launch three new attractions in addition to the two he now has out. The Aborn Opera Company, who come to McVlcker's next week, will offer "Aide" at the initial performance. It is announced that during the engagement over fifty principals will be heard, many of which are new to this city. The new shows visiting Chicago this week are "Within the Law," a new play by Bay- ard Velller, opening at the Princesa In the cast are Bmlly Stevens, William Mack, How- ard Hall and Andrew Robson. "When It Comes Home" comes to the Illinois with William Courtlelgh heading the cast. "A Romance of the Underworld" comes to the Studebaker with Hoi brook BUnn and John Drew opens at Powers' in the Davles comedy, "A Single Man." William Crane In "The Senator Keeps House" will drop into the Blackstone and Robert Mantell opens at the Garrick In a repertoire of Shakespearian playa The bars are up in the outer office of the Doutrick Booking Exchange, and for the first time in Doutrick's history as an agent, vaudevllllan* are halted at the entrance by a bold inscription on the bulletin board which forbids their heretofore promiscuous admit- tance. The new departure is the result of the visit of a thief who carried off a gold pair of eye glasses belonging to Charlie LaVlgne, and several other artlolea The thief also visited Walter Keefe's agency and made away with a suitcase full of valuable artlclea Up to date no one has been arrested on the case and It Is likely no one will, Inasmuch as friends of the chooser Intervened In his behalf. The Saratoga Cafe Is now decorated with a number of new booths running around the sides close to the walk. Manager Sebree thought the booth Idea good for summer, and will label his establishment the Saratoga Summer Garden Cafe hereafter. SAN FRANCISCO By ABT HICKMAN. ORPHEUM (Martin Beck, gen. mgr.; agent, direct).—Mclntyre ft Heath, riot; John Hen- shaw ft Grace Avery, laughing hit; Master David Schooler ft Louise Dickenson, scored; Three Shelvey Bros., capital; Tom Brown A Siren Nevarro; bit hit of the holdovers. Decora repeated previous week's success; Art Bowen, went big; Charles Kellogg, immense. PANTAGES (Alex. Pantages. gen. mgr.; agent, direct).—Joe Edmonds & Co. In "Naked Truth," ordinary; Zeb-Zarro Troupe, big hit; Nelson Leavltt ft Harriet Dursmulr, lively skit, well liked; Bryant ft Onslaw, well received In closing spot; Fisher ft Green, riot; Rube Strickland, scored: Parisian Sinters, opened and pleased; Capelll ft Capelll, added ' local number. EMPRESS (Sulllvan-Considlne, mgrs.; agents, direct).—George Auger, hit; Black & White, scored; Four Hodges, big hit; Jennings Renfrew, capital; Rice, Elmer & Tom. start- ling feats, liberal applause; Francis Byron & Co. In "Battle Too Soon," good comedy, The Kratons, excellent results; Margaret Klose- Slnger, appreciated. The Garrick had auspicious opening faster with ten-cent vaudeville and a capacity house was registered. The Garrick will split with the Majestic and with the Republic and Va- lencia splitting, the four being booked by the W. 8. V. A., thereby giving heavy opposition to Bert Levy's houses. PHILADELPHIA By GEORGE M YOI NG. KEITH'S (II. T. Jordan, mgr.; agent. U. B. O.).—With the proverbial holiday audience In the house, filling It almost to capacity, the show went along at a steady pace from start to finish with no particular "knockout 1 ' being registered, though those who deserved it were treated libei illy. It was one of those audi- ences mad* up n the main of visitors to the "big city" for the Easter holiday and what a slapstick act would have dons to it can only be thought of as a ihnm«. The bill was well balanced and played at good speed. Because Adele Ritchie considered her artistic temperament had been unjustly treated in the way the show had been advertised, she can- celed end this brought the sketch "1999" and Maud Lambert and Ernest Ball Into headline prominence. Both made good In the posi- tions. The house seemed slow in getting to the drift of the cleverly written story of William C. DeMllle's sketch, but it wore well and got better each minute. A general shifting of the bill for the first show brought W. C. Fields on in the middle instead of closing, and iv was a happy change. It was the first appearance of Fields since his re- turn from abroad. He has built up a couple of new tricks which are real laugh getters. They probably will be a help to several of the comedy jugglers who have appropriated other material of Fields. But after seeing all the others there Is still much to be enjoyed in the way this fellow does the simplest tricks. He was one of the best liked acts on the bill. Miss Lambert and Mr. Ball added a nice bright spot with their musical act. Miss Lambert made some of the women forget their new Easter raiment and she scored sol- idly with each number. Ball added a lib- eral share at the piano and with his har- monising which had the house humming. It a dandy act from both sides and got its full reward. The "Drowsyland" song was a hit they certainly put It over. The Great Richards opened the bin and had a bit the worst of the deal, but his dances pleased and there were enough strangers In to marvel at his disclosure. Leon Rogee did very nicely with his Instrumental imper- sonations, handling his bits of comedy in good shape. Butler, Havlland and Alice Thornton went through nicely with their talk In the sketch, "A Question of Policy," but they are In need of better songa Miss Thornton shows good ideas of dressing. The sketch recalls the old one of Stlnson and Mer- ton, though It is not a copy. The chatter number used for a finish is like one used by Holbrook and Blinn In "Bright Eyes." They can get away from this and add other songs which should improve an already good act. Henry Clive and his travestied magic caught a big share of the show's honors. The levl- tation trick is handled with good effect. It also brought Kelly into a view, which Is al- ways good for a laugh. Miss Walker still claims some distinction on looks. The Ward Brothers finished strong on their capital step- ping. It's a different style of offering a dancing act, which helps, but the stepping Is Its best asset. From an early spot "The Courtiers" was shifted to closing, where It belonged and fitted snugly, the pretty music and the patriotic finale putting a glossy finish to a pleasing holiday show. VICTORIA (Jay Mastbaum, mgr.; agent, Jules E. Aronson).—Show ran strong on sing- ing this week, the vocal strength being a bit above the average. The Parshleys were given the principal featuring and deserved It for a musical act above the usual grade for the small time houses. They have a nice looking act, each dressing with taste and each of the selections was well played. De Onxo and Kress offered a good comedy acrobatic turn, the feats of barrel jumping standing out. Both arc good acrobats and there is not tun much of tho comedy. Allc»« Van did nicely as a single with a couple of songs. During her dancing she makes costume changes for each style, announcing that It has never been attempted before. The announcement deos not help, for the changes arc not (lis tlnct enough to stand out as a strung fea- ture, the removal of a skirt being the change. Owley and Randall'* familiar cornedy Jug- gllng turn was well ivccUcd. "1'rn- Shc'ifT'r Sisters have a nice looking "Hlst.-r" act which geta by on th; ;r sinking. 'I'.'" IM'le girl has a good v>. < uid uses it .'>i good h»n monv effects f ' sn< h i youi n-o^ :\ G? ism and Glnsi-o v • : with favor win. a nlngir v. and diiin Hi. ■•••!. <'o|i. ntx' !Ii.-»ln^s j '• i«<-(l with tii'"*'' l..iil:in numbers. An announcement |« ul'T fillt i>t plilee In thin net, Itn'h liKVf rleasing voices nn-i grt their act over In good -map--. I'iottl Is another entry in the sing- ing class. He adds a few gags, but not enough to hurt. He has a strong voice and uses good dialect for each number. Porter and Clark did fairly well with a sister act of Wh*n answering advertise****** kindlp mtntion VARIETY.