Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY 29 xss AOK MOIVI IN andORMA if in "SIX After a Successful 30 Weeks' Tour of the Brennan-Fuller Circuit in Australia COIMINGj EAST SHORTLY Permanent Address, Care VARIETY, San Francisco TIVOLI O. H. (W. H. L«ahy, mvr.)-—Mr*. A. (W. Scott, Jr., and Co., local otaarlty bene- fit; Sept. 21, return of Tlvoli Stock Co. ("Marl tana"). The Keating A Flood Mualcal Comedy Co. In Portland haa been reinforced lately by Oue Leonard. James M. Harris, the veteran ex-actor and self-confeased burglar, was sentenced Sept. 12 for ten yeara Mrs. Jennie Bartlett. said to have been one of the first circus riders, Is now a ranch- woman In this State. Jack McClellan Is In Sacramento fllllnv a month's special envagement as orchestra leader and pianist at Pantages'. Arthur Don has been engaved to head the No. 2 mualcal comedy tabloid Ed Armstrong Is sending over the Bert Levey circuit. Ned Chllds, former Orpheum manager here and more recently In Salt Lake City, has left for New York City In company with his wife. ' Harry Lancaster, "Coast defender" thesplan, la reported to have lately been left a legacy of 120,000 by hia father, an Oakland buslneaa man. Sam Loverlch, former leaaee and manager of the Princesa, haa lately Joined the executive forcea of the J. Charles Green Co. of outdoor advertisers. Bobble Jones, a vaudevlUian working with Peggy Moran, Is In an Everett, Wash., hos- pital with serloup Injuries resulting from a fall from a moving train. Ethel Davia, wife of Ed Armstrong, has re- joined her husband here after an extended stay In Southern California, where she was convalescing after an lllneaa. An added link la to be forged Oct. 4 In the chain of the RIckard Antipodean circuit when the new Tlvoli. Adelaide. South Auatralla, will be formally opened to the public. Mrs. Raymond Teal, known profeaslonally as Corlnne Carkeek, Is In the aupport of Alf Gouldlng'a musical comedy tab, which opened recently on the Bert Levey circuit. At the conclusion of a rest, Dillon and King, former pop musical comedy atars at the Co- lumbia In Oakland, are expected to open for a season at the Lyceum, Loa Angeles. Raymond Whittaker and hIa dramatic rep company are on the second of a three week's stock engagement at the Yosemlte theatre In Stockton. A Coast tour la acheduled to Imme- diately follow. Herbert Meyerfeld. well known here for his former prominent connection with the manage- ment of the Portola-Louvre, Is credited with collaljor.iting with one Fred Hoff In the con- struction of a light opera. The premiere Is awaited with keen general Interest. A bowling team has been recently organ- ized by the bu.slness staff of the Cort theatre In this city. Assistant House Manager Charles Newman la hurling the challenges. The team is comprised of Newman and Mewars. Helmer, Fitzgerald, Bonderson and Klem. A "split" week link has recently dropped Out of the Western States Vaudeville Aaso- ciatlon chain, the Victoria, thia city, abandon- ing vaudeville and going to a straight movie policy. The Increased opposition of the new Wigwam Is probably the direct cause of the change. <'ontr.iry to previous plans and announce- ments, the management of the Alcazar Is holding "Madame Sherry" over for a third ^eek. it la claimed that this Is the first time in the history of the present Alcazar that a fortnight run of any one vehicle haa ever been exceeded. Gilbert M. Anderson, known as "Broncho Billy," Iq reported to have been granted the concesalon to construct and operate the "Te- hunntepec Village' here at the Panama-Pa- finc Exposition In conjunction with Captain A. \V I.«.wis. who handled th<- Boer War fperf.'icle at the St. Louis Exposition. It Is believed that upon the expected return here ten days hence of Qovemlng Director Hugh D. Mcintosh, arrangements will be made for the RIckard Australian Vaudeville Circuit to have headquarters in one of the centrally located office buildings under the resident management of American Representative Jules Simpson. Charles De Lea and Qrace Orma returned to these shores Sept. 11 after an absence of nine months, during which time they made a successful tour of the Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville Circuit In Australia. The team opened here at the Republic theatre and have contracts for a complete tour of the Western States Vaudeville Association cir- cuit. When the Matson liner Lurllne arrived Sept. 10 from Honolulu, there was on ooard the first all-Hawaiian dramatic company ever known to cross the Pacific Ocean. Six mem- bers In the troupe, piloted by James T. Ca- rey, a Honolulu newspaper man. The com- pany Is en route to Chicago where special na- tive Hawaiian scenery Is said to be In course of preparation for their act. The leading wo- man la Louise Rose. A season of old-fashioned German opera Is to be Inaugurated Oct. 4 at the German House In this city. The singing stars to ap- pear Include Emllle Schoenfcld, leading so- prano; Lulse Boettger and Milly Mayerhufer, soubreta; Paul Nelva, flrat tenor; Angelo Llp- plch. buff tenor; Remy Marcano, baritone; Robert Sonnenberg, basso; and Paul Fasoll, buff tenor. The chorus Is to be augmented from the membership of local singing socie- ties. The orchestra will be purely San Fran- ciscan. Concert Impresario William L. Greenbaum of this city announces some pretty big doings for the coming season. The singing and danc- ing atara that he will preaent include Anna Pavlowa, danaeuse, aaalated by a symphony orchestra under the direction of Theodore Strlr; Emillo de Gogorza, Spanish baritone, with the French pianist, Henry Gllles, as as- sociate artist; Frances Alda, soprano, wife of the Impresario, Oattl-Casazza; Gutia Ca- sinl, Russian 'cellist, with Frank La Forge as accompanist; Madame Schumann-Heink, soprano; Nellie Melba, soprano; Kubellk, vio- linist; Edmund Burke, Canadian baritone; Clara Butt, Kennerly Rumford and John Mc- Cormack, rchirning from Auatralla; Harold Bauer, Josef Hoffman, Paderewakl, Wllhelm Bachaus and MIscha Elma, pianists; Madame Teresa Carreno, Fanny Bloomfield Zelsler and Kathleen Parlow, planlstea; Jean Gernrdy, 'cellist, and the Flonzalay Quartet. Quite a scintillating array of talent. For the second time In his life. James M. H.irrls, an actor whose name and face are fii- mlllar to many of San Francisco's theatre- goers. Is destined for a second term In tiie • 'allfornia State prison at San Quentln. He pleaded guilty Sept. 10 to two charges of burglary alleged to have been committed r<- cently In Oakland. The fall of the whlte- luilred thesplan Is an echo of the memorahle earthquake and fire In 1906. Previous to that time, Harris and his wife were the principal stockholders In the old Lyceum, where they both played leading parts. The conflagration destroyed their playhouse and swept away their worldly possessions completely. Being aped, Harris found It Impossible to reestablish himself In business, and then, to make mat- ters worse, Mrs. Harris was stricken with cancer and had to undergo treatment in a Southern California hoapltal. This was ex- pensive and contributing all the money he could raise to pay the hospital bills, Harris, In R few months, went completely broke. Tho flrst deed of burRlary was the next succeed- ing event, followed by a term In prison. Hiir- rls served his term, came out and found his wife's condition still worse than ever. In desperation he resorted to the same m<'Hns to raise money for his wife, and as before, he fell Into tho clutches of the law. When ar- raigned before Judge Murphy the other day, Harris Is said in have appeared a perfect specimen of a completely broken-down man. The second term Is expected to be siilTlelently long to pretty well be the concluding chapter In this particular life's drama. PHILADELPHIA By ORORflE M. TOCNO. KEITH'S (H. T. Jordan, mgr.; agent. U. B. O.).—There was a drag all the way through this week's show. The Thaw picture in the middle of the bill was responsible for con- siderable of a halt, but It could not have affected the early portion, which never seemed to hit up any speed. Tom Nawn and Co. might be blamed for some of it. Nawn's new sketch, "The College Coach," is almost enough to stop anything. It's a silly thing and misses by a mile. Imhofl, Conn and Co- reene followed the Thaw "film" with the "Surgeon Louder" sketch, and after taking some time to get things started, put over a laughing hit. Roger Imhoff was always ac- cepted as burlesque's best Irishman because he made his character true to life. He Is the same In vaudeville and the sketch is a good bit of entertainment. Clifton Crawford came next to closing and carried away the honors In hIa usual style. Crawford has shifted his sneezing number a little, giving it a new twiat, and It is still very funny. He also scored with one of Service's poems, rendered in Crawford's best atyle. which brought him liberal reward. The Wirth Family'a riding act fitted In nicely and held up the early half of the bill. The War Brothers did very nicely with their talking and singing act away from the stereotyped two-men act. Rles- ner and Gores had snappy patter and dancing. Karl Greea, a painter, opened the show and the Three Alex with their showy strength and balancing tricks, added a splendid closing nainbcr. METROPOLITAN (Eugene Myers, mgr.; Loew Agency).—One of the best running bills yet offered In the big opera house met with warm favor on Monday afternoon to a well-filled house, despite the opposition of a big parade, which caused lines to form all round the theatre and gave some of the opposition house managers heart failure think- ing what a great business the Metropolitan was doing with Montgomery and Moore as the feature. The former "Hanky Panky" pair had It rather rough going, giving the first show without a rehearsal, due to a late arrival, but the act went over like a riot. Florence Moore worked overtime, going Into the audience for part of lite liiilsh, and the act hung up a record for applause In this houae. When an act can keep the applause going until the picture sheet Is dropped here they are going some. Karlton and Clifford had the opening spot for their sketching and did well enough In a qlet way. There Is some novelty to the act, which helps. Rich- ards and Montroiie Jumped the speed up a notch with some clever acrobatic stepping. The blonde girl Is quite handy with her feet and the boy a nimble stepper. Menio Moore's "Stage Door Johnnlea" Is a skit built around a quartet, a blackface boy who aings a song and does aomo dancing and a girl who sings fairly well, being also employed. The Kirl part of It Is rather crude and some time Is wasted trying to work In a table scene for comedy which la not there. The singing holda up the act. There Is a suggestion for a neat little singing skit, but tho one Kirl among five men will never get It over. Robert Henry HodKc and Co. In the "Hill Mllthers, Bachelor, " sketch, was a well de- served hit. This Is a real comedy sketch and very well handled. Ho<lge makes his character bit worth while The big woman Is atlll In the sketch and dolntf fine work. Enrico, a young fellow with a pleasing voice and some ability as a violinist, sang and played himself Into favor, but missed the mark with the otxratU- ruinibir for a finish. It was Just altove the 10-20 audience and looked aa If lOnrIco was trying to cheat a little. It sounds cjueer to hear vawdevllle acta trying to put over that highbrow stuff In the Metropolitan. That Is, If yf>u've e-ver he.'ird Brand oper.i there. Enrico Is not a bad little singer at that. Archie Ooodull put a corking good finish to the bill with his gymnastic Htunt. No act called to mind at jiresent Is anything like this one and It's worth a feature spot on any bill, big or small time, for Goodall does some real stunt.s. Thf walking round the big hoop Is a feat In Itself, and he and one of the women do som<' very showy tricks. This Is one of the best acts of this class seen In a long time. There wos not much wanting after this show and If there waa the pictures filled the gap. WILLIAM I'KNN (W. W. Mlll.r, m^r. ; agent, IT. U. O.)—The fourth anniversary Is being celebratt d this week and Manager .Miller has furnished a s[)lenflld bill for tlie occiHlun. Monday nlKl'l 'he house held capacity through both shows. <;us Kdwarda' "Hlngvlll»! Caba- ret" had the Important posKlnti It's a sketch following closely on the lines of Bart McHugh's "Lawn Party" skit, though It is framed up differently. A comedy sheriff, played by "Slivers" Singer, tries for the prin- cipal comedy with much result. Oene Ford and Kitty Henry have the principal girl roles and do well with their numbera Percy Chap- man has a breeiy "straight" role. Specialties are Introduced by these principals, the Thres Brownies, who do a dance on skates: the Mc- Carthy Sisters, who pull their usual "barber shop harmony" stuff and a young brother of Vic Hyde, who can play a violin. The special- ties pull the act through. The rest of It needs a lot of attention. The opening drags and could be cut several minutes. The act ran 40 minutes Monday night. Guerro and Carmen, a classy musical team, pulled down a big hit, as did Baby Helen, with her stories and songs. Morris and Allen scored solidly with their singing, wisely cutting down the talk. The Stelncr Trio gave the bill a good start and Seymour's Happy Family, a dog act. was a good closer. , FAlRMOUNT (M. W. Taylor, mgr.; agent, U. B. O.).—This house opened last Thursday, the opening being postponed from Monday. It is the third built by J. Fred Zimmerman, who built the Liberty /ind Keystone, other "pop" vaudeville houses here. The new one Is a pretty little theatre, nut so elaborate as tho others and cost about 1126,000. It holds 1,700, plays three shows dally with the usual 10-20 scale. Colonel Sam M. Dawson la house manager. Dave Kaplln directs the five-piece orchestra. The house Is well suited for talking acts or sketches, being wide instead of long, a fault of nearly all the "pop" houses In town. The house is located outside the "war- zone " of "pop" vaudeville and really has no opposition. The opening bill hit the right mark of favor and business was big for the three daya of last week. Monday evening of this week there was a %-house down- stairs and capacity upstairs at 8 o'clock. The show was well balanced and hit a good pace from the start. The loleen Sisters started things nicely with their wire-walking and shooting. Roach and Mc'.'urdy got their share of the laughing honors with their "Prune Cen- ter" sketch. Kelly and Laferty danced them- selvea Into favor. The act did not work smoothly with the orcheatra and seemed as if they had gone on without a rchearaal. Pletro pulled the big hit of the show. This "pop" vauevllle thInK was Just made for Pletro and he ought never stop playing It. Inglls and Redding got over strong with their "nut" stuff and tho showy act of the Mori Brothers put a nice finish to a very good bill. The Fair- mount looks like another winner for the Zim- merman-Taylor combination. BOSTON By J. GOOLTZ. 80 Summer St. LOKVV'.S OKPHKl'M (V. J. Morris, res. niKT. ; agent, I><)ew). -Vaudcvlllo and pic- tures. LOKW'S ST. JAMES (H. Frank, res. mgr.; aKent. I»ew). Vaudeville and pictures. TUE.MONT (John H, Schoefel. ros mgr ) — Miz/i Ilujos In "Her Little HiKhnrss." COLO.MAL ((Charles J. llh h. res mgr ) - Macklyn Arbuckle In "The Merry Martyr." I'AUK (Charles j. Rich, rea. mgr.).—"The Conspiracy." IIOSTO.N* (Al I.,cverlng, res. mgr.).—"The Courlln'." PLYMOUTH (Frofl Wright, res. mgr.) — May irwln In "A Widow by Proxy" snrHKHT (E. D. smith, res. mgr.). Sam Ilernard In "All for the Ladles " .MA.IEHTIC (K. I). Smith, res. mgr.). Mc- Intyre and Heath In "The Ham Tree." .NATIO.N'AL (George Haley, res. mgr.).— Vaudeville and pictures. CASTLE SQUARE (John Craig. mgr • stock). —"Barhelora and Ilenedlcts " C,AIF:tY (George T. Ilachcller, res mgr ) "Rofllo Posle Glrla." CASINO (Charles Wuldron. res. mgr.).-- Watson'a Dig Show. GRAND OPERA HOUSE (George E. I^th- rop, res. mgr.). -"Honey (rirls." OLD HOWARD (George E Ixjthrop, tch. mgr.).—The Sunshlno Girls." The two TiOcw houses In Iloslon, the St. .lames and the Orpheum. are both rUdng a capacity business under the Im reused bill policy, the latter half of last week packing theni In four and five rows ile(;i .standing every rilKht and turnlni,' l.undr.'j'- away. He