The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 23, 1898, Page 29

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, vaudeville players on its free theater (re- 10 cents extra) late The audi- ence 0 that gathered to take nd and a hoot at them would have . credit to a dog fight. These peo: not there to encourage bud- | ding genius, but to get fun out of its wdventures, and they got it. If the | performers didn’t share in the fun, at least they went to their fate with their | | eves open in answer to an advertise- ment for “amateur vaudeville talent” | | which the Chutes management ran last week. But do to animals what tha crowd did to these human beings (and the female impersonator) who made their first appearance on any stage, and | the 8. P. C. A. will send you to jail. Honest eggs and vegetables would have been bouquets compared to the catcalls, dog-yelps, goat-shakes, boot-thunder, whistles and ironical applause' that greeted the aspirants for vaudeville fame. Some of them took the uproar as a serfous compliment, and these amateur the ple were were the saddest cases of all. It was like making fun of crippl On the whole the game was not at all sportsmanlike, but it was, I must admit, so funny that the best person there laughed down his | principles and baited a little on his own account. The first sacrifice was a young | woman with all her best clothes on and | a 1ittle bow in the forelock who wanted to sing about “Birdie.” The fateful | name dropped from her lips in the third | measure; then the crowd took her, and | her sad, sweet voice was heard no more. There she stood, opening and | bow in her forelock, and at regular in- tervals her little hand would seek her | heart; but not a sound was heard nor a funeral note above the gladness of the throng. “Birdie’s” story was neyer told. | And they couldn’t coax her back. It | was what followed her that needed no urging—a mustached soprano in black diagonal and ladies’ shoes with a but- ton off here and there—at least he | walked that way; and the small b(\)‘sj spotted him in two steps. They ghout- | ed, “Clara, oh, Clara!” and Clara | smiled affectionately, patted his shirt front, cleared his throat and trebled over a ‘“poor girl's heart that was breaking, breaking, breaking.” The house was perfectly delighted with his | staying powers. It-not only sang with! | been taking notes in the wings, and she | | smile; | of the shutting her mouth, shaking the little | men are doing = < | him, | merely’ pausing now and then to hear if he still lived. but it had him out over and over again in other things until the management nabbed him between pleces and turned on a stout, confident girl in salmon colored tulle and lob- ster colored stockings. This girl had “Breaking, breaking, breaking,” | | came out determined on quelling the crowd. She was the first on the biil to ; 1t was a smile she couldn’t stop, painted in bright red paint hard and | fast. But her eyes shot sparks over it. | these victims came from. I am fairly well acquainted with the ways and | means of the common or garden va- riety of would-be actor, but the vari- ety-struck person is new t6 me. I al- ways had an idea that variety people just grew, as Topsy did, or else were | forcibly graduated from the legitimate | stage. In the good old days in this' | town it used to be a custom of variety houses of questionable character to give an amateur night every week or two; but the results were nothing like as real as those I saw at the Chutes; liquid or solid inducements were us- ually held out to the victims, and if the amateurs were not numerous enough to go around the “‘purfesh” disguised itself and filled out the bill, just as in the country circus the clown's confederate helps him out with the difficult jackass when no one else offers. There was no questioning the amateurishness of the collection at the Chutes. People don’t work that way when they are paid for it. = So I asked Mr. Hastings where he gathered them, and he told me about the advertise- ment, and showed me a hundred and more letters from people who had read it. Some of these letters were too good to return, so I smuggled them away for possible publication. Think of steal- ing a story from a press agent! One letter was written on a half sheet of grocer’s paper with carefully ruled lead pencil lines. It read: The nature of her debut was a song and dance, but I think she was intend- | ed for heavier employment. She exe- | cuted like a submarine diver with his | deep sea clothes on. Every time the | lobster legs left the stage the audience | howled them down, and up again. The | owner of them did not have Clara’s | | confiding nature; she was not that sort | {of a girl; she knew she was being | | guyed and she was mad about it, but | | she was down for a song and dance and | she was going to do it, if it killed the | crowd. She even made herself heard | once or twice and took her own time | getting off to make place for a solemn | yvoung gentleman, very blonde and re-} | spectable, almost ecclesiastical, whose specialty was whistling. A wild burst | from the reception committee of 2000 trightened him out of his whistle. His | lip would not stay puckered. He stood | rigid, with one hand inserted in his coat and the other clenched behind | him, trying, trying. But the whistl never came. You know there are times | when it is impossible to whistle. One | e, I should say, is when a thou- and or so of small boys and strong | it for you. “Change | hands, then yowll be all right,” yelled one of the teasers; and the pale-haired | yvouth brought both fists to the front and retired in a triumph of applause. Then a plump little girl upholstered in yellow with black satin relief went through the motions of an extremely sentimental ballad, and a long, narrow, dangerous looking person in a canton flannel ulster and a Mission street tur- ban twirled two swords, Indian club fashion, and fought a battle with him- self while the house whistled the “muscle dance” and I fled. . e Ve It was on the way out that I met Phil Hastings, who includes the Chutes among the various enterprises that he pressworks, and asked him where all I am a good tenor singer of strong appearances and have sang out a great deal in public and soclety. I have just finished a course of six months’ com- plete acting at the Alcazar Theater and am anxious to make my mark In the profession. Sal: present. Iam very ‘fine family, and can furnish best of references as to my character and ability. An applicant from the Mission was hardly less humorous, although in a different vein: Gentlemen: I noticed your ad, and as 1 am quite in the actor business, thought I would answer. I do mono- logue in Dutch work, way up to date and can hold stage twelve minutes without the use of grappling irons. I have a telephone act that is a lallapa- loosa, and would be pleased to hear from you. I have appeared before the crowned heads of Europe and the deadheads of Oakland. Mary writes on a postal card that he has “a fine, strong voice for colored or white work and can dance with mate if necessary.” She asks to be answered by letter only as her folks might ob- Ject. A youth at present engaged in delivering Western Union messages writes “Whom It May Concern” on a telegraph blank that he is one of the talented amateurs advertised for; that he has ‘“cultivated hard feet and can walk barefooted on swords, saws or broken glass and can take off comic Dutchman, studied from life, and the tramp, and have also a partner.” Kathleen of Clementina street uses note paper with colored picture of bunch of pansies with snowstorm back- ground on the first page. Here is her perfectly straightforward communica- tion: I don’t know exactly what style of acting I do, but I can do a little of most anything in that fine. I am 16 years old and have sang and danced in 1898. 29 L] 0000000000000 00O0C0O0O0 OOOOO_OOOOOOQOOOODQOOOOOOODOOOOOODOODO E N A A B A 0000000000000 numberous entertainments and I think I would suit. I withhold the full names and ad- dresses, which are part of the letters, because they were written in answer to a legitimate advertisement and not intended for publication and because I would not like to think of these young artists falling into the hands of un- scrupulous managers. A Thursday night at the Chutes is all the experi- ence that most of them will need. The Baldwin. The Frawley company will present Ed- ward E. Rose's clever adaptation of “The Prisoner of Zenda” to-night and through- out the week at the Baldwin, _The story and excellent quality of the play are fa- miliar to nearly every one nowadays. It remains to be said only that Mr. Fraw- ley will dare the difficulties of the triple herofe role, Miss Bates appear as«Flavia, Lucille La Verne as Antoinette de Mau- bar, Theodore Roberts as .lack Michael and Frank Mathieu as Rupert of Hent- zau, and that Fanchion Campbell, Eleanor Caréy, John T. Burke, Robert G. Wilson, Arthur Hickman, Joseph P. Keefe and Louis Payne are comprised in the cast. The Golumbia. Mathews and Bulger have another week at the Columbia in “By the Sad Sea Waves,” a farce comedy that, while in no sense as good as the first one brought here by these clever comedians, has sev- eral catchy eplsades—especially the old specialty act of the stars and the sen- sationally good rag-time plano playing of Ned Weyburn. The next attraction is a traveling company in “Sowing the Wind,” a strong drama of Sydney Grundy’s that was introduced here some five years ago by Henry Miller. The Galifornia. The California will reopen again to- night at cheap prices with William Cald- er's company.in “The Span of Life,” a sensational melodrama that takes its title from a scene of the play wherein modern humanity copies its remotest ancestors by bullding a living bridge. The company 18 said to be quite capable of giving the full sensation of the play. | The Alcazar. A Belasco play that will be almost new to many and quite new to some is “May Blossom,” which will be given this week at the Alcazar. It tells the story of a woman and two men. The accepted lover is taken prisoner in time of war; the rival lies about the absent and marries the girl. The prisoner is released two years later to find his flancee a wife and mother. Six Kears after that everythin, is settled in the old sweet way. The ful strength of the Alcazar company will be shown in the cast. The management an- nounces that the “Cyrano’’ scenery is now being painted for the production at this theater. New Gomedy. The new week at the Comedy Theater will be devoted to “The Little Hussar,” a musical plece written for Miss Clara Thropp. and one in which she is sald to have Scored. The complications hover around a musician and his opera. He takes it and his young lady puplls to a military camp, the last train for home is missed and there 1s a comically embar- rassing time all round. Henderson's com- pany comes to the Comedy next week. Morosco's. Morosco offers a revival of the “Streets of New York” to his patrons next week. The play is old, and has been seen many times since its birth over forty years ago, but, as the press agent says, we de- ery it when upon fame's bright seroll are inscribed the names of those who long ago trod the boards as the Puffys and Badgers and Bloodgoods of the pa- thetic old drama. All the Morosco stars are In the cast and a special scenic dis- play is promised. The Tivoli. The Tivoll will revive this week the most popular of all of Lecocq’s comic “Girofle-Girofla,” with a new ok 1 a4 by Ch book especially prepared by Cheever omiwin. the author of “Wang.” The title Tolts will be sung alternately by Anna Liohter and Elvia Crox. Jean Clara Walters, especlally engaged for, the part of ‘Aurore, will make her operatic debut; Edwin Stevens wil be the father of the twins; William Pruette the Mourzouk, and Annfe Myers the maid. ‘“Suzette,’ Oscar Well's charming comic opera, for- AMUSEMENTS. IS Estab. 1887 J San Francisco, Cal. o Los Angeles, C'al.. Estab. 189 Sacramento, Cal., Estab. 1897 Kansas City, Mo:, Estab. 1897 WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY, OCTOBER 24. Greatest Aggregation of Vaudeville Talent Ever Presented on One Bill! THE SHINING LIGHTS OF FARCE COMEDY HN C.RICE and SALLY COHEN The Grest Character Comedian and the Chic Boubretts in Their Up-to-Date Comedy, “OUR HONEYMOON.” ROSSOW MIDGETS Those Most Wonderfal Little People in Feats of Strength sad s 3-ROUND SPARRING MATOE; Also CHARLIE ROSSOW In bis own specialties, including his most laughable imitations of Anna Held. Master Rossow is the smallest female impersonator extant. } | J0 Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Milton Royle coffiyy In Their Artistic Presentation of “CAPTAIN IMPUDENCE.” BARRY AND FELIX ‘America’s Best Comedy Duo. LOUIS M. GRANAT The Champion Unigus Whistler. Equ THIS EVENING. LAST TIME————LAST TIME———0o Of the Merry Operatic Fantasie, “THE CIRCUS QUEEN1!" NEXT WEEK. Regal Revival of Lecocq's Masterplece, “GIROFLE-GIROFLA !” Popular Prices........-ssesre:25 aNd 60 Cents. N. B.—A Reserved Seat for the Matines, Zbc. Our Telephione—Bush 9. Last Week of the Celebrated s;)clety Caricaturist e MISS MARY NORMAN.... RAY BURTON | THE BIOGRAPH kA New Beries of Vie MATINEE TO-DAY (Sunday), Oct. 23d. P*r"“kandrisiorcay parke” o' NDAY) NIGHT Mrs. Ernestine Kreling, Proprietor and Manager. WS——— THE WIFE.” n NIGHT ! DAVID BELASCO'S BEAUTIFUL DRAMA A same Prices Always— ____ PHONE, MAIN 254. Next—N. C, GOODWIN'S AMBITION. Miss Norman's Artistio Work Has Been the Talk of the Oity. NEW CARICATURES THIS WEEE. s brist and Ride Expert. ALCAZAR THEATER. TIVOLl_ OPéRA-HOUSE- THIS TO-MORROW: MAY......... ‘ 15¢c, 25¢c, 35c, S0c. ITH, of the World, with her McBRIDE JAM CECIL MA LE?'E. Soclety Sketch Artists; MASON LINSLEY, Triple Horizontal ers, and BUSAPIA, Dan: cer. 18«“ BALDWIN THEATER. TO-NIGHT—LAST TIME. THE FRAWLEY COMPANY in “LOVE IN HARNESS.” BEGINNING TO-MORROW, Seven Nights and Saturday Matinee, FRAWLEY COMPANY And BLANCHE BATES. Superb Revival of E. E. ROSE'S Great Ro- mantic Drama, THE PRISONE OF ZENDA. A STRONG CAST. PERFECT SCENIC 5 EMBELLISHMENT, PRICES—25c, 50c, Toc and $1 October 3i—Last Week 'of Frawley Season— AMUSEMENTS. COLUMBIA THEATER. TO-NIGHT. Beginning Monday, Second and Last — The Real Funny Boys, Vihsan MATHEWS AND... BULGER. Under the Direction of DUNNE ai n'the Rag Time Opera o oY BY THE SAD SEA WAVES With All tHe Original Speciaities, Including Company of 30; also Nellle Hawthorne and Josie de Witt. CALIFORNIATHEATER ONE WEEK, BEGINNING TO-NIGHT. Willlam Calder's Eastern Company, in Sutton Vane's Realistic Play, THE SPAN OF LIFE. A Scenic Revelation in Four Acts and Ten Scenes. PRICES :| See. 1sc The g: > Great / Human ——— Bridge! THE WONDERFUL LIGETHOUSE SOENE. ONLY MATINEE SATURDAY. October 31—""SOWING THE WIND.” “THE TRANSIT OF LEO, OPERA MOROSCO’S GRAND iais WaLtkr Morosco, Sole Lessee and Manager. WEEK OF OCTOBER 24, 1898, GRAND REVIVAL? ELABORATE PRODUCTION OF THE EVER POPULAR SENSATIONAL DRAMA STREETS OF NEW YORK A Star Cast! A Powerful Play! A Great Fire Scene! A Gorgeous Scenic Display! POPULAR PRICES ' Telephone Green 86, Reserved Seat: . « 25 and 50c. Family Cirole and Gallery, . - 10o; MATINEES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY COMEDY THEATER. MATINEE TO DAY—Sonvenirs for All! 2c to all parts, Gallery 15¢ TO-NIGHT—CHARMING, LOVELY CLARA THROFPP In the Operatic Farce Comedy Success, “WHERE’S MATILDAY” PRETTY GIRLS. CATCHY = BRIGHT AND CLEVER !PECLALT?’EUBB.]C TO-MORROW (MONDAY) NIGHT MISS CLARA THROFP RST TIME— “THE LITTLE HUSSAR!” EVENING PRICES I6c, 2ic, 35c and §0c. Seats—Comedy Theater and 710 Market st. Next—THE HENDERSON COMPANY. CHUTES AND 200! EVERY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AN UNPARALLELED VAUDEVILLE BILL SHERMAN, NEX}NMDNDAY AND FRIDAY EVENINGS THE HEINRICH RECITALS. MR. and MRS. JU Sherman, Clay CLAY & C0’S HALL. D WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THREE MORE, MAX HEINRICH and MISS R¥ ot Inte: ters of e Classics in - 3 PRICES—T5¢ l.lldctl. Seats now on sale at '0."8. o IN. THE FREE THEATER! LILLIAN F. SM Champion Riffe’ Shot SISTER and FATHER; and ES, the Celtic Kings: RION, Soprano; K NEXT THURSDAY T DAY PEARL LADD, SHERMAN, CLAY & C0.’S HALL. EEING AND SATUR. Two Entertainments Given BELLY and VlOé Bar Perf Political Transformation 10c, including Zoo and Theater; Children, ic; ays and Holidays, 10c, California’s Youngest and Most Talented and_Dramatic Reader. : VED SBATS, The. October 30— HOGAN'S ALLEY. Mason, OLYMPIA, 25, America’s Most Beautiful Music Hall. ONLY FREE THEATER PLAYING EAST- ERN STARS. DIRECT FROM NEW YORK The Four Florences! ‘World's Greatest Acrobats. COTTON AND MOLL, Great Triple Bar Artists. F. F. FREDRICHS, Celebrated Lyric Tenor. The Great Eastern Favorite, MISS IRENE FRANKLIN, New Songs and Impersonations. MADELINE and Others. MATINEE SUNDAY. ADMISSION FREB. INGLESIDE COURSING PARK. TO-DAY! TO-DAY! A GREAT EVENT! AN OPEN STAKE! December & and 6—PUPPY and OPEN STAKES. Smk ber 29 and 30—A Sapling and an Open take. Entrance fee to each stake will be $2 50. To reach Mission- side Coursis k. S ST RS o b BAITING THE VAUDEVILLE AMATEUR OUT AT THE CHUTES. BY ASHTON STEVENS., & & & o & » °OOOO0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODO000000000000000000000000 }g;fly played by the Bostonians, will fol- The Orpheum. The Orpheum’s new features for this week include John C. Rice and his side partner in comedy, Sally Cohen, who needs no Introduction to San Franclsco theater-goers. They appear in a farcical skit entitled “Our Honeymoon,” which ‘was written specially for them. The Ros- sow midgets have always been prime fa- vorites with Orpheum patrons, and they come back for a short stay, beginning | with this week. Little Charlie Rossow, the cleverer of the two, now poses as the smallest female impersonator in the world. His imitation of Anna Held is sald to be extremely funny. Edwin Milton | Royle and Selena Fetter and several strong cards are held over from last week. Heinrich’s Recital. Mr. and Mrs. Max Henrich, barytone and soprano, and their daughter, Julia, will give three additional recitals at the Shei man-Clay Hall Monday and Friday even- ings of next week and also on Wednesday afternoon. Such artistic singers as these | are too seldom heard In San Francisco. The Chutes. Next week there will be what is quoted | on the hangers, “A Feast of Fun and Fflvoli(yfi' at the Chutes. McBride and James, “the Kings of Celtic Comedy,” will be new, as will also Cecil Marjon, a so- prano, and many old favorites have been retained. The Olympia. The Olympla claims to have a strong card in the four Florences, a troupe of acrobats. Other features are Irene Frank- lin and Cotton and Moll Carl Hertz Carl Hertz, the celebrated magician, who recently arrived here on a journey round the world, will probably give a | series of entertainments shortly in one of | the big theaters. Mr. Hertz is a San Fran- | 000000000000 ciscan, and his work has recelved th e gro\'al of Great Britain, Australia, PNsé\';v ealand, China, Japan and even India, where the black ‘art is usually supposed to reach its perfection, Pearl Liadd's Entertainments. Pearl Ladd, the talented young pianist and dramatic reader, will play and read at the Sherman-Clay Hall next Thursday evening and on Saturday afternoon. She will play numbers by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Scharwenka, and w ive scenes from ‘‘Romeo and Juliet, ‘fi'he Ma.el:d“"'m of Venice,” "and Leah, the For- saken. This unigue explanation of the death of Fanny Davenport is taken from an inter- view fn the Cincinnati Enquirer: It was back in the eighties when Miss Davenport received a shock that I think led directly to her death, though it took place this many years afterward. I was with her at the time. She was playing in Chicago, and presented at a matinee “‘Camille.” The performance was viewed by a critic upon the Chicago Times, who was a Miss Sullivan, If my memory isn't playing tricks with me. At any rate, the paper the following mornlnF roasted Miss D enport most unmercifully in_an article headed ‘“The Fat Camille.”” When I saw her after reading the notice Miss Daven- port was in tears, and she vowed that she would reduce herflesh or die in the at- tempt. \ At that time T honestly. believe Miss Davenport weighed nearly 200 pounds. She was a big, powerful woman, and had a natural Inclination toward embonpoint. The reducing process began from that day, for she was a woman of remarkable will power, and no one who did not know her intimately will ever have the slightest idea of the torture and suffering which Miss Davenport endured ‘after that day. 1 think it was the ‘Fat Camille’ criticism that did it all, for nature had meant Miss Davenport to be a tremendous woman, or else she would never have been cast in so large a mold. In attempting to thwart the laws of nature she paid the bitter penalty. Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the negro poet, has just finished a one-act opera, to be sung by negroes who have had the neces- sary operatic training. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AMUSEMENTS. COMING SOCIAL EVENT! SECOND ANNUAL CUSHION TEA For the Benefit of the WOMAN'S EXCHANGE! To be given at the residence of MRS. M. BAT! A musical and varied entertainment afternoon and even OVER FIFTY LADIES TAKIN! young ladies and gentlemen. TICKETS Tickets can only be procured from the Lady Managers and 46 Post street. H. DE YOUNG, No. 1919 URDAY, November 5th, from 2 to 5 p. m., § to 11 California street, p. m. ing by some of the most prominent PART. at the Woman's Under the management of the following ladies of the Exchange: MRS. HENRY SCHMIEDEL, MRS. LOUIS SLOS! JOHN CURRY, H. L. DODGE, . S. BREYFOGLB, . ALBERT T. SCOTT, . SOPHIE LILIENTHAL . N. G. KITTLE, . SAMUEL KNIGHT, . LOUIS GERSTLE, . WILLIAM P. MORGAN, SANDS FORMAN, SAMUEL D. MAYER, }V%E“fl’%fis'amcm UNGER, 3 an G . MAUD GERSTLE, S. GEORGE A. KNIGHT, S TENNIE BLATR BUNKER. SUTRO BATHS. BUNDAY, OCI‘O;E_R 23, AT 2 P. M. SWIMMING RACES FOR VALUABLE PRIZES, And Music by the GAULOISE BAND. ADMISSION, 1c. CHILDREN, Se. Open Dally from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m. Comme: TRIAL TRIP of n Children's * Squi GLEN PARK—THE MISSION 200! CONCERT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, ncing at 1:30 p. m. ew BALLOON, the Glen irounds, &l Lakes, Aviasy, eal E X 1 Cage, Morro Castle and Other Attractions. ADMISSION FREE FOR THIS DATE. San Mateo electric cars. Mission, Va- ‘ake Joom and Sutter street cars transfer to this ine. ROSENTHAL. METROPOLITAN TEMPLE, EVENING DEC. 28 & AFTERNOON DEC. 31 Baseballl fxgREATION 08 The Stars of the League TO-DAY pei e % TEACHERS MUTUAL AID METROPO! EMP; BENEFIT FOR THE SOCIETY AN TEMPLE. IN A PERSIAN GARDEN. ! . Ml FUDLAM, Reader: THERSDAY EVENING, October 21, - 1898, Under the Direction. of Mr. H. B..Pasmore.