The herald., 1896-07-12

AR1 W., :,
With the exception of the stereopticon
entertainment, Miss Jerry, at the Los
Angeles theater on Monday and Tues
DAY evenings last week, the Orpheum
had everything its own way in the mat
ter of amuSementS, and was packed 10
the doors, as is the rule. To those inter-
ested in the secret of the great success
of vaudeville upon our stage. it must be
obvious that the clue to the whole thing
lies in the nervousness and desire for
change that is characteristic of nine
teenth century mankind. Sitting in
theater for three hours at stretch,
looking at the same faces, hearing the
same voices and waiting for the denoue-
ment of play, is apt to become monoto-
nous to most people. They prefer con-
slant change, both of actors and acts,
and this they get in a theater where
vaudeville is presented. After while
we will not go to the theater at all. we
will stay quietly at home or go to the
club or visit the houses of our friends,
and by aid of electrical appliances We
will be enabled to enjoy as much or as
little of performance as we desire.
AS an instance of the divers way in
which one may be entertained for one
evening in a vaudeville house, we will
look in upon performance at the Or
pheum. First. one finds himself trans
ported to the Bowery, where, in the per-
sons Of Lawrence and Harrington, he,is
introduced to "Chimmie and Mag,
Bowery characters on the stage are al
ways called "Chimmie and Mag" and
has exploited for his benefit life among
a class which has no counterpart in our
city, and which has, therefore, the
charm Of novelty. The scene changes.
and our play-goer is reminded, in the
tight-wire act of the Meers brothers, of
the days when the feats of Blondin and
the circus acrobRtS were the talk of the
countryside. Since the popularity of
vaudeville has become assured, the pub
lie ceases to wonder at such feats any
more, though such a perilous perform
ance can never sink to the level of the
commonplace.
Again the scene changes. This time
one is carried back to his nursery days,
when the wand of the magician was en-
abled to do so many wonderful things.
Bimbo and Tehi are clever enough
magcians to make him believe there
must be simething in those old tales
after all or else doubt his eyes. After
the act of Bimbo and Tehi one is trans
ported rather suddenly from the realm
of magic and the delightful
ly youthful "reminiscences it
conjures up to the practical
present by the appearance of the Wash
burn sisters, who, in wonderful frocks
of cell blue, give an up-to- date rendi-
ton of -datesongs.
The curtain falls once more, to rise on
a scene which must surely be transport
ed from fairyland. The Titania of this
scene is Papinta, charming queen of the
dance, who makes one believe he must
hp Yr,e of ct
and not flesh and blood performer up
on commonplace stage. Papinta is
followed by Hugh J. Emmett, whose act
is ventriloquil in character and highly
ar1using to the younger members of the
audience and likewise to the gods,
whose appreciation of the political al
lusions Is warm.
And now, for the last time the curtain
rises on the latest production of that
wonderful brain of Edison, the man of
marvels-the vitascope, which makes 1t
possible not only to see persons, places
and thing as we have heretofore seen
them on photograph, but to see them
In action. Can genius go farther? We
nave been made to hear the voices or our
distant friends, and now we are enabled
TO see them move and act. Truly it is
enough to make Franklin turn in his
grave with the wonder of it, and vet. so
attuned are we to the marvellous in this
day and age of the world that we are
scarcely decently surprised. And now
the show is finished Truly it has been
q varied one and productive of many
dlHerent emotions. Our playgoer may
go home fully satisfied that he has had
that most satisfactory of all things to
poor weak human nature-his moneys
worth.
Among the wonderful things in life is
the DODulAritV which a II
thor can give to the characters or tlaces
he portrays. AS an instance Of thi6 any
one can see FOR himself how popular
Bowery characters have become on the
stage and how enthusiastically they are
received since the appearance in book
FORM of Chimmie Fadden. That this
state or things is due to Mr. Townsend
VIII appear to those who remember the
frost which poor Harrigan, that king of
portrayers of the BoWery type. met
In our city two seasons ago. Truly. the
world do move.
The coming week at the Ornheurn
VIII be one which will long be remem-
bered by people who love music. for to-
morrow evening Sissieretta Jones.
known the world over as the BLACK
Patti" will sing before a Los Angeles
audience for the first time.
Sissieretta Jones is a young negro
woman. Born with lovely voice. of
natural richness sweetness and ex
pressiVeness, she was fortunate enough
TO receive the careful musical training
such as was needed to give her brill
nancy, power and control and to de-
Nelop her voice to its full possibilities.
some people who heard the BLACK
Fatti' sing at a Sunday school concert
when little negro girl recognized the
beauty of her voice, and it was owing
to the advice they gave the child' :
mother that her musical training was
begun.
Sissieretta Jones has just recently
returned from European concert tour
curing which she raised a furore every
where she went In Paris she was
feted. Naples went wild over her. she
passed through Rome, but gave no con-
cert there. A negro is rarely seen in
Central Italy and a negro singer is
something unheard Of Because of this
a big crowd gathered at the depot in
the hope Of hearing Mrs. Jones suea .
a few words, even If they could not hear
her sing. The five concerts she gave al
the Monte Carlo Casino We're the event
of the season. When she appeared in
London the Prince of Wales his broth
er. the Duke of Cambridge, and many
other distinguished people went to hear
her sing and shoWered compliments and
gifts upon her.
The BLACK PATTI is said TO be tall
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