Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-05

OCu0r ACCrbCI1OuS VI LILO svCoA'
The Bookings for the Coming Six
Days-Matters Pertaining to the
Local Theatres - General Foot
light Gossip.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE-First half Of
week. IA Hot Old Time; last half OF
week, "McF adden's Row of Flats.
OPERA HOUSE Monday Mda;sn e benafiE:
Home for F,riendless Women ~ Ieh Wo,
man; Saturday. THE Girl Lett f'ehihu
Me-
1t would be presumption, indeed, IN
the ordinary dramatic critic, to attempt
to find a flaw in such producton DIS
was given at the Opera House lasI
night, by Mr.. Charles Coghlan ana ms
excellent company The Royai box
is romantic comedy drama, written IN
a manner which sustains interest
throughout, and affording many oppor-
tunities for excellent work by the
cast Mr.. Coghlan, whether considered
as an author or an actor, is a genius.
1t has been said that he is the greatest
English speaking actor, and there are
few who saw him last night who will
dispute the truth of this assertion. He
was supported by the most capable COM
pany which has visited Wheeling in re-
cent years. The last season OF the
Opera House will at least have present.
ed two artistic treats-last nights pro-
duction and Minnie Maddern Fiske in
.sTess." Mr.. Coghlan and Mrs. Fiske,
by the way, were associated in the first
production of "Tess," Mr.. Coghlan
coming over from Eengland to create
TN'JTrhprEi1lQ
The other offerings of the week in
the theatrical line were of very ordl-
nary character. "The Devils Auction"
was on the boards at the Opera House
Wednesday evening, with fair COM
pany but with much of the SCENERY
and effects which must have been used
in the original production sixteen
years ago. Manager Feinler's place OF
amusement was dark two nights, and
the remainder of the week was filled in
with the Projectoscope Company. This
picture machine is wonderful inven-
ton, but the views could be made vast
ly more interesting by the use of stage
effects.
Few persons recognized in Prof.
Vera, the prestidigitateur with the Pro-
jectoscope Company, the "Dabby' Os-
borns, who was born and spent most
of the years of his life in Wheeling.
Osborne is very clever in his feats of
magic, and while he is very modest
about his powers as ventrilOquist,
there are few public performers who ex-
eel him in that line of entertainment.
'Dabby'' has been a Snowman from a
tender age. Many citizens will recall
his first efforts in that line. When a
school boy he made tent of coffee
sacks and charged an admission fee Of
one pin. Later he borrowed fishing
tent, and the fee was increased to one
cent. Later he left the city, and al
though he has returned several times,
his first public performance was given
on the stage of the Grand last week.
He has mastered all the difficult feats
of the famous magicians, and if he ex-
hibits as much skill in originating as in
copying, he should take first rank
among modern prestidigitateurs.
Both theaters offer attractions of I'M
usual merit for the coming week. "The
"Hot Old Time" Company will intro
duce an old favorite in stellar role.
There was a stock company at the
Grand, under former management,
and under another name, and the prin-
cipal comedian was John Ray. He was
a prime favorite and has scores of warm
friends among the older patrons of the
theaters.
1t is not likely that the projected
theater on the old Court House prop
erty will ever be built, for the very
sufficient reason that the gentlemen
who interested themselves in the enter
prise cannot see a reasonable return
upon their investment. When the mat
ter was agitated practical theatrical
man came down from Pittsburg for the
purpose of leasing the Opera House. He
remained in the city several days, and,
after looking about, declined to take the
risk on account of the unfavorable To-
cation of the building. He declared that
a theater located upon Market street
would do fifty per cent. more business,
as the transient patronage is a very
prominent factor.
''The Rays" in Edgar Selden's latest
farce comedy, "a Hot old Time" will
be the attraction at the Grand the first
half of this week. This is one of the
best efforts of an exceedingly bright
writer, but like all farce comedies, it
requires the services of clever people 10
make it thoroughly enjoyable. "The
w.