The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-21
THE JEFFERSON.
That is tile Name Of Pertland's
New Play House.
1T Is NAMED IN HONOR OF THE
GREAT COMEDIAN.

season-The House Will Open With
Francis Wilson Sept. 14th.
Yesterday morning Mr.. A. j. Fay, of
the firm of Fay Brothers & Hosford,
lessees of the new opera house, met the
newspaper men at the office of Mr.. A. r.
Wright and talked over the new theatre
with them Mr.. Fay said that the
directors had voted on the name of the
house and had decided to call it 'tThe
Jefferson in honor of the great comedian.
Mr.. Jefferson in response to the notifica-
ton of the compliment conferred upon
him wrote Mr.. Walter G. Davis, secretary
of the corporation as follows:
Buzzards Bay, Mass, August IS.
Walter G. Davis:
Dear Sir-In reply to your letter to Mr..
Fay, which he has just enclosed to me,
beg to say fully appreciate the honor that
the owners of the new theatre in Port
land desire to bestow on me. Let me
further say that shall be pleased to &C.
cept it, also to make the opening address
should they wish me to do so. Thanking
them for the courtesy and compliment /
am, faithfully yours,
j. JEFFERSON.
Mr.. Jefferson will make the address
at the opening of the new theatre.
The Jefferson will open on Tuesday ey-
ening, September IA The opening at
traction will be Francis Wilson in ''Half
| King
The list of attractions that the manage
ment has booked thus far for the season.
| is very strong. By an arrangement with
Mr.. Frohman all his companies that are
engaged to appear in Boston the coming
| fall and winter, will be seen at "The
jefferson" The season will close in
Portland about May LIST. These are the
attractions booked for Portland: ,Ae..
Francis Wilson in "HaIf a King. I"
opening and second nights of the season.
Mr.. Francis Wilson is one of the strong
est attractions on the American stage.
His own personality is very taking, and
probably no one of the comic opera stars
| is more natural, or presents his produc-
| tions with more elaboration.
| Chauncey Olcott, in "Sweet Inniskar-
ra, - the piece that ran all last season at
1.-THE Knickerbooker. New York, will
be seen here.
| De Wolf Hopper and his great comic
opera company, in Sousa's now famous
opera "El Captain" This will be Mr..
Hopper's first appearance in Portland at
the head of his own organization. 1t
seems hardly necessary to more than
mention his name, for it is familiar to
all theatre goerS, and Sousa's opera is
full of the music that has made the great
bandmaster famous. The opera will be
given two nights.
That remarkable play, "The Sporting
Duchess" with Rose Coghlan-who for
SO long divided honors at Wallack's with
| the queens of the American stage-in the
inv o-% l@r ,+>I
nights and matinee, with as powerful
a sUar cast as when seen in New York.
| Flora Irwin will be seen in her amusing
piece, "The Widow Jones'"
Grisner and Phoebe Davis, popular
here in 1.-THE New South" will be seen
| in their new play.
| Hearn''s "Shore Acres,'' that Maine
idyll, will again be seen in Portland,
with remarkable scenic effects.
OF course the greatest dramatic attrac-
ton that can be offered any community
is Mr.. Joseph Jefferson, at the head of
the actors of America today, who will
probably present "The Rivals with a
wonderful cast. He will present play
anyway.
Everybody remembers Garfield and
Richards of Hoyts ga Temperance
| Town" They will also produce new
play.
''Courted into Court" will be given
| with metropolitan cast.
| The sterling romantic actor, James
O.Nell will appear two nights, on one of
which he will give the new play lately
written for him.
| The New York cast will be seen in the
military drama, "The Girl / Left Behind
Me- that had so long run in the me-
tropolis.
May Irwin, who is exceedingly popular,
will present her new play for two nights.
1 WIN CfD hoo
| obtained marked success everywhere,
and whose company is well known here,
will be seen two nights and a matinee,
| on one of which his new fine scenic dra-
| ma will be presented with all the elabo-
| rate effects
1.-THE Walking Delegate is another at
traction, an account of which was given
in yesterdays PRESS.
That distinguished actress Nine. Rhea
will appear for two nights, the plays to
be announced later.
The Geisha," the great success in New
York, with its hosts of pretty girls, and
delightful music and pretty scenery-that
ran SO long at Days will be seen.
Hoyts 'Contented Woman," one of his
very best and most popular dramas will
be another attraction.
The great spectacular melodrama,
when London Sleeps with all the
great scenic effects, mechanical and cleo
trio wonders. that filled the Academy,
New York, night after night is in the
list.
Fannie Rice that beautiful, fascinat
ing actress, will appear in the witty
French Ball.
The popular aBlue jeans will also
be produced with strong company, and
many novelties that have been introduced
the past season.
Perhaps as great novelty and attrac-
ton as any will be the famous italian
Banda Rosa or Red Band. This organ
ization takes rank in 1taly-the home
of music-with theyGarde Republicaine of
France, Godfreys Band of the Grenadier
Guards of London, or Sousa's Band in