Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-11

Delus III tiSt
theater goers save a play at Boyd's the first
part of the week called Upon the suwanee
River" The piece had some merit, but not
enough to keep more than a scattering few
from DESERVING the only legitimate play
house Omaha has left and going to the OPEN
ing Of the new vaudeville theater which
on Sunday night drew a house full and more
of people who we might say were not regu-
lar church attendants, while Monday evening
and the balance Of the week brought those
who could not attend on Sunday on account
OF their religious scruples. 1t Is
brady necessary to state that vaude-
vile has gained a much frmer foot
hold In Omaha during the last week and one
that promises to force the legitimate play
houses to give the theater going public at
fractions different than "a Boy Wanted -
"Parlor Match" and other plays OF this type
that consist principally Of specially acts with
horse play thrown in between to take up
time, else they will refuse to pay the price
demanded by these inferior attractions ana
will go to the vaudeville houses where they
can see practically the same things more
condensed and for less money.
The week just closed certainly has been
a profitable one for the vaudeville houses.
The Orpheum especially has been
crowded nightly, while the Troca-
zero was well patrOnlZeu. lnoSe VINO
attended either seemed to go away pleased
and satisfied with their evenings entertain
ment, which all goes to prove that the new
amusement is gaining in favor rapidly,
amusement is gaining in favor rapidly.
Whether 1t will last or not Is another mat
ter. The dear public is very changeable in
its tastes.
Three OF the latest and most notable
assertions from the legitimate theatrical
field to vaudeville are Pauline Hall, Beatrice
Moreland and Robert Downing. TIL latter
has only been a deserter since Thanksgiving
while the others have been some little time
out of 1t. Downing was billed to appear three
nights at the then Creighton theater, open
ing on Thanksgiving, but Cancelled his
dates and accepted the large offer made him
to go into vaudeville, and the week follow
ing made his debut at Kansas City, in an
abridged version Of the Gladiator" A
great many people think It passing strange
why people who have gained prominence and
fame in the legitimate profession should
leave 1t for one that appears to be but a
fleeing fancy or within OF theater-goers.
There are several reasons. Fundamentally,
it Is a matter of dollars and cents. Then
there is the freedom from the drudgery and
inconvenience as a member-even as q star
of a big company. With such a company
its entire cast Is marked for ten perform
ances a week, each Of from two to two and
one-half hours duration at It's highest ten
sion, the star sustaining the most severe
strain. The enormous salaries supposed to
be paid star performers are usually gauzy
myths. Occasionally a prominent star gets
q fat salary and a share In the piece pro-
duced, but they rarely end the season with
any great amount Of money. Again, stage
= N A. -.A-.- I~t~ k41ln Noitt
must always dress their parts deliberately,
particularly the women stars. This item
alone is no inconsiderable amount during a
season. In vaudeville a great artist Is paid
a large salary for an act that in most cases
does not consume over fifteen minutes.
Their railroad fares are usually paid by the
house booking them and their engagements
are always for a week at a place. One night
stands, the actors bane, are things I'M
known, the expense Of wardrobe Is mini
mized and memorizing Of long parts and re-
hearsals are entirely done away with. Take
it all and all, the deserter who has a reputa-
ton and a good act lies ON downy beds OF
ease.
Little do the people who have seen the
kaleidoscope reproduction Of the Rice-lrwin
kissing scene realize how much trouble and
discomfort was entailed In getting It, SAID
John G. Rice, the comedian, who closed q
weeks engagement at one Of the local vaude-
Vile houses yesterday. "You see. we were
playing the Widow Jones in New York and
the kissing scene between Miss Irwin and
and myself made such a nit that
people who had seen the play before would
often come in again Just to see this scene,
and then leave after 1t was over. The New
York World, thinking that a reproduction
~ tho ocauo would he a QOOd advertisement
for 1t to show on its building, induced
us to pose for 1t. We little thought at that
time that 1t would be shown all over the
country by the kaleidoscope people or / am
sure neither OF US would have been q party
TO it. However a day was set for us to
pose and as we were to go to the factory
in the suburbs Of Orange, N. j., we had to
get an early start In order to be there at
midday when the sun was brightest. We
missed the first car that was to take US to
the boat landing and came near missing the
boat. Then after getting from the boat to
the train we were carried away by where we
were to stop and were compelled to walk
back to the factory. Not knowing its exact
location we had no little trouble in finding
It, which we finally did. close on to noon.
We were both pretty much out Of p~atience
by this time, SO you can imagine our sur
prise and chagrin when we were told by
the manager that they were not ready for
us. and that we would have to come the
next week. This was the straw and Miss
Irwin said It would have to be then or
never, SO they hurriedly put the machine In
order. They escorted us to the gallery
which happened to be on the south side OF
their building. with no roof, no nothing save
q little box for the machine, chairs for US to
sit upon and a background against the brick
wall Of the building. ! will never forget the
day as long as l live. for 1t was one Of those
1OO-in the shade kind and We had to pose
in the sun and for the qualification Of the
operator were compelled to rehearse the
scene a half dozen times. Finally when he
was ready we were both wet with p~erspira-
ton and ready to wilt then and there. II
your mind is at all imaginative you can pic
ture our discomfort. and from that day to
this 1t has been like taking medicine for me
to kiss a woman"
Few. II any. Of the midgets one sees trav-
cling about the country exhibiting them
selves have the intelligence possessed by
the ordinary grown person. but the Rossow
midgets who were at the Orpheum last