The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09


entered. and for a minute stood looking
at me. / was too surprised to speak
thinking that possibly one of those Pull
man car thieves had come to town Tor
change in operations My fears were put
at rest, however, when the intruder said:
+" You must pardon me. Mr.. Montgom-
cry but l felt that / must see you nat
urally, you don't remember me, but about
fifteen years ago, in a town down in In
diana you did me a favor. / was out OF
money and down on my luck, and you
loaned me SO. 1t put me on my feet, and
today l am prospecting and have money in
the bank. l was passing through Wash
ington and saw your name in the theatre
advertisement, and determined to hunt
you up
Here he took out large roll OF bills,
divided it IN half, and came over ana
laid the money on the bed. He went out
without another word"
But didn't he leave his name?' asked
an interested listener.
mo; and, unfortunately, just as he
closed the door l woke up
Mrs. Annie Yeamans has got what she
wanted but does not know whether she
likes it or not. Wien George II. Broad
hurst projected The House That Jack
write her a part in which she could play
a woman with money. Mr.. Broadhurst
complied with the request and made MRS.
Dooley," the character which he has given
to Mrs. Yeamans, woman without hus-
band, but with plenty of wealth. Now Mrs.
Yeamans finds that instead Of br:yiry a
calico dress at the total cost OF $Zo5, when
has been all the wardrobe that her parts
have called for in the last ten or twttye
a l1TE coli
with three extremely handsome gowns, and
that instead Of calmly resting between the
acts, she will have to employ her time
changing her costumes.
Never was the efficacy of newspaper ad-
vertsing better illustrated in this city
than during the past week in the case OF
the Academy OF Music. When Manager
Hashim came to Washington he announced
that he would pursue the same policy that
had proved so effective in Philadelphia. He
Immediately set his foot down on bill
board announcements and other schemes.
All such devices were refused and the So
licitors given to understand that while the
Messrs. Hashim conducted the Academy
their entire appropriation for advertising
would be expended with the daily news
papers.
For two weeks before the opening the
Hashim advertisements were noticeable
because of their size and arrangement.
The crowds that poured into the Academy
on Monday afternoon and evening and dur
ing the remainder OF the week justified the
policy. There were no passes given for win
dow privileges by Manager Hashim; Meth
er did persons whose vacant lots are sur
rounded by unsightly bill boards-an eye
sore TO their respective neighborhoods-
pass into the new vaudeville house on pa
per- to use the theatrical term for free
tickets. The Academy management say
that they received better returns from the
advertising in the daily papers last week
than if every bill board in the city and
surrounding country had for months in
advance been plastered with flaming post
ers, heralding the opening of the new home
Of fashionableN vaudeville.
The day OF billboard advertising for
| theatrical purposes seems to be about
over. Time was when It was deemed nee
| essary to expend a good-sized fortune each
season for Autographs and pay enormous
sums TO bill posters. The theatrical at
traction Of the present day that caters to
the better element of amusement seekers.
pays but little attention TO the billboard
end of its advertising, and were 1t not for
the traditions OF the business It would
doubtless be done away with altogether.
How did I come to take the name of
Gerard for professional purposes?
We'll. it was a good deal of an acct
dent. When / made my operate debut
with the Conreid Company at the Column
| bia Theatre, Chicago. l decided to use
my own name, but Just before the first
night determined to adopt another.
probably on account of my little girl A
short time before / had written love
. ctp in xthfT txt-O nha-
Jaurant and Gerard. Possibly out OF ad-
miration for the tale, which by the way.
has never been printed, / decided TO use
one of the names from my own story.
As Gerard was less susceptible of mis-
pronunciation. l settled upon II, and
it is unusual that / am the only one
! of that name in the theatrical profession
today
1t was a former prominent Washington
society favorite who made this explana-
ton in dressing room in Hash ms
Academy Of Music the other night, just
after she had wrought the audience uD
10 a high pitch of enthusiasm by her
stirring rendition Of Dixie" There is
nothing weak about Bettina Gerard now.
She takes pride in her profess ional work
and has set a pretty high niche as The
limit Of her ambition. Continuing her
chat she said
/ II was afraid when you were presented
that you were going to ask me about the
story OF the wine and the slipper, but
am glad to know you have no such in
( tention. That trifiing incident has b en-
told and retold. exaggerated and elabor-
( ated until il has assumed mastodonic
! proportions. There never was any truth
in il. and the whole thing was a libel
upon a good. brave man. 1t has followed
me from one place to another / even
heard Of II in Europe. Please ask people
TO forget 1t. About my future? Well,
love the legitimate and shall, after
while, / hope, find a play like, and may
make success of it. Until l get such
a piece / shall remain in vaude lille
which has been very coed to me. I want
to get something on the order of 'Zaza.'
] shall be heard of in more serious work
than l have ever yet done. rest assured
Of that ] am on the upward path now
and viii continue on that course. Every
little helps. and find encouragement on
every hand
There is a certain local pride in the
notable success of William Farnum, who,
on Monday night last, assumed the diff
cult title role in Klaw g. Erlangers mag
nificent production Of Ben Hur." Mr..
Farnum has a host of Washington rela-
tives, while his parents have friends al
most without number in this city. The
elder Mr.. Farnum was a business asso-
ciate OF Robert Downing for many years.
While, for the purpose OF exciting in
terest in their new Ben Hur. the man
ayers OF the production nave neglected to
speak Of his former successes, they have
been neither few nor puerile Mr. Far
mum assumed the role Of Don Jose in