Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25


ton Cheatricals. The competition will be
hottest IN the domain Of vaudeville and
burlesQue. New managerial figures have
appeared IN each of these fields at the Acad-
envy and at the Bijou Theater. The book
ings at the theaters which eschew the mon
ologue and cater to the drama-loving pub
lie. although still incomplete show that
Washington will in the future, as hereto
fore. see the best that is going and in some
instances have big productions before they
are played in New York.
The future Of the Lafayette Square Thea
te- has finally been decided upon. Mr.. Fred
Berger, who Is so prominently identified
with the successful career of Sol Smith
Russell has organized a stock company
which will take alFthe time at Mr.. Paint
er's theater, under an arrangement which
gives the highest mutual satisfaction. 1t
VIII be a permanent stock company. organ
lied on legitimate lines for the presenta ton
OF refined comedy society drama and the
like. Mr.. Berger has had no difficulty In
securing talent, there is in the theatrical
profession a hearty liking for Washington
as a place of residence. A number of peo-
pie have already been engaged, but their
names are not yet made public. The house
will play the dates which have already been
booked These VIII run to the latter part of
October and then Mr.. BerseTs company
will have the remainder of the season. prac-
tiCally without interruption. The prices will
range from one dollar down to twenty-five
cents for gallery admission.
fashionable vaudeville" is the slogan IF
the new lessees of the Academy of Music.
These words We're first used by the Messrs.
Hashim to indicate the style of entertain
ment that has been made so popular by
them. They were originally applied to the
shows at the Grand Opera House in Phila-
n 81,
that as theater after theater devoted to
vaudeville has been added TO the Hashim
circuit they have been used to denote tho
policy of that house, until now the nama
of HaShim Is inseparable from the aprella-
tim Fashionable vaudeville" And vaude-
Vile as purveyed by the MesSrs. Hashim
has become in other cities where they have
established themselves a really fashionable
entertainment, that enjoys the patronage or
the best classes Of people. 1t is no uncom-
mon thing, for instance, to see in front
of the Philadelphia Grand Opera House
after a performance line of carriages to
the number of 70 or 100 waiting for those
who are within enjoying the performance.
Messrs Hashim control in addition to the
Academy in this city, the Grand Opera
House in Philadelphia and Roster & Biafs
in New York, all devoted TO VaudeVllic:
Roster & Balls is the original home or
vaudeville in its present high-class form.
and In that house there Will be seen this
winter artists of the highest worth, and
they will all come from there direct to the
Academy.
In the absence of Manager Chase of
Chase's New Grand. Mr.. Osgood, who Is
closely connected with the interests of that
theater. was questioned as 10 the policy
which would control the Washington thea
ter during the coming season.
81 don't need to hesitate for an answer,
said he. 1T is contained in the title polite
~. 90 tb.a RrSr
five months of what was practically the
first season of Burke & Chases occupancy
of the Grand great many Washtngton:ans
thought that the Grand, which hitherto for
some seasons past had been dead, theatre
cally speaking, could be revived and made
70 live long life by the introduction of
light entertainment, accompanied by the
sale of liquor The suggestion came from
many quarters. but one night heard II di-
rectly stated to Mr.. Chase, In the presence
Of his then partner. Mr.. Burke. 1 could
not do it, said Mr.. Chase, grimly and then.
with a CLEAN of humor in his eye. he turned
and looked at Burke, saying, Burke might,
but | couldn't
1T IS superfIuous for me TO say there will
be no change in the policy of the house.
Indeed, the effort will be made to make IT
uItra-cOnservative, as compared with its
conservatism last season. The New Grand
was considered last season by even Keith,
the pioneer of purity IN theatrical enter
tainment. to be the hardest theater in
America 70 book acts and novelties for
Chase's New Grand will not open until
the date determined upon by Mr.. Chase last
spring. September 10. The opening bill has
not yet been announced. but it VIII consist
of eight acts. which Will be the standard
number provided each week during the
season. The old employees Of the house re-
main for The new season, except that. fol-
lowing out his seni-civil service idea, Mr..
Chase has promoted nearly every one OF
his men. He was enabled TO do this by plac-
ing his treasurer. Mr.. Reeves, in charge of
the Lyceum Theater in Baltimore Mr..
Chase, who IS compelled 10 spend some time
a, his New York offices and Baltimore thea
ter. will have an assistant, who will direct
the Grand while he is away. .
Charles B. Hanford has been putting in
busy week at the Columbia Theater. super
vising the construction of the scenery for
his new play, Private John Allen" Mr.
Hanford owns what is probably the largest
collection of scenery in the possession of
any American actor He purchased the
BCOth-Barrett scenery. secured much of the
Keene-H anford outfit and secured all the
elaborate and expensive stage equipment of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Company. With
all this, he is compelled 10 secure new ma
terra. for Private john" whose fortunes
AMI adventures concern the south. Only in
one instance was the tragedian able to
utilize his old material. The superiority OF
the classic drama to time and place is
shown by the fact that a room in Richie
lieu's palace will do service as a parlor in
a southern homestead. Mr. Hanford has de-
vised a humber of beautiful stage effects
for Private John Allen and IS enthu-
siastic over the prospect of vacation from
the tragic drama and chance To appear
on the stage with collar and necktie like
plain folks
T Arthur Smith has severed his connec-
tor with Wildwood In order to resume his
duties as treasurer Of the New National
Theater The National has number OF I'M
provements in contemplation for the COM
Ing season.
The importation Of actresses is the latest
enterprise TO engage the attention OF that
restless actor, Richard Mansfield. Con-
sidering the trouble he has had with Amer
lean leading ladies. 1t Is not surprising that
he should be tempted to try another hemi-
sphere in securing supporting talent. Mile.
Ida Brassy, q young woman who has had
the benefit of eminent instruction in Europe,
has come over from Paris to appear III the
Mansfield production of King Henry W
which opens at the Garden Thea,er, New
York. October J. Mr.. Mansfield has kept
making Shakespearean productions so per-
sistently that he has at least aroused con-
troversy as TO whether he can play the
grea, poets characters or not, and this In
itself IL no small achievement for an actor
whose powers were so long regarded as
1,afp 1i,,,{,a aha