The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-30
BLACK PATHS
SINGERS PLEASE
Celebrated Troupe Opens
Week at California
Theater.
Entertaining Plays Are on
at All the Local
Playhouses.


engagement at the California Theater last
evening. Black Patti was in excellent
voice and sang old songs that tended to
revive many pleasant memories. The
performance has improved since the last
visit, the chorus singing being especially
effective. All the turns go with a snap
and dash and the many good things on
the programme should cause a good
weeks business.
Principal among the entertainers is
Mack Allen, a slack wire equilibrist, who
does some new stunts" with skill. Al
Watts and John Ruclxer are heard in
some clever comedy work, and the male
quartet was recalled several times for it's
splendid rendition of vocal numbers. The
buck dance, which concluded the opening
farce, "A Filipino Mis-Fit," displayed the
agility Of several members Of the troupe.
The singing of My Drowsy Babe" by the
Misses Forcen and Green pleased the
large audience present. The cakewallS,
as usual, made the hit Of the evening,
and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
evenings the contest for a gold medal,
open to all corners, will take place. Next
Sunday evening Whose Baby Are Your
begins a weeks engagement.
Joe Welch, who completely captivated
the Orpheum audiences during the first
half of his engagement here, is again the
feature Of this week Of an extraOrdinar-
lily good bill at that theater.
WEIGH has made an entire change in his
monologue, and, if anything, it is cleveTer
than his earlier act. No mOnologuist ever
on the coast has created the furore that
greets Welch's appearance on the stage
and continues until he leaves it. Last
night the house was in an uproar
throughout Welch's turn and he was nois-
lily encored a half dozen times.
Picolos Hliputians, four in number, give
/ a wonderful comedy and eX10Oa site fer
tainment and Immediately established
themselves in popular favor.
Mcintyre and Heath contribute the best
act; they do The Man From Montana '
Elizabeth Murray sings coon songs
| fetchingly and tells a series of new jokes.
Also on the programme are Angles
! trio, Ritter's trained dogs, W. G. Fields
and the Union Calling Guards.
What promised to be an insurmountable
obstacle TO Mcintyre and Heath's per-
! fOrmance turned up just before the time
for them to begin. Otto Johnson. their
/ assistant, was doing a, straightforward act
! at a nelghborinS theater and forgot the
clock.
Mcintyre, who makes Johnson the par
/ ticular butt of his best jokes, was in a
furry, and the audience waited.
As a means out of the dilemma Harry
Orndorf, the Orpheum's stage manager,
volunteered as a fall guy" He knew
nothing of the dialogue, but ordered the
curtain up and went bravely on with the
comedian to take his medicine.
Orndorm was Immediately recognized
and got rousing reception from the reg
ularS scattered over the house. He ac-
quilted himself most creditably until the
belated johnson walked on the stage and
/ Orndorff backed off.
While OrndOrn was doing his stunt
/ the bartenders fOrsOok their business and
! the dOorkeepers crowded down the line
TO witness the stage managers debut as
1 an actor.
johnson was good-naturedIy- joIIied by
the audience for his hardness. 1t evil
IDENTIFY thought he had got stranded on
the cocktail route.
Mary Mannering with Janice Mere
dith' will remain the attraction at the
Columbia Theater for another week, with
matinees on New Years day and Satur-
day. The charming young woman has won
all hearts by her beauty and talent and
/ her engagement promises TO be one of the
/ most successful Of the season. Miss Man
nering is eXcellently supported by the
strong company she brings with her, all
Of the many parts in the cast being IN
dertaken with much skill and intelligence.
On Thursday next at a special matinee
Camille" will be put on, with Miss Man
nering in the title role. 1t is Miss Man
nering's first appearance in the role and
therefore an occasion Of peculiar interest
TO play-goers. H. S. Northrup, Charles
Cherry. Amy Ricard and Robert Drouet
viii also appear in the cast
The New Years bill at the Grand
Opera House is to be the pretty comedy
"A Lady of Quality" by Stephen Town
send and Frances Hodgson Burnett Miss
Minnie Seligman will appear in the title
role and will do justice to its attraction.
She will be well supported by the Grand
Opera House stock company A special
matinee is announced for New Years
day. The part is said to be one of the best
in Miss Seligman's repertoire and the play
one of the most popular
The Alcazar has too good a thing in
7 "Charley's Aunt to change the bill this
week at least. All the principal members
Of the company have congeniaI parts in
the hilarious farce, Frank Bacon in par
ticular having a beautiful opportunity as
Lord Babberlev.
Margaret Wycherley. Marion Convere,
Marie Howe, Oza Waldrop, NJ. l.. Alsop
and others Of the excellent company ep-
pear in the cast and the programme has