The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-21
A Comic Opera Battle.

There have been great "ructions"
among the comic opera managers
throughout the States. There have
been stezIings in the operate hen
roost. The Portland Telegram gives
an interview with Manager Jim Love
which tells the tale:
War 20 the knife is on between
Colonel Billy Thompson. Of the
Boston Lyric Opera Company. and the
Josephine Stanton Opera Company. II
would be MOI appropriate to say
there II music IN the air. Colonel
Billy is singing a very energetic
basso. and is responded 10 in tenor
BY Henry Hallam, for his wife Jose
phine. Thus far. the redoubtable
Billy" has received the. short end.
aad great is his wrath thereat While
trying TO steal several members OF
the Stanton outfit his own stronghold
was stormed, and. one by one, the
leading members and a number OF the
chorus people were absorbed by the
ouDositfou. The inwardness OF the
merry war IS explained by James H.
Love. advance representative OF the
stanton Company. At the time of the
last engagement of the Boston Lyrics
al Cordray's. Love came to Portland
from San Francisco, and, after the
matinee had an hours interview with
Hallam and Stanton. While discuss
ing a dinner a big enterprise was CIV
en- the same attention. At the emo OF
the repast the two opera people had
agreed with Love TO organize an opera
company and tour Russia. China, Jap
an. Hawaii and the Philippines. Then
Love left town without Thompson be-
ing the wiser for his visit. That night
while Love was speeding to San
Francisco. Stanton and Hallam gave
Colonel Billy an attack of heart dis
ease BY announcing that they wonld
leave the show in two weeks at Pc
catello. Thompson suspected that
"somethin' was doin'." but could not
discover what was up until the sing
ers went TO New York and began to
secure company At this stage Of
the game BILLY" commenced his fine
work. Whenever he heard OF Stan
ton securing a member he would tel
egraph friends 10 have the new mem
her decline to join the show. Finally
he went to the metroDolis himself,
bringing up his heavy artillery. After
n siege of pneumonia Love proceeded
20 Chicago and telekraphed Hallam
to bring the bunch to the Windy City
and commence rehearsals. One day
in Chicago Love met Thompson. They
had dinner together. and. while they
were eating. the former received a
telegram stating that Comedian
Kunkel OF the Boston Lyrics. had
Joined the Stanton Company. Love
could not repress a smile and Billy
wanted TO know what there was in
the dispatch. After the meal Thomp-
son also received a wire telling of the
detection OF his best comedian. You
can't 20 over any line West because
I've got shut-out contract" said
Billy" but Love had his transporta-
ton contracts in his inside pocket.
Hearing that the STATIONS were to
open in a nearby town, Thompson tele-
graphed the local manager that II he
played the new company, he. Thomp
son. would not play lne house the
week following, as he had booked
This evoked n reply 10 the effect that
Josephine Stanton was a friend. and.
in short. Josephine was played. A
similar set-to was performed at the
next town with a like result Thomp-
son says the new aggregation is go
ms through the Orient a few months
in advance of his own just TO kill the
business for him. and he tells what lac
will do 10 keep the theatres along the
line closed against the opposition.
Love SAYS he doesn't care for Billy's
bluffs. for he has been through the
various countries and is "onto the
ropes" and Thompson isn't.