The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-12

ticipatng play of unusual merit, to which they hope to accord an unusual production.
 George c. Tyler, the executive head of Lebler & Co.,, has lust concluded ne- gotiations with Ezra Kendall. the popu- lar comedian, for a starring engagement which will begin with the season of 1902, and continue through a series of years. Mir. Kendall has long been re- cognized as one of the most popular and successful comedians on the American stage. He Is the highest priced man in vaudeville. and it has occurred to MT. Tyler that if he can secure play adapt ed to Mr.. Kendalfs personality and that Ezra Kendall should be able to ex- tract more laughs from it than any man known to the stage today, and real bona fide amusement is what a large propor- ton of the theatre-goers of today seek and demand. To that end MT. Kendall will colaborate in the preparation Of 8 play, which it is fondly hoped will prove one of the "corkers" of the coming sea- son.
 Frank Daniels saw the old year out in Cleveland. where Miss Simplicity" made the multitude happy in advance of the New Years eve Daniels entertained his company at supper, and when the bells and horns and whistles announced that the old year had died and the New Year
 
 with filled glasses and drank to the toast "the king Is dead, long live the king" Then the company burst into a fh chorus .p especially arranged by condSe t,s Old, Ring in the New" with an appro- priate accompaniment of chimes.
 Then, amid the chatter of voices fol- lowing as sverybody t,t to 3as singing Aud Lang Syne." It was the voice of Helen Lord. the prima donna Of the company. and as she sang the talk nsS n and md s shs oa entire dser party finally Lord Tt was a good year to me"
 Rubber" said Daniels.
 And I couldn't turn my back on it in such heartless fashion. To my think ing we should have much hndlier feel ing for the old year than is the general rule. We know all about that at any rate"
 whereupon Daniels. perverting the gender began, For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" and it was sung to the accom- paniment of Miss Lords blushes.
 The "'way Down East" company whose effects were destroyed by fire at the Theatre Vendome, Nashville, last week, were supplied with a complete new production within five days Managers Brady and Grismer put force of ovas fifty stage mechanics and artists to work day and night and a new record for mak- ing and painting scenery was establish ed.
 R. Melbille Baker seems to have profit ed handsomely from the success of his first play, Foxy Grandpa" which Is being presented by Joseph Hart, Carrie De Mar and 8 company under the di- rection of William A. Brady No fewer than three new farces from MT. Bakers s pen are announced for production next season.
 The story of Lovers Lane'' appears song and story writers that 1t did to Clyde Fitch for William A. Brady is kept busy replying to authors who want permission to use the plot of the play, and already two ballads founded on it have become popular.
 "Grace George" says The New York World, may be called an exceedingly lucky young woman. At an age at which these others were comparatively unknown, she has placcd herself in the rank with Fife Shannon, Annie Russell, Maude Adams and other notable ingenue stars.'
 "Loyers' Lane." like it's predecessor. "'Way Down East which it in no way resembles, the relationship being distant, has developed great repeating powers. played they have invariably reached ca plcity limit. William A Brady is book ing the Clyde Fitch play for next sea- son upon the basis of substantial guar antees, in a good many cities
 William A. Brady and Joseph R. Gris- mer will produce Edw. w. Townsend s play, "A Daughter of the Tenements" next season. It is founded on the drama lists novel of that name.