The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-29
MATINEE GIRL CHATS ABOUT
CHARLIE ROSS AND MABEL FENTON

Charlie Ross and Mabel Fenton. VINO
are the chief contributors to the fun
being given Keith patrons this week.
have not been seen In Providence for so
long a time as team that their re-
turn this week revives many pleasant
memories of their acting In brief traves-
ties and burlesques. Although those
players have disappeared from the local
view for almost eight years. thy have
rical eye OF the Metropolis. where they
have been located for number of years
with Weber and Fields.
They were last seen here with Girard
and Donnelly. in "The Rainmakers" But
Il Is with Weber and Fields that they
have both been mainly Identified; and
their Identification with that organiza-
tion rs something more than merely odd.
What mas become, In many respects, the
most profitable OF present day theatrical
enterprises was In the beginning Cue
solely to Mr.. Ross and Miss Fenton-a
fact which Weber and Fields themselves
cheerfully admat. Weber and Fields were
doing one OF their German dialect
sketches on a New York roof garden In
the summer of 1895. when the Imperial
xM
Quoted chiefly as beer garden for Ten
derioin habitues, was offered for rent at
q low figure.
They took the lease merely as an In
vestment. Then they decided to try en-
tertainments made up OF popular music
by a small orchestra. three or four spe-
ciaitiss and some old time afterpece with
',stock' characters of comic Germans,
,Irishmen. Jews. negroes. Chiamen. etc.
Sam Bernard was put In charge OF the
entertainments, and John T. Kelly was
engaged for a period OF six weeks to play
Celtic characters in the afterpieces. Ryan
and Richneld. and Ross snd Fenton were
among those employed by Bernard Tor
their specialties. A limit was set to the
weekly expenditures for salaries; but
Bernard. by doing a monologue In addi-
tion TO running the stage was able 10 save
enough to engage eight chorus girls for
the ensembles. etc. When all this had
been arranged. Weber and Fields TOOK
70 the road at the head Of a speciality
company bearing their name. leaving Ber-
nard In charge. Rocs and Fenton nrst
gave their old skit on "Virginius." This
was liked. and they tried on Anthony
and Cleopatra"
Then they borrowed the manuscript Of
the Lambs club burlesdue on The Heart
OF Maryland" and cast IL with Ryan,
Miss Richneld and the other specialists
of the week. including the Beaumont SIS
ters. and used II as an afterpiece. The
newspaper found that the funmaking IN
"The Art of Maryland" as II was called.
was keen and intelligent. and ADVISED ccn-
tinuance along the same line. Under
the Red Robe" and THE Geisha." were
popular In New York then. and were
burlesoued as Under the Red Globe" and
"The Geezer." These sklts ran about
an hour and a half each and were exec
out with specialties. The price was then
y for the best seat Weber and Fieros.
as a matter OF fact. did not appear in
their own house until spring. when. re-
turning from the road. they first gave
one of their sketches and afterwards went
into n burlesaue, Mr.. New York. ESQ.
written to accommodate themselves. their
company. and Henry f. Dixie, especially
engaged, II is a notable fact that no per-
former ever engaged for Weber anu
Fields production ever fell down" In
the autumn OF 1897 Weber and Fields oe-
eided to remain lat home" as they na',
began the series OF nondescript entertain
ION spec" They raised the price TO N.5o.
and heightened out the burlesques Then
began the series OF nondescr.p entertain
ments which has made them rich. and as
such things 20. famous. Mr.. Ross In
time made way for Fritz Williams anu
Miss Fenton siternated with Fay Tempe