The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-23
THEATRE SEASON OPENS
 WITH HERMANN THURSDAY
Both of Montgomery's Winter Payhouses Promise Good Attractions to Patrons Something of What
 Players Are Doing.

tne winter tneatr1cal season In MCntgom- cry and it promises to be one of great in-
 terest to the men and women who pay their money to be amused.
 Hirscher Brothers, co-managers of the
 Montgomery Theatre, have already pre-
 sented an attractive list of bookings and
 more are to be engaged.
 notwithstanding contrary reports Prof. e. F. Mcdonald will continue to manage the Blob Street house and it will open later in the season.
 The Montgomery theatre will be opened Tor the season Thursday night by Herr mann, the great magician. who will give the initial performance this season in all playhouses on the Southern circuit. He will be followed by 'sThe Telephone Girl'' and Al Fields minstreis win be among the early engagements.
 | No important changes will be made in the staffs of either Montgomery house. Hermann the Or sat.n Leon Hermann, known as Hermann the Great" a title that is pre-eminent among the magicians of today, has be- come. through the efforts of his ener- getic manager Edward Thurnaer, prom inent figure in current theatricals. He fs nephew of both Carl and Alexander Hermann who have successfully amused and .mystificd theatre-goers all over the | world for the past sixty years. A student and assistant under Carl
 
 tain fame as a prestidigitator, Leon had an excellent schooling; upon the death of Carl, Leon succeeded him and confined himself to the territory in which Carl had achieved his greatest fame. He rapidly created for himself reputation as an expert in the mystic art that rivaled that of Carl himself. In all the leading cities of Europe, Asia, South America and Aus traiia, Leon Hermann was prominent figure.
 The novelty of Leon Herrmann's woyk Is It's originality. There is a charm about his entertainment which attracts every body. Hermann is a genius, whose dis tinguishing feature is the completeness of his work in every detail. From the first appearance he is thoroughly en-rau- port with his audience. and everybody feels at home with him.
 Herrmann's entertainment consists mostly of legerdemain, and his marvel ous dextcrfty in sleight of hand has earn ed him fame never before accorded any prestidigitator who has toured this coun- try.
 This season he will have many new tricks in this. class, which will give him an opportunity to still more completely astontsh his admirers, if such a thing is possible. Hermann fs confident himself that he has few surprises up his sleeve that will set tongues wagging all over the continent He has secured two thrill ing sensations in '"rhe Bride Elect and ''The Queen of Flame" and has some new feats in levitation that outdo any thing yet attempted
 The Laskys" add the charm of melody to the long program Of mystery by their celebrated rendition of military music.
 Hermann comes to the Montgomery theatre Thursday night.
 "The Telephone Girl"
 ssTha Talanhana GfrlSS x-vtI1 kI.. traction at the Montgomery Theatre
 The adventures of Hans Nix, Estelle Coocoo, Beauty Fairfax, Snuffles and Toots will be interpreted by a clever company. New musical numbers will be added and unique specialtIes will be in- troduced. The ''aIl girly'' chorus con- tains its usual bevy of beauties and the costumes and scenery are a treat to the eye.
 Among the funmakers are Max Bloom. who plays Hans Nix" was last season leading comedian of The Belle of New York;" Nellie V. Nichols, leading sou brette, filled a similar position with Riee's '1492;" Harry c. Lyons was Harry Gilfoirs successor in ''The Liberty Belles;" May F. Linden. soprano, late of the "Bostonian Opera Company" Jules Bennett, leading baritone of the "Prim- rose and Dockstader Minstrels."
 Summer Shows in Montgomery.
 The season at the Casino Theatre, Pick ett Springs. Is drawing to a close and We of Montgomery may now ask our selves If we have accorded the pretty lit- tie playhouse and it's excellent manage ment the support and encouragement which they deserved.
 The building of a comfortable theatre with adequate appurtenances at a brand new resort adjacent to 4O.0OO people, near ly half of whom are negroes, who are debarred from the park. was a business risk. A still greater venture was the employing of theatrical companies, some of which were guaranteed as much as $500 a week to provide the amusement.
 The Montgomery Traction Company undertook the first responsibility and Jake Wells, the plucky manager of | Southern theatricals assumed the sec ond. The maximum admission fee was | fixed at 50 cents. but excellent seats were | to be had as low at 25 cents. Hardly an | attraction has played at Pickett Springs during the season that was not worth | the price of admission. But Jake Wells l lost money. It Is doubtful if the Trac- | tion Company broke even.
 The season opened late in May with | the Robinson Opera Company, an organ ization which presented light opera in