Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-26
ODE Stage.
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As Il result of the disarmament of
| the Weber d Fields company there is
no little speculation as to the plans
of the numerous luminaries in that
| organization. Most of the members
of the famous band of funmal<ers
have announced their intentions. 1t
is known that Lou Fields viii become
partner with Hamlin and Mitchell
and will likewise be starred in mu-
steal production to be furnished by
| Victor Herbert and Glen MacDon-
ough and Edgar Smith.
Just what Weber will do has not
been determined, since his negOtia-
| tions with Charles Frohman for the
release of Sam Bernard from his con-
tract with the Empirean has not been
secured. Weber and Bernard would
undoubtedly make an especially strong
firm. but Bernard has been under the
Frohman banner all season i'll THE
Girl from Rays" and cannot leave his
present manager without his con-
sent.
Peter Daley joins KIaw d Err
LANCER; during the summer he will be
with the syndicate on the New Am
Sterdam roof in a burlesque in associ-
alton with Miss Fal Templeton and
others. They will be seen i'll Il skit
by John j. McNalley called "a Little
of everything"
Ross and Fenton will probably re-
turn to vaudeville. John T. Kelley
will await developments.
This leaves Louis Mann and Miss
Russell to be accounted for; the for
mer, it is stated. will return to the
management of Rich and Harris, and
Will possibly succeed, as these gen
tlemen are too shrewd to permit him
to follow his bent toward the legiti-
mate.
Miss Russell is very willing to ADAM
don the musical field. Her argument
is as follows:
Il have had several plays and OPP
cras submitted to me for considera-
ton. Nearly all of them have appeal
ed to me strongly. The grave ques-
ton in my mind has been, in each in
stance: Can | succeed in straight
comedy. or will the public accept me
only if l sing a few songs and act,
too. Personally, l prefer being a
plain, everyday actress and play such
parts as Miss Marie Tempest appear
ed in to such advantage this season;
but | presume that such a small per-
centage of the public as would care
to see me, in any event, would prefer
TO hear me sing. From the day of my
debut on the stage to the present time
| have been identified with comic OPP
era or with musical travesty. and ii
is therefore Il grave question in my
mind if the public would accept me i'm
any role that required not the lifting
of my voice. OF one thing. however.
YOU may be certain. and that is / Will
not formulate any plans for next
year. nor will / sign any contract I'M
til | have received the best advices of
my friends and well wishers'
Miss Russell has been indulging her
self in several condolences to the news
paper reading public in New York.
Among other announcements she de
livered is one that suggests she wishes
never again to venture out upon the
road" Part of her statement is far
too rich to be kept secret. She said:
The one-night stand. as that insti-
tuition exists i'm America. is the bane
of lyric and dramatic art. and / do
not hesitate to say that the road is
the grave of more talent than ever
finds its way To the footlights in any
other country in the world. 1t is the
habit Of all foreign artists and critics
who visit America to declare to the
reporters who meet them on the quay
that they find the art of this so great
and glorious country unbelievabIy rich
and ripe and mature. They declare
with the greatest enthusiasm that
they find their own powers inspired
and stimulated by the impetus given
by the wonderful American audiences,
but when these same artists find them
selves trailing across the continent
dreary deserts Of one-night
stands they experience a sudden
change Of heart. They find the Ameri-
can audience cold and clammy prig.
before whom it i "A waste Of energy
TO cast the pearls of their genius