The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25
STAGELAND PEOPLE
AND SOME OF THEIR
RECENT MOVEMENTS

Nat Goodwin mas signed three years
contract by the terms of which he is to
star under Charles Frohman's manage
ment in The Beauty and the Barge,
comedy by W. W. Jacobs and Louis n.
Parker. Mr.. Goodwin will appear in a
character after the style Of those in
which he achieved his earliest and sta
blest fame. He will be supported by an
American company. Arrangements fer
the production were completed with
Daniel Frohman, and it has been set
tied that the comedy will be presented
at the Lyceum for a run, beginning
early in September next During the
continuance of the three years con-
tract with Mr.. Goodwin, Mr.. Frohman
will present him in other plays besides
the one named.
Gilbert Miller. son of Henry Miller, as
the result of his fathers vigorous op-
position to his desire to be an actor, is
now serving as a private in the Marine
Corps on the cruiser Denver. Young
Miller secured an engagement with
Amelia Bingham and did well. but his
father refused to approve of 1t. SO
eight months ago Gilbert Miller Joined
the Marine Corps at the recruiting
office in New York.
Madame Me!ba found herself very
unpopular woman in Pittsburg on the
night Of November %. when she re-
fused to sing after finding that the ad-
vance sale of seats was small. The
story that the diva had a cold and
needed rest did not seem to mo!llty
those who had their money refunded
1t is discouraging to think of the
future of the American stage when
confronted with present conditions,
saws the Dramatic Mirror. Aside from
the very few prominent actors now be
fore the public who abhor the idea Of
continuing for long periods in single
play. who emphasize their distinguished
abilities by appearing in various dra-
mas during a season, and who possess
the capacity and skill necessary to train
their supporting actors in something
like a variety Of impersCnation, there
remains no other medium but that fur
nished by the few stock companies
which hold precarious tenures in vari-
Gus cities for actors to become in some
measure expert in their art. These
stock companies, although they are
held in contempt by the dominant pow
er in the theater, and the few chief
players who insist upon their own
method, really save the theater Of to-
day from an absolute poverty of ac-
tors who can show versatility.
-
Blanche Bates broke down and shed
tears of joy when called upon for
speech at the completion of her phe-
nomenal run of $50 performances at the
Imperial Theater. st. Louis, on Decem-
ber .. She received hundreds of con-
gratulatory kilograms and was liter
ally stormed with flowers. The actress
is said to have played to s1S2,604 IS
during her season in st. Louis.
Is the circus poster doomed? After
fifteen years of rivalry Barnum &
Bailey and Ringing Brothers have
agreed to use fewer billbOards and
more newspaper space and mutually ar
range their routes and do such things
as will result in dignifying and better
ing their business. r. F. Hamilton has
issued a statement which says in part;
James A. Bailey and the Ringing
Brothers have met and agreed upon
future programme that is likely to con-
fer lasting benefit upon every one en-
gagged in the circus business. While
there is no. foundation for even a sus-
picion that any merger or combination
is involved, sufficient has transpired to
warrant the statement that a most
thorough understanding has been ar
rived at by which the vast and impOr-
tant interests of these two great shows
will be conserved. Window Autographs
will, to great extent, be dispensed