Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06
NOTES BY THE
MATINEE MAN
fs.ta.4.9a.f .sss.sFs Fsss.s

The spirit of giving animated Los An
geles this week. 1t was time of bene-
fits, when people on and off the stage
contributed to swell the San Francisco
earthquake and fire relief fund
1t would have turned the stoniest Of
hearts to see the professions going
into the theaters at the benefit per-
formances. people with hearts glad that
they could contribute to so fraternal
cause.
Prompt and generous was the re-
sponse of every Los Angeles theater
manager to the call for help. Their
companies re-echoed the kindly senti-
ment. The people took up the refrain
and bought tickets. And at the shows
they bought flowers literally to swell
the fund.
The American heart is large in time
of need.
Now that the Conried company has
gone east shattered by the earthquake
it Is interesting to recall the first grand
opera season in San Francisco. The
first appearance of Patti and Gerster
was a singular revelation of the taste
for grand opera there. The greatest
singers had come to San Francisco.
not all of them, but many who are
forgotten except by the opera patrons
of that day. It 1884 San Francisco
was hungry. as 1t gets every year, for
the real thing. The old grand opera
companies in English had all broken up
and the city had been left out OF the
world of prima donnas and tenors for
some time. Then Emma Abbott had
risen as the prima donna and manager
ess of the most complete popular or
ganization. 1t was Hayman's first big
venture, and on the result of 1t hung
his fortune and future. To the surprise
of the east $25. 900 was in the box office
before the season opened.
Emma Abbott's season was also nota-
BILE for the fact that for the first time
the old Californians who had the strik-
ing independence of Fashion, up 10
that time. turned out in dress suits.
Emma Abbott's first performance was
failure. She put herself to the front;
and she did not persuade the audience
of her greatness. That night Hayman
trembled. True, he had $4,000 in the
bank but there were five weeks ahead
of him. But Emma Abbott had great
company, a triple company really, ana
the second performance turned the
scale, and the season laid the basis OF
Haymans great fortune and career
Five weeks of crowded houses. and one
of the most delightful opera seasons
San Francisco had had.
Manager Cort has contracted to star
Miss Maude Fealy in a new comedy
"Princess Nobody" in which the yonug
actress will be seen in New York city
early next season. Negotiations are
now pending which may result In the
addition OF Miss Cecilia LOTUS TO the
same management. In that case new
play will be written for her by proml-
nent American dramatist Miss Lof-
tus, who has recently been appearing
as Peter Pan I'm London, Is now out
of the cast temporarily and is recuper-
ating in the Highlands. Her last ap-
pearances were in vaudeville In the
| impersonations which first made her
popular In this country.
Miss Artie Hall at the Orpheum this
week gave a true representation OF a
genuine Georgia negress. In voice, IN
enunciatlon and i'm mannerisms MISS
Hal has evolved the difficult task or
playing a blackface role in blaekfaee
style.
But where has she learned the secret
of the facial pigment that gives her the
real color? It is a wonderful concoetioh
She uses to hide her fair countenance
under Its bronze brown coating,
1t is well that she ungloyed her plump
arms to prove. Missouri-like' that she