The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-07-30
THEATRICAL NOTES.

ment company nowadays. A year
ago this company was practically IN
heard of. In the inner circles of
the theatrical business, however, it
was known that VIII ]. Block, who
had been manager Of the Herald
Square theatre, New York, and of
the LaSalle theatre. Chicago. had as
ISOLATED himself with a Montana
multi-millionaire of the name of
Morris Sellers Largey. and originated
a stock company under the laws of
New Jersey. Mr. Blocks admitted
ability and thorough knowledge of
the show business, and Mr.. Largey's
enormous capital, made a eambina-
ton which caused all classes and con-
ditions of people in the business to
sit Up and take notice. They started
off with three productions of musical
comedy, all pretentious and costly
The first, a piece called "Kafoozelum"
failed. The next, The Geezer OF
Geek, was more fortunate and the
third, Coming Thro' the Rye after
a process of revision and able build
ing up. blossomed forth as one of
the distinct successes of the season.
1t is the work which Mr.. Block did
upon Coming Thro' the Rye" that
brought his corporation to the at
tention of the public and to the peo-
pie of the show business in a way
that carried conviction of this man
ayers determination To land his
company in the category of produc-
ing firms to be reckoned with. When
this production was first seen in New
York, some of the newspapers critics
reviewed it unfavorably. Mr.. Block
was not discouraged by this, how
ever, and he kept on eliminating
and adding to the score and the
book and changing the principals in
the company until he was rewarded
with a united press favorable in it's
Criticisms, and with a public patron
age which was confined only to the
capacity of the theatres in which
Coming Thro' the Rye" was pre-
scented. Wherefore, this big mus
zeal comedy production is booked for
next season in the best theatres in
the United States, and the consensus
of opinion is that it will be one of
the conspicuous winners of the year
| The great company which made such
a success in the piece last season
has been re-engaged, except that the
celebrated coincidence, Ellie Fay,
be seen as Mrs Cobb, the wealthy
widow. In addition to this, the
Block company is presenting Marah
Ellis Ryan's great play Told in the
Hills" at Powers theatre, Chicago,
with that sterling actor. Edwin
Arden, in the star part.
This piece was put on for four
weeks only, but so great has been its
success that the engagement has
been extended to eight weeks, which
brings the time up to the opening OF
the regular fall season at Powers
Another production by the Block
company is The Daughters of Man, >
which goes ON at the Grand Opera
House, Monday night, July 80. The
company employed for this play in
cludes more high salaried actors
than have ever been brought to-
gether in one cast. Among them
are Charles Riehman, Robert Haines
Stephen Maley, Sarah Truax, Mary
Ryan, May Vokes, Lucille Flaven
and many others, but these seven
people represent salary list of 81
900 a week Their engagement by
the Block company has caused some
thing like a sensation in circles
where knowledge of stage affairs
prevails. Still another play will BIZ
brought forward by this company
early in the fall. 1t is called Honor
Bright" and that distinguished act
Iress, Alice Fischer. will appear in
the star role. Several engagements
for this company have already beer
made, and they include some of the
most widely known actors in tbs
country. Thus, by the middle O
October the Will ]. Block Amusement
Ecompany will have at least four bis
productions going. employing up
wards of $50 people, representing /;
total salary list of clost to $4,000
a week. and gross expense of no
far from $4,000. This, it will b.
seen at a glance. means a total ex
pense on a season of forty weeks o
something over half million dol
lars For young concern, this i
going some" and according t
those who are in a position to know