Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-05
WILL LEA We
The RELASCO
LEWIS STONE EXPECTED TO JOIN
FERRIS, COMPANY
LEADING MAN AND MANAGER IN
CONSULTATION
Change Probably VIII Go Into Effect
the First Of the Year-Bos-
worth Also to
Retire

Lewis S. Stone, leading man at the
Belasco for the past year. is expected to
terminate his engagement at that house
about January / ,and to become mem
ber Of the FERRIS company at the Audi
torium Manager Ferris and Mr.. Stone
held a long conference yesterday after
noon. At is conclusion neither would ad-
init that definite arrangements had been
made, though they did not deny the
matter had been discussed during the
"friendly visit From another source,
however, it was learned that unless the
unexpected happens the first of the year
will probably find the Belasco's popular
leading nan on the Fifth street stage.
1t has been an open secret for some
time that Mr.. Stone has not liked the
way things have been going at the Be-
Iasco. Rum has it, however, that his
determination Ito step out did not assume
tangible form until a disagreement arose
between himself and Adolph Ramish,
acting manager of the Belasco in the abb
sence of John Blackwood in the east
With Ferris in Minneapolis
Should Mr. 5uole accept an engage
ment at the Auditorium, it will not be his
FIRST under the management of Dick
Ferris nor his first in support OF
Miss Florence Stone. In Minneap-
oils. before coming to Los An
reIes. llr. Stone played leads with the
Ferris company at the Lyceum theater,
where Miss Stone was the leading wo-
man. He was very successful there. as
he has been here, and established him
self large personal following.
1T is this personal element which
makes the impending local change of so
much interest. Stone is tremendously
popular witt Belasco audiences, and
should he go to the Auditorium it is con-
fidently predicted that many OF ms
oss-the-footlight friends will follow
him. In fact, his going promises to pre-
cipitate stock company war of lively
interest
Just how the Belasco will be prepared
TO meet it it is not now clear. At pres
ent, affairs back of the curtain at the
Main street playhouse are in sadly
muddled state The company has no
leading woman. Miss Stoddard. though
she is still in the city, is not appearing in
any of the Belasco plays and her success
sor has not yet arrived from the east
Hobart Boswor.th. stage director, will ter
inmate his engagement, it is reported,
within few weeks. The company is
without an ingenue, Miss Smith having
been engaged only temporarily.
New Players Coming
To fill these vacancies, it is said that
George Barnum, formerly stage director
at the house, will return; that Dot Ber-
nard has been engaged to play ingenue
roles; that Joseph De Grasse, formerly
director of the Ulrich stock company at
the Grand ope-l house, will probably be
in charge of the stage; and that young
woman unknown in the west and whose
name is Catherine Emmett, has been Sc
cured to plSy the leads.
In addition to this, Joseph Galbraith,
Mr. Stones predecessor as leading man
at the Belasco, and who left the stage
for the zeal estate business, has been in
duced to return. Originally it was the
plan to pres 8nt MIR. Stone and Mr.. Gal
braith on alternate weeks, but when
Stone retires Galbraith may be asked to
step into the breach.
In all probability still other changes
are in prospect. At the theater no one
can be found who will admit any knowl
edge of the rlatter. In some quarters it
is even sal that John Blackwood may
retire from the management of the house.
Are Somewhat Non.committaI
Both Mr.. Ferris and Mr.. Stone were
non-committal yesterday when questioned
regarding the result of their conference.
Mr.. Ferris remarked merely that he
never employed an actor who was under
contract to another manager, burt at the
same time added quickly that If Mr..
Stone found himself released from the
Belasco he would be very glad to con-
slider a contract with him upon terms
which should be mutually satisfactory.
Mr.. Stone admitted that unless certain
changes in present Belasco plans are
made he intends to retire from the Be
lasco, and expresrso the opinion that he
will have no difficulty in compelling his
release Furthermore, he said that he
always mad found Mr. Ferris liberal in
the past ard that the matter of terms
doubtless would present no obstacle to
his joining the Auditorium company,
should he decide to make the change
All this, of course, is somewhat vague,