The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01
"The Phantom Detective"


 Bowery yaudeville--a typical type of the amusements to be seen on New York's famous East Side-is given a close repro duction In "The Phantom Detectlve," successful musical melodrama which comes to the Bijou this week, opening with u Monday Labor Day matinee. un- der the management of the Rowland and Clifford Amusement company. The scene representing one of the cheap Canal street theatres Is wonderfully lifelike. Noisy bankers, busy ticket sellers, the humdrum of the expectant crowd, actors and oifi- cious polecmen-all blend to make one of the most interesting stage scenes ever witnessed.
 There are other features, too, that have singled out The Phantom Detective" for more than ordinary success The story Is woven about . wealthy old soldier and his daughter, the latter while baby be- ing stolen by an oriental hypnotist. The child Is returned but falls prey to the scenes of an adopted daughter, who ex- poets to Inherit the wealth of the retired general. The soldier Is killed by ths N,l- lairs, and the crime Is unjustly fastened upon his daughter. It Is here that the "Phantom"-the man of mystery-the sleuth hound Of the law, steps in to ferret out the crime.
 The action Is rapid, sensation follows sensation. The detective Is led into traps of all kinds but nothing can balk him. The chase of criminals leads the detec- tive 10 the hypnotist's home on 6 torgeln island, where regal splendor reignS. The villain, thwrated on every hand, Is finally brought to the bar of justice and all ends happily in a powerful climax.
 Of singing numbers there Is a plenty no less than twenty song hits being ren- dered. The chorus Is one of the best drilled and best dressed on the road. There are numerous headline vaudeville acts, cage of rod Nubian lions. two carloads of scenery and effects and thirty people besides the American Newsboys Quar- cite.
 In addition to the special matinee Mon- day afternoon the usual matinees will be given Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
 At the 0ayety.
 The second year of tho New Gayety theatre, under the management of tho Columbian Amusement company, will bo- gin next Monday afternoon when the first matinee of the Lid Lifters" we'll known from last season, will be the attraction. The popular playhouse has been thor oughly renovated and changed this year. Manager Harry Yost. who succeeded Manager McArdle, has been busy sinco his arrival on the details connected with
 
 in readiness for the Labor Day matinse It will be the policy of the manage ment of the Gayety this season to conduct the house In thoroughly respectable and orderly manner. No vulgar or sugges- tive acts will be allowed on the stage, and the management will do everything pos- sble to cater to the pleasure and enjoy- ment of patrons
 The bookings for the season at the Gay ety arc the best that money can provide fin the burlosque world. Every show is new in scenery and costumes. The veu- deville features, that part of tho Gayety programme last season that furnished so much entertainment, will be better than ever this season. The Columbian Arnuss- ment company has succeeded in Eetting many of the top line acts in the vsude- vile business. and In addition many new acts have been inportcd from Europe, and will be shown to Birmingham aud- fences.
 The Lid Lifters" Burlesqua company will be the attraction aii next week. This season the company furnishes an enter-
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