Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-23
OBSERVATIONS BY
A FIRST NIGHTER

What with the New Majestic booked
soIidly from its opening for some forty
weeks, and that opeing scheduled for
October; the Mason listed with fine
line of attractions, the Sullivan-C onsi-
dine vaudeville at the Los Angeles
theater, Stair & Havlin road attrac-
lions at the remodeled Peoples and the
extra fine play offerings announced at
the local stock houses, we seem to
have a bright theatrical outlook for
the season which, properly, opens
week from tomorrow.
Work on the Majestic is being rushed
to the end that the formal opening may
not be unnecessarily delayed, and Man
ager Morosco opines that the house will
4 unquestionably be ready by October Is,
the date of the first booking.
Naturally local interest centers to a
pronounced degree around the opening
next Monday night of Lewis S. Stone
and company at the Auditorium. The
College Widow" selected for the OPEN
ing bill, is a pretentious production for
stock, and no effort is being spared to
make 1t a winner. The cast comprises
twenty-five speaking parts and there
will be used as well a host of extra peo-
pie to lend atmosphere to the college
scenes portrayed. William E. Mason,
the conpany's director, has never seen
the road production, and the present.
nent will therefore be original and not
a mere copy of MIR. Savage's attraction.
However when it is remembered that
Mr.. Mason has been producing director
with the Frohmans and other prom
fnent New York managers, as we'll as
director of the Castle Square, small
fears need be entertained as to the
manner of play he will produce from
George AIDES diverting story of col
lege life.
Incidentally Mr.. Mason tells an in
teresting little story anent his present
visit to Los Angeles, the elimination
of fifteen years spent in planning" to
come.
aDirectly after coming to this coun-
try he says. 81 heard of the beauties
Of Southern California, and planned a
visit here. Every company joined, or
connected myself with, had Los An
leges on its itinerary, but season after
season something would happen to pre-
vent. For several seasons I was pro-
ducing in New York. Then when
finally Joined Miss Annie Russell for
her production of 'Sue,' 1t was with
the understanding that eventually we
would come here. We started, got as
far as Boston. and from there l was
called back to New York to produce
IL
Then when that play had proved un-
successful was sent to The Sporting
Duchess and started west with them,
only to be again recalled for another
new production. Finally l did get to
the Pacific, on a tour made with The
Little Minister We played Seattle and
on down to San Francisco, from whence
we were to come to Los Angeles. Again
the hoodoo, for at Frisco / found or
ders spelling. the Great White Way
again, and so it has been all these
years.
when Mr.. Blackwood sent to Boston
for me and this opportunity offered
we Just disnantled our house and
hacked up in less than a day, starting
within twenty-four hours of the time
the proposal was made. was taking,I
no chances of another slip-up in my
plans to visit Los Angeles"
And judging by his enthusiastic
praise of Southern California. I judge
he isn't sorry.
Runor has been busy this week with |
the plans of the Cort-Heilig cominba-
tion-truthfully or otherwise. ascribing |
to the new theatrical combination an |
intention to expand in Southern Cali |
fornia and the southwest 1t Is said |
that Charles York has been appointed |
Pacific coast manager for Mr.. Cort and |
his associates, and will direct not only |
the Los Angeles and Peoples theaters |
here but a new house in San Diego to
be affiliated with the enterprises and |
the San Francisco house. Mr.. York |
will have offices in the Hellman build |
ing, and viii have as an assistant |
James Wynne, formerly treasurer at
the Los Angeles.
Manager Ollie Morosco, whose poetic |
tendencies have been finding profitable
expression in the words Of the Moros-