New-York tribune., 1908-12-12
ACTORS AID HOME FUND
Benefit at BroadzCay Theatre Nets
institution about 81, 900.

Daniel Frohman conpimented on al Sides
yesterday for his dsni1ed management OF the S"S
cessful annual benefit FOR The Actors Home Fuha
at the Broadway Theatre. Every seat was 500
The particular novelty that gave pleasure 20 Lhe
audience. aside from the entertainment. was tAs
absence OF flower girls. souvenir pFesIaliii1
girls" stately matrons selling boxing OF e@nay Or
chewing gum and others new brand OF cigarettes
Mr. F-robnan is president OF the fund He gave
orders that there should be petty devices for col
Iecting money from the audience il fled into the
theatre. The curtain had been up about ten min
utes when Lillian Russell hurriedly entered the
lobby with a s. bill in her hand
Let me have souvenir programme, please, sAe
said TO the she placed TIE bill on me
table
sorry. Miss Russell" he answered. but we are
not selling programmes al this benefit
What! What! WHAT she exclaimed 1hen sne
whispered something that was thought to imply that
it didn't seem like real benefit Keep the oiI
anyhow: sorry IL isn't ten spot she said ana on
she marched to Of the boxes Every person IN
the audience got neatly printed Dill OF the per
formance. and through the courtesy OF LORD & ray
Ior got very handsome programmes nhlsheO
IN silk There were only a limited NUMBER OF those
printed and they were distributed gratutously and
without favor. The receipts were said to De faAS
5000.
The bill was one of the best that has been pre-
sented a benefit IN many years and every mana
ger of prominence represented, inc4uolhg NJ
BeIascO. who sent Miss Bates The Broadway Inc
atre orchestra, augmented for the occasion pro-
vided the music FRITZ Scher led the performance
with the cafe scene from The Prirna Donna she
was assisted by the entire chorus, and Mr. Herbert
conducted. Then came William H Crane. VINO
obliged with an observation two He was fol-
lowed by Miss Fanny Ward. who will soon be seen
here in a new play. Miss Ward appeared in a scene
from the London version of The Marriage OF VIII
lam Ashe." Cyril Keghtey, John ". Dean and
Margaret Fuller were in the cast Blanche Bates
and Charles Richman appeared in a comedy N one
act entitled The Happy Pair" Loretta Wells I'M
personated a housekeeper IN that piece
Julie opp. who is appearing with Mr. Fayersharn
at Days in The World and His Wife" recitsd-
Constance Collier and Arthur Byron followed Miss
panions on the Road" The audience cheered for
two minutes when William Gillette appeared He
not the bill, and explained that he had Just
dropped in TO introduce little Billie Burke. He
chatted pleasantly for several minutes, then led
forth Miss Burke. whom the audience greeted with
enthusiasm Miss Burke sang two short songs. for
of which Victor Herbert COMPOSED the music
He also accompanied her the piano The fun
niest novelty OF the bill a farce by T. Anstey
entitled a Short Exposure, which was interpreted
by John Drew, Thomas A Wise and Georgia Drew
Mendum De Wolf Hopper said he was glad TO be
Broadway again; William Hodge The Man
from Home" recited and Mr.. Wise appeared again
the leader in a sketch called "At the Actors
Fund Home; A Chip of the Old Block" The
Siciian Players, headed by Mimi AgugIia presented
act from "CavaIleria Rusticana," with which
the benefit was closed.