Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-19
VAUDEVILLE MAN
THROWS BOUQUETS
c. E. Bray, Rear Admiral to Mar
tin Beck, Says Salt Lake
Is a Surprise.
FOUR MORE THEATERS OPEN
Returns from Northwest, Where
Houses Are Being Added TO Chain
OF Orpheum Theaters.

c. T.. Fray. right hand man to Mar
tin Beck, general manager OF the Or
pheum circuit. Is registered at the
Knutsford from New York City. The
Associated Press dispatches have been
chronicling his trip through the north
west. where he has been for the past
few weeks looking after the details
connected with the opening of the new
chain of theaters for the Orpheum cir
cult in Butte, Portland, Seattle and
Spokane. He is now on his way home
accompanied by Mrs. Bray. and will
make the jump from Salt Lake to New
York direct.
Mr. Bray brings with him word that
as Salt Lake is now the hub of the
western circuit, this city will catch
the best attractions both coming and
going.
Il must say" said he this morning,
that Salt Lake has surprised us. Mr..
Beck was somewhat dubious about
putting in a theater here at first. but
1 want to say that from the start Salt
Lake more than met anticipations.
There is no other city of its size I'm
the United States which stands such
big attractions. that Is, big from the
salary standpoint, so well as salt Lake.
1t always has been a splendid show
town, and / remember II years ago
when | came through here as manager
for Augustus Thomas Alabama"
which, by the way, was my only sea-
son with the so-called 'legit. "
BEST PAYING ADJUSTMENTS.
In answer to a question as to which
would be the best paying amusement
Investments in Salt lake, Mr.. Bray
placed vaudeville first, travelling legit-
innate companies in high class plays
second, and a fine stock company Tor
limited seasons, third.
He believes in spending money to
make money. does this astute amuse-
ment man who is prominently con-
nected with the biggest vaudeville en-
terprises i'm existence today, Get
good high-class stock company and
you have a mint But, the trouble u.s.
he soliloquised after pause, odd stock
men / have talked TO In the east In
variably say nothing is good enough
for the Salt Lake critics
Coming back 10 vaudeville Mr.. Bray
stated that the Orpheum at Butte
opened on Saturday night with John
Corday as residence manager, while
the Portland Orpheum threw open its
doors on Monday evening In the old
time leading theater the Marquan
Grand which has been renovated for
vaudeville. Spokane opens on Sunday,
and Seattle the day following.
Mr. Bray stated that none of tho
acts travel as bill i'm it's entirety,
but the majority win go west over the
Northern Pacific and part Of them
will play the new houses and others
split and go on TO San Francisco and
Los Angeles, while practically all win
go east via Salt Lake.
Regarding the new Orpheum In salt
Lake Mr. Bray stated that Mi, Beck
on his recent visit here gave out In
interviews with the press all announce
monts that covered the situation.
Mr. Bray Is universally known
throughout the vaudeville world on
three continents as he Is the man who
comes intimately In touch with people
who appear before the footlights ana
relloves Mr. Beck OF all the routine
work connected with booking acts ana
keeping posted ON conditions generally
at the various houses directly and
indirectly connected with the big cir
cult.