Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19
OBSERVATIONS BY
A FIRST NIGHTER

IN HE current week presents only one
novelty outside of the vaudeville
= houses. At the Auditorium the
newly organized Manhattan opera
company, under the direction of Fred
]. Eustis, will offer the first production
on any stage of 1.-The Campaigners,"
musical comedy. the book by Willis
Goodhue, author of Hello BILL" and
the music by Mr.. Eustis. Fritz Fields,
who was comedian of the late Edgar
Temple opera company, will have
leading role in the new piece, while
Genevieve de la Cour who will be
pleasantly remembered for her work
in commencement Days." when that
comedy was staged at the Belasco a
few months ago, will play the SOU
brette part.
The Mason is dark. At the Belasco
1.-THE Rose of the Rancho enters upon
it's third week, while at the Grand,
"Gayest Manhattan" begins its second
week The Burbank offers a revival
of 1.-THE Lady from Laramie" a COM
edy presented at that house with sue
cess two seasons ago. "Olivette" is
the tabloid opera announced for the
Unique. The Orpheum features the
Boston Fadettes Womans orchestra
in a House-boat"
Daniel Frohman, one of the most
prominent and successful of American
theatrical managers, entertains some
what curious ideas of geography. 1
should imagine that if the time ever
comes when he has to route" one of
his own attractions he will have to go
to night school in order to make good.
Over at the Mason the other night,
Mr.. Frohman was explaining that his
last previous visit to Los Angeles had
been made thirty years ago. Natur-
ally he expressed surprise at the size
of the city. All that, however, has
nothing to do with geography.
When the New York manager be-
gan to talk of his sightseeing trips he
remarked, casually, that he wished
friends wouldn't insist upon dragging
him out to the beaches. There
have beaches in America" And SEEM
ingly he didn't know why we smiled.
Monday night there sat in one of the
boxes at the Mason a young and
charming matron who, a few years ago,
was known all over the country as
Americas foremost child actress. With
Tommy Russell she was one of the
original Little Lord Fauntleroys," the
two children alternating in the role.
She played the child part in "Editha S
Burglar" in support of e. H. Sothern.
She played the dual roles in Mark
Twains THE Prince and the Pauper,"
and she played other parts, and played
them all well. She was one of the best
paying of Daniel Frohman's stars, and
when Mr. Frohman heard she was in
the theater he hurried to the box to
pay his respects. The young woman
was Elsie Leslie, now Mrs Winter,
do. for To- % frafn
dean of New York dramatic critics. and
a sister-in-law of Mrs. Fielding Stilson
of this city, whom she is visiting.
The Gayety company's offering at the
Grand next week will be entitled "The
Man, the Girl and the Alimony."
Doubtless it will present certain hui
morous aspects of the divorce evil.
think, however, we need not fear a
problem play. In all probability there
will be little in the production that
could be of professional value to SUI
perior court judge, though the title, of
course, might we'll serve as an excuse
for judicial attendance, were an ex-
cuse necessary.
Summer shows of the class this COM
pany is offering us are something of a
novelty in Los Angeles. So far how
ever. the box office statements spell
financial success. The chief difficulty
in enterprises of this kind is to follow
n middle course. Summer shows must
have a certain amount of spice to re-
deem them from boredom. On the 9TH
er hand, they must not go too far.
The bathing scene in "Gayest Manhat-.
tan" for instance, while it would Gre
ate no particular stir In the burlesque
houses Of the east, did occasion talk
here, and, in certain quarters, was
most vigorously condemned. / have
not heard, however, that Manager Clar-
ence Drown regretted his experiment