Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-06
The Theaters

~ ONTRACTS were signed yesterday
afternoon which assure a summer
~ light opera season at the Audi
torium Edgar Temple who is We'll
known locally. will leave for New
York tomorrow evening to organize a
company, part of which already has
been engaged by wire. Mr.. Temple
plans to open April 4. but if he sue
ceeds in doing so he will break all pre-
vious records in the matter of celerity.
Beyond a general outline of their
plans neither Mr.. Temple nor Sparks
Berry is willing to give out any infor-
nation. Mr.. Berry has engaged two
singers who, he says, are of the first
rank; and around these two the COM
pany will be built. Their identity, how
ever is being kept secret.
The organization will present light
operas and an occasional musical COM
edy of the better class. Mr.. Temple
expects to secure a number of novel;
ties never seen i'm the west; and in ad-
dition will present such operas as Flo
radora," "San Toy" and THE Prince
of Pilsen." He promises company
which shall set new standard for
stock opera, and in addition to big
chorus will bring a "pony ballet" from
the east. A few of the chorus people
will be engaged here, but all of the
principals and much of the chorus will
come from New York.
The company is to be formed as
permanent organization and following
its season at the Auditorium will be
sent on tour. The duration of that sea-
son will depend upon the patronage
accorded the venture. and if attendance
warrants the Auditorium will be made
the home house of the organization.
Mr.. Temple said yesterday that he
had secured ample capital and would
not be hampered by lack of funds. He
declined, however to say who are inter
ested financially in the enterprise be-
yond the statement that the hackers
are local men of affairs.
Dick Ferris Yesterday formed a part
nership with w. ]. Burgess of Kansas
City and Omaha. under the terms OF
which Mr. Burgess win build a theater
for the Ferris stock company either in
Washington, D. c.. or in Los Angeles.
Which city will be selected has not
been definitely decided. but the choice
will very likely fall upon Washington,
which at the present time has no the
ater devoted to stock during the reg
ular season.
Mr.. Burgess is a capitalist who made
his money in the theatrical business
and who retired a short time ago be-
found however, that doing nothing
didn't suit him, and now he purposes to
get back into harness again, though
the brunt of the work devolving upon
the partnership will fall to Ferris
share
This is not the first time that Bur-
CESS and Ferris have been associated
in business. Several years ago Dick
Ferris put a stock company into the
Boyd theater, Omaha, then owned by
Mr.. Burgess. and the venture proved
highly profitable.
Whether this deal means that the
Ferris stock company and Miss Flor
ence Stone will not be seen in Los
Angeles next season cannot now be
stated with accuracy but the chances
are all against the return of the COM
pany, despite the fact that both Mr..
Ferris and Miss Stone are anxious to
come back here and had expected to
make this city their permanent home
Dick. however, still hopes. He will not
sell his home on West Adams street,
but expects to rent 1t.
The Ferris season i'm Minneapolis
opens May g. four weeks earlier than
the original date set and Mr. Ferris
with his wife expects to leave for that
city about the middle of next month.
| by Constance Skinner formerly a Los
Angeles writer on theatrical topics,
has been submitted to Miss Mary Man
nering and may be produced by that
star next season. Miss Mannering, who
| is now at the Mason opera house, lis
| tened yesterday TO the story of the
| play and expressed herself as very
favorably impressed. It's central char
acter is a half breed Indian girl, who
! has been well educated and who shows
no trace of her Indian blood. The racial
| instinct, however, is dormant and as
| serts itself in the end. Those who have
read it declare that Miss Skinner in
"The Birthright" has constructed a re-
markable play. John Blackwood, man.
ager of the Belasco theater, is part
owner of the play, having paid the
author a lump sum for a share in it.
| Elmer B. Harris, author of Sham, "
in which Florence Roberts is appearing
at the Los Angeles theater, has recent
! ly been made dramatic editor of the
! New York Evening Globe.