davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Blanche and Belasco

Eastern papers are busy specializing
on the causes and effects involved In
the separation of Blanche Bates and
David Belasco. The opinion that the
star of The Girl OF the Golden West
left the wing of her promoter because
she was weary of playing 1.-The girl is
generally accepted as the truth. She
will go under the management OF Klaw
& Erlanger next season.
Blanche Bates has been under Belas-
cos management for nine years. She
played The Darling OF the Gods" for
three years, and for the last three
years has been appearing as 1.-THE girl
though now and then playing Madame
Butterfly" Beiasco refused to put her
in a new piece for the excellent rea-
son that The Girl of the Golden West
was getting him as we'll as his star
much money. 1t was a profitable
piece of property and he did not share
Miss Bates WEAKNESS of the play.
Upon his final refusal to place her In
a different piece next season. she re-
signed from his company Thereupon
Belasco released the play for stock,
having intended to tour Miss Bates
across the continent in ii. Miss Bates
says that she considers longer contin-
uance in the play would dwarf her
artistic stature, and that Belasco. hav-
ing refused finally TO give her another
piece. she had accepted an offer from
his bitter rivals. Klaw & EFlanger =
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

theatrical Industry" II so CONNER
ciaI a term may be employed IN the
consideration OF the mummers' art.
Vaudeville has long been q compeu-
tor of grand opera and some OF the
highest notes have been cashed by It's
managers. There was time recently
when no one would have expressed sur
prise had 1t been announced that Sem
brich or Eames or Gadski had been
signed for a turn" And for that mat
ter they may yet be. Zelie de Lussan
may not be alone in her vaudeville
career The best OF the dramatic stars
have been offered more than they are
worth to do stunts in vaudeville and
many OF them have not had the heart
to say mo-" So the announcement,
from the offices OF Martin Beck. that
vaudeville was to contain on its at
tractive bills the name of Reginald de
Koven as the composer OF operettas
comes rather as a matter OF course
Since The Song Birds" now playing
at the Princess, was found to be a.
profitable turn for vaudeville, In spite
of the number of participants in the
piece, the attention of the vaudeville
moguls has been turned TO the must
cal comedy field of the amusement In
dustry.
De Koven, who boasts of more than
a score of successes, including Robin
Hood" Foxy CUTLER" The Highway
man." 1.-The Red Feather" THE Cru
saders," Rob Roy" and others. has
signed to write four one act operettas.
These will be staged by the producing
department OF the Orpheum circuit, I'M
der the direction of Charles Feleky-
They will be complete musical come
dies condensed into 80 minutes and Will
be utilized as regular vaudeville acts
for two weeks stay In each city.
The source OF the librettos used will
be general, and General Manager Beck
has now more than 100 manuscripts
from which he and De Koven will Sc
lect the best four. De Koven will have
as collaborator on these miniature mus
ical plays Robert b.. Smith, author OF
"Fantana," "A Knight for Day" and
'Mexicana." Smith will adapt the
pIaylets and write the necessary lyrics.
Beck states that each sketch will be
mounted and cast with the same care
that would be given to a Broadway
production.
AS this enterprise will be one Of the
first efforts of Beck's new producing
department" the results achieved will
be awaited with much interest by the
public as well as the players.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

duction at the Lambs gambol was .aDx-
fous TO again appear at the public per
Torrance. which was given by the
Lambs for the benefit Of their Bohe-
milan brothers in san Francisco after
your big fire had swept the Bohemian
club headquarters up TO the four winds.
You know a Lamb is a Bohemian. and
a Bohemian IS Lamb, ard we felt in
New York that il was high honor to
appear at this monster benefit when
The Song Birds was presented to the
public FOR the first time and the pro-
ceeds were devoted to our Bohemian
brothers.
The vaudeville war made the piece
& possibility in vaudeville. Before then
~ was considered too expensive a pro-
duction to be sent on the varieties
stage, but when Klaw and Erlanger
locked horns with Keith and Proctor
nothing was too costly to put into
vaudeville. Meantime I should say that
The Song Birds had been put on with
The Land Of Nod and 1 assumed my
original characterization. The Land
of Nod did not so in New York. but
the little travesty did and that. hit was
what helped it to a vaudeville career.
After the FIRE had put the big New
York theater in ashes and terminated
the career of The Land of Nod in that
city The Song Birds perched on the
vaudeville stage. We opened at the
Chestnut street opera house under the
management of l<law and Erlanger.
Victor Herbert composer of the music,
came from New York and led the or
chestra and The Song Birds scored the
greatest success ever saw IN vaude-
VILE They had TO get an extra man
at the curtain 10 lift and lower it. The
house went wild over the piece. Helen
Bertram played Madam Yelba. which
role IS now called after the newer prin1a
donna, Madame Tetrazzini, but the
music is the. same and her hit is just
the same. y. r. Carson PLAYED Con. the
couried. William Courtleigh had
played IL ait the ganbol and Gus Wein--
berg had played ii at the first public
performance in New York At the con-
clusion OF the 80 weeks contract with
Klaw and Erlanger. Keith and Proctor
made a better offer and took the piece
and .be people over to the opposition
and under them we opened at the Al
hambra in New York with as great sue
cess as ever.
And that brings me down to the
last chapter of what may be, 1 hope,
my theatrical autobiography for If
things TURF out as Nat and I hope.
there viii be no more one night stands.
cross continent jumps, trips TO London
and back and all the rest that goes TO
make the theatrical life an absorbing
mystery to all that are out Of it and
an intolerable tedium to those who
are IN.
But any way I hope tc be able to
stick here in San Francisco. or here
sbouts. and perhaps realize that do
nestle dream-you know. the one about
the life partner and the pudgy. curly
headed things. which. God willing. L
may some day call my own"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Chutes

The extensive and expensive altera-
tions and improvements which have
been in progress at the Chutes for sew
eral months have been completed and
the reopening of this popular amuse-
ment place has been fixed for Friday.
May !. More than $4,000 invitations
have been issued to the children of the
different schools and every effort Will
be made by the management to see to It
that May / is indeed a gala day. All
of the old and many new concessions
will be opened and the large skating
rink. with It's splendid floor, will be
turned over to the public. The theater
will present an excellent vaudeville
performance and, in short, the Chutes
Will be as good as it ever was-and
better.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

A decision that may be the direct
means Of preventing a revolution in the
theatrical business has been handed
down in the United States circuit
court by Judge E. Henry Lacombe. The
decision Is the outcome of an action
waged by Henry W. Savage to protect
his rights in The Merry Widow and to
restrain the promoters Of moving pic
ture exhibitions from reproducing
scenes from the opera. Judge Lacombe
by his order has made permanent the
temporary injunction recently granted
TO Mr.. Savage. restraining the KaIem
company, Inc, from manufacturing the
films of such scenes. In the same de-
cision he included the Miles Bros. Inc.
distributors of the flms.-New York
Morning Telegraph.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

Ness theater Francis Wilson will come
with his newest success, when
knights Were Bold" and will make his
first San Francisco bow in 10 years
and more. At the Princess the double
bill will continue TO attract. The
Song Birds" is probably the best thing
yet done at the enterprising home of
light opera. A real Easter attraction
at the Alcazar, something new at the
Central and big bill at the Orpheum
are some Of the other bids for patron
age by local theater arrangements, who
submit the following as their views of
their own wares:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Notes Of the The0ter
at Home and Abroad

Henry Miller will play an engage
ment this summer In San Francisco.
william Collier. in Caught in the
RAIN" is coming to the Van Ness soon.
George Bernard Shaw is hard at
work on new play. the subject of
which will be marriage.
A feature Of when knights Were
Bold Is the singing of a twelfth CEN
fury welcome song by the large chorus.
Tomorrow night the members of
Stanford Parlor. N. s. G. W., will at
tend the production at the Princess Of
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Van Ness


In when knights Were Bold" the
greatest success Francis Wilson has
had since he left the comic opera stage.
the author. Charles Marlowe, has not
only delightfully."- satirized the worship
Of ancestry, but he has contrived a
play in which one farcical figure moves
in the midst of entirely serious per-
sons. Wilson's role is the comedy
center to which all the characters con-
tribute seriously Thus his opportuni-
ties for fun making are unlimited
Charles Frohman, who is responsible
for the production of the play in this
country, is said to have given it very
elaborate setting. The plays London
success and its Broadway triumph are
matters of theatrical history.
The central character in when
Knights We're Bold" is Sir Guy de We're,
a jolly fellow, up to date and little
mindful of the dignity that is due his
rank and his forefathers' memory. He
is much in love with his cousin. who
is his exact antithesis, devoted to the
family traditions and jealous of the
honor of the name. week end party
is assembled at Beechwood Towers but
being I'll the young baronet cannot
join his guests at dinner. He takes a
footbath and much hot whisky-and
water. Then he falls asleep and in
the dream which follows he is taken
backward 700 years
In his dinner coat Sir Guy encounters
medieval men, and discovers that the
days of old were even more crowded
with nonsense than present times. With
his twentieth century notions Sir Guy
affords a comical contrast to the man
ners and customs of ancient times. and
thus the comedy is projected Francis
wilson, armed cap-a-pie, is about the
funniest spectacle on the stage today
This will be Wilson's first visit to
San Francisco in more. than a decade
and it viii be made the occasion of
warm welcome
Charles Frohman has surrounded the
comedian with a large company of ex-
cellent supporting players, in addition
to the large chorus. The principal
members of the cast are Mary. Boland.
Clarence Handysides. Campbell Gollan.
Margaret Gordon, Victor Benoit. Joseph
G. Allen. Augustin Duncan, Edna
Bruins and number of other well
known players. Charles Frohman will
present Wilson and his company at the
Van Ness theater tomorrow evening for
two weeks engagement Matinees
viii be given each Saturday.
pvsiurocS
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Central

The management of the Central has,
after much difficulty. secured for per-
formance the latest New York melo-
dramatic success, Tony the Bootblack.
to follow Ten Nights in a Barroom." the
last two performances of which will be
given this afternoon and evening.
Tony the Bootblack" exploits the
mysterious plots and conspiracies which
surround the crimes committed by the
Black Hand society in its war against
organized society. The play has never
been seen outside of New York, and the
Central staff of mechanics and artists
has been working on the production
for three weeks. The resultwill be an
elaborate setting of the thrilling play
A great businesses anticipated at the
Central and the cast of Central favor
ties Is provided with roles In which the
full strength of the company will be
manifested.
The Market street Improvement as
ISOLATION, which is erecting a big tent
at Eighth and Market streets for the
entertainment of the enlisted men of
the fleet, has secured a large number of
tickets for Wednesday evening, to be
sold to raise funds for the hospitable
cause.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

cletian. She has been promised in mar
rage to Corvinius, afterward a project
of Rome. and he plots to destroy
Marco because of his faith. Artemia
learns from Corvinius that Marco is a
Christian, and, believing that her love
has been won by trickery, signs his
death Warrant. When it is too late
she relents, and her affection asserting
itself. she seeks to save her lover from
the fate her suspicion had consigned
him to- The big scene of the play oc-
ours in the, fourth act, when Marco
refuses to bow to a statue of Jupiter,
and. by miracle, skaters the pagan,
deity and raises in its place a flaming
cross.
That's Lawton will appear as Artemia;
Bertram Lytell will be Marco; Will r.
Walling will assume the role of cap
/ tain of the imperial guards; Burt Wes-
ner will appear as the emperor, How
ard Hickman as Corvinius, Ernest Glen
denning as a minstrel, Adele Belgrade
as Marcos mother, Daisy Lowering as
his sister, Anita Murray as a hand
maiden, and Mary Duncan as bond
woman. Stage Manager Butler an
nounces that the staging of THE Light
Eternal is one Of the biggest tasks
he has yet undertaken, but promises
that the Alcazar corps of artists will
turn out the best work of the season.
Merle, the author, has personally as
sisted in mounting the play.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

selections. She is a native of this city
who has won wide fame as a singer. The
Banks Breazeale duo, consists of two
handsome girls, who, attired In colonial
costumes, Introduce novel musical act,
playing upon a variety Of brass and
string instruments. They also execute
with much grace the dances of CEN
fury ago. This will be the last week
of Orth and Fern; the three Leightons,
and the Empire City quartet. The lat
ter has made a tremendous success. Or
pheum motion pictures will close the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Beck Signs De Koven

Martin Beck is busy again. The
general manager of the Orpheum cir
cult Is living up to his reputation and
his latest announcement Is to the eff
feet that operettas will invade the
vaudeville stage. Modern varieties
will thus include every department of
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Novelty

An event of much Importance to local
theatricals- will be the reopening of the
Novelty theater one week from tonight,
April 26. when Clyde Fitch's interna-
tional society comedy success. The
Truth" will be presented for the first
time in San Francisco. Managers Low
erich and Lubelski Of the O'Farrell
street playhouse have negotiated with
Martin Beck, who owns the American
rights to the play, and the result has
been that splendidly equipped COM
pany is coming direct from New York
to give a careful and intelligent pre-
sentation of this American authors
masterpiece. Katherine Grey, we'll and
favorably known in this city will head
the company of players and will appear
as Becky Warder, who has inherited
the unfortunate habit of preyar:cation
from her father. The supporting COM
pany Will be the best obtainable, and
after the run of The Truth several
other strong plays will be produced.
Seats for the opening week will be
placed on sale Thursday morning at the
box office of the theater
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Wigwam

The program at the Wigwam for the
week beginning Monday at the matinee
will include Carlisle's dog and pony
circus, May Rirdelle and her Village
cutups," Armstrong and Lowering,
comedy cycle performers; Alva York,
English comedienne; Bert Lennon, i'm
personator. and Rose and Severn in a
comedy sketch. A special feature of
the weeks bill will be the appearance
each evening of the League of the
Cross band of 40 pieces.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Attractions at the
Local Playhouses

Easter week promises to make up,
IN theatricals. for the quiet of the past
seven days and nights. At the Van
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
American

Lee Willard and a clever company
Will open weeks engagement at the
matinee performance this afternoon at
| the American theater, in the success
full rural comedy, The Country Squire"
Willard is finished actor who has been
seen in this city before, and who made
a great success in former presenta-
ton Of the role of John Storm in THE
Christian"
While 1t has been but recently that
Willard was placed as star at the head
of his own company, he has been fea-
tured by Daniel Frohman. and has
played leading roles in DIR. Jekyll and
Mr.. Hyde Monte Cristo" and THE
Silver King AS character actor
he has had much experience, having
played prominent parts in companies
headed by Henry Miller. Nance ONeil,
Bertha Galland, Richard Mansfield and
frederick Warde. Critics throughout
the country have praised his work in
the title role in The Country Squire"
which is said to be his best effort.
me play deals with life in New
England, the scenes being laid in Yer
mont. Clean humor, wholesome senti-
ment and interesting action characterize
the play. A strong company will be
seen IN support of the star, while an
elaborate scenic production is prom
ised as well. Some of the players hav-
ing prominent parts are Harry Leigh
Ton, marry Woodthrop, Leila Thompson,
Voioerg Algren and Avis Loodell. Pop
uiar prices will be charged during the
weeks stay of THE Country Squire y
and the usual Sunday and Saturday
matlnees will be given. Following this
| rurai comedy. the distinguished actress.
mary SHAW, will be seen In Mrs. War
ren's Profession"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Alcozor

Martin V. Merle's dramatic romance
of early Rome, The Light Eternal"
is the appropriate Easter week offer
ing of the Alcazar theater management
The play is familiar one to San Fran
cisco, having received its first profess
sional production here after it had
scored great success at the authors
alma mater, Santa Clara college, where
it was acted by the students Since
then 1t has been used as a starring ve-
hicle by James Neill and Edythe Chap
man, and this is its first season in
stock theater.
Merle has been a close student of
the time, place and people he has drawn
together in his drama. His stage pic
lures are telling and effective in the
extreme. The plot discloses the love of
Marco Valerius a young Christian, and
Artemia, daughter OF the Emperor Do
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19

theater is a general topic for CONVEX
sation on the Rialto. The Princess has
more than ever entrenched itself in
the favor and esteem of the theater
going public of San Francisco. George
V. Hobart and Victor Herbert's musi-
cal satire on the Conried- Hammerstein
grand opera war is one of the clever
est and most amusing pieces ever
staged in San Francisco. 1t is admir-
ably mounted and William Burress' i'm
PRESERVATION of Oscar Hammerstein ''in
his habit, as he lives" is o triumph
of truth in caricature. Very clever
and faithful to life is Oscar C. APP
fel's representation of the character of
Conried Helen Bertram as Madame
Tetrazzini and Sarah Edwards as Emma
Eames are exceptionally good. Ar
thur Cunningham, assuming the role
of Pol Plancon, looks and sings the
role wonderfully well. The song tour
ney. The Battle of B Flat which
concludes the performance, is bril-
liant triumph for soloists, chorus and
orchestra, and never fails to arouse
the audience to great pitch of en-
thusiasm.
Little Christopher" which begins
the program, is merry and musical and
affords splendid Individual opportuni-
ties for the members of the Princess
company to do their solo best. APPEL
gets another chance to show his skill
as a character comedian in the role of
a Sherlock Holmes; Arthur Cunning
ham, Helen Bertram, Zoe Barnett, Har-
Did Crane, George rield, Laura Oak
ley and the balance of the cast do
their full duty and do it well. In
spite of the success of the bill THE
Song Birds" will not be played after
this week. Edwin Stevens will begin
4 starring engagement at the Prin-
cess a week from tomorrow night
which will be the occasion of the re-
appearance of Cecilia Rhoda, who has
been enjoying months vacation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Orpheur,,

Mere mention of the names of those
VINO VIII appear this week at the Orr
pheum Will be enough to convince the
interested that treat is in store this
afternoon and all week at the big
vaudeville house.
FIRST there is Flo Irwin, who has
not peen seen in San Francisco for a
ions time She Will surely get a cor
uiai reception when she appears this
afternoon In George AIDES one act play.
Mrs. Peckhams Carousal." She, will
play the part of Susan B. Peckham. An
eloeriy woman actively engaged in for
Warding the work of the prohibitions
movement. AIDES skit is bright and
c,ever, and is said to be the best We
nlcie FOR Flo Twins talents that she
mas ever had. Chief in Miss Irwin,s
support will be Jacques Kruger. An ex-
ceHent company will carry the comedy
payer to success. Cliff Gordon, German
polltician and one OF the best monolo-
gists on the vaudeville stage. will
make his bow and speech. Cole and
Rags. two splendid comedians. will pre-
sent an amusing act, in which they win
90 some clever Juggling; Marie Flor
ence, called the American Hembrich.
wiii De heard In popular and operate