The San Francisco call., 1908-12-24
BIG PRODUCTION OF
BEN HUR' PROMISED
DramatizatiOn OF Lew Wallace's
Book to Be Given at the
Van Ness
Excellent Bills Are Offered at
the Various PIayhouses
the Coming Week

Ben Hur. with its splendid pomp
and pageantry. comes to the Van Ness
theater next Monday night. The popu-
larity of this play does not wane as
the years pass. Instead it seems to
grow more popular and its splendid
production, including the chariot race
and other scenic marvels of realism, is
being improved upon every season un-
til now Ben Hur' stands Tor the per-
fection of the art of staging a play.
Charles Klein's masterpiece, The Lion
and the Mouse" will be seen for this
week only and will be withdrawn next
Saturday night. There will be a spe-
cial Christmas matinee.
AMERICAN
l.. r. Stockwell in his one act play
let. THE Blind Organist," and a well
balanced company of comedians In
Mrs. Temples Telegram form de-
lightful double bill at the American
theater this week. There will be a
special matinee Christmas in addition
to the regular Saturday matinee.
Commencing Sunday afternoon Muir
ray and Mack. the clever and popular
Irish comedians. will be seen in their
successful musical comedy, THE Sunny
Side of Broadway" The company In
cludes Mae Hamilton, the original di-
rectofre gown girl; New York chorus
of % and the six English cyclone"
dancers.
ALCAZAR
College joys. boys and noise hold
the boards at the AIcaZar theater this
week, where Brown of Harvard, Rida
Johnson Young's university comedy, is
being produced as d holiday attraction.
Bertram Lytell in the title part, his
youthful and masucline associates at
college and the fair goods, of whom
Evelyn Vaughan is the sweetest and
best, are rounding out a performance
that critics and public declare is bet
ter than that shown by the star led
cast which first brought the piece to
town. The Girl of the Golden West"
with Miss Vaughan as "the GIRL" will
follow next Monday night.
ORPHEUM
The Orpheum road show has scored
the greatest success of any entertain
ment that has been seen in this city
since vaudeville was re-established
after the fire. Tt is a real anniversary
and holiday show, according to the
verdict of the press and of the public
Next week will be the last in which
TO see Mile. de Dio, the great French
dancer; Edwin and company in THE
Mayor and the Manicure;" Hyman
Mayer, in music and a monologue;
Charles and Fannie Van; Merians
canine actors in The Elopement OF
Salome." and Work and Over, aero
bats. Added to the attractions of the
road show next week will be Gus
Edwards production, School Days"
and His Valet"
VALENCIA
The Lost Paradise" with it's thrill
Inc
and capital, is in its last production at
the Valencia theater. A special Christ
mas matinee of this interesting drama
viii be given and the last performance
Will take place next Sunday night
The College Widow" George AIDES
splendid college comedy, will receive
an elaborate production next Monday
night. Several new players will be
added to the strength of the Valencia
company and the performance will be,
it is said, superior to any yet seen in
this city.
PRINCESS
Only few more productions of Kolb
and Dills latest success. "Weiner and
Schnitzel,' remain. 1t has been i'm
proved upon so much since its initial
performance a few weeks ago that
those who saw it during the first week
are going again and enjoying it all
over again. 1t will be followed next
Monday night by another play from
the same writers that made .Weiner
and Schnitzep' a big success. Aaron
Hoffman and j. A. Raynes The new
offering, which will be given its first
production on any stage, is called "The
Politicians" and affords Kolb and Dill
ample opportunities for their inimitable
comedy.
CHUTES
There will be special holiday feast
of fun at the Chutes Christmas day and
evening, and in order. to make the open
air amusement park even more than
ordinarily attractive the management
will present a Christmas gift to every
child VIM goes through the t,,rr, L..