Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-20
VARIED BILL AT
+. THE LOS ANGELES
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEAL
AND PERFORMERS SEEN
ALLEN CURTIS TO PRESENT FULL
MUSICAL PLAYS AT WALKER
Miss Florence oberIe Summoned at
Eleventh Hour to FIJI Role
In "a Gentleman from
Mississippi"
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE

their quota to the vaudeville bill at
the Los Angeles theater this week.
The first act is given by the Steele
sisters, Australian coster warblers,
who sing and dance attractively and
fairly well. They are followed by the
Ahlberg brothers, New Zealands &C.
centric acrobats," who sprint about
the stage and execute several feats of
strength and skill The member of the
team with the hardy sailor muscles
and the Maori makeup is a fascinating
instance of triumphant physical man
hood, and he has captivating comedy
manner which garnishes the act ac
ceptably.
Armada and violin" is the modest
caption over a few moments of melody
which range from a selection slightly
too technical for popular appreciation
to the lifting strains of MY Old Ken
lucky Home" and Dixie" The violin
lists touch is firm and assured, and
she put bracing quality of emotional
effort into her concluding numbers
The act is well worth its place on a
diversified bill. 1t is a pleasing coun-
terpoint to the jingle Of the festive
slapstick.
Very few white. comedies ever have
succeeded in making up like negroes,
can hardly be said to be among those
few. They can dance well, however,
and they sing in excellent accord.
Their whirlwind finale was executed
in smashing good style yesterday, and
we would like to have kept them at it
fifteen minutes more, but for a look at
their streaming faces.
Mcfarland and Murray afford moth
ing startlingly new in comedy
sketch-act. They are frequently anus
ing, however. Their patter is much
better than their songs. It's wit is
simpler, and 1t gives good scope for
limpersonation. In straight dramatic
act both might show to better ad-
vantage.
The extravagant tale of burglar
and a shoplifter who meet by extraor-
dinary chance on Christmas eve Is told
in "a High Toned Burglars Christ
mas Tree" played by James F. Dolan,
Ida Lenharr and company. The acting
is good, but the climax of the playlet
surpasses belief. In a spirit Of utter
irresponsibility the thing is ludicrous
enough, but the idea that a policeman
with a practical mind for graft would
turn aside while two suspects bade
each other an affecting adieu is some
what too poetic for credence. The con-
cluslon is abrupt and illogical. AS
presented, the sketch lacks the grip Of
reality, and the plot is too elaborate
for it to be treated as sheer traVesty.
The denouement might be saved for
plausibility If the pair of thieves re-
formed the policeman. AS 1T is, we
are left guessing.
The motion pictures are interesting
and we'll chosen.
Beginning next week Allen Curtis
will present two and one-half hour
musical comedies at the Walker instead
kob lot Xyhi have
recently been given at that house. Sew
eral extra principals will be engaged,
and more elaborate productions are
promised from now on.
The mystery of Mrs. Spangler's fall
tering memory in "A Gentleman from
Mississippi" at the Mason is explained
Miss Olive Harper, who has played the
part en- tour suffered a sprained ankle
recently, and Is now at the Hospital
of the Good Samaritan, recovering. To
take her place, Miss Florence Oberle
was engaged at short notice. Natur-
ally, Miss Oberle was not on the best
of terms with her lines, a fact which
was noted In the criticism of the play
printed in yesterdays Herald and
placed to Miss Harper's account. 1t
| is a pleasure to acquit Miss Harper
and to extend to Miss Oberle the SYM
pathy ever due to player summoned
at the eleventh hour to lead forlorn
hope.
Charles Giblyn, who next week will
be seen as Jefferson Briscoe a store
porch orator in the Belasco produc-
ton of George Ade's comedy, THE
County Chairman" created the role OF
Wakeful M. Jones, the insurance agent.
in 1.-THE Sultan of Sulu," another
George AIDE piece, which will be seen
next week at the Grand. One week
bookings for each musical attraction
will be the rule during the present
Ferris Hartman engagement at the
Grand.
The Theatrical Treasurers associa-
tion held a business meeting at the
Majestic theater last night, after
which they were entertained at an
elaborate dinner at the home of Ira
Joseph, assistant treasurer of the Bel
asco and the new recording secretary
of the association.
Miss Beth Taylor the new ingenue
| of the Belasco company, who was to
have made her first appearance on the
Belasco stage last Monday night, VII!
open next Monday as "Chick Elezey"
in 1.-The County Chairman"
The members of the Belasco and
Burbank companies will hold calico
| feSLlNdl at JHe <Aiiiiy iAe1il Nt
Glendale tonight.
Manager Bower next week will offer
a minstrel show as a vaudeville head
liner. The act is known as Hall and
| Stark's Mimic Minstrels and is COM
posed of twenty-five young comedians,
who give an entire first part of
minstrel show with limitations of fam
Gus minstrel men.
|
| At the conclusion of it's present stay
at the Auditorium next Saturday, the
mile. Mischief" company will swing
around the southwest, going first to
Albuquerque.
In the company which will present
''The Travelling Salesman" at the
! Mason next week are Mark Smith,
James O'Neill, jr, Clifford Stork,
Lawrence Sheehan, Theodore Kehr
wald, Daniel Jarrett, Guy B. Hoff-
man, Emmett Shackleford. Robert
Hamilton, Miriam Nesbit, Diana HUI
neker. Marion Stephenson and Virginia
Hamilton. The sale of seats will open
at the Mason tomorrow.
Henry Stockbridge of the Burbank
! stock company, proprietor of the ia
nous Stockbridge kennels at Glendale
| Is rejoicing in the arrival of eight thor
oughbred bull pups-each of them ac-
cording to their owner a prospective
blue ribboner. Mr. Stockbridge denies,
however, that the Glendale city or
| dinances, prohibiting the sale of in
| L L. h. Ill.