Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-28

ing on the Wall" has it's weaknesses.
The real drama of the tenements has
yet to be written. 1t W Il not be laid
in the homes of the -four hundred -
but in the dens and nuts of the four
million. 1t will show us their suffer-
ings and their brave and terrible en-
durance-itself the most damning in
dictment possible against society
which permits it-and the poor them
selves win voice the wrongs and the
agencies of the poor The Lies Mis-
CRADLES" of the American sweatshop
and the American tenement has yet to
be written. When it is. we will not re-
view it, We will print it, for 1t will
preach its own homily-which is the
text of today in every parish in Chris
tendom-the Massacre of the Innocents.
Two well acted dramatic playlets
share honors on the new Orpheum bill.
William II. Thompson, in Pride of
Regiment" gives a ripe and we'll
rounded impersonation of a middle
class Briton, who first disowns, and
then forgiVes his son-dishonorably
discharged from the fathers own COM
pany. 1t is a true character-sketch,
the action seeming merely the natural
result of traits which conflict in the
dialogue of father, mother and son.
Lauretta Allen and Fred ]. Webber
assist acceptably in the latter two
roles.
The other playlet is GUILTY." by
Victor II. Smalley. Donald Bowles Is
its star, playing gentleman burglar"
who breaks into judges house short
ly after saving that worthy's daughter
from a runaway. Raffles discovers
the jurist to be the man who started
him on a criminal career by an unjust
condemnation for murder. In a scene
of considerable power-though rather
too melodramatically interpreted-the
burglar tells the story of his dishonor,
as that of a friend, to the daughter. To
his question, GUILTY." she returns an
indignant negative, and her father as
sents. with rather more difficulty, dis
missing the policeman. just arrived
and promising to aid the other to re-
habilitate himself. Mr.. Bowles is an
attractive looking burglar, with gay,
insouciant manner and a too ready in
clination to shout his lines. The
sketch maintains its interest consist
emily. and is, in some respects, the
best of Mr.. Smalley's many efforts IN
the one-act play field
Dan Quinlan and Kellar Mack pre-
sent "The Travelling Dentist" ludi-
crous absurdity which coins laughs and
stage dollars from the supersitlous
agony of a negro with the toothache.
The strolIing charlatan dupes him di-
vertingly, and in between spasms in
the chair the two find time to sing
and swap monologue
Rob Adams and Bob Olden-song
writer's of the day-regale the audience
with several topical ballads, and at
ford a pleasing contrast to the other
new numbers on the bill. The hold
overs are "The Devil and Tom Walk
er," Ben Welch, Katchen Loisset and
Vittoria and Giorgetta. There are new
motion pictures.
Miss Frances Nordstrom has Joined
the actors colony at Glendale, having
secured apartments in a house on Lo-
nita avenue. The Burbank's new lead
ing woman was almost deluged with
congratulatory kilograms yesterday
from friends in the east.
Miss Ethel Won Waldron, new in
genue of the Burbank company ana
who has been on the Morosco pay roll
for FIVE weeks, though she hasn't yet
had an opportunity to appear before
the Burbank clientele, began rehears-
ais yesterday morning in THE Heart OF
Maryland" with Frederick Belasco in
the directors chair. The usual Monday
rehearsal period was cut short, howev-
er. to permit members of the company
to attend the funeral of the late Mrs.
Phosa McAllister Duffield, wife of Fl. S.
Dufield of the Burbank company and
herself a former member of the same
organization.
The Los Angeles theater opened its
new bill yesterday afternoon, headed by
q scenic comedy entitled 1.-THE Battle of
Bay Rum" presented by Edward Gal
lagher. The new bill will be reviewed
in tomorrows issue.