The San Francisco call., 1909-09-30
RICHARD JOSE TO
Be IN LEADING ROLE
Singer to Appear in Play Writ
ten by Martin v. Merle and
Presented by Shuberts
Billie Burke to Be Seen in Title
Role OF Love Watches"
at the Van Ness
BY WALTER ANTHONY

Martin V. Merle's last play has been
promised a production. The author of
.sThe Light Eternal' has had a comedy
drama accepted by the Shuberts and
leaves this week for New York to be
on hand while the play is in prepara-
ton
eSilver Threads" is the title of the
play, and it will be used to exploit
Richard Jose, the counter tenor bal
ladist.
Merle's difficulties in writing play
for star who shutters and who is un-
able to get around the stage easily
may be lima gined. The point was to
make the leading role prominent
through the action and plot develop
ment in the other roles.
."I have managed" says Merle, ito
give my star four curtains and about
FIVE lines For the rest he is the one
about whom the story revolves, and
he sings many times. The plays name
is taken from the ballad which Jose
has made a classic--Dank's song, Sill
yer Threads Among the Gold-and the
story concerns the song.
John Morrisey, house manager of the
orpheum, is visiting his old home in
St. Louis. After short stay there
he will go TO New York He is ac-
companied on his vacation by Mrs
Morrisey and will be gone about one
month.
Through bit of stupidity which.
fortunately we all exhibit at Intervals,
rare or otherwise, l said that Corinne
is PLAYING in FRITZ Scheff's former
that she has made the part her own
The last part of the statement STANDS,
but the first part falls. m lie Mis-
chief" as 20 correspondents correctly
informed me, was Lulu Glaser's play,
not FRITZ Scheff's.
When pretty Miss Billie Burke was
last seen here al the Van Ness theater
in MY Wife," playing with the vet
eran actor John Drew, the question was
asked many times: rs she really an
actress. or is she merely exploiting a
delightful personality and incapable
of bending her nature to fit variety
of roles?" The answer to the. ques-
tion will be found in Love Watches"
which will be her vehicle next week at
the Van Ness.
George Edwardes, the well known
English manager. found her few
years ago. appearing in pantonlime in
Glasgow. Before that she had been a
singer in the 'alls. Edwardes put her
in a London production and she sang
MY Little Canoe" which was sung in
this country by Edna May. That was
the end of Miss Burkes beginnings,
for she made hit at once and remained
in musical comedy some time, the
last piece she appeared in being in
the leading role of "The Belle of May
fair" Louis N Parker. an American
playwright at that time in London.
saw her possibilities as legitimate
actress and she played the leading
feminine role with Charles Hawtrey
in Mr.. George
While the play was not success
Miss Burke in it caught the eye of the
astute Charles Frohman. who brought
her TO America and placed her in the
title role in My Wife" Now she is in
her first starring piece.
Miss Grace King. who plays Sadie
Woods in George NJ. Cohan's musical
play, Fifty Miles from Boston, due
at the Garrick next week, is niece of
General Charles King. the soldier
author, and creator of some rattling
good yarns. One of Captain Che was
a captain them Kings first literary
efforts was a play, Fort Frayne,"
which Tim Frawley- produced many
years ago at the old California theater.
Rapid progress is being made in the
construction of the new Columbia the
ater, and Gottlob & Marx are conf
dent that it viii be ready for occu-
pancy by December.
Bessie Barriscale spent her vacation
at San Juan Batista. where the scenes
of Tullys tRose of the Rancho are
laid. She will play the role of the
Rose when the Alcazar stages the Cali
fornia comedy drama.
Just what elusive difference identi-
fies a San Francisco girl as distin-
guisned from a Boston, Chicago or
New York girl is the task which Miss
Mary Norman undertakes in her fIn-
presentations soon to be seen at the
Orpheum. As she makes the girl from
the city by the Golden gate most
charming damsel. it is reasonable to
assume that her impersonation is life
like.
True Boardman who used TO play
minor roles at the Central theater
when that playhouse was addicted
to melodrama, is now leading heavy"
in the Seattle theater.
Last night was baseball night at
the New Chutes. The fans" were sup
posed to have had their innings at the
Chutes last Saturday. but the rain
spoiled things. So the event was a big
affair last night. The San Francisco
nine was present in body
Waldemar Young. who for some
years has been a dramatic critic in
this city. has resigned his position on
local paper and is going to join
Frank Fogarty. the noted monologist
Young has written scenario of a play
for the Irish comedian and the la tier
has accepted it. Besides conducting