davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Majestic Theatre.

There will be no doubt regarding the unusual high character of the programme that is selected for this week at the Ma jestic. The headliner is the protean nov city sensation of the Giant Dolls," inn personated by Misses Hayes and John son, who are the biggest women in vaude- ville not only physically. but otherwise. Each weighs something like 300 pounds and their Dreams of Babyland' is a sen- sation. Eva Nudge, the Military Maid ' has the record for stage quick changes and her act is fascinating and singularly pretty.
 The favorites, Billy Morris and the two Sherwood sisters, are playing a return arrangement with new features, and the acropatic end will be in the capable hands of the European trio of expert gymnasts, Kramer and the two Brunos. In the line of whirlwind and comedy dancing the Ferrars have something new and surprising 10 offer while the three Semon youngsters are clever singers and character impersonators. John P. Reed, the comedian who is called the Human Laugh Factory" will tell a bundle of fun nyisms and sing some parodies that will make the wellSin ding with laughter The latest new motion pictures will be shown and will round out an exceptionally strong and varied programme. The of fering is still further added to by the A. B. C.. D. girls, an extra added at traction from New York for exhibition at Birmingham.
 These vaudeville brightlights, Gather inc Hayes and Sabel Johnson, facetiously referred to as the Giant Dolls," get that appelation from the fact that after ap- bearing as swell society women and in- dulging in lot of witticisms at the ex- pense of what Is supposed to be the cream of society, they make a wonderful costume transformation, and To and be- hold, they present themselves as little girls, and look for all the world as Giant Dolls. They are living dolls, however for they, sing magnificently. When 1t is remembered that the combined. weight of Misses Hayes and Johnson is 600 pounds, each of the Giant Dolls'' tip- ping the scales at 300 pounds, the sensa- tional character of the exhibition can readily be imagined. The act must be seen to be appreciated, for it beggars de- scription.
 Miss Nudge is rightly accounted one of the cleverest entertainers in vaudeville. Her characterizations include the High wayman, an army officer a Red Cross nurse, a sanor. Stonewall Jackson and several others. The rapidity with which
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

Substitute" which appears here on Feb- ruary Il at the Jefferson. The charac- ters are drawn so naturally and the de- yelopment of the story so consistent you almost think you are part and parcel Of the story yourself and mingling among people you meet every day. This is real art in dramatic writing.
 On February 1 and at the Jefferson theatre Frederick Thompson will present his elaborate scenic production of Polly of the Circus, which achieved such q marked success in New York last year that it ran the entire year at the Liberty theatre
 The play is by. Margaret Mayo. One scene shows a circus ring in full tilt with four specialties going on at one time, and the other gives a picture of the circus leaving town in wagons in the moonlight. MT. Thompson has selected a strong cast in which Miss Edith Talia ferro plays the title role.
 Frank Deshon. noted for his associa- tion with the leading comedy roles in Miss Bob White" "rhe Office Boy and other famous successes whose name has been a prominent one in musical comedy and comic opera for the past 25 years. will be seen at the Jefferson theatre on February and 4 in the most notable success he has yet achieved, that of Jon athan Joy in B. c. Whitney's big musical gaiety. "A Knight for a Day" The piece is promised by Manager Whitney with the same elaborate scenic and electrical equipment and gorgeous costuming that made it the talk of New York theatricals for six months Chicago for Il months. and Boston for three months.
 Joseph Jefferson, the actor, has sum- mer home at Buzzard's Bay, Mass. which requires the services of several servants His gardener is an Irishman named Tim. who has been with him for several years. Tim was not particularly industrious, so MT. Jefferson wondered at Tins activity in working day and night by doing little odd jobs whereby he could earn extra money. Mir. Jefferson finally asked Tim the reason for all the extra work and the unusual saving of money.
 There's no great reason for it. Mir. Jefferson" replied Tim, except that I'm under bonds to keep the peace. The judge said the next time I was arrested for beating up that crazy, ugly-looking Dutch bartender that he would fine me $50.
 "Oh. I see' said MT. Jefferson. You're working night and day so that you can keep out of mischief.
 "I am not" answered Tim. I'm work ing sos l can save up the $50 fine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
PLAYHOUSE GOSSIP.

Max Rogers, the little fellow in the Rogers Brothers, supported by the orig inal New York company in his latest mu- sical success. Tn Panama" will be the attraction at the Jefferson theatre on Wednesday, February 24 The fame of Max Rogers is in itself a guarantee of a performance which will be one of merit and in every particular high class. Max Rogers, the star of the organization. is assisted by Joe Kane and Marion Stan ley and carefully selected company, such as is seldom seen in musical come dies. An aggregation of pretty girls who make up the chorus has been carefully selected by Ned Weyburne. He has given much care and attention to the staging of this production, which is under his personal supervision.
 "The Clansman" will soon be here. It is booked for the Jefferson theatre for three performances beginning Friday, February B. When this celebrated play of Thomas Dixon was first brought South a number of years ago, number of cit ies objected on the ground that the play would produce evil effect. All objec- ton has now been removed and adverse action has been rescinded. The majority of the governors of the Southern states saw the play and gave it their written approval. as.
 
 Buster Brown" Tige, Mary Jane and the rest of 'em are coming to the Jeffer- son soon. Every mother in Birmingham will welcome the announcement and they will bring their children to the matinee. Grown-ups will be there on both nights for Buster is so popular here that Man ager Douglas has arranged for three per formances.
 The attraction at the Jefferson theatre on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 and 16 will bc Wright Lorrimer in his famous Biblical play, The Shepherd King" the star and play are well known here and have been among the favorites to all theatres goes throughout the United States for the last five years.
 Joseph and William w. Jefferson, as in the past several seasons, are again pre- senting Richard Brinsley Sheridans fam ous old English classical comedy, "The Rivals" This season they are supported by particularly capable and artistic com pany and will appear in this delightful play at the Jefferson theatre February 27
 If is seldom that one can sit in a the atre and become so engrossed in the story that they entirely forget their sur roundings and forget that it is all on,y make-b believe and the men and women on the stage are only acting. It is true, however, of Max Figulan's play, '"rhe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

be well surrounded with clever people, such as Billy Cook, the German senator; Evans, Parent and Johnson, James Darmody and several other notable com edians. For the female part of the en- tertanment, their names speak for them selves-Ciara Berg, formerly soubrette of Me, Him and r.; Elizabeth Mayne, who made a big success last season singing that popular song "Flirty Eyes; Lillian Seiger, leading cornetist of the Navajo Girls; Flossie Hughes. the Adonis of burlesque queens; Edith Bryant, the Nell Brinkley girl. and Marthe Hableman for years with the Casino Musical Reviews.
 Harry Bryant himself will introduce his original tramp character, in which he has always been able to hand out a few laughs to the patrons The chorus is one of the very best he has ever carried, and the show should meet with o. K. approval by all who attend.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

she ma..e- the different changes is as- tonfshing On each appearance she has some charming ballad to sing of which her costume is characteristic.
 The return of Billy Morris and he.Sher- wood Sisters will be joyful information for patrons of the Majestic. Morris and the Sherwood girls made such hit two months ago that their speedy return was demanded and they come again to glad den the hearts of their legion of admir- CTS. This time they put new wrinkles in the Scenes From Dixie,'' interpolating new songs and adding new costumes
 The Bruno Kramer trio two men and a woman, all three beautiful physical specimens and expert gymnasts. Proba- bly there has never been imported from Germany a more finished gymnastic act than this. They do all the most difficult of trapeze and ring feats and give exh- bitions in physical development. The cos tunes are of the best and the lady mem Der of the trio is particularly stunning.
 By special arrangement with our New York connections the management has secured the big Broadway hit, the A. B. c. D. Girls, the dainty singers. dancers, funmakers and general high class enter taners. This addition adds much to an already splendid offering.
 The Perraris are man and woman team of Russian whlrlwind dancers and 
 and rythmical dancing is as pleasant to look at as their eccentric and ludicrous steps are amusing. The act has many novel and surprising features.
 The juvenile Semon trio, Martin, dainty Miss Primrose and little Si will give lots of good musical comedy character singing that will be sure to make them warm favorites from the start. Little Master Si is a wonder when it comes to shaking his tiny feet and he gets to cutting up,' while the Italian song of Martin and Primrose, in appropriate cos tune, "Goot-a-bye, Marie,'' is always finely sung and splendidly acted and gets demands for more
 Johnnie Reed the Human Laugh Fac tory' is in a class by himself as the head of the mrth manufacturers to their majesty, the American people. He is source of perennial joy, seeming to exude merriment. and from the moment he steps in front of the footlights, you ex- perience cachlnattory sensation.
 The latest and most exclusive motion picture films have been secured to round out the most pretentious There will be a matinee at 2:30 each afternoon, espe- cially for the ladies and children, and at S:30 every night the usual evening per formance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Mrs. wisss of the Cabbage Patch.v

What's the name of this street?' asked lLovey Mary of a small bare footed girl.
 "rain't no street." answered the little girl, gazing with undisguised amusement at the strange looking girl. This here is the Cabbage Patch"
 Such was Lovey Mary's and Little Tom my's introduction to the locale of Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,' that rich American play, dramatized by Mrs. Anne Crawford FleXner from the stories, Mrs Wiggs' and "Lovey Mary" written by Mrs Alice Hogan Rice, which comes to the Bijou theatre all this week. It is here for the first time at popular prices
 Most everyone has read the books and therefore the story of the play into which the two books are telescoped is more or less familiar. The dramatization concerns itself solely with life and the brisk ac- tion is crowded with types and homely pictures. The entire action takes place in the Cabbage Patch, portrayed exactly as described by Mrs. Rice, who says: Tt was not a real cabbage patch, but queer neighborhood where ramshackle cottages played hop-scotch over the rail- road track. There were no streets, so, when new house was built the owner faced 1t any way his fancy prompted. MT. Bagby's grocery, it is true, con formed to convention, and presented a solid front to the railroad track, but Mis- Hazys cottage shied off likewise into the Wiggs' yard. as if it was afraid of the big freight trains that went thun- dering past so many times a day, and Mrs. Schultz's front room looked directly into the Eiohorns kitchen. The Wiggs house was the most imposing in the neighborhood. This was probably due to the fact that it had two front doors and a tin roof. One door was nailed up and the other opened up outdoors. It was the only tin roof in the Cabbage Patch. Jim and Billy had made it out of old cans which they had picked up on the "commons."
 The play opens in Mrs Wiggs' cottage with the wedding of Mis- Hazy to MT. Stubbins. who has been provided by matrimonial agency. Mis- Hazy has been ''slcked on to rnatrimony by Mrs. Wiggs who has aided In the winning of MT Stubbins by artistic cooking, which is passed off as the brides own. The we'd ding is as funny as could be imagined and no comedy possibility has been over looked; Here one meets everyone but MT. Wigs. who returns later in the play.
 In the second act the exterior of Mrs Wiggs' shanty is shown, Lovey Mary and Little Tommy. are harrassed by the asylum authorities and the father of the little fellow who clngs to his benefac- tress. Mrs. Wiggs conducts her famous Sunday school, and MT. Stubbins falls from grace and in his drunken condition is shipped away in a freight car In the final act there is the return of Mir. Wiggs, who turns out to be the father of Little Tommy;sof MT. Stubbins.l who: rehabili- tates himself and the justification of Lovey Mary. Laughter and tears are close together all through the play, in which all the comedy Of the books has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Getting the News.
From Judge

From JudSe.
 "Wh1t do you mean by delivering my Sunday paper at this hour of the day? Why, it's most noon." shouted the irate householder
 But, loss, de're so heavy"-
 Then get wagon. If you can't bring it around before noon, I'll find some one wno can When it comes as late as this. I don't any more than get the advertis- ing pages sorted out and carted away before the Monday morning edition comes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Gayety.

It's an old saying, Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep, and you weep alone" but when you see an old familiar title like Harry Bryants Ex- travaganza on the bill boards of the city you know that you are entitled to a good evenings entertainment. MT. Bryant will occupy the boards at the Gayety this week with one of the best all-round com panies of entertainers he has ever car ried. He has secured for the coming season Fred Wycoff, one of the cleverest "Rube' characters ever seen on the burlesque stage. For the past six seasons he has been the feature of the Busy Issy," Hap Ward" and Uncle Dan'' companies and was always considered the real hit of each show.
 This is not Wycoff's first appearance in this line of attractions. He was formerly with Billy Vans show, when he first played Patsy Bolivar around the cir cult Mr. Wycoff will introduce his own crazy musical comedy in two acts, entitled Gee Whiz," which deals with Rube politics and country life. He will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

cial equality proclamation which the commanding general of the district has ordered placarded.
 Aside from it's strillngly original plot '',fhe Clansman'' has been praised for the beauty of its southern scenes it's extensive portrait gallery of white and negro types, and its daring embodiment of the famous Ku KluX as hesh-and- blood horsemen mounted on trained cav airy horses and riding across stage at full gallop to the rescue of the Came rOnS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Rebuked.

From JudSe
 Large lady (beamingly)-"Co I ret a seat ne-.r the stage, please g'
 Box office (suveyngly)-"Why certain ly What row did you antg'
 Large lady undignantly)-"D Don't get fresh, young man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
"The cIansman.v

1.-The Clansman," announced to appear at the Jefferson theatre on Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday matinee February and 6, is the-most remarkable play on the American stage. Founded on the famous novels, ''The Leopard s Spots and .The Clansman," 1t was first produced in the Old Dominion state Sep tember 22, 1905. Immediately thereafter it started on a whirlwind tour of tho south in which all records were broken for attendance and for controversy and discussion provoked Other companies were soon organized and these produced the play with equal success in the large cities of the north.
 "The Clansman" is the first dramatic presentment of the terrible reconstruction period of southern history. As truthful depictment of the Ku Klux Klan and their times, 1t has the overwhelming n- dorsement of the masses of the people and of many eminent statesmen, includ ing the governors of several of the states. The scenes are laid in the hill-country of South Carolina in 1S67 when white civilization was in danger of being over thrown by the carpetbaggers and their dupes, the ignorant negroes
 Southern chlvalry and manhood come to the front In the person of Ben Came ron, a leader of the Ku Klux Klan. This gallant youth is in love with the daugh- ter of northernl fanatic, but he will not sacrifice his principles to win her love. Instead. he tears down the "so-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

girl has headed really first-class dra- matic organization
 | Little Miss raliaferro, like her elder sister (who, by the way, is only 21. is a unique figure in theatricals With the years of a child, she has the mentality and ability of a matured woman. Added
 to this she has personal magnetism, a
 charm and sweet ingeniousness which are absolutely necessary for an actress if she is to be popular and successful. The only other famous theatrical light of anything like her years is Elsie Janis, the
 musical comedy star; but Miss Taliaferro is appearing at the head of dramatic company at an age, less by two years, than Miss Janis when she became the star of ''The Vanderbilt Cup"
 | It is interesting to wonder what her fu- ture will be- for there is no precedent on , which to base calculations. Always, be- fore a great actress has won her laures after long struggle which culminated l in success at an age generally twice that of the young woman who is about to head this new Polly of the Circus company. The experiment would be dangerous-al- most too dangerous-wer it not for the fact that she had a great deal of experi- ence. Her sister, Mabel Taliaferro, all Ithough only 21 years old, has appeared on the stage for over IS years. Similarly
 Edith Taliaferro has had training in a dozen of the leading theatrical compa- nies of America. She succeeded her sister as Lovey Mary in Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.' She played prin cipal part in ''The Girl With the Green Eyes" and in "The Evangelist" the last Henry Arthur Jones drama seen in this country; sne has had considerable eX- perience in stock companies and for parts of two seasons she has played Peggy, the leading female character in Brew ster's Millions" Edith Taliaferro is the most interesting and the most extraordi- nary actress of her age on the English speaking boards.
 In her company will be seen the fol- lowing well known players: Earle Ruder, David R. Young, Thomas Holer, Harry J. Lane. Charles Lamb Edwin Boring, Lewis Bishop Hall, Nevins Goodwin, Miss May Mckay, Miss Elspeth McNeal, Miss Dorothy Goodwin, Miss Mabel Kipp and l, Kate Jepson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
"PoIIy of the Circus" Company.

Miss Edith Taliaferro, the youngest leading woman in America and the sec ond of the Taliaferro sisters to become famous in the last two years. will be seen for the first time at the head of her own company in the celebrated American comedy, Polly of the Circus,'' at the Jefferson theatre for three performances, beginning Monday night, February 1.
 This young girl, who has number of years to go yet before she gets out of her teens, will be seen in the leading cities in the country. with the exception of those visited by her sister, Mabel at the head of an organization comprising some of the best actors and actresses in America It is doubtful if in the whole history of American drama so young g
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24
Annie Russell Tuesday Night.


 Miss Annie Russell, who will appear here on Tuesday night at the Jefferson theatre, under the management of the Wagenhals & Kemper company, will present "The Stronger Sex" the very successful play by John Valentine, which she has been giving for a run of up- wards of 150 nights in New York at Weber's theatre. The play ran for 2S5 nights in London and has been com manding success on both sides of the water.
 Miss Russell stands alone on the Amer ican stage as possessing charm of per- sonality which combines the most unaf- fected simplicity and grace with the greatest power and display of emotional strength. It is the unexpected which grasps the emotions of an audience and it is this quality which makes Miss Rus sell so wonderfully successful as Mary in '"The Stronger Sex" Her slenderly, simple and fragile figure as she first ap- pears a bride in the opening scenes of the comedy does not hint at the concealed strength and vivacity which the exigen- cies of the plot develop. The story Is of a marriage between an American heiress and an impoverished scien of a noble English house.
 The girl (played by Miss RusselD is genuinely in love, but the man who has been brought up with all the faults of his class places his affection on the girls money. Shortly after the ceremony he unfortunately betrays himself, and the wife, instead of giving up in despair, de- terrnines to win him to course of real feeling and incidentally to teach him a lesson. She is apparently acquainted with her Shakespeare, and gives him an inverted version of Tanning of the Shrew," which everyone who sees the play will pronounce effectual.
 Miss Russels gowns are wonderfully effective and beautiful, from her first ap- pearance as a bride, with orange blos- soms wreath and bridal veil, then to a dainty pastelle picture in her travelling dress for the honeymoon, and so on through all the varying emotions depicted to the feminine soul through the magic medium of becoming gowns. all of which are creations of Madame Louise.
 The scenic investiture is most elabor- ate and will require special transporta- ton. Miss Russell will travel in her own private car and her tour will comprise for the most part principal towns and cities only. The company and production are identically the same us were seen in New York and includes MT. Oswald Yorke, Miss Helen Tracy, Miss Alma Kruger. Dore Davidson, William Wads- worth and others.
 The seat sale for Miss Russelps s engage ment opened at the Jefferson box office ct o'clock yesterday morning with a long line waiting to be served. Manager Douglas announces that there is still op- portunity to make choice reservations to- morrow.