The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-16

1 IS only SOmetnlng over TWO weeks away.
 Already the people are beginning to look
 forward to the big attractions that will
 come this fall. Manager R. s. Douglas
 of the Jefferson announces that he will
 have an interesting list of attractions to
 give out within the next few days.
 One of the features of the Jefferson's
 season this year will be the long engage
 ments of some of the great musical and
 dramatic hits straight from New York.
 It is also announced that there will be
 fewer dark nights at the Jefferson this
 season than recorded in a long time.
 A glance at the offerings for the com-
 ing theatrical season will demonstrate
 that one of the most striking produc-
 tions ever outlined in this country will
 be Brooks & Dingwall's presentation of the great Drury Lane drama. ''The Sins
 of Society,"" which is announced to open
 at the New York theatre August Sl.
 The advance announcements from many
 quarters reveal a return to the more
 solid forms of stage entertainment and
 at the forefront of this cycle is the stir
 ring story of contemporary life in the
 London smart set" It had a record run 1 in London and was revived with even
 greater eclat. After securing the Amer
 lean rights Brooks & Dingwall produced the story in Chicago where 1t remained | for three months and demonstrated that it was a bigger go than in England. It
 was taken off in the summer in order to | permit the producers full opportunity to get everything in splendid shape for the New York run.
 Drury Lane melodrama has long been regarded as an institution upon the Eng fish stage and 'The Sins of Society," was the greatest thing of its kind ever done at that famous playhouse. Its American premiere is unique in that the original has been surpassed, and in the way of elaborate effects and beautiful scenery 1t is the most stupendous un- dertaxing ever presented on an American stage The production is divided into 14 scenes and each would require chap ter of descriptive were it worked out in novel form to illuminate a novel of the same purpose. Singularly enough the story is so concisely told that aside from this elaborateness of production it could be given in quieter atmosphere and with nothing more impressive than the usual scenery of the contemporary drawing room drama.
 The dramatic action deals with the foibles of the so-called smart set'' Of English society, and depicts the evils Of gambling at bridge which is the surest indication of the timeliness of the sub feet and the possibilities that 1t unfolds.
 '-rhe plays the thing" said Shakes peare and most every wise prophet o1' modern theatrical affairs agrees with the Bard of Avon, but many go so far as to maintain that the merit of the play IS really of first and paramount importance in avery dramatic venture. The popular young romantic actor, Paul Gilmore. who has been making annual starring tours of America successfully for decade, Is so firm in this belief that he has Just changed his management in order to se- cure a new play which he considered "the thing"
 MT. Gilmore read the manuscript Of this drama called "The Candidate" and was so struck with its fitness for his use that he at once began negotiations to secure | 1t. when he found that the well-known manager, A. J. Spencer, had bought the | play The only way he could secure It l as his starring vehicle was to get under 1 MT. Spencer's managerial wing. and this | was soon arranged. MT. Spencer was 1 equally anxious to get this popular star under his direction, believing him to De the ideal actor for the title role of the new play. In the meantime Mir Gilmore l had contracted to use 'The Call of the North" during the coming season, and | had bought the entire production of this memorable success of last year. Conse- ouenty his new manager has taken over l this property together with the star. "The Call of the North is dramatiza- 1 ton by George Broadhurst of Stewart Edward Whites novel, ''The Conjurors | House" A. J. Spencer will present Paul | Gilmore for the main part of the coming season in '"rhe Call of the North" and
 will produce "The Candidate" for him | in the spring. the latter being delayed until that time in order to get New | York opening for MT. Gilmore.
 | One of the most pretentious offerings | to be seen at the Jefferson theatre this 1 season Is "Graustark," the dramatization | of George Barr McCutcheon's novel. This 1 attraction comes to us after having l scored in New York and Chicago. The | book was adapted for stage purposes by l George D, Baker, young dramatst or | note. and has proven to be one of the | hest drawing attractions in the history | of the stage. The novel has been wide | lv read, and 1t is one of those books | that fascinate the reader and make | one anxious to witness the unfolding or | it's thrilling story on the stage by | cast of dramatic artists.
 | Bronson Towards delightful comedy, "rhe Henrietta" which will be presented | by the Joseph and William W. Jefferson | company on their annual tour bears the | record of being one or the best comedies l ever written. Although originally pro- | duced about 10 or 12 years ago, 1t Is ] thoroughly modern comedy and deals l with the present day and the items of
 international importance which go to | form our big problems of the present | time "rhe Henrietta has proved itself 1 to be tremendously successful and the
 several years of record-breaking business | to its credit demonstrates its entertain
 ing values It will undoubtedly be one of
 the foremost attractions of the season. | Abraham Lincoln Erlanger, of the firm
 of Klaw 6 Erlanger, is back at his desk
 after a months tour in Europe. While
 abroad he visited about 20 theatres. He | observed that without single excep-
 tion every popular song in the plays he
 saw was written by an American. The | plays themselves were taken without | credit financial or otherwise. from Amer
 ican authors. The performances MT. Er- | langer witnessed proved profitable In
 showing him what to avoid when he be- | gins to rehearse the productions for next