The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-27
Man Who Got Her "GOlden Girl''
Engagement, in Topeka.
Business Manager of s'The Gil
max" Where She Made Hit.
WILL HEAD NEW SHOW
Prima Donna Was Buried by
Singer Only Temporarily.
Florence Webber Takes Her
Place in Last Seasons Bill.

Miss LeOna Watson, the captivating
prima donna in 1.-The Golden Girl did
not know as she glided and sang like
fairy on the Grand stage last night
that the man who was responsible for
her position at the head of the Singer
musical attraction was in the audience
watching her. That man was ]. Frank
Gibbons, business manager of 1.-The
Climax" in which Miss Watson was the
star last year.
One year ago, Miss Watson was in
Topeka in 1.-The Climax" Next Monday
night the same company returns here
but instead of Miss Watson in the stellar
role it will be Miss Florence Weber.
Mr.. Gibbons was here arranging with
the management of the Grand for the
presentation.
Miss Watson, who is quite the clever
est prima donna to come to Topeka
this season, is a native of Covington,
KY. She went to New York when still
a child, pawned her piano for $50 before
obtaining the theatrical engagement
which she sought but persevering she
was given chance and became the
star of the original New York company
of "'The Climax"
She scored tremendous hit from
the first night. Flowers, notes of con-
graduation and all kinds of praise We're
heaped upon her. Still she did not al
low her head to be turned. She even
wrote a letter to Alan Dale. the New
York critic, who interested himself in
her, telling him that her success was
but the beginning-she must work and
accomplish more.
That she has accomplished great
deal more will be conceded by every
one who saw her last season in 1.-THE
Climax" and this season in ''The
Golden Girl In February she is to
be placed at the head of another show.
The only reason that she was buried in
1.-The Golden Girl" according to the
management, was because that after
Mort H. Singer had engaged her he
did not then have better show in
which to present her. She is paid
| $500 week for her services.
Those who saw "The Golden GirI'
| will concede that it was well staged
with magnificent settings but they also
| will point to the fact that there is no
| sequence, cohesion or point to the
musical show which was lacking even
| in comedy. True, few musical shows
| do have a plot, fewer of them have
| sequence, cohesion or point, still
| there probably could not be found in
| 1.-THE Golden Grip even as much as a
| diagram.
! Among those better in the support
| of Miss Watson were Harry Joynter
as General Carrgill, G. S. A: Lionel
! Al McGarry as Cadet Captain John
I Fiske; Zeke Colvin as Cadet Jefferson
| Carter, and Miss Virginia Barrett as
Dorothy Hale, the "fend.''
| The voices were good, the baritone
unusually rich, and the chorus was
| better costumed than ordinarily are
| the musical shows coming here. That
particularly bright light, Miss Leona
| Watson, saved the day for what other
wise might not have obtained.
At the Majestic.
Most people upon the stage are not
| true to life and the things they do are
| never done elsewhere. Also, some of
their makeups would get them dis
| charged, or get them killed, or get them
sixty days, if worn any place but be-
yond the footlights. Regardless of that
| fact, one bill that has been shown in
] Topeka this season bears a consistency
throughout which ably follows the lead
of the principal character, Harry
North, in the titular role of 1.-THE Great
John Canton"
Twice, last season, the bill was pre-
scented at the Grand by a road company
| supporting George Fawcett, one Of the
| best known actors appearing anywhere
| in this type of play; twice it scored
| tremendously, and twice, yes even more
| times, it was declared by each individ-
ual who saw it to be the truly repre-
sentative American play.
! Likewise, with Harry North as <.Jonu
| Canton" the bill scored a tremendous
i hit at the opening presentation in Ma
/ jeStic stock. Mr.. North played the part
of the dynamic old packer in a way
that was consistent; in a way that had
all the force of his energy, still hS
tempered the part, he was living it,
Not only was this true of Mr.. NORTH
but Orval Spurrier as Will Canton, Roy
E. Hilliard as Browning, the bookkeep
er, Robert Blaylock as Larry Delaney
Ira Herring as Alfred lBorland, Alder
Ferguson as Jack Wilton, Edward Fer
guson as Rev. Mr.. Claverney and lateI
as DR. Morse, also James Dennis as tn,