davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
CHARLES B. HANF0RD
COMING TO SALT LAKE

Charles B. Hanford has been. from the
first, last and always, a representative
of the American spirit in the drama. a
tradition which at one time seemed to be
fast gaining ground to the effect that for
the Interpretation of the classic drama 1t
an American drama Tor an American star,
found IN Hr. Hanford most capable and
effectual opposition. In casting about for
a modern play which would correspond
to his IDEAS of what ought to constitute
an American drama for an American star,
a play, called The American Lord, was
brought to his attention. 1t is play
which has in its favor many circum-
stances 1t touches on the question which
yearly takes on more intense interest, OF
the relations of old-world arist6cracy to
the wealth of this wonderful new cOnti-
nent. 1t was written by two men, each
of whom is an artist In his way; George
H Broadhurst, whose felicity in light
comedy is known to almost every play
less celebrated for his skill In attaining
powerful climaxes.
The play is not an untried work, but
was placed in the hands Of William II.
Crane for demonstration Of its qualities,
with results which left no doubt of its
powerful appeal The production will dis
play the same attention to detail that has
characterized all the Hanford presenta-
tons. Miss Marie DrOfnah Will be seen
in a role of peculiarly cOngenial quality
in The American Lord" Miss DrOfnahs
admirers can not fail to appreciate this
opportunity to see her in a role which
a new field. Mr. HanfOrd's date at the
Salt Lake theatre is March %, % and 30,
when he will! present THE American
ord -
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
THE DROP OPENED

Before he arrived at stardom Wilton
Lackaye once went on the road in a tenn
perance play Of the "Ten Nights in a
BaTroom" variety.
I'VE stopped one night In town where
the theatre had been evolved from huge
barn and was shaky in its timbers, said
Mr. Lackaye In the third act my lines
included a fierce denunication Of cursed
liquor
1.-THE audience was large and friendly,
and | got considerably wrought up. At
last / started in on my peroration. Be
hold l said, the serpent of drink. and
pointed up at the boughs Of tree
overhanging the stage. See his bloodshot
eyes. He is preparing to spring down
upon a victim Now he has dropped to
the ground. He tries to strike, but will
prevent him. 1 viii crush him at one
blow"
And with that / raised my foot, let
it drop with all my force, and the next
instant ! had fallen through large mole
in the stage, and only my head and shoul-
ders were visible to the astonished audi
ence. -
But the most unkindest cut of all
came when ] had regained my feet.
Say, mister piped up small boy IN
the rear. did We kill himT
''And then the audience, which had not
refrained from merriment when / plunged
downward, laughed so long and heartily
that 1 was unable to continue for fully
five minutes"
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
THE HERALD REPUBLICAN, LAKE CITY, UTAH. SUNDAY MARCH 49, 1910
ACTORS HOODOO TOWNS

Some day." said Lew Fields. "a statis-
tieian, or some one who loves TO delve
In facts, will complete a list of hoodoo
cities, applied to persons connected
with a stage life Every actor has d city
which he regards, not as his artistic, but
as his physicist, hOOdOo. I never, myself,
approach San Francisco without a shud-
der, and Boston 1 regard with positive
horror
when we made our transcontinental
trip with the Weber & Fields show 10
Frisco, l never previously had known
a sick day. The minute I got there /
lost my voice and had to remain in the
Palace hotel for practically the entire en-
gagement OF two weeks with my throat
glued to a steam heating apparatus that
was cross between a radiator and
Russian coffee pot. In Boston, for the
first time in my life. 1 decided not to
shave myself. l started down the mar
bic steps in the hotel to the barber shop
fell, and broke my thigh. 1t cost me
nine weeks OF valuable time and nearly
S2,000 in other expenses.
Lillian Russell is 'leery' of Cleveland.
She had the mumps there at the age or
10 Willie Collier IS afraid of Providence.
He had tip on Kilkare, a horse that
won at 100 to / at Sheepshead, and got
to the pooiroom just as they were low
ering the shades. 1t was like pulling
teeth to get the late Pete Daley to play
Hartford Every time he would reach
there he would be entertained by the
Beefsteak club, and never yet made the
next stand-New Haven. The late Stuart
Robson once told me that he hated to
play New Orleans. Once he sprained his
ankle there and four years later he was
watching a circus parade when an ele-
pI1ant stampeded, stepped on the Robson
right foot, and the company had TO lay
off four weeks at full pay"
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
ATTRACTIONS FOR WEEK
Continued from Page Four.)

carry out their plans. they begin heap
ing insult upon insult at the American.
When all methods had proven fru1tless'
one of the English officers takes the
Stars and Stripes and throws 1t upon
the ground saying, your flag is moth
ing but a rag" and at this he tramped
upon it. Ensign Baird can withhold his
anger no longer and he promptly slew
the man who had thus insulted his
country's flag Ensign Baird was taken
before his superior officers and court
martialed and condemned to be hung;
when asked why he killed the English-
man. he said, 81 stood everything ana
all his abuse, but when he took my
country's flag and stamped 1t in the
mud | could not hold myself any
longer and l killed him. What would
YOU have done?" In the third act is
shown avery pathetic scene, the en-
sign has been condemned to death and
all is in readiness for the execution.
Many come and intereede for the con-
demned, but President Lincoln being
away, there is no one to interfere, and
Secretary Welles is besieged with call
ers, but tells them that he is powerlesS.
Captain Wilkes little daughter pleads
with Secretary Welles most Piteously
to spare the life, anu as she thus pleads
President Lincoln enters unnoticed. He
listens. then hurriedly writes a pardon
with all speed to the place where the
execution is to take place. 1t arrives
lust at the critical moment when the
ensign was about to be swung into
eternity. Everything connected with
this play has been carefully looked
after, and the piece has been staged
and produced under the personal direc-
ton of George L. Cranes. which Is a
guarantee in itself that 1T will receive
a firSt-clasS presentation.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
Detective Plays Of the Past

If one were to review the detective plays
tSat have been seen on the stage from
season TO season. some of the many titles
that would be found are.
Article Al" The Queens Necklace, "
THE Hidden Hand, ~ Around the World
In Eighty Days" THE Danicheffs,'' For
get-Me-Not." Diplomacy The Glenn
enceau Case" Marked for Life THE
Phoenix" After Dark" "A Scrap Of
Paper, Captain Swift The Great
Ruby" White Heather" THE Sporting
Duchess" THE Blocked Game" Across
the Continent, "A Social Highwayman. -
The Law and the Man." THE Prince of
Peace" THE Thief" Via Wireless"
This would not, OF course, exhaust the
list, for it goes back to a comparatively
early day. The beginning of such plays
goes back to Paris. In 1867 Alexandra
Dumas, the younger, wrote a novel called
'L'Affaire Clemencean.' which was soon
dramatized by himself and became known
to the English-speaking stage as The
Clemenceau Case" Crime and crime de-
lection formed the basis of its plot. He
followed it with melodrama called THE
Danicheffs" written with silent part
ner'O. that also contained some notable
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13

T1HE playwright is by no means
rare IN the annals of the stage. At
tention is directed to this fact by
the comment recently made by a New
York dramatic critic, who said that an
actor could not write a play. William
Shakespeare himself very successfully re-
flutes the critics somewhat thOughtless
utterance, but Shakespeare is by no means
alone.
William Gillette is among the best
known r-playwrights of the day, per-
haps. He has been very prolific. indeed
as a dramatist, and every play in which
he has appeared in late years, with the
exception OF THE Admirable Crichton,
was either written originally OF adapted
by himself-'Held by the Enemy. She, q"
from Rider Haggard's novel, THE Pro-
Secret Service. "Clarice," Sherlock
Holmes" in collaboration with Conan
Doyle and the adaptation of Bernstein's
Samson" An interesting little fact in
connection with Sampson is that the
tnird act set. showing SamsOns apart
ments at the Hotel Ritz, is the exact
counterpart of the room in which Mr..
Gillette made the adaptation of the play
at Paris.
Dion Boucicault, as writer says in
the Scrap Book, has long since made his
last exit and joined those other mimi
table actor playwrights, William Shakes
peare Moliere, David Garrick, Samuel
Foote and john Brougham, in the green
room "Over there" but his plays, THE
SRaughraun. The OctOrOOn, The Cor
sican Brothers, THE Colleen Bawn'' and
"Arrah-na-P ogue, among the best
known, live on. The mantle of Dion
BOucicault descended, it is true. upon
the shoulders of his son, Aubrey, but the
son will never be quite the great man
that his father was. However, as an
actor, Aubrey BOucicault has originated
some clever roles. and as a playwright
1.-THE FavOrite" and THE Court Sean
dali are two of his best-knOwn efforts.
Another playwright, son of
famous father. is Laurence Irving, and
while he may never equal his father as
an actor, he has surpassed him by YER
satility in that he is also a dramatist.
Bonnie Dundee" Peter the Great and
Richard LOvelace" are his plays, while
the versions of Dante" and Robes
pierre" which his father, Sir Henry, used,
We're made by Laurence Irving from the
French of Sardou.
Edgar Selwyn, well known as an actor,
is the author of "A Rough-Rider's Ro-
nance" "A Friend in Need" IT'S All
Your Fault" and Pierre of the Plains"
while Margaret Mayo. his wife, writes so
many plays that she has had to give up
acting altogether. She made the adapta-
ton of "DivOrcOns," dramatiZed The
Marriage of William Ashe," from Mrs.
Humphry Wards novel, and her latest is
Polly of the Circus"
Clara Lipman wrote Julie Bonbon'' and
"Pepi," and her better half is guilty of
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13

created the beautiful forests of Arden,
the sylvan glades where Titania holds
magic sway, or the sumptuous palaces of
Mautua All about are long rolls of can
vas scattered on the floor. Narrow, wind
ing stairs lead to long, narrow bridges
suspended far overhead, and which are jo-
cosely referred to as bridges of size"
where stretch long, narrow tables COW
cred with rows upon rows of pots con-
tanning gaily colored mineral paint mixed
with glue water and known as size
There the scene painters, III Overaiis or
long coats, ply broad brushes in broad
strokes to vast, brilliantly colored cam
vases. The windlasses churn and the pull
leys creak as the huge frames. upon
which the canvases are stretched, are
lowered or raised to facilitate work And
the air Is redolent Of the smell of paint
50 characteristic of the scene loft.
But how is the work done?
First of all. the manuscript is read to
catch the spirit and atmosphere, very
much as an illustrator reads a story over
and over For the scenic artist strives to
attain higher ideal than merely to hold
the mirror up to- nature. Today scenery,
in its most artistic conception, does not
form background only for the actors.
1t is part and parcel of the predominant
ing sentiment in the play; it attempts to
convey by color, tonality and composition
the abstract essence. as it were, OF the
effect that the lines and action seek to
produce. Aside from the pictorial ele-
ment. there rises the problem Of securing
the due proportion which must exist be
tween emotion and circumstance. The
one must be in the inverse ratio of the
other. The stronger the emotion to be
portrayed the less elaborate must be the
decoration, and vice versa. This is but
one of the many aesthetic problems which
have entered into this interesting pro-
fession during the last few years, elevat-
ing it to a place of art for arts sake.
And hence it will be seen that it is i'm
perative for the scenic artist to possess
a subtle appreciation of the dramatic in
stinct.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
ISIS THEATRE.

There is something about a welI-bal-
anced program which draws exceptionally
well. and the selections made for the
Isis theatre this week certainly make up
a bill some part of which will especially
appeal to each patron. The headliner is
a biOgraph dramatic production. I'm Old
California, a romance Of the Spanish
dominion In the early days of southern
California before and after Mexican in
dependence was proclaimed. A vitagraph
drama included in this program is also
a headliner and will no doubt prove a
winner with a great number of Isis pa
irons, as II shows the prosecutions of a
small boy who is tortured until he con-
fesses to a murder he did not commit
For lovers of high-class comedy, two
subjects are shown which are sure to
please. "A Cure for ,Timidity" is one of
the rough and tumble variety and
worked out with the rare attention to de-
tail which characterizes the work of the
Pathe Freres company.
"a Tale of a Tenement is 4 pretty and
sentimental little comedy played with a
fine conception of its possibilities, which
lifts 1t above the usual mediocre level of
the general run of sentimental sketches.
Harry WoOlf. the leader of the Isis or
chestra, has MADE the musical portion of
the program a delightful feature of the
entertainment.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
THE SCENIC PAINTER AND HIS ART

rT7HE scene painter of today is quite
different character from his
Eiizabetnan prOgenitor. He is,
Iirst OF all, an Intelligent artist. trained
by long. general schooling in the most
famous academies: his pictures may hang
IN the most important current exhibitions.
winning hOnOrs in the realm of art for
art sake. While the importance of his
work Is such that he must enter into
the spirit of the play with as much SYM
patty as the actor and larger concep-
ton of the entire effect desired, says the
lheater Magazine, he joins hands with
the latter and the author in creating the
tout ensemble impression Of the piece,
ana more of its success than is generally
cfecited depends upon his ability.
The modern scenic artist is a curious
conglomerate, bringing to his work a
smattering of many arts and sciences, as
wen as rare mechanical ingenuity. He is
something of architect. for his houses
must be plausible and his knowledge of
perspective faultlsss; he is some thing of
q botanist, that his vegetation may not
appear false TO its locality; he is no mean
student of history, for he must be able TO
create any period; and, most important
he has to be an artist, with an innate
sense of color harmony, a natural APP
probation of effects, a feeling for COM
position on a large scale, and possessing
a gift of imagination.
With the studio sanctum closed to it.
the theatregoing public is not privileged
TO see the interesting processes of the
scene painters work of fashioning these
dream worlds which delight il, grown up
child that il is and which presently ere
ruthlessly demolished when the public
cries for something new, something dit
ferent. Wonderful men, there, who can
take the merest fragment of a dream IN
some poets mind and change the few
words upon a piece of paper into pseudo
reality!
A. ono autare the studio 1tsuallv a h{p
barnlike structure, gloomy and mysteri-
Gus, there is no suggestion that here are
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
ELITE THEATRE.

Again Manager Florence has selected
the program for the Elite theatre with
exceptional care, and in every respect the
offering this week promises TO surpass
even the excellent bill just closed. The
"biograph' film, THE Red Mans View,
a story of the American aborigines. is the
headliner. The subject of the Indians
persecution has been often the theme
of story that il would appear an extreme
exposition of egotism TO say that this
production is unique and novel, but such
is the case, for there never was more
beautiful depletion of trials of the early
Indians than this. The Selig feature pic
ture is very stirring picture story. with
the Boer war in the background. The in
terest centers around the lives OF two
members of the British nobility. In ad-
dition to the above, two subjects from
the Urban Eclipse studios are shown, one
an excruciatingly funny satire on the re-
cent controversy between Peary and
Cook, entitled Capturing the North
Pole" and the other an intensely inter
esting drama, THE Secret Chamber"
The illustra ted ballads and incidental
music viii be in capable hands. and a
thoroughly enjoyable entertainment from
every standpoint is assured
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
M'INTYRE AND HEATH
ON THEIR WAY HERE

In addition to the roilicking humor
which fills the production of Mcintyre
and Heath in Hayti," which is to come to
the Salt Lake theatre there is good
reason for the wonderful absorption of
negro traits and cOnsummate artistry in
expressing them that has always been
shown by these quaint stars. The I'M
expectedness of many features make It
distinetively modern and carry it out of
the realm of cut and dried musical COM
cry. The action of the Mcintyre and
Heath chorus carries out the previous
reputsti ton for animation. 1t is dynamic
and the dynamo runs with voltage that
is startling.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13

detective work. Then from his father S
novels about the great charlatan, Gag
liostro, he made a play called "Balsamo,"
which appeared in this country in differ
ent forms, one of them entitled THE
Queens Necklace"
Then Sardou took up the game. In
POe's story of The Purloined Letter" he
found the germ Of play that he named
"Pattes des Mouches, and which is ia
miliar to most of us as "A Scrap OF Pa
per-" All of the leading actors of the
older generation have appeared in this
piece, and even now II is always first
choice whenever a club of amateurs
wishes to give a dramatic entertainment.
"A Scrap of Paper" is primarily comedy
of mysterious intrigue, the element of
professional detection being minimiZed.
but the plot takes many turns that would
have appealed TO POe's Dupin. The letter
which is it's basis figures in the intrigue
at every turn. 1t is hidden under a porce-
lain bust; 1t is half burned to light a
lamp; ii serves as a prop under the leg
of a shaky table; it is used as a wad in
loading a gun; it becomes a receptacle for
butter: and, finally, it carries the proposal
of marriage that brings everything to 4
happy ending.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
OTIS SKINNER COMING
TO SALT LAKE THEATRE

Otis Skinner is one of the acknowledged
leaders of the American stage-and he has
worthily won the high position which he
holds The announcement of his appear
anCe in his latest New York success at
the Salt Lake theatre soon ought to slim
ulate the keenest anticipation among
playgoers who know ard care about the
art of acting. Under Charles Frohman' s
direction he returns to Salt Lake in a new
modern comedy by Messrs. Booth Tark-
ingtOn and Harry Leon Wilson, entitled
Your Humble Servant" 1t is described
as a realistic transcript of life behind the
scenes with small touring company and
is known in theatrical parlance as a rep
ertoire," or rep" troupe. Mr.. Skinner
has the unique role of the flamboyant
tragedian of this troupe, Lafayette Tow
ers by name, a man whose whole life has
been passed in the artificial glamor of the
fOOtlights who has never known a gen
uine success in a large city, but whose
inOrdinate ambition keeps him forever
buoyant and optimistic.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
SOME ACTORS ALSO PLAYWR|GHTS

a one-act play called Hannah" and of
THE Laughing Girl" in collaboration.
Then there is f. II. Sothern, who wrote
The Light That Lies in Woman's Eyes
for Virginia Harmed to star in one Sc "a
son. COsmO Stuart or CosmO Gordon
LennOx, as he signs his plays, wrote a
version of Vanity Fair" called Becky
Sharp" ''The Marriage of Kitty" and
THE Freedom of Suzanne for his clever
wife Marie Tempest, and The lndecision
of Mr.. Kingsbury' for himself.
William Collier is another actor
playwright. Stanley Dark is also an
actor-dramatist, though there are sus-
picious that he would prefer to keep 1t
dark. like his name, as Man and His
Angel was hardly a heavenly success.
Denman Thompson is still another ex-
ample.
Like the scent of "Old Lavender" the
memory of Edward Harrigan's old plays
will be with us always. What record
is his when, from 1876 until 1894. he was
he alone was authOr-"Darby and Lanty,
"Old Lavender" st. Patrick's Day
Parade" "Mullgan Guards" and all the
famous Mulligan Guard series, 'Squatter
"Cordelia's Aspirations, Dams Tribula-
ton Reilly and the Four Hundred"
and other plays too numerous to men
ton.
Leo Deitrichstein is a versatile specimen
of the playwright. His farces, in
which he always creates the leading COM
edy role. number, "AIl on Account of
Eliza" Are You a Mason?" Vivian
Papas.I' -Hsrriets Honeymoon" What's
the Matter With Susan?" Before and
After" Bluffs" and, I'm collabOra ton
with Clyde Fitch Gossip" "A Super
fluous Husband, The Head of the Fam
lily"
Almost all the actress laywrights
have. like Margaret Mayo, given up act
ing for playwriting. Rida Johnson Young,
who wrote Brown Of Harvard" and
1.-The Boys of Company b. is one of
these, Is are Madeline Lucette Ryley,
who wrote Mice and Men," MY Lady
Dainty AN American INVASION The
Altar of Friendship" and other sue
cesses; Marion Fairfax, author of THE
Chaperon,' with which Maxine Elliott
opened her new playhouse last season,
and Edith Ellis Baker, who wrote. Mary
James Pa"
Mrs. Fiske has written several one-act
plays-"The Rose" THE Eyes of the
Heart" Not Guilty. and "A Light
From st. Agnes"-all Of which are as ar
tistic as her acting.
There are many others, too. past and
present-George NJ. Cohan, Wilton Lack
aye, Wright LOrimer Henry Miller
Charles Hawtrey, Richard earle. Henry
V. Esmonde. A w. Pinero, Jerome K.
Jerome, Edwin Milton Royle. Charles
Klein, James Herne. Maurice Barrymore
Richard Mansfield-the list is almost in
exhaustible.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-13
sHuRERT THEATRE.

picture story depicting the strug-
giles and sufferings of those brave men
and women, our early pioneers, entitled
Across the Plans" is the feature offer
ing at the Shubert thea tire this week.
This production is magnificent, we'll
connected story, absolutely correct to the
minutest detail, graphically showing the
hardships encountered by those who were
DESTROYS of making their fortunes in the
country full of goldts1 opportunities be-
fore the east and west were joined to-
gether by that greatest of all civilizers,
the railroad. UnquestiOnably the great
est western picture ever produced. Space
will not permit description OF the other
excellent subjects on the progra m, but in
their different lines they are each ex-
ceptionally meritorious Special mention
must be made, however. Of the Urban
Eclipse subject, the "Water-flyer." which
is a fine presentation of motor boat
speed trials.