Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-08
TOP ROAD SHOWS
HARD TO SECURE
Illinois to Be Put to Test in
Hopper's Performance
Tomorrow.
BIG MONEY IS DEMANDED
Manager Taylor Assures Attractions
If Public VIII Give Him Re-
quired Support

The theatregoing public of Rock Isl
and is TO be put to a test tomorrow
by the management OF the Illinois the.
atre in the performance Of DeWof
Hopper and his company in "A Matinee
Idol" Upon the patronage of that At
traction will materially depend the
standard of the bills to be offered ct
the local house in future.
1t might be interesting to the public
to know the ends TO which IL Is neces-
sary for the management here TO sub
NIT in order to secure the booking If
a play of the class of Hopper I'm "a
Matinee Idol" Hopper is playing this
season under the direction OF Daniel
". Arthur. The latter also controls
Marie Cahill in The Boys and Betty"
one of the years most successful song
shows.
\ Mr.. Arthur is taking Hopper and his
company for a brief road tour, filling
in a break in his big city time. The
conditions of the contract that Mana
ger r. H. Taylor of the Illinois was
obliged to sign are that the first 800
taken in for the Hopper performance
goes to Arthur. The next $500 goes
to the Illinois, and all in excess of
5000 passes to Arthur. Thus IT will
be seen If the Illinois does exactly
500 business at the performance to-
morrow evening there will not be a
penny to the credit of the local house.
II the receipts fall below 500 Manager
Arthur will blue pencil Rock Island
in the future. So that it is up to the
people who want the Illinois TO have
the better grade of attractions TO get
behind Manager Taylor tomorrow
evening
AS to the merit OF the Hopper per-
Torrance. no comment or assurances
are needed. Hopper is one of the few.
really funny men before the public to-
day He has never been known 10
carry other than a company of the
first class. Chicago voted his "a Matt
nee Idol' one of the best things he has
done in his long career as a comedian.
Identically the same company. and pro-
duction which appeared in Chicago
will be seen at the Illinois tomorrow
evening.
Must Have Box once Backing.
81 am putting forth my best efforts
to give the people of Rock Island what
they want in theatricals." Mr.. Taylor
said. 1--WE have here one of the largest
stages in the west. The Illinois can
the biggest productions
on tour. Under the readjustment of
relations with the Western Theatrical
Managers association It is again pos
sible for us to secure the Rlaw q Ed
LANCER bookings. II IS true we have
had of late a dearth of the better grade
but that has not been the
fault of the management here. II was
the result of disagreement that might
occur in any line of business. What
want is for the people to support me
when / do bring here an attraction
that Is deserving OF capacity patron
age. Rock Island is big enough TO get
the best on tour in theatricals. And
we will have them IL the people evil
dence the proper spirit towards the
box Office, for: after all, that is what
decides the booking managers when
they prepare their routing lists. I be-
lieve the people here will do what is
expected OF them. II they do, they can
trust me to do my part
ChamberIain's Cough Remedy new
or disanDofnfa thosa who uaa AZ for