The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-05


by William Macauley, that
clever young actor. His support has been
selected with 2 care as tic the fitness of
the individuality of the characters to
be sustained. The play is by the well
known author. W. B. Patton.
In the production of the new comic
opera The Golden Butterfly" music
lovers are promised an event of more
than ordinary interest as it will be the
first appearance here in several sea-
sons of the popular prima donna, Grace
Van Studdiford, the greatest and
most popular singer now appearing on
the American stage. Signor Caruso,
the famous tenor. attended the opening
performance of 1.-The Golden Butterfly
at the Broadway theater, New York,
end when he heard the sweet melodi-
Gus voice of Miss Van Studdiford he
sought an Introduction to her, and beg
ged her to give up comic opera and en-
ter into the grand opera field. When
Oscar Hammerstein heard her he lost
no time in offering her $1,000 a week to
appear with his company at the Man
ford thanked Carouso for his kind words,
and declined with thanks Mr.. Ham
merstein's offer. She much prefers TO
remain in comic opera, as this is the
line of work she first took up after she
graduated from college and will not
fcrsake it now. The Golden Butterfly
will be at the Grand Monday night.
will be seen at the Grand Tuesday and |
Wednesday with matinee Wednesday, |
holds the record of having been seen |
by more people than any one play in a |
similar length of time. Since this |
famous play was produced two years |
ago it has been seen by almost two |
million people. This seems like a reck- |
less statement of fact, but when one |
stops to contemplate figures this enor- |
nous amount may not seem so as |
founding.
During the first year the play was |
presented at the Savoy theater in New |
York with a ten weeks run in Chicago |
and three weeks in San Francisco by |
the original company. 1t should be re-
membered that the play ran all sum
Iner in New York. Figuring that first
year at 300 performances, matinees
making up for Sundays, conservative
average was 800 people for each per-
formance. OF course, the audiences at
times were very much larger, but 800 is
a conservative average That would
make 24O,OoO people to see that one
company alone.
During this frs. year a road company
was organized with Clay Clement,
Creston Clark and others and toured the
central and western country for just
200 performances. This company act
ually played to an average of 900 peo-
pie per performance. This makes $780,
600 more for the first year. or a total of
100000 peopl to see it the first year.
This, the second year, there have
play under the direction of Henry
Miller. All of these companies left
New York, with the exception of one
which resumed the run there, on Sep
TENDER I. 1t is a most conservative
estimate to say that all three have av-
eraged an attendance of 800 persons at
each performance The company that
will be seen here has exceeded that
average. However, figuring the low
estimate of 500 for three companies at
$50 performances since Sept. will add
432, 900 more for this year so far. Add
ing that to the estimate of last year
makes a total of $4,000 people to have
seen the play in this country
This year THE Servant in the House"
is being presented in England, Ger
many, St. Petersburg, Vienna and
Rome to enthusiastic houses Figur-
ing these at the American average.
which Is quite conservative you will
have 100000 more people to have seen
the play. This makes a total of 1,572,-
900 attendants upon the play.
1t is easy to see what the figures will