Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-03
HARTMAN ENGAGES
NEW PRINCIPALS
GRAND GETS EDITH MASON
AND THOMAS C. PERSSE
WALKER THEATER TO CHANGE
HANDS AND NAME
c.. A. Quintard Leases Playhouse for
Ten Years and VIII Present
Hortense Nielsen In
Dramatic Stock

Ferris Hartman yesterday closed
negotiations, which have been going
on for some time. whereby MISS
Edith Mason will become the new
prima donna of Mr.. Hartman5 opera
company at the Grand opera house,
and Thomas C. Persse will become the
new tenor. Both are well known on
the Pacific coast, having been prime
favorites with the Tivoli opera COM
pany in San Francisco. Both have
had large experience in the field of
comic opera. having been connected for
several seasons with the Castle
Square opera company in Boston ana
also in Philadelphia, and have toured
in a repertoire of comic operas. Mr..
Hartman, however. persuaded them to
cancel ali their bookings and time for
the road tour they were about u
commence. Their addition to Mr..
Hartman's company will strengthen
It very materially. Miss Mason is con-
sidered one Of the most capable prlma
donnas for stock comic opera produe~
tions In the country.
Miss Mason and Mr.. Persse VIII be
seen for the first time on the Grand
opera house stage Sunday afternoon
when the company opens in the big
English musical success "The
Gelsha," which Mr.. Hartman Will give
for the first time anywhere at popular
prices. Miss Mason will sing the lead
ing prima donna role of .. Mimosa
San and Mr.. Persse will have the role
of Lieutenant Reginald Fairfax. The
opening on Sunday will inaugurate q
season of the English musical comedy
successes. to which Mr. Hartman has
just secured the stock rights through
his New York agents. In every partlc-
uar THE Geisha" will be the most
pretentious offering that Mr.. Hart
man has given this season and the
most expensive musical comedy pro
duction he has ever presented.
c. A. Quntard signed n ten-year
lease of the Walker theater yesterday
and will take possession of the play
house Monday. He will present Miss
Hortense Nielsen. sister of Alice
Nielsen, the operate star. and Miss
Nielsen's own company in dramatic
stock, opening the first week In April
Something like $4,000 will be eXpend-
ed in remodeling the Walker stage SO
as TO conform TO all the theater build
ing laws. The name of the playhouse
win be changed to 1.-The Nielsen the
ater"
one Of the first and most important
additions to be made to the theater is
a fly gallery A makeshft has been
will redecorate the lobby and will add
a tea and coffee room, an innovation
in western theaters.
Just what class Of plays will be pro-
duced has not yet been definitely de-
cided upon. Whatever they are they
will not be cheap and tawdry melo-
drama. Miss Nielsen is well known as
financially successfully exponent of
1bsen and IL is possible that several
Ibsen and Suddermann dramas viii be
given. Special literary matinees, such
as We're given some time ago under the
direction of Harry Mestayer of the
Burbank stock company. may be pre-
sented. AS outlined now. bills viii
open Sunday afternoon with other
Prices will be 25 30 and rs cents at
night and 25 and so cents at the Sat
urday and Sunday matinees Bargain
matinees" will be given Thursdays
Box seats will sell for 81.
While Mr.. Quintard says he realizes
that he will have great opposition be-
cause of the other stock companies
now running In Los Angeles, he says
he feels certain he will be successful.
Miss Nielsen is capable actress and
viii surround herself with players of
ability. All productions viii be on
high plane, and this, he says will re-
suit in success from a boX-ofiice stand
point.
force of mechanics will commence
this morning to strengthen and brace
the stage of the Los Angeles theater,
preparatory to the opening next Mon
day afternoon of Seere Nord, the
English diving beauty, whose equip
ment and tank weighs something like
fifteen tons.
Martin Beck has entered his Curtiss
aeroplane, now exhibiting on the Or
pheum circuit, in the big aviation
meet planned for Atlantic City in
June next
The famous Fadettes ladies' orches-
ira has split up and five of the solo
players are now in vaudeville as "The
Fadettes."
So great has become the work in
connection with the Orpheum press bu-
reau that Mark Luescher, who has
been in sole charge, will have an as
sistant in the person of E. Il. Pidgeon,
a well-lnown writer. Mr. Luescher
win probably go to England to initiate
the Britishers into real press work. in