The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-07


 It is not generally known that many of the modern and successful American playwrights, who were newspaper men before they dropped that job to become writers of plays, took course on the stage to learn the workings of 1t and the practical technique of the region be- hind the scenes Wincheu Smith. author of '"rhe Fortune Hunter" famliarly known as Billy is another brilliant writer from the land of the wooden nut meg. that used to work on the Hartford Courant
 From his desk on the courant Smith wandered to Manhattan island to become an actor. but changed his vocation and became q No. stage manager. What has happened to him since Cohan & Har- ris grew more than opulent since the success of *Fhe Fortune Hunter is too recent to mention. but it is said that Smith now has a secretary to keep tab on his royalty checks,
 Last season tho Aborn English Grand Opera company confined it's efforts to the older and more familiar repertoire, gen eraly called the popular classics" This season. however they have decided to vary their routine by including several O. the later works. which have met with sensational success within the last few | this season are Puceins beautiful Japan- ese opera, Madame Butterfly the li- , bretto of which is constructed on the drama by David Belasco and John Luther Long. Massanet's most famous opera, "Thais,' founded on Anatole Frances s novel of the same name, in which Mary Garden made her greatest hit with Ham mersteins Manhattan company and or fenhachs greatest opera eomique. "The Tales of Hoffmann' which was another | of Hammerstein's most brilliant suc- oesses. or the more familiar repertoire | they are presenting Verdi's I'll Trova- tore Donizetti's Lucia di Lammer- moor" and Flotow's Martha
 Earl Mitchell. who is playing the part of Jimmy Jincks in the Margaret Mayo | City the past summer suggested to Harry | N. Atwood the young aviator who was 1 giving exhibitions there that he would like an invitation to go aloft on short | aerial trip. The aviator carefully survey ed Mtehells 25o pounds of bulk and coldly replied My dear sir. what you require is derrick, not an aeroplane.'
 
 "The Spring Maid" came into the hands of the theatrical firm of Werba and Luescher from Andreas Dippel, formerly of the Metropolitan Grand opera house of New York. 1t was he who originally secured the American rights of the work intending a production of il at the Met ropoltan Grand opera house as the first of the proposed offerings of opera bouffe, but after MT, Dippel transferred his | operatic activities to Chicago. he trans ferred his rights to Werba and Luescher for whom 1t seems likely to make both fame and fortune.
 l David Montgomery, of Montgomery and Stone is a native of St Joseph, Mo, l St Joe as he calls it. This means that you have 10 show him. When the team Of Montgomery and stone went to Lon | don with Edna May in "The Girl From l Up There" Montgomery and Stone pes came almost as well known in the Eng fish capital as in this country
 
 Frederick Thompson Polly of the Cir cus'' will be an early attraction at the | Jefferson It will be presented here with | Miss Ida st. Leon in the titular role, supported by all the important members of the original Polly of the Circus com pany. The third act reproduction of q could hardly be made more realistic than H has always been, will have added fea- 1 lures to lend to it's attraetiveness.
 
 Coming to the Bijou in a few weeks for an engagement is Emma Bunting l in a new play called Tess. of the Snow 2 storm" Miss Bunting is an actress of rare ability, who, for the past several seasons, has played number of per manent stock engagements where she has achieved q wonderful success. Last season Miss Bunting was held over for l solid year at the Lyric theatre in ] Atlanta and the press of tbat city de- | clared that this dainty actYess could return at any time and be accorded q l reception that any star might well bq 1 proud of Miss Bunting this season has surrounded herself with d splendid cast of metropolitan players and in her present play, which is said 10 be well suited to this actress capabilities and emotional powers she has superbly mounted the offering
 1 Manager Semon anticipates great weeks business with this star and play. | The forthcoming engagement at the Bijou of inimitable George Sidney in an all new musical play relating the l further adventures of Busy Izzy' is 1 lattracfing q great deal Of interest and as is the rule when that comedian comes to Birmingham. complete sell out only satisfies the management. It is said of the production this year to far eclipse all previous offerings of this famous Hebrew comedian, and that he has with him chorus of stunning stage beauties.
 For a number of years the principal magazines and metropolitan news papers have told of the many successes of the celebrated comedian. Dave Lewis. This remarlSable funny man has held tine boards longer at d time In Chicago