New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-17

...-fin ...................C lNN Nichols
- ........ Robert McWadc
...-.s,D Observation-Disclosures. Willis Martin
~ peStsr ........... Amelia Gsrdner
-. r-sseu ............. Janet punha-
,s ............ katherine LsSslic
By HECTOR TURNBULL.
Owen Davis undoubtedly began his
..-.sr As writer Of melodramas at
.A,nt the same stage in youth that
s,o,h Tarkington's Penrod felt his lit
..,,v ASPIRATIONS too overwhelming 10
!, ,uppressed. There is no other way
b, account for his staggering command
,f,U the factors scenes, dialogue and
s,ps,ion that are so essential in con-
..rpe,ing a real bang-up thriller such
Al, his latest effort, big Jim Garrity,'
,,sseDted last night Mr. Davis must
l,re written millions of melodramas
3, seouire the art which makes II pos
.;bls for z Broadway audience to cheer
,rd applaud John Mason Tipping over
isleonies pursued by police and shoot
;,c crooks while chloroformed and
TANNED 10 a chair. Of course il was
"a, wholly due 70 the thrills Of the
nav that the applause was so generous.
- New York Theatre was the scene
n an historic event last night. Man
,,.r Woods. John Mason and the en-
,irs company put Dollar Drama on
g-osdwsy and there can be no doubt Of
,seir intentions 10 make it stay put.
vorked more faithfully for good
asse and seldom has an audience ap-
reared so eager TO express its hearty
spprovsl And. 10 be sure, we all
,sculd be exceedingly grateful to the
,iorementioned pioneers. for they not
.sly provide a rare evening of excite
ssnt but they put the price Of ad-
,ittsnce on a war basis. Consider
arsfully the following. then. that you
rxv know somewhat of the new field
q entertainment now open TO all
c,ners who can produce the necessary
,lvsr in coins ranging from one quar-
n 10 one dollar.
Big jim" Clarity in the days Of
s!s youth was a miner, and so strong
hat men were as babes in his mighty
=
ioxr pal was found stabbed TO death,
ai The evidence pointed to jim. He
as sent TO San Quentin for twenty
Yau. Iron bars could not hold this
r.srn Samson for more than a year,
lsTTtr end he escaped. changed his
ma married and made a fortune.
Ht IS presented in the first act twenty
yeTS after his Imprisonment. bit
sGny but terribly strong. His son is
Z love with the daughter of a neigh
w. a Judge. whose brother was the
uctim Of the Cowardly murder COM
ut;ed years ago. Before the first
iei ends there is a robbery committed.
Vhlch is fastened upon the son, and
thee crooks are introduced. One Is q
DOCTOR, who forces Mrs. Big Jim TO
become a drug fiend, and the other two
are household servants.
Big jim accuses the maid servant OF
he robbery, and she straightway
gves Big Jim's record to the police.
i'm gives in, and by a fendishly clever
use manages to convince the assem-
bed police that he robbed the safe
and moment later takes a high dive
INTO the night and freedom by way of
ne balcony window. The plot, you
salher Is by this time so thick that
ony az artist like Mr.. Davis can clear
on. He does that with admirable
nil. Big jim fees to the crooked doc
OTIS ofhce, where he is chloroformed
shd bound after discovering that the
ooeIor stole the money. Then when
ne detective enters with his sons
Ishcee he comes out of his stupor just
al enough to tap & telegraph signal
= me GIRL telling Of his plight. (The
sn' Of course, learned telegraphy in
as hrst act.) In the excitement that
'ouows his discovery he manages to
ss'p z revolver and shoot the chief
SOok. After this IL is all plain sail
~ The doctor confesses that he is
s real murderer of the young lad
Aenty years ago. and expires with a
Nssily grin. The curtain then falls
,~ appropriate sOlemnity, and shuts
J" a vision Of Big Jim gamely cleared
sst and surrounded by a grateful,
sliul family. The whole affair is ire
-'aaoas and wellnigh perfect speci-
Zen Of its type.
conn Mason did right royal service
SHE man of indomitable strength and
Sgrsgt' Every art that is his was
cvsght into play to make Big Jim
's"arI'y man to remember. Even his
s0rows were eloquent. Janet Dunbar
muen for rer young lover, for il
indeed our heroine who by her
~g,Oy assimilated knowledge Of teleg-
guy cleared up the terrible mystery
saved Big Jim's life. She showed
ger playing keen conception of
was demanded Of her. Katherine
zane was the most appealing figure
we playa maid servant. with ?
~ hearted crook for a lover. She
~ really intelligent performance
" nor carefully modulated voice
Id. sure, quiet manner she made her
IN roe stand out far beyond some OF
~, more important parts. John FlooI
,,,,s gay dog while his villany was
aug we'll, and a horrible spectacle
10 hlngs turned against him, which
.Wu'se' was quite as il should be.
Ha Iardner had to live a strenuous
-, mt night, but, as many playgoers
q seen her IN quietor circumstances,
~ y. sshown .hrt she behaved very well
d !. u considering. The remainder OF
l ~. VsN did equally well with their
ana joined with their comrades
q s,e supreme effort 10 make chat
II NJ. Niked of fancy a fact. The re-
q An. we're suecC ssful beyond q doubt.
q drama is now on Broadway.
~