Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-26
New Season
Omaha Managers Are
Hopeful of Many Big
Shows for the Winter

Auesna3 GI oNE TIC WCCh 10 ONSl
I'D the new theatrical season
nl for Omaha will be in full
- swing, and with brighter
F3 promise than for several
S season. Producing man.
ayers have discounted war
conditions, and announce plans that
include some really important tours,
more than have been undertaken for
several seasons. Just how much Of
their program will include Omaha is
yet to be determined, for we have
learned by experience more or less
disappointing that promises made in
August are not always fully realized.
Yet the local managers look ahead
with considerable confidence to the
coming months as holding for them
something really worth while. Most
important of immediate announce
ment is that the Brandeis will be
under local control, and will house
a stock company of merit. Messrs.
Ledoux and Marquand are already
popular as the managers of the En-
press, where they have shown them
selves to be enterprising and liberal
in planning for their patrons, and en-
tering the broader field they have
the support Of their own convictions
that they can make the beautiful
theater they have taken over as popu-
lar as their other venture has been.
The company they will install has
made its mark already, and under
capable direction and with attractive
plays should prove an addition to the
amusement list.
Manager Burgess announces for the
Boyd the same policy that prevailed
last season, but with improvements.
Promoters of the international circuit
hive made better preparations for their
campaign, and promise attractions
worthy the Importance of cities in
which they will operate. The Messrs.
Shubert and their associates, have in
view number of tours Tor companies
they control, and Omaha is on the
list for their best. These will all be
seen at the Boyd during the winter,
where the second half of the week is
kept open for the higher grade Of
shows. In this respect it is an
nounced that the first of these will
be Al Jolson and his merry crew on
their way back from the Pacific coast,
appearing here early in September
Other announcements of like nature
are soon to be made.
The Orpheum begins its season this
afternoon, pledged to a continuance
of the Martin Beck brand of vaude-
vile, which has gained such preced-
ence for the Orpheum circuit over
its rivals. The Gayety has had a
week of old-time business, the start
at least suggesting that whatever else
the war has done, it hasn't diminished
the public's liking for pretty girls and
comedy that is not too subtle. OF
course, the Empress will grind along
with its popular vaudeville offerings
intermingled with good pictures, and
the houses expect to keep right on
offering such inducements as have
given them immense patronage all
summer. On the surface it looks as
if the opportunity to save on light
and fuel by not staying at home in
the evening would be good TOR
Omahans this winter.
.
In addition to the engagement Of
Harry L. Minturn, the popular Mil
waukee leading man, and Miss Doro-
thy Shoemaker. to be leading woman
for the Brandeis Stock company, the
management also announces the en-
gagement of Mis-; Marjory Davis, late
of the Chicago Little theater and one
of the youngest stars of the Oliver
Morosco organization in Los An
geles. She was discovered by Oliver
Moroseo in Chicago, who gave first
chance to the wistful little girl and
took her from a Chicago department
store to his company or the western
coast.
Romance" Edward Sheldon's sue
cessful play, presented for two years
in New York City and London, never
presented on the road and never
shown in Omaha, will be the opening
bill. The play calls for striking scenic
effects and the large body Of painters
and scenic artists has been working
all the last week IN reproducing in all
details the production of the play in
New York and London. The COM