Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-16
Zone Nigh"
Omaha Again Looms
Above Horizon of the
Magnates Who Direct
Stage, Worlds Affairs
ID)

AAsAS ing about tor the possible
attitude of western folks
toward the theater, after a cessation
OF interest for several seasons, and
in the process are stopping some of
their really good things at our doors.
They fail to recognize the fact,
though, thatsonly few of the poten-
tial patrons of the theater incident to
a community of over 100000 popula-
ton, and with surrounding country
that affords as many more, can be
accommodated at single perform
ance, Omaha ought to be good
for at least four performances of such
a company as that which offered
THE Boomerang at the Brandeis
last night, and time was when we
would have had it. Maybe expert
ence will convince them. One thing
is true: For several seasons the men
who dominate the affairs of the thea
ter have sedulously endeavored to
convince our folks that they can find
amusement elsewhere than at the
theater, and with considerable sue
cess. The movies" are not to blame
for the local lack of interest, which
has been engendered largely. by the
neglect of those who would most
profit by carefully providing only the
thest for the public. Omaha has not
kad the best for several years; we
Gave had much that is good, but for
he most part we have had nothing
r, what amounts to the same thing,
leap companies trading on reputa-
ons made for productions in the
st. However, this may be over
ne. Manager Burgess of the Boyd
s he has more contracts now than
had promises at this time last
f and looks ahead to some good
ctions. Manager Marquand of
cLrandeis makes the same report,
4 z5Ach hopes that the current
J. " sis to ,re-establish Omaha as a
"sksioRTpwn" worth cultivating by
the nnou. who direct the big COM
panies.
"A Daughter of the Sum-" the story
of an Hawaiian Butterfly, the latest
play dealing with the paradise of the
Pacific. comes to the Boyd today for
three nights with matinees today,
Tuesday and Wednesday. This play is
from the pen of Lorin J. Howard and
Ralph T. Kettering, and deals with
Hawaii and its people. The charm
of the islands is maintained by a
scenic equipment never before equaled
by the producers. Messrs. Rowland
and Howard. A troupe of native
Hawaiian singers play, sing and
dance during the action of the play.
The cast is competent and large
one.
For a full week, starting Sunday,
September 16, with matinee on Sum
day, Wednesday and Saturday, the
Brandeis Players will present Taylor
Holmes comedy, "His Majesty,
Bunker Bean" 1t tells the story of
a, young man who makes his way
with the thought that he is reincar-
nate one of the great men of the
world. Harry Minturn has shown in
Fixing Sister" the wide experience
that he has in dealing with roles sim
liar to the one for which he is cast in
"His Majesty, Bunker Bean" Agile
of body, mobile of expression and
dexterous in the use of his voice, Mr.
Minturn has proved himself the ideal
light comedian during the last week.
He will be surrounded by the eom-
pany of the Brandeis Players, each of
whom scored a success almost equal
to the star during the run of Fixing
Sister"
Al Jolson and the New York Win
ter Garden company in Robinson
Crusoe, Jr.," comes to the Boyd
theater Thursday, September 80.
Robinson Crusoe, Jr., was built as
a summer show in February of last
year, and after opening at New
Haven, Conn.,, went into the Winter
Garden at once, where it defed the
torrid heat until July, when the presy
ent tour was arranged, opening at
Atlantic City and including engage
ments of eight weeks at Chicago, six
at Boston, and two each at Detroit
and Pittsburgh to the largest re-
ceipts of the season. The tour was
scheduled to close in Milwaukee on
May 26, but the demand for Jolson
was so great in the west that Pa
cihc coast tour was arranged, which
will extend late into November,
when the organization, after one of
the longest tours in amusement an
mails, will return to New York to
enter upon rehearsa1s as the January
offering at the Winter Garden. As
usual, Jolson is surrounded by fast
company-Lawrence D'Orsay, Kitty
Doner, Mabel Withee. Messrs. Bow
ers, Crooker and Walters and Grace
and Berkes, Alexander Dagmar,
George Thornton, Frank Holmes,
Lee Phelps. Harry Kearley, Robert
Ryles, William Kinley, Trixie Ray
mond and many others, not forget
ting the far-famed Winter Garden
beauty brigade.
Holding a place of particular dis
tinction in the theatrical word, Julia
Arthur will be seen at the Orpheum
as the stellar event for the bill open +
ing Sunday. Her vaudeville engage
ment the patriotic spectacle, Liberty
Afame," by Roland Burke Hennessy,
will be probably the most important
dramatic event OF. the Orpheum sea-
son. 1t is said that the intense fire
she gives the stirring speeches in
the spectacle cannot help but bring an
audience to its feet. "The Prediction"
.acomedy a dramatic sketch, played and
written by Hugh Herbert, is to be a
featured act of the bill. The actor
author is to be supported by Blanche
Douglas, well known leading wom-
an, and by Guy D'Ennery, leading
man of ability. A skit combining mu-
sic, comedy and dancing, is to be pre-
sented by Walter de Leon and Mary