The Sunday Oregonian., January 21, 1906, PART THREE, Page 28, Image 28

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THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN-, PORTLAND, JANUARY 81, -1906.
28
-I Marquam Theater, beginning Monday, I nounced for the week after "The-little
January 29 Church Around the Corner." at the
TAYLOR COMPANY RETAILED
Second "Week at the Empire In "The
Little Church Around the Corner."
The Taylor Company Is popular, and
Justly so. for Its members give perform
ances with a finish and surety that Im
presses the auditor at once. They have
added to their previous good name dur
ing the past week and the management
of the Empire has gone to special pains
to retain them for a second and farewell
week. Their offering will be Marlon Rus
sell's beautiful life picture. "The Little
Church Around the Corner." It calls for
the full acting force known heretofore
and the additional appearance of Little
Edyth Baymore. a diminutive and pre
cocious little miss, who has not been
seen In an important role In this city.
"The-Llttle Church Around the Corner"
deals with Agnes Miller, who loves and
Empire, starting nest Sunday matinee,
January 21. It Is & comedy-drama,
the scenes of which are laid in the
metropolis. It protrays every phase of
life In Gotham from the dwellers In
the mansions of Riverside Drive to the
denizens of the squalid slums of the
Ghetto. The entire production Is a feast
for the eye, from a scenic standpoint, and
a. vein of delightful comedy. Interspersed
with many pleasing specialties, makes a
contrast to the darker side of the picture.
Miner's "Americans."
Miner's "Americans" will open a? the
Baker for the week following "Watson's
Orientals." A two-act musical farcical
diversion entitled "A Yankee Doodle Girl."
by Barney Gerard. Is presented by the
entire company. The play abounds with
clever comedy, beautiful scenery and
elaborate costumes; the electrical effects
are said to be a revelation between the
two act?. An olio of first-class talent is
patrons by putting on nothing- but the
best acts available. Quality has been the
aim of the management and the cost baa
not been taken into consideration. One
act on the present bill, the Rollo Troupe,
cost ' the management exactly $500 for the
week's work. The other features are ot
an equally high order, and If you have
not seen the bill, take advantage ol to
day's last opportunity.
The new bill for the ensuing week will
i open tomorrow afternoon with a list of
features In every way up to the order of
amusements that have been provided by
the house from the first. Heading the
new bill Is the Weber family, possibly the
greatest family of acrobats' and ymnast
In the country if not in the world. They
accomplish all manner of difficult feats
with astounding ease. Pearl and rlooo.
have a comedy sketch act which teems
with wholesome fun. Wl$at many will
regard as the feature of the show Is the
Golden Gate quartet, four sweet-voiced
singers who sing old familiar songs as
well as the very latest. Thl3 will prove
an innovation to vaudeville patrong who
favor good vocal music Meadows and
Lassare are a team of fun-makers- with a
long record for jollying audiences Into
good humor. Arneldo, equilibrist and bal-
lancer. Is one of the cleverest In his fol
lowing. Leo White will sing a new Illus
trated ballad. "The City ot Sigh? and
Tears." and a striking it of moving pic
tures will be shown on the blograph. The-
same bill will be shown all week, with
a matinee and two night performances
dally.
ANNIE ABBOTT AT THE STAR
Georgia Magnet Heads the Xew Pro
gramme. Beginning Tomorrow.
Every Sunday the performances at th
Star are" continuous from 2:20 to 10:43. and
that will be the rule today, when thft finaL
appearance of Tony Ryder's wonderful ed
ucated monkeys will be made. These ani
mals are the acme of anlmaj intelligence
and arc as funny as possible. They are
a show In themselves.
Commencing tomorrow with the mati
nee, the Star will present a new vaude
ville programme and offer as its star at
traction that little Georgia magnet. Miss
Annie Abbott.
This strange woman appeared at the
Grand a few months ago and completely
mystified the people of Portland with her
strange performance. She Is the only one
In the world successfully attempting these
feats, and the scientists of Europe and
America have endeayored to solve the
problem. Without straining a muscle.
Miss Abbott Is able to lift several men
and halt'a dozen strong men. selected at
random from the audience, are unable to
lift her from the floor miles she Is will-
A stick of wood, a table or a chair
His stage career has had some thorns, J
lanes among the roses. Xow, cyen his
manager bears the monetary responsibili
ties. Again, I suspect, that attractive
and talented woman of vivacity and come
liness, his wife, contributes much to his
Inordinate share of the good things of
this life, and the pleasant places In which
he passes his time. ,
"Next year I Intend totnake a change
and Include some comedy in my ropei
tolre. Wc shall put forth 'Merry Wives of
Windsor.' I playing FalstafC. The priv
ilege of 'Jeffcrsonizlng It will be
taken that Is, condensing and elim
inating, so that certain scenes may be
given as one act, thus nvoldlnjr a cum
bersome framework and making th
play far better; In my opinion, adapted
to the uses of today. We shall also pro
duce 'A Fool's Revenge.' using the
version William Winter prepared for
Edwlp Booth."
James never Jails to score a point
when he encounters a passage of com
edy In any role that he portrays.
There is ample promise that this an
nounced addition of corned' roles to
his repertoire will be largely to his
ascendency and the gratification of his
audiences. He has certainly shone
brightly, as a tragedian. And he most
assuredly was born "with that ineffable
and elusive something in his spiritual
composition that acts like champagne
bubbles to stimulate our fancies. He
has humor in him of the genuine sort.
LOUIS JAMES had just come in at the
Portland Hotel with his wife (stage
, name. Miss Aphic James), from a
long walk in the strange Winter sunshine
of this city.
He received me in his apartments, and
we three had a delightful talk.
There is no one around whose words I
about . the theater and theatrical affairs
generally should have more Influence
than the talk of Louis James. And, fur
thermore, lie. Is a most engaging talker.
Mrs. James looks like a young girl, but
she says that they have been married 12
years, and I never doubt a woman's word.
Time and the flow of years rest lightly
on James' shoulders. He Is hale and
hearty, and declares that he has missed
only 10 performances in 42 years' life on
the stage and no rehearsals whatever.
"That is a pretty good record, isn't it,"
queried the man of many moons and
sterling traditions.
He had been enjoying a visit with his
boon companions. Mr. Fred V. Holman
and Mr. C. J. Reed, of this city, and they
had filled him up with enthusiasm re
garding Portland and the marvelous
growth of our city and state. James
fairly glowed with Reed-Holman hot air.
"The first time I played here was in
1892," continued the handsome man with
ruddy cheeks and curly, iron-gray hair.
"I was with Lawrence Barrett then, find
we played over a market on Washington
street. The Marquam building and the
ater were all in your mind's eye, then.
We played to a dollar top prices in those
days, and we played a week at a stretch.
Everybody went to the theater everybody
and all their relatives and their friends
and acquaintances. This was always a
good show town. Wo did "Richelieu,"
"Merchant of Venice" the standb'ys, you
know; full repertoire, changing the bill
each night. Those were busy days; yes,
happy days ha ha happy days as the
boomer in the 'Sho-Gun says.
"I've been coming here ever since, with
others, and now by myself. J. J. Cole
man is my manager, and I am relieved
of all that sort of responsibility. Booth,
Barett and a few of the really great,
made their records and wielded a broad
influence. While the stage has developed
along many and diverse lines, and a wide
infinitude of miscellaneous and more or
less trivial excrescences have grown Tip
about it, there" arc a few of us still left
who try to maintain a steadfast effort to
follow tlie legitimate drama the classics.
"Mansfield, conspicuously, is In this
limited coterie. The eminently fitting and
artistic union of Sothern and Miss Mar
vlowe is bringing to tho public a scries.
of beautifully presented exhibitions of
what is best today on the stage And;
in my own humble way, I am endeavor
ing to do what I can to remain steadfast
to the traditions and excellencies of the
standard plays that I have long played
in and love with all my heart.
tricious forms of so-calledmuslcal com
edy and nonsensical farce the Inane mon
strosities that usurp so muoh attention.
I think there Is a salutary trend gener
ally toward better things. Certainly,
Managers are compelled. In a way, to
give the public what It wants. If they
did not do so, they would become bank
rupt.
"But when you see the really good
plays, and the really good specimens of
musical comedy making the biggest hits.
and pleasing the public most, then you
can begin to believe that there are bet
ter things coming. Such Is the case Just
now. and I think I see tne nanawnung
on the wall. I remember, not so long
ago, a. beautiful little musical gem that
was put on in New York which Included
in Its cast De Wolf Hopper. Marlon Man-
ola and appropriate associates in excel
lence. Why, I think I never heard such
enthusiasm before or since. The people
simply devoured It, That Is the tendency
now. When a genuine musical piece, with
an understandable plot, carrying a string
of melody that fits and beautifies that
"Is to say, when the opera, or operetta.
opera bouffe, what you will has a rea
son for being, some continuity, and is es
sentially artistic instead of leaning to
ward the perfervidly grotesque, then the
public instantly responds and the biggest
hit is scored.
"Similarly, the dramas of finer quality
are holding their own, and every time a
worthy play is written and produced, the
sure judgment of the dep'opdable portion
of the public accepts it witn unerring pre
cislon and an unqualified success is re
corded. I note this eventful guaranty
that the conditions are becoming better
rather than worse for the Immediate
and certain recognition of real merit in
theatrical productions. And I believe It
means a good omen for the future of the
stage. The public taste, although tried
and doctored variously, is. in the main.
becoming healthy. At least, there is a
large underlying element that has Its
source in the perennial fountain of hu
man nature which can never fail to
espouse the cause of true andncritorlous
art. While I have always used the clasBlc
channels which were blazed before me
by tried men who won their spurs, and
my life has been a joy in this effort, I
am catholic enough to enjoy all else that
rings true, and my xest In It Is as strong
as it always was. Take Robert Edcson
in that lovely play of Strongheart
Nothing could be more true and moving.
To see a play like that is to undergo am
experience of pleasure and benefit.
"0
F COURSE, ray art and my work
vbale life. I de not car to criticise the
irivehiies of stage production tin: more
"T"
HE profeeelon overcrowded? Well,
will you? The interest In tho theater
seems to be growing rather than dlmln
tehlng. Its beau 11 ee. and its .charms, and
Its reported financial inducements, cou
-pled with the, desire for fame, do not
appear to act as preventive forces among
the multltueinetts crop of tae aspir
ants, both male and female. Ged Epeed
and helo them all!"
Mr. James looked, placid and coatenloe.
DEVOTEES of the effervescent and
translucent musical burlesque
have had a beatific week of 1( at the
Baker Theater. The tide of fun ana
sparkle has been running swiftly with
an undiminished pace. The opinion has
been expressed by those who know
that in all tho season there has not
been a more' sweetly demure and he-
witching assortment of tlghted dune-
ers than the chorus that bade us good
bye last night. The whole town has
appreciated that tho show this week
was one to which one copld take one's
sister, or even one s seaaie spinster
aunt, without a blush. The hilarity
and the polyglot of jokerles embodied
In the entertainment, the musical
tunefulness, the colorful atmosphere
of extravaganza, have all had their
share in making up a speedy and a
breezily humorous week.
ISS AILEEN MAY at the Emplro
making Portland take her In dead
earnest. I know few voices better
calculated than hers to touch the emo
tions. She has been trained in the
melodramatic fly-by-nlght circuits.
and she bears the traditions of the
people who raise their hands and voice
and appeal to the gallery. But I per
ceive in her that reserve and quiet
dignity of feeling that certainly can
be used to reach the favor and appre
ciation of countless thousands of the
public If rightly wielded by an intel
lect that she may have. It all depends
upon her soul and her Intellect. If
her soul Is expansive enough, and if
her intellect is far-reaching and quick
enough, she has beauty to match an
the threat to sound clarion notes, that
will help her astoundlngly to rush up
the ladder of fame. This city has be
come progressively interested in the
company at the Empire Theater which
is led by Miss May.' They are evolv
ing melodrama as she really Is Ukea
la the provinces, they are throwing In
some farce that is homely and health
ful, and they are going to stay another
week at th,e salne stand. I'll be there
half the tine, because I want to get
some real thrills and some real laughs.
O1
N the top notch of Importance, ap
parently, in circles of writers on
dramatic affairs in the East, Bernard
Shaw continues to stand. John R.
Towse. William Winter. James Huu
eker, John Corbin, Alan Dalescarcely
a man lack of the entire coterie of
celebrated commentators on the drama
fails to load his current contribu
tions with copious mention and dls
cussion of the attributes and idiosyn
crasies of this famous Celt. Mr. Ber
nard Shaw, whose essays and whoee
plays have set the modern world anre.
Many f have, seen seme of the
Sfcaw jtays. Many '"'of s understand
him a the clever et xd mt Vril
Uent looter of known time. AH of n
are lntcrcsfed in so strange and at
tractive a personality. That his works
are stimulating beyond measure, there
Is no gainsaying. Tho point In ques
tion seemsyto be to trace the Intended
motive behind his Immensely divert
ing activity, and to fix the merit of
his achievements. It Is settled that he
is sincerely insincere, and that all his
productions may safely be judged by
that standard. Now at last the most
stunning summing up of him Is made
in a partial quotation by John Corbin.
the masterful critic of the New York
Sun. Mr. Corbin says that all Shaw's
stuff, his effusions and Influence, are
all "blooming gaseous folly" n phrase
of literary genius. A. K. BALLARD.
AVATSOX'S ORIENTALS.
Famous Comedian, B. "Watson
and Burlesque Company at Baker.
W. B. Watson. the well-known and
popular comedian, presents the above
company, which Is called an extrava
ganza, being composed of three dis
tinct and varied styles of entertain
ment, skillfully combined in one.show.
It is a creation of Mr. Watson's, and,
according to his long-cherlahed con
ception, should prove a success. The
aim is to make all acts good and no
one act to dominate It. Each part and
each performer are placed fittingly ac
cording to the general plan, every
thing thus proceeding without friction,
and so compelled to proceed pr be
promptly discovered and thrown out.
Many theatrical organizations are
ruined by the domination of Individ
ual performers, with bad cases of
swelled heads, b'ut not so this; yet.
with this company the performer is
appreciated according to his full value
and treated acordlngly. A theatrical
enterprise succeeds in these days by
force' of Its merits, and not other
wise, and it is surprising how the
real nature of a show ls'now known'ln
advance.
Thus it Is that the "Orientals," the
notable entertalnnfent now on the
road In the name of W. B. Watson.
not only opens well wherever It goes,
but gathers force, in the talent sense,
as It proceeds, with each engagement.
The musical contingent that forms one
of the many variety or shows given,
is claimed to be the most perfect ot
its kind; the vaudeville acts are per
formed by some of the best-known
stars in the ' profession. The comedy
element Is in the hands of the well
known Billy Watson. Costumes, scen
ery, electrical effects are carried and
a perfect permorroance lnevery re
spect is promised.
"Watson's Orlentalsf' will open at
the Baker with todav's matinee, and
continue for the regular six nights
and three matinees closing with the
Saturday matinee performance. Tho
popular bargain matinee, will, ot
course, be given as usual on Wednesday.
MAMMOTH ENTERTAIX3IENT.
Grand Concert and Monster Vaude
ville Night at tho Marquam.
Seats "are new being sold by the In
dividual members of the Musicians Mu
tual Association, together with tho
leading stores in the city, for the grand
concert "and monster vaudeville enter
tainment to be given at the Marnuam
Grand Theater. Wednesday evening.
January 31. The proceeds of this en
tertalnment will go Into the treasury
or tblsz organisation, which is com
posed of nearly 390 professional musl-i
cians in the city. An orchestra of 50
musicians, under the direction of Ed
gar E. Coureen, will play the famous
"William Tell" overture by Roselnl;
together with several other numbers
both classic and popular. Mrs. Walter
Reed, Portland's favorite contralto and
Mrs. Rose Bleca Bauer. Portland's fa
vorite aeprano. will be heard In their
moat charming selections. T rankle
Rlcbter, the Blind boy pianist, will
add tu the evening's pleasure with one
of hlg artistic solos. Five "top-liner"
vaudeville acts will be given by the
kindly assistance of the managers of
the different vaudeville houses in the
city. This' will, no doufct. prove to b
one of the moot popular entertainments
ever given fn tltta city. Seats may aloe
W nad t the oox ofllee et the Mar
quam Gr .TiwMUer. Tmkeia 'e, fee
exchanged for xooorVed seats at toe
marries Robert Grey and spurns the af
fections of Horace Vinton, an attorney.
Later Vinton discovers that Agnes Is an
heiress to a large estate, with a liberal
proportion allotted to any offspring. Grey,
being addicted to drink. Vinton manages
to keep him constantly intoxicated and
arranges a plot that separates husband
and wife. Grey's 5-year-old child, Jeanle,
having considerable money In her right,
Vinton attempts to abduct her. Locking
the wife in a room, he rushes for the
street, but the frantic mother demolishes
a window sash and gets down the fire
escape In time to rescue her child.
With the assistance of the drunken
father, Vinton appeals to the court for
the custody of the child, stipulating that
the mother Is not the proper person to
be her custodian, and the judge, on
hearing the case, allows the child to ren
der the decision, which she does In favor
of her mother.
Through a system of bribery. Vinton
has both husband -and wife Incarcerated
In an asylum, from which . they man
age to escape, and the child brings them
together on Christmas day. under the
shadow of the "Little Church Around the
Corner."
.ri. rn .ill Via ooon In thn trvine- rale
of Agnes Grey; Charles R. Allen will Y
essay .the role of the designing attorney.
Vinton, and Will N. Webb will be the In
ebriated husband. The balance of this
excellent organization' will be seen In con
genial roles. There will be matinees to
day and Saturday at 2:15.
"THE county; chaiiian.m
Henry V?. Savage Offers Geo. Adc's
Political Comedy at Marquam.
The many people on the stage during
the performance of George Ade'a nota
ble drama "The County Chairman."
which Henry W. Savage offers at the
Marquam Grand Theater for two night
performances belnnlng Thursday,
February 8. and closing with a matinee
Saturday afternoon at 2:30, do not
merely form a background. You will
recognize the village smart clerk, the
old G. A. R. veteran, the fellows who
hang around the depot, those who al
ways line up in front of the postofflce
and never get any mall, the oldest in-,
habitant, the village milliner whe is a
rlirt, the man who keeps the general,
store, thestatlon agent, the noisy fel
low who is always talking about sub
jects that he only understands vaguely,
the tousled-hair boy who has been In
swimming, the village orphan who
waits on the table In the boarding
house and many others. Some play
leadinr oarts. some have not a word
to say, hut alt are part of the picture-
George was able to write a great piay
Uke "The County Chairman" because
he was brought up In a Uttle village of
the West himself and just knew what
he was talking about. "The County
Chairman" ran for 312 performances in
New York. 113 performances In Chl
caee. five weeks in Boston and five
weeks in Philadelphia and has been.
pronounced by the prese generally as
the greatest American play of modern
times. The cast incledea many names-
familiar to our playgoers, and. among
them being. Theodore BabcocJc. George
ThatcUer, Herman Lelb. Richard Dil
lon. Ruby Bridges. Zenalde 'Williams,
Laura Ayre ana. Florida, Kingsley.
t
COMING ATTRACTIONS.
"Hooligan, in Xow York.") ,
"Hooligan In Kew York" i a
. w
9J
rV3" x-7"
presented. Among those who appear are
Joe Goodwin, Fisher and Clark. May But
ler, and, as an added feature, the phe
nomenal and sensational melodramatic
moving picture. "The River Pirate."
GOOD ACTS AT PANTAGES.
Popalar Playhouse Provides Feature
Acts Tor the Xew Week.
Today for the last time the 'great bill
whtca Pantagee- has had pn all week wilt
e presented, to tho puotte. Crowded
hMMM nave oeen tb, order aM' week and
tho varieiM acts haye met with the great
est pooofer favor. Faniae& najf already
jrm tho confidence of local vaudeville
clings to her hands just as a nail does to
a horseshoe magnet. No one knows what
is the character of this strange, power, as
there has never been a satisfactory ex
planation given. ,
"She Roberts Four, 'popular performers
in vaudeville, will present their suoceso
ful pleylet, "The Dollroaker's Dilemma,"
during which songs and dances are Intro
duced. DeVore Brothers, equilibrists, from
Europe, are billed to do some sensational .
feats in the balancing, line, and the t-Ur j
Droles are contortionists, and lmaajFtrl
workers of a style dfKaroat irom anytar;
you.' have yet soon. MoHendry JBrocnerB
are sinaors. danoers and comedians. And
have much new material, Mr. Hartford,
will sinz a. new Illustrated ballad, and lUa