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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1908)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 2, I90S. Vr "73Pxf J - ! ..... . W r afi 4 f ft llf : 1 1:4 1 v1 7 -.m 7 I , vz- IT v.oulJ be tniHresting to know just why the business of the theaters has not picked up in proportion to Jhat of other lines of industry. The merchants, brokers, real estate dealers, professional men and others all report a greatly im proved tone in their transactions, but the i theaters have not yet recovered from the : financial flurry of last Fall. Perhaps ! none of them Is suffering distinct los. ' but their returns have not been up to the mark of last year or the year before for the month of January. This in the face of the fact that the attractions offered have been at. least of average merit in dicates that the public is not indulging in luxuries to the same extent as for merly. The people are still paying the penalty of the frenzied financiers' panic and must retrench. Audiences at tile local places of amusement have been de cidedly "skimpy during the past week, and consequently the managers are. not over-jubilant. The Heilig 'was dark" the latter halt" of the week fullo'iii "The Gingerbread JIan's" engagement of three nights and the Witherspoon recital on Wednesday' night. The former pleased its audiences moderately well with its catchy airs and Its sometimes witty lines. Commencing Monday night. "George Washington, Jr.," said to be one of George M. Cohan's best shows, comes to the Heilig until Wednesday, Including a matinee on that day. Following, on Thursday night and for the rest of the week will be Frank iJunlcls in his new i'St vehicle. "The Tatooed Man." This engagement includes a Saturday mati nee. A week from tonight will witness the arrival of te Wolf Hopper, supported by Marguerite Clark and a big com pany, in "Huppyland." Still la(er we are promised by the Heilig management. Graco George in "Divorcons," and late hi February will come the next big concert event, the Incomparable Faderewski. lA'C Willard, who Is well and fuvorably known here, will appear at the Marnuam in "The Country Squire." and on Tues day night, "Red Feather." with Chcridah Simpson, comes for the remainder of the week. 'Red Feather'1 is a DeKoven arid Smith opera, full of music and roiuedy. and is favorably remembered here. L.ast week'a Mariiuam attraction. "'Way Down East," gave satisfaction. The Baker players repeated their last year's success, "The Milk White Flag." and gave an entertaining performance. Although the dissensions that have been going .on in the company tor some weeks roppud out occasionally and mitigated somewhat against the performance, hap pily the disturbing factors are no longer in evidence, and when "David Haruni," with "Billy'' Gleason In the title role, opens this afternoon, tho public may con fidently look forward to something mighty fine. The week following, "Char ley's Aunt" will be the bill, and Howard Kussell will have, a chance to star. At the F.muire. "Feck's Wad. Boy" ami at the Star, "The Train Robbers" will start this afternoon for the -week with usual matinees. At the Lyric. "Jack Wells of Wyom ing" will continue this afternoon and tonight, snd tomorrow night "The Wolves of New. York" will begin a week's run. . The vaudeville bills' at the Grand and Pantages will change tomorrow after noon as usual. A. A, G, - , . , 'GEORGE VS .MsHJXGTOX, JR." Cohan's Musical Play Begins If.n a?enretit at Heilig Tomororw Night. What has generally been regarded as George M. Cohan's best "musical play, "Georgo Washington, Jr.:"- will be pre nented at the Heilig Theater. Fourteenth and Washington etreets. tomorrow. Mon day. Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a special price matinee Wednesday afternoon, by the Cohan & Harris come dians, an organization that has rapldlv attalncd prominence as the best musical comedy organization in America. No musical play presented in recent years has gained syeli popularity as ."George Washington. Jr." It enjoyed a run of -several months', remarkable for Its big receipts, at the Herald-Square Theater, in New York, and broke all 'records at the Colonial Theater in Chicago, playing the longest engagement ever played at that theater. The piece-Is another Cohanesque mix ture of tho ingredients that made "Lit tle Johnny Jones" rather uncommon of its kind. There Is a flavor of melodrama, touches of plain sentiment. pattering tuntis, general . liveliness, an outward semblance to every-day life, and Cohan humor. " The plot follows the adventure of- a Senators son. who. being disinherited, takes the name vf "George Washington. Jr." Living . up to it he. circumvents his lathers political and business riimlts, puts sundry tingllsli rivals to rout in Jovo and intrigues, and by so doing WS fern brave young Irish character, full of mu sic, pure sentiment, an abundance of Jol lity, fun and exciting situations. Mr. Daly's manager, U. D. Kcwell, has sur rounded him with an excellent company and the play la .well mounted with scen ery of which a carload is carried. This beautiful production will be tho attrac tion at the Marquam Grand next week. 'THE WOLVES OP NEW YOKK' Sensational Melodrama Monday. at Lyric The new bill at the Lyric, commencing Monday night, will be "The Wolves of New York," a realistic melodrama of metropolitan life, which has never here- tofore . been presented on the Pacific Coast. Through their Eastern agents. Manager Murphy and Director Allen were fortunate enough to secure the rights ot the piece before It was produced in tti West. It deals with present-day condi tions and represents the very latest ideus In play construction. Scenically, it rc- '1 .-ae.'ui'i&U'.'MW-a M6 it"" 0 Blii Bi i I ! Jill A . II II ; - 'v Z - Vs. - ' I jl I I I 1 Li A''.; ( J .. AT earns a statue erected by a grateful father to a dutiful son. . .' .... Messrs. Cohan & Harris have selected for this season's tour the best cast the Play ever had. It is headed by Carter De Haven, a clever young comedian, who has already won his spurs as a headliner in vaudeville, and only a seasou or so ago became a big Broadway favorite .with Weber & Fields' company. Flora Parker, described as America's most petite and daintiest Ingenue, is also prominent in the cast, as are also Willi P. Sweatnam, the famous minstrel: Jack Rafael.. John A. Boone. Edward Lester, 'Frank McIVsh, Jr.. John Kauffman. "Elsie Artz, a stately beauty, long identified with . the Cohan productions, and Lola Hoffman. The chorus is ,poken f as generous, both in numbers, looks and agility, while the ten musical numbers composed by Mr. Cohan have all scored national sons hits. Seats ar now selling at theater for the entire engagement.- r , "PAV1D HARl'M." AT, THE BAKER William GJeahou to Fortray tlje , Famous Crane Role of David. The .offering at the Baker for the week commencing today will ! Edward Noyes Westcott's "David Harura," with William Gleason In the title role, 'created - by ,W. H. Crane. It is an Ideal' part for Mr. Gleason and his- well nigh 1 classic char acter portrayals with the Baker Com pany during his engagement here are sufficient . guarantee that his David Harum will be a genuine pleasure some thing that will be always remembered by everyone fortunate enough to see , It. There are but few aa widely read books as David Haruni it is one of 'the "best sellers" today, and lias been for nearly ten years, and is read and much beloved by all elates and ages of people. Th character Is a complex one,- even though, at first sight. It might- seem simple enough. On the surface David appears to be but a plain country banker with a hard business nature always wanting the best of a bargain and a strong weakness for horse trading. He was as honest and straightforward as possible in every business deal, but in the mat;er of trad ing Jiorses well his ' P4le there was "Do unto the other feller the way he'd like to do unto you and do it fust." But un- VTCJpZ 52ecV7 course j derr.eaih this cold-hearted surface there beat a heart of genuine kindness and warm sympathy, especially for those who wt-re deserving and appreciative, and his many acts of charity and tenderness were accomplished in a - q.uiiut and hu morous manner characteristic of thia very unusual man. . . , A strong love story, runa through the play, -'tils' hero Tielng one John Lennox associated with David in his bank, and the woman he loves and whem David makes possible for John to win, the story is a familiar one to all readers, and we will not dwell on it. Robert 'Romans, one of the roost popular actors that ever played in Portland, .will be John Lennox, and Louise Kent, the Baker Company's e harming , second woman, will portray . Mary Blake. . . ''THE COUNTRY SQUIRE" TODAY Lee Willard In Limited Engagement at the Marquam. A limited engagement' is announced at the, Marquam of Lee . - Willard. the young '-American actor,. Jn ."The Country Squire." . Owing to other bookings, Mr. WUlard will appear this afternoon and tonight only. " - Among the many players who have at tained ' popularity in this city and throughout the Pacific Coast is. Mr. Lee WUlard and this following is steadily be ing increased ' each succeeding season that the actor cornea to Portland. Mr. Willard lias earned th& respect and ap preciation of. the amusement-seekers by Ills artistic performance!-, his ood sup port and his careful selection . of plays. From the time that George L. Baker first brought Mr. Willard from New -York as a co-star in "The Christian,"-on its road tour. Mr.-Wninrd has held a firm place on the. histrionic boards of the West. He has played this section repeatedly and always with satisfaction to the public. "The Country Squire"' is a new play, presented at tbe Empire all week, startins . with today's .matinee,, sug gests the tribute that to Hon. George W. Peck. ox-Governor of Wisconsin, the creator of the bad "boy, as he is now 30 widely presented in the press and upon the stage, belongs the credit .of having been the first to discover and exploit the almost limitless possi bilities of humor and genuine, health ful and happiest fun latent in his ag gressive malce-up. If the boy is father to the man, George Peck is also fath er - to. the ,boy. who since his- birth In print, now nearly a generation ago, has had so many imitators of the Bus ter Brown order, but never a rjva! in originality, or thosu graphically nat ural touches of juvenile, human : ec centricity, which huve made million' so happily hilarious, whether hidden be tween the covers of a book or given the center of a theatrical production. The owners of the 'play in. question are alone authorized by ex-Governor Peck to reproduce his story in . the form Indicated, and have done so with a liberality and faithfulness which ho highly commends. In short, the best and most entertaining story of its kind ever written has been converted Into the brightest and most laughable farce comedy ever put before the ' public. Such has been the' unanimous verdict for the past 20 years, and the miny new features introduced this season serve to fully contirm it. Matinees Wednesday and Saturday, and the children should watch for the produces a number of the bet known localities in Gotham in the most realistic manner. T'r.e scene showing tho den of thieves on the Bowery Its very effective. Each and every member of the Allen company is so fortunate as to be happily cast. Verna Felton, In the leading role, which Is a soubrette of the Katie Kramett type, will be delightful. Rupert Drumni. for variety, will uppear as villain. For rest Seabury will bo seen as a comedy darky, and Mrs. Clara Allen as a wicked old hag. Ramember the tlrst performance Monday night. Last of "Jack Wells," The final performance of "Jack Wells of Wyoming" will occur at the Lyric this afternoon and tonight. This great cow boy play nas been the sensation of the week, and everybody who has seen It speaks well of the performance and production. "THE TRAIX ROBBERS." A New- Melodrama Will Be Staged at the Star Today. Commencing this afternoon the attrao tlon for the current week at the Star Theater will be the French Stock Com pany in "The Train Robbers," a new melodrama. There will be matinee- Tues dav. Thursday and Saturday. The box- . office of the tffur opens at 10 A. M. and seats can be reserved by telephone when r" ill i j r "I v wmMMm V written especially for Mr. Willard. It is said to bo the best vehicle he has yet had for bis talents, and gives' him unexcelled opportunities to display his abilities. He has surrounded himself with a competent company. "PFXK'S BID BOY. V The Original and Hilarious Hero of the Stage at the Empire. The fact that the famous farce comedy, "Peck's Bad Boy," is to be Saturday matinee, as another of those big Teddy Bears will be given to the child under 12 who guesses naarest to the correct number of people in the audience. The Saturday afternoon contests for these Empire bears Is growing keen amongst the young folks. - '' ."Kerry Go" at Marquam. Bernard TJaly's performance of Dan O'Hara in Joseph Murphy's, great drama, "Kerry Oow," is said .to be a picturesque representation of a clear-headed, witty, desired. As the Star Theater is the pop ular place of amusement Sundays, and there is a big demand for seats. It Is ad visable for those who contemplate visit ing the Star today to secure their seats as soon as possible. "The Train F.obbera" is a melodrama which never before has seen the light of day In Portland. It was written by a well-known cramatlst. who used all the tricks of the trade to make it thrilling and interesting and that he has succeeded will be proved . to all who attend this week. The play has met with unusual favor wherever it has been produced.
