THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 2, I90S.
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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,
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'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
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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-
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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-
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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
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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.