THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAND, 3iAY 14, 1916.
f l , W , "w i I
lillilliiilite ) x
li cif 4 - : ---r --
I v x. i-s A ,V s
f " -u, . . f , - - : T?T " i 4 ' " 4 ' .
the telling Mr. Jones finds miny oppor-
tuniiiei to poxa aiy run at JUs friends,
the sir actor-managers of London, and
at the silly little malnee girls who
adore them and fill their theaters. As
sisting Sir. Skinner In the presentation
of the comedy are Janet Dunbar, Enid
Bennett. Luella Smith, waiter GTbbs.
Walter P. Scott, John Rogers, Harry
Eodd, Henry Crocker and Ernest A.
Elton. The tones are laid In and near
London.
REV LIS IS PAX T AGES FEATURE
Big Vaudeville Act Is Here After
Triumph In East.
Such stars as Fritzl Scheff. the Dolly
Sisters. Jose Collins, Gene and Willie
Howard. Oscar Hammerstein and other
stage and theatrical celebrities appear!
In "The Junior Revue of 1916" by the
clever Impersonations of clever players
Including; Frank Manning, Flo Ringler.
Helen and Ola Hudson, the Courtney
Sisters and others.
"The Junior Revue" is the most pre
tentious musical production ever pre
sented in vaudeville. It will bo fea
tured at Pantagres for the week com
mencing1 with the matinee tomorrow.
Clever satires . and burlesques on the
reigning topics and the people of the
day find happy exposition. The many
musical numbers have been delightfully
arranged. The Wood Enterprises, Inc.,
Is responsible for the rich staging of
the act and the wonderful costumes.
A remarkable feature of the produc
tion, and one that wins for it the name.
lis the fact that not one of the principals
or the chorus girls are more than 20
years of age. The plot revolves around
dress rehearsal on Broadway, with
Oscar Hammerstein in charge.
This will be the first time this great
production has been seen In Portland.
although It has met with unlimited
success In the East for the past season.
Second only to "The Junior Revue"
Is the Great Howard, the wonderful
Scottish ventriloquist, who can throw
-his voice to any part of the auditorium.
He is the only ventriloquist in the
world who has this unique power so
remarkably developed, and his perform
anco is a real sensation. He is one of
the first of the Continental stars who
have been signed by Alexander Pan-
tages to appear exclusively on his cir
cuit.
Clayton and Lennle are the delightful
entertainers who are so favorably
known as the Happy Chappie and the
English Johnnie. Their act is a riot
of fun.
Claire and Atwood are acrobatic
comiques whose chair tumbling is star
tllng. Another act that will provide
delightful entertainment will be that
offered by the Gordon brothers, who are
exceptional dancers and singers.
The seventh episode of the sensa
tional Pathe serial, "The Iron Claw.'
brings the interest in this remarkable
film to one of the striking climaxes.
"Solomon's Bargain," with Hyraan
Adler,. will be seen for the final times
at the continuous performance com
mencing at 2:30 today, and ending at
11 o'clock. A programme of unequaled
vaudeville will be seen in conjunction
with this striking act.
tunity to see the most notable aggre
gation of male stars that has ever ap
peared together In a single perform
ance. In spite of the Vrtlstle reputation of
the members, of the Friars Frolic, some
of them have been appearing In public
for a comparatively short time. It Is
Interesting to note from what differ
ent walks of life some of them were
recruited.
Irving Berlin, the well known com
poser of "Watch Tour Step" and "Stop,
Look and Listen," was at one time a
waiter In an East Side restaurant, from
which he graduated as a cabaret sin
ger. In this capacity he commenced to
write his own eongs and soon rose to
fame as a composer of rag-time melo
dies. His "Alexander's Ragtime Band"
is recognized as an American ragtime
classic
The Jovial George 8, Dougherty was
at one time Second Deputy Police Com
missioner In New York. Mr. Dough
erty Is recognized as one of America's
cleverest detectives.. In which profes
sion he Is still engaged, despite his
theatrical activities. The detective ap
peared as the star actor In a five-reel
film entitled "The Line-Up."
Mr. Dougherty goes to see himself
act on the screen whenever an oppor
tunity presents Itself. Once when
asked his reason for doing so, he sad:
"I like to see myself act: It hands me
a laugh every time; I think I look
funny. It la also very Interesting to
hear people around you roast you as
they are watching the picture. .
Julius Tannen. the famous monologtst
and star of "Potash and Perlrautter,"
was once a stenographer with Armour
& Co.
If Frank Tlnney, the well-known
blackface mirth provoker, had stuck
to his studies of former days he would
now have been a Catholic priest. In
stead of one of America's foremost
comedians.
Sam Hanrls, a member of - the theat
rical producing firm of Cohan & Harris.
was at one time a prize-fight promoter.
Terry McGovern, when he was In the
fighting game, belonged to Mr. Harris'
stable.
Charles Ross, known throughout the
country as a musical comedy star, was
once upon a time a Jockey.
Will Rogers, who has appeared In
vaudeville from coast to coast In' his
lasso and monologue act, was a cowboy
before he entered the theatrical field
liert Levy, the cartoonist, whose
clever work has delighted vaudeville
audiences throughout the country, was
originally a newspaper illustrator and
cartoonist.
- r :
NEW COM PANT TO BE AT ITRIC
Musical Comedy to Be Offered With
New Features.
The new bill at the Lyric Theater
win introduce an entirely new com
pany to the many patrons. The Al
hambra Musical Comedy Company will
open their engagement with that swift
running farce, "The Girl From Lara
mie," a comedy In two acta
The new company has a large cast
of well known performers and an ex
cellent selection of chorus girls. The
Vlf I I f h"- VJM- m rf If 'I I i r
I- f?'- -0 ' r --- ' A" - - v " 1
' ' - . " ' - ' : V I J
GIRLS RULE BILL AT STRAND
Esther Sundqulst Is Appearing on
IS'o-Man Programme.
Tile girls will have things all their
own way with the new bill opening at
the Strand today. There's not a man
on the programme, but this doesn't
mean that the show will lack variety,
for the girls and there's a lot of them
sing and play various Instruments,
do burnt-cork comedy, a contortionist
act and play the violin. -
The violinist, by the way. is Port
land's own Esther Sundqulst. who has
been delighting the audiences all
around the Pacific Photovllle circuit,
of which the (strand Is the parent
house.
But the headline feature will be the
Colonial Minstrel Maids, nine of them,
with bright, new costumes, their own
up-to-date songs, and jokes that are
KuaranteeJ to be the pick of the new
Soring crop.
Two of the maids' principal numbers
are the Colonial Trio, singers, and the
Joyous, dainty dancers. Grey and Del
mar. Another star number Is the Five Rose
Maids, whose artistry as Instrumental
ists and singers has been making theirs
one of the encore turns of the bill.
Cecil Jefferson is a real minstrel
woman, wearing the burnt cork with
marked success. She is one of the few
women who can compete with the male
blackface comedians.
Marie Genaro Is a shapely contor
tionist.
Supplementinc the all-girl vaudeville
will be a Blue Bird feature film show
ing the adventures of a girl. "Elusive
Isabel.' in the role of a Government
spy.
There will also be a one-reel comedy
and the Universal pictures of notable
news events.
!-
i
t.-;
t
OTIS SKINNER IS NOT IN
RASCAL ROLE OFF STAGE
Actor, Who la Coming to Heilif and Who Has Starred in Villainous Char
acters, Is Declared Man of Admirable Traits.
' : "":'"""-:'-r:' , 1--
- ; -:.J. f t ' f ..' - .- ,
P'vftg'JSMsi : 4 ' yj' 'y, '-s.v ".
f 1 , ? . v -'TV :
r
an 5 .
Elsie Meere, Daaeer
Tkeater.
at Lyric
director, Samuel James, has any nuro
ber of the very best comedies to pre
sent from week to week and wilt fur
nish clean and wholesome fun. Spe
cial stage settings of an elaborate
character seldom seen ra stock and
special electrical effects nd attention
to detail in production greatly enhance
the quality of the opening comedy.
The costuming proves an added fea
ture to this bill.
The cast of the company includes
rtflHE public generally knows
I actor only as be appears on the
stage. He is accustomed to play
a certain kind of parts and the pubilo
gets an idea that he is really that sort
of man. In other, words, it falls to
distinguish between the character and
the actor.
Now, there Is Otis Skinner, who
comes to the Hetllg soon in "Cock o' the
Walk." Mr. Skinner delights In playing
and has had his greatest success in
impersonating rascals, scamps, scala
wagscall them what you will char
acters with an abnormal twist In their
morals. The part be made his biggest
hit in Madjl. the beggar. In "Kismet"
was of that category. Hadji was a
cunning, vengeful vagabond, pictur
esque in his rags and his ctrt. with
a streak of kindness in him that re
deemed him and made him a lovable
scoundrel.
There, too, was Colonel Philippe Bri
3au. the cruel, swaggering hero of "lhe
Honor of the Family" charming, but a
cutthroat. And there was the Har
vester, an unprincipled, unmoral se
ducer. And In "Cock o' the Walk" Mr.
Skinner plays still another kind of
scalawag an Irresponsible, bibulous
Bohemian thespian.
But, off the stage, of course, Mr.
Skinner isn't a bit like anv of these
characters that he has vlvi.led so de
lightfully. A friend, mho knows him
well, says:
Bklnner always stnkt-s m mm mlnentlT
content wltn hia prufrMn. tils iuccmi anil
with life in feni'Tal. lr.li 1 mistake him,
b infinitely prefers an afternoon of hard
rehearsal at the th-ir. Hh a brief r--plta
aftrwnrrl at his favorno club, to an?
"function" under heaven. As a matter of
fact. 1 have never knnun a man with less
"slue," lth less of the pardonable vanity
cf a stags Idol. A well-knit, well-built
man. with a strlUtnjr profile and ptnetraltnc
eyes a man obviously artistic and highly
Impressionable. C(!s sklnn,T belongs to the
best type of his rlawi a arm-hearted gan.
tleman, an admlratlo artvir aud a writer of
literary irrare and distinction.
such well known comedy performers as
Chole Bell. Barbara Holland. Francis
Williamson, Donna Boyd, Jack Ownby
and Val Howland. To add to the many
popular song hit numbers, the company
carries its own quartet, all well-trained
singers who have Just come off an
Eastern circuit. The chorus is a pretty
group of well-voiced and trained dan
cing girls, under the direction of Miss
Elsie Moors, one of the best directors
of girl acta In the profession. With
the opening bill she has taught the
girls many steps. The wardrobe Is ex
cellent. The usual Friday chorus girls' con-
Con-lu1e1 ,n !;
BY LEONE CASS BAER.
OTIS SKINNER'S engagement In
"Cock o' the Walk" is being
looked forward to eargerly by
local theater patrons. He comes one
week from tomorrow right for a three
night engagement and a Wednesday
matinee. Until his arrival the Heilig
'will continue to house the spectacular
and. thrilling war picture, "The Birth
of a Nation."
Pantages continues to be the only
house devoted solely to vaudeville. The
Strand and the Hippodrome are giving
chows made up of vaudeville, five acts
at the Strand and six at the Hippo
drome, with a big five-reel feature pic
ture and a comedy film at each place.
The Lyric opens with a new company
today in The Alhambra Musical Comedy
Company, and will give musical plays
throughout the Summer season. So it
looks as if Portland will be looked out
for quite elaborately insofar as minor
entertainment goes this Summer sea
son. To revert to Otis Skinner's engage
ment it may be said that this star Is
recognlaed as one of the greatest of
American players. His play- is a com
edy by Henry Arthur Jones, in his
most humorous and witty vein, and
the supporting company is excellent.
The Enerlish author who- wrote "Cock
o' the Walk" especially for Mr. Skin
ner and reviewers say that he has
never had a better role than that of
Anthony Bellchamber. the name he as
sumes In this comedy.
Bellchamber represents the old
school of serious players. He is all
actor, the stage his world, and acting
ms life. "Stony broke." he asks for i
part and refuses a thousand pounds in
stead. He admits he drinks how could
he do otherwise when even the great
Xean oould play Shakespeare only on
brandy and claret? He boasts he
never missed a cue. His self-confidence
is - monumental and his wit Is, ever
ready. His ambition Is to show tendon
how Othello really ought to be played.
and in this comedy he gets the oppor
tunity. - -
Although Mr. Skinner has played
Hadji the beggar In "Kismet," and
Colonel Philippe Bridau in "The Honor
of the Family, he has made none of
his scamps more lovable, than Anthony
Bellchamber.
In "The Cock o' the Walk" the sit
uations are humorous, the dialogue
witty and the satire makes people
laugh, not wince. Fun is aimed at
England s knighted actor-managers
who lord -it on the London stage, and
whom the "matinee girls" adore.
The culminating event of the comedy
is a performance of "Othello" given to
celebrate the Shakespeare tercente
nary. This makes the production
timely, and there is an apostrphe to
Shakespeare that possesses mucif merit.
The.- company Includes Janet Dunbar,
Enid Bennett,. Luella Smith, Walter
Gibbs, Walter F. Scott, John Rogers,
Harry Dodd. Henry Crocker and Ernest
A. Elton. Janet Dunbar will be re
membered as David Warfield's lead
ing woman.
When Otis Skinner chose this comedy,
"Cock o' the Walk," he told an inter
viewer: "I decided to do the Jones piece pos
sibly because It offered me the visual
ization of a Jovial rogue. I love the
scamps and some day I meean to pre
sent a reportory embracing them all.
The Harvester, who reeked with li
morality and irresponsibility: Hadji.
whose cruel and cunning were only
outstripped by his spasms of gentle
ness and kindness; Colonel Philippe
Bridau. swashbuckler and soldier- of
fortune I shall bring every scalawag
of them together some fine year, and
when I do Tony Bellchamber, the
cock o' the walk, will be on the list,
too, for he is a rogue after my own
heart.
Following Mr. Skinner's engagement
comes May Robson, the delightful
comedian. In "The Making Over of Mr a.
MotC". Her stay is lor May 25, 26 and
2T, with a matinee on Saturday the
27th.
Then arrives "The Passing Show" for
six nights beginning Monday, May 29.
There will be matinees on Wednes
day,- Friday and Saturday.
OTIS 6KINXEB IS COMING HERE
Star
at
Vill - Open Engagement
- Hellig on May 22.
Otis Skhnner will hold the boards at
the Hellig Theater, Broadway at Tay
lor. t.iree nights beginning Monday,
May 22, with a special matinee Wednesday.
Mr. Skinner Is one of America s most
distinguished actors and a prime fa
vorite wherever he has played. His
play this season Is ' Cock o the Walk,"
a satirical comedy written expressly
for hinr by Henry Arthur Jones, the
English dramatist. Mr. Jones under
took to fit Mr. Skinner with a role and
he succeeded admirably. All the crit
ics who have seen the play are agreed
on that point.
. Anthony Bellchamber that is the
name of the character the star Imper
sonatesis an actor of the "old school."
l devotee of Shakespeare "The Im
mortal One," he calls him whose
works he knows by heart: a Bohemian,
bibulous and irresponsible, as san
guine as Micawber, with a sense of hu
mor and a ready wit, always charming
and lovable, Mr. Skinner himself de
clares that Tony Is the most delightful
of all the scamps he has played and de
serves a place on the line in the gal
lery that already contains such won
derful portraits as that of Hadji, the
beggar (In "Kismet") and of Colonel
Philippe Bridau (in "The Honor of the
Family").
The play tells the story of how Tony
gets the chance he longs for to play
"Othello" at the Shakespeare tercen
tenary in London slid In the course of
NEW HIPPODROME BILL GOOD
Management Promises First Week
Standard Will Continue.
Hippodrome amusement has caught
on big in Portland and. after the suc
cessful opening of last week, another
big show is promised for the three
days opening at 1 o'clock this after
noon. The same standard set , when the
Hippodrome opened last Wednesday
will be maintained at this popular
playhouse, the management promises.
and the bill starting this afternoon Is
f the same quality as that with
which the patrons of the past week are
familiar.
Ye Old Time Song Revue, with five
clever people, presents a delightful act.
"Melodies of Long Ago." This number
invariably wins favor. The act -is
beautifully staged, and the songs linger
In memory. The tunes recall other
days to all who hear them.
Al Lawrence Is a unique monologlst.
He is billed as "The Face You Won't
Forget-" His clever comedy and amus
ing antics are highly diverting.
Charles Rellly and his colleens have
perhaps the roost pretentious act on
the bill. The company of six people
present "Irish Hearts." and the offer
ing rings with Irish melodies and
brings memories of the old sod to all.
Grlndell and Esther, a man and a
girl, have ar nifty line of comedy sing
ing and dancing, making the act a
favorite that pleases the audiences.
The Akal troupe of Japanese have a
different offering from the usual Japa
nese act. and balancing is not a fea
ture. These wonderful Japanese do
magic, songs and music in a way that
all applaud.
Willie Brothers have an equilibristlc
number In which they are masters.
Their feats are new.
The first of the sensational series
from the Pathe studios, "Who's Guilty?
will be shown Sunday for three days.
This Is a big feature.
Besides there will be a roaring com
edy reel and a beautiful Pathe scenic
educational film.
Hippodrome shows start daily at 1
P. M. and run continuously until 11 at
night. Patrons may come any ttme and
leave when they feel like It. The new
Hippodrome is a distinctively family
playhouse, and women and children are
always welcome and always safe. It is
the established policy of the manage
ment never to permit anything that will
be objectionable in the slightest re
spect.
MAY ROBSON, STAR OF
MANY PLAYS, COMING
Famous Character Actress Does Kot Object to Spoiling Beauty by Appear
ing in Eccentric Roles New Play Is at Heilig.
OOl
FRIARS' FROLIC DCE IX MAT
From Humble Beginnings Stars Rise
to Topnotchers In Their Line,
When the All-Star Friars' Frolic
L-
-N private life. May Robson. who
comes to the Hellig Theater soon in
- her comedy. "The Making Over of
gives Its performance the latter part I Mrs. Matt." is Mrs. Brown, her husband
of May, the public will have an oppor- J being Dr. Augustus H. Brown, a physi
cian of eminence In. New Tork City,
where they have a magnificent and oe
cidedlv artistic home.
Miss Robson was born In Australia.
When a young girl, she was sent to
Europe and received her education in
Brussels and Paris. When her studies
were completed, she first made china,
painting her vocation, coming to Amer
ica with the ambition to establish her
self as an artist, but after her arrival,
an opportunity to adopt the stage as a
profession presented itself.
Miss Robson made her first appear
ance before the footlights as "Tilly"'
in "The Hoop of Gold." produced at the
Madison Square Theater, New York,
She next went to the Lyceum Theater,
under the management of Daniel F ro h -
man. and finally with Charles Froh
man, under whose management she ap
peared in all the Frohman successes.
Miss Robson was the comedienne of the
Empire Stock Company, and was cast
or all the feminine eccentric parts.
Possibly no other actress has been
as willing to conceal a pleasing per
sonality with grotesque wigs, ugly
facial make-up and gowns that do not
fit the actress, however they may fit
the part that sne assumes. But these
sacrifices have had their advantages,
as today Miss Robson Is considered by
muny as the premier character actress
of America.
Some of her most successful roles.
taken from a list of more than ISO that
she has played, have been: Miss Ash-
ford, in the "Private Secretary": Emma,
In "Nerves": Vereranda, In "Foregone
Conclusions," in which play she ap
peared with Palvinl: Kitty, In "Glori-
anna": Mrs. Fretwetl, in "Sowing the
Wind"; Barbara Fldpetty, in the bur-
esque of "Barbara Freitchie." put on
Weber and Fields; Mrs. Bangs. In
'The Messenger Boy": Mrw. Chapstone,
In "Jim, the .Penman": Madam Pora-
Pom. in "Make Way for the Ladies."
and Aunt Mary, in "The Rejuvenation
of Aunt Mary"; her last and best crea
tion being Mrs. Matt, in "The Making
Over of Mrs. Matt," which she will pre
sent at the Heilig Theater.
BIG SHOW PLAYS TO COURT
Trial of Copyright Suit Requires
Company to Act Before Bar.
Jumping all the way from Peoria,
111., to New York City to give a single
performance before one judge and three
lawyers was the experience of "The
Bird of Paradise" company, at the Hud
son Theater. April 20.
The judge was Justice Mayer, of the
United States District Court, and the
lawyers represented a well-known
moving picture concern, who. Richard
Walton Tully. author of the story of
The Bird of Paradise." and Oliver Mo-
rosco. producer, claim etole the story
of "The Bird of Paradise" bodily, botti
In scenes, action, characters, etc.
The judge has already seen the mo
tion picture and wanted an opportunity
of witnessing the performance of the
play to determine whether the author
and producer were right. The eyes of
the theatrical managers, producers and
authors throughout the United States
are eagerly watching the results of
this performance.
This is a rather unusual proceeding,
ae it Is the first time in the history of
the theatrical business that a company
has ever done this. Mr. Tully. author
of the play, arrived from Honolulu la
San Francisco Sunday and went oil
expressly to attend this one perform
ance and other matters pertaining to
the suit.
It was rather an expensive proceed
ing, as the railroading, cost of leailnsj
the theater and dates canceled by the
company, cost the management in te
neighborhood of $2000. Following this
performance the company resumed Its
tour again, opening in Newark,