The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, May 21, 1916, SECTION THREE, Image 41

The Sunday Oregonian., May 21, 1916, SECTION THREE, Page 9, Image 41

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1916)

Prev Page of 80 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (4.7 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 80 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page TextTTTE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX. PORTXAiaJ , BIAT 21, 1910. 9 HOWARD BOYS AND CLEVER YOUNG DANCER IN "PASSING SHOW OF 1915" Hebrew Oomedians, Who Fill In Own Lines From Personal Study of Character Parts, Will Appear Here Miss Marilynn Miller, Only 17, Is Clever Follower of Terpsichore and Is Adept at Impersonations. i w j us -I . V A t In - I- ' a AA. V . I ,r ' i A;AA A $ I A - ' SV A."' -''ti ' f " 5 i ' v . , -1111 HI I s s j ' Mil 1111 ''. s - till 1111 - "- L I 111 l it X fK t H I 111 " v V:J ' llll 1 I WHEN the curtain' rises on the "Passing: Show of 1915" Portland audiences, like all others, will most likely take Instant fancy to three popular stars that stand out distinctly in the large cast. For the Howard brothers and little Miss Marilynn Mil ler, the 17-year-old dancer, have" been "winning- honors and scattering their popularity from the East to the West. It is impossible to get separate in terviews with Willie or Eugene How ard, playing in "The Passing Show of 1915." According to their own state ment, they are "one." ''hey are broth ers, of course, but brotherly love has been developed until it is impossible to converse with .Gene without first getting Willie into the party; and if ..Willie is to be interviewed, you must first look up Gene. Eugene and William evkowitz that Is their correct name ctome from the East Side of New York City. Their father was Rabbi Levkowitz, well known in synagogue circles there. They learned to sing in their father's choir, nd when Gene grew big and handsome enough he ran away and 'joined the chorus of "The Strollers." In this same chorus were several who" have since become famous Isabel D'Armand, Elsie Ferguson, Bessie Wynn and Mabel Bar rison. While he was still In grammar school Willie found a job as a song booster at Proctor's One Hundred and Twenty-fifth-Street Theater, working every afternoon and evening after school. IT.... -. fi' 1 1 i a i j i a 1 1 nin nuci vnauLeu lo near me boy sing, and he was engaged to sing to Anna Held from the gallery a phase of theatricals that has long since disappeared. The song was "Little Mol lie Shannon." and it was so successful that Willie was signed up for Wash ington the next week. It was the third night of the Wash ington stand thrt Willie's voice went floating up to the airy heavens; the clear, pure notes never responded again, and the boy was shipped igno miniously back to the East Side. "But later we went into vaudeville as a team, and it was there that we made our greatest success. But we like our Winter Gardening much bet ter than vaudevilling. Our first act was called 'The Messenger Boy's Trail,' and Willie played a tough little Hebrew messenger, said to be the first char acterization of a young Jew on the stage. Up to this time the theatrical Jew was partial to heavy, black beards, and Willie Is tremendously proud that he was the first to Introduce the Tid disher youth." From Ievkowitz to Howard la a long step. It came about In this man- dainty, clever Miss Marilynn Miller, and ner: When Eugene obtained his first so great her popularity, that after she engagement in a chorus on Broadway is through with the 'Massing Show" the manager abked his name for the programme personnel. "Levkowitz," re plied Gene. "Levkowitz?" repeated the manager. "NSx, sonny. Your name's Howard; Eu gene Howard, isn't it?" Gene, of course, agreed, and Howard it was. Willie took the name because his brother had. Whenever a Winter Garden musical show is produced, the author writes It all out excepting the Howards' lines. "i'en minutes here for the Howards," he says in the manuscript, or "Here the Howard specialty," and the rest Is left to them. Their act is distinctively their own. From town to town they work in new material or change the old. "Improvement is our individual slo gan," said Willie. "We read a lot and are always putting things down in our notebook material for years to come. Our specialty, of course, is character study, and we do a lot of real work getting ready for it. We both know how to read people pretty well, and we always have our eyes open.." Dancer to Be Featured in Comedy. There is a Mrs. Eugene Howard, who travels with her husband. She is an English girl, once one of the "Four Dainty Dancers," a vaudeville act. Wil lie is not marrried. So great has been the success of she will be featured in a new comedy that the Shuberts have commissioned a well-known playwright to prepare for her. In this her dancing and mimicry will be given even more opportunity than In her present attractive role, Ever since the announcement was made the tiny comedienne has been the object of multi-fold congratulations from her fellow players and "idol-worshipers.' Miss Miller's career has been a short butr varied one. She made her debut at the age of 12 in a vaudeville act with her parents. Little Miss Miller con tributed a little fancy dance that won Instant recognition. . Impersonation la Developed. At the age of Uhe had established herself as an accomplished dancer. Whenever the Millers appeared on vaudeville bill little Marilynn seemed to find a certain amount of delight in imitating the other players on the bill Her marvelous ability to impersonate developed her into a clever mimic, as she demonstrated in a previous Winter Garden production She was discovered by Lee Ehubert at a benefit performance four yeara ago, but because of the fact that she was under legal age he was not able to present her to the big cities until last year. Miss Miller Is only 17 years old and will be the youngest of stage stars in "The Passing Show of the other Portland clubs who have extended invitations to the MacDowell Club. The "reciprocity day" programme was in competent hands. Miss Ada Alice Tuttle read the thrilling "Hexen lied," by Max Schillings, with musical setting by Ernest von Wfldenbruch. Miss Tuttle is absolutely at home at the piano, with the result that both voice and piano interpretation are giv en with the utmost freedom of emo tional and intellectual scope. The "Hex enlied" is intensely tragic, and is a favorite with the famous dramatic singer. Dr. Ludwig Willmer; also Da vid Bispham. The work is ao difficult that It has only been done occasion ally In this country, and the mastery of words and music score will tax the memory of anyone. Miss Tuttle heard the work given once previously, when she was a student at Leipsig. On that occasion "Hexenlied" was pre sented by the great German actor. Von Possart, and the NIkisch orchestra ac companying. Miss Tuttle told the audi ence Tuesday that she only hoped to suggest, faintly to suggest, the impres sion made when the work la given as was Intended by the composer and the German poet. She also called attention to some points of resemblance between the poem and the "Scarlet Letter." She mentioned that both medieval monk and Puritan parson had enjoyed the highest esteem of their fellows, but died confessing what had so long been hidden. She suggested the resemblance between the young witch and the Greek maiden, Antigone, of the Sopho cles drama, both having been done to death by an unenlightened and distort ed public conscience. A parallel was drawn also between the convent prior and St. Paul, who at first breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the. disciples, and then saw a great light from heaven and, "behold, he prayeth." Miss Tuttle, January 11. 1908, at an hour's notice, appeared on the pro gramme with Kubelik at the Heillg. his piano soloist having been taken suddenly ill. Miss Caroline Lowe n girt sang a group of songs, with J. R. Hutchison at the piano. Miss Lowengart has a voice of rare quality, her high notes being especially sweet in tone and easy In production. Her first number, Rach- ! maninoff's "Floods of Spring." Is a master song, with an accompaniment which Is the despair of any but the most skilled performers. Mr. Hutchison made of It a crystal of sparkling beauty. Mr. Hutchison hould appear in public more often as piano accompanist. George Wllber Reed, dramatic tenor. ssisted by Mrs. James Lester Gault, the Treble Clef Club, and James Dan- eu Fellows, accompanist, appeared in a uccessful and enjoyable concert at Burns, Or. The hall was crowded by an appreciative audience. Mr. Keea was in splendid voice and Mrs. Gault and her Treble Clef Club were also cordially received. The programme: My Love's an Arbutus (Old Irish, omposed about 1790, composer un known). "The Banks of the Daisies." Mr. Reed: "Die Alte Mutter." "Mit Einer Primula Verls" and "An Das Yaterland," Mr. Reed: "Chinese Flower Fete" (Cad- man), Treble Clef Club: duet, "Sweet and Low" (Hollins), Mrs. Gault and Mr. Reed; two Shakespeare songs, "Oh, Mistress Mine" and "Blow. Blow. Thou Winter Wind" (Rodger Qullter). Mr. Reed: from opera, "Flying Dutchman," 'The Spinning Chorus" (Wagner), Treble ' Clef Club; from opera of Kadeshda." duet. "Dear Love of Mine" (Goring Thomas), Mrs. Gault and Mr. Reed; songs of Syria. "Oh, Mountain Rose of Lebanon," "The Garden of Urmia." "The Crimson Rose" and Osarna Mine" (Easthope Martin), Mr. Reed. The Mignon trio sang with much suc cess for the Willamette Young People's Association at the White Temple last Thursday night. Work on the Chautauqua chorus pro grammes for Gladstone Park Is pro ceeding, and the midsummer concerts by this body promise to be better this, year than ever before," says J. H. Cowen, who is directing the work for the fourth consecutive season. Daily rehearsals will be held on the grounds during the session, July 7-19, and a branch chorus will be formed In this city. These singers will be taken to Chautauqua Park Sunday afternoons of July 9 and 16 for two scheduled con certs, one of which is to be a cantata and the other a mixed grand concert Former choir members are joining gladly again this season, and tho chorus will number about 100 voices. Favorite soloists will be engaged in this city. The programme includes many beautiful and stirring selections. Mr. Cowen's discretion in selecting music and voices has always resulted in performances of a high order. DRESS REHEARSAL INDICATES GOOD PRODUCTION OF "FRA PI A VOL A" Portland Grand Opera Association Ready for Productions at Baker Theater Thursday Night and Saturday After noon This Week Public Interest Is nigh. CpSSgr III . 5j pg3jg3jv (Continued From Page 8.) Miss Mascher; vocal solo, "Who Is New Thought Temple of Truth, Eilers Bylvia" (Schubert). "Ich Leibe Dich" I building. Both of these voune singers (Greig), A. C. Tindolph. Helen Caples, who played a piano programme at the Little Theater last Friday night, proved herself a student f unusual interest to the audience. Her playing has vigor, freedom and poise. The programme required reaJ artistic worth and musicianly attain ments, and was a worthy achievement for a young girl of 14 years. Her Bach and MacDowell numbers deserved special mention for their beautiful tone and style. She was presented by Miss Ad by Whiteside. A piano recital from the class of Miss Martha B. Reynolds took place yester day at Wheeldon Annex Recital Hall, and was a pleasant affair of both musi cal knowledge and performance. Those participating were: Ruth Biggers, Miss rceynoids. Airs. E. R. Morton, Alice Burnworth, Margaret Rogge, Mrs. E. R. Morton and Miss Ida Fisher. Twenty-five students of the North western School of Music, 627 East Mor rison. participated in the monthly recital given by the Juvenile depart ment. May ?0. A varied programme consisting of violin and piano solos duets and trios, and numbers by the mandolin club and juvenile orchestra was enjoyed by a capacity attendance. The following members who took part are students or Airs. Ellen L. Bacon Ted W. Bacon and Helen E. Bauer: Norma Wilson, Vivian Julian, Marie Weiss, Irwin Jonason. Martin Katske Margaret Wiley, Alta -Guthrie, Walter OBrlen, Helen OBrlen, Bruno Kor horen, Oredia Erickson, Frank Koehier, Gerald Lemon, Jarra Jurva, Urho Jurva, Edna Brockman, David Webber, Crystal Hoskins, Sarah Elliot, Elsie Schaub, Eline Anderson, Edith Anderson, Aili Korhonen, Harold Anderson and Alice Bollman. received favorable comment upon their excellent renditions. The New York People's Symphony Concerts $250,000 endowment fund. which was started by S. R. Gugen heim's donation of $10,000 toward the first $100,000. is growing. Among many smaller contributions looms the recent pledge of Dr. James Douglas for $5000. In addition to this a com mittee has been formed from among the members of the People s Symphony Auxiliary Club for the purpose of rais ing $10,000 from among their own num ber in donations of from $1 to $35. It has been decided to run two series of chamber concerts at the municipal au dltorium of the Washington Irving High School next year, one on Friday nights and one on Saturday nights. Both the Ivneisel and Flonzaley quar tets will play in each series. The last meeting of the New England Conservatory Club was held May 10, at the home of Mrs. J. H. Hall. 805 Lovejoy street. The programme was entitled, "The New England Conserva tory Club Follies." Each number was kept a secret until the time of appear ance. The "stunts" were so well done that the entire afternoon was "a gale of merriment," as one woman expressed it. First on the programme was an ar rangement of Dvorak s "Humoresque for nix hands, played by Mrs. Schultz, Mrs. Hall and Miss McGinn, fol lowed by the Clef Chorus in Popular Numbers. The "Scene between Hamlet and Lady Macbeth," given by Mrs. Grace Watt Ross and Miss Eileen Brong, was particularly enjoyable, be cause the dialogue, although selected from the two plays, was in . perfect accord. 'Seen from Madame Butter fly." presented by Misses Maud Gesner, Agnes Love, Martha Reynolds, afforded much amusement. The last number was the "Kinder Symphony," conducted Bradford were recent soloists at the by. Mrj. Hall, The club had the pleas- Mi-, aes Regina Mitchell and Hazel ure of welcoming Mrs. Marsh Boothby, a recent arrival in Portland. Mrs. Boothby (Lydia White, of Salt Lake) was a student at the New England Con servatory for three years, studying tiara with Henry Schrecker and Alfred Holy. She was second harpiBt with tue Bocton Symphony Orchestra for "ear and a half. To have played with mis orcnestra Is a great distinction. Mrs. Boothby la a. decided acquisition to Portland musical circles. The club will resume its meetings In the FalL At the annual meeting of the Port land Symphony Orchestra last Friday these officers were elected: William D. Wheelwright, honorary president; Mr. Christensen, president; Carl Denton, vice-president; R. E. Millard, secretary w. is. Thomas, treasurer; Frank G. Eichenlauh. John Bayley and N. iMorris, trustees. M. Christensen an Waldemar Lind were apointed musical conductors at double pay for next sea son, and it was decided that the comin concerts will consist of six or more. Mr. Bayley and Mr. Denton, although pressed to do so. declined to accept In vitations to conduct concerts next sea son, on account of Leing too busily engaged with other professional duties. A motion was made, but failed to carry, that a conductor for each symphony concert be paid a lee of J 100. It is planned to give possibly three con certs out of town, and to try to raise $7000 to pay all expenses .next season. John Claire Monteith returned dur ing the week from Prinevllle, Or., where he gave a concert to an audience that filled the First Methodist Church of that city. .There ia already talk of a return engagement for next season for Mr. Monteith in Central Oregon rFollowing his concert In Prinevllle Tuesday night, Mr. and Mrs. Monteith took the 20-mile auto trip to Redmond, arriving there at midnight. The bril llance of the clear moonlight of this high Central Oregon country." says Mr. Monteith. "is quite remarkable. I am also enthusiastic over the climb from the Columbia River level through the wild canyon of the. Deschutes River to the plateau in the foothills of the Cas cades, where one can see in a stately row Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters." For his accom panlst in Prinevllle, Mr. Monteith had Thomas Hill, who will pass the Summer at the school of music of the univer stty of Washington in Seattle. Mr. Hill will take the teachers' course, as he has been appointed supervisor of music for the Prinevllle schools. . ( . zr jyQ, . t- f& J& iv - . v. . -: : i : ;- V I r ' - - s - A -'Y - ) A "Av ! f . 'j t vy -.!'? --i I' - ' - I b& s': Aj "7776? Two SanSrtT" THE firs sal of tion lr HE first "tryout" and dress rehear- of the Portland Opera Assocla- n its presentation of Auber's comic-grand opera "Fra Dlavalo," took place at the Baker Theater last Tuesday night, and so enjoyable and amusing was the treat that the director, Rob erto Corruccini, complimented all con cerned. The first public performances of "Fra Diavalo" take place at the Baker Theater Thursday night and Saturday afternoon matinee. Much public inter est is being taken in the events and it Is stated that there is a lively demand for tickets. The Portland Opera Association is composed entirely of Portland singers and actors. It has a membership of 150 of the most prominent musical peo ple of the city. From these have been chosen more than 65 voices and under the direction of Roberto Corruccini these voices have been moulded into one admirable singing chorus. In the opera cast are these well- known singers:- George Wilbur Reed. Hartridge Whlpp, George Hotchklss Street. Mrs. Jane Burns Albert. Mrs. Ora Bess Heaberger, Shirley D. Par ker. Arthur King and Karl Herbrlng. Miss Genevieve Paget, danseuse. has organized a ballet, ass.sted by 16 ac complished, graceful girl dancers of the city. This added feature alone will btr well worth seeing. Mail orders are now being received at the Baker Theater. Mrs. Carlin De Witt Joslyn appeared before the State Woman's Press Club at Eilers building In a recital of her own compositions, both words and mu sic. She rendered several groups of songs, one group of piano solos, also a group of dramatic readings. The programme: Piano, "Marche." "Mex ican Intermezzo." and "Valse Bluette"; -ocal, "Music Thy Power Is Love," and "Angels His Safe Watch Keep"; dra matic readings. "The Miner" and "I Wish"; vocal. "The Serenade": "Whose Darling Are You?" "If You Had a Sweetheart." and "Good-Bye." It was a splendid programme of merit, and Mrs. Josclyn's singing especially was enjoyed. The Alberta Chorus will meet tomor row night In the Vernon School. As there are only two more rehearsals be fore the concert, a large attendance Is urged. Nodd How is the music in the Bing bang restaurant. Tom Wonderful! I was In there with my wife for an hour the other evening and couldn't hear a word she said. Life. EDUCATOR FINDS MOST SYSTEMATIC TEACHER Pupils Study and Recite, Changing at Signal Not Noticeable to Observer, Without Word From Teacher and Losing no Motion. The concert at Immanuel Lutheran ChurCi - last Wednesday night was largely attended, and first class in every particular. Each soloist was well receded, and there were many recalls for extra numbers. Those who took part were: Mrs. Delphine Marx, Madame June Reed. Misses Evelyn and Erma Ewart, Hartridge Whlpp, Mrs. Leonora Fisher Whipp, George C. Kirchner (cellist), Mrs. Ru"th L. Sanders, Miss Alicia McElroy. Mr. Kirchner does not often play at Portland recitals, and should do so. He is a 'cellist of rare talent and culture. The" other soloists are all deservedly well known and esteemed. It was reported that the season just closed was the most pros perous season in the orchestra's history. and that the prospect is the orchestra for 1916-17 will be better than ever. An extra meeting of the MacDowell Club was held Tuesday afternoon at , the Hotel Benson la honor of members The Monday Musical Club held the last "guest day" of the season last Mon day afternoon at the Hotel Portland. A large and appreciative audience greeted the soloists, who were Mrs. Leah Slusser Hathaway, soprano; Mrs. Rose Coursen-Reed, contralto, and Mas ter Verne Iaom, violinist. Mrs. Hath away has a clear, fresh voice that is unusually pleasing, and her enunciation is distinct, which adds so much to the Joy of hearing a singer. Her numbers were "The Gypsy Maiden" (Henry Par ker), "Cradle Song" (Alexander Mc Fadden), "The Bird of Blue" (Edward German), "In Maytime" (Oley Speaks), and "Gay Little Dandylion" (Chad- ( wick). Mrs. Reed, who is a member or the ciud, received an ovation wnen she appeared. She looked splendid in a gown of black relieved only with a corsage bouquet of clear yellow. Her solos were given with the same charm. that has won her so many admirers In the past, and were "La Cieco," the blind woman's song ("La Gloconda"), "Wake Up" (Phillips). "La Chevalier Belle-Etoile" (Agusta Holmer), and "Twilight" (Katberlne A. Glenn), Mas ter Verne Isom played a group of violin numbers that showed the remarkable talent possessed by this young lad, and the careful training he had had. He Dlaved "Llebesf rend" (Krelsler). "Ma zurka de Concert" (Musin), and "Seren ade" (Dodla). Mrs. Percy W. Lewis and Master Glen Shelley were accompanists. The Derthick Club, of Oregon City, recently was entertained by the Joint hostesses, Mrs. Thomas Burke and Mrs. Charles Miller, at the home of the for mer at Gladstone, for its last meeting of the season. The programme was devoted to Ethelbert Nevln. Miss Ma- belle Holmes, of Portland, a student of Mrs. Nlta Barlow Lawrence, was soloist. Miss Holmes has a beautiful mezso-soprano voice of depth and purity. The duet "O, That We Two Were Maying" (Smith), was well sung by Mvs. Lawrence and Miss Holmes. Miss Jean Jacobs waa an able accom- paniut. NIVERSITY OF OREGON. Eugene. May 20. Special.) The most sys- ematic teacher in Oregon has been discovered by 'a member of the State University extension faculty Her name may not be revealed, nor yet may the location of her school, as will hereinafter be obvious, but the exten sion worker In question vouches for the authenticity of his story, which is as follows: "In the 30 minutes which I devoted recently to visiting her school, a Wil lamette Valley teacher handled two grammar classes and four. classes or more In spelling, dismissed school and attended to incidental duties, all with out using an unnecessary word and with the precision and regularity of automatic machinery. "As I entered the room with the supervisor, a storm of handclapplng swept over the room, seemingly spon taneous. but evidently quite carefully regulated. Usually, when a lot of youngsters clap hands, some of them keep it up longer than the rest, but these boys and girts all quit on the same stroke. Just how they got the signal I don't preteno to know. No Blotloa Wasted. "There was no waste motion. The hands separated from the last ener getic clap; one caugnt tne n.ngiisn book and the other nana tne pencil and the class was at work again. The pupils did all the reciting; tne teacher said hardly a word, but no one . . 1 . 1 n v A,.. seemea in uuuui. jv u this class had been going on for five minutes (I don't know how long It had been going on before I came in), the teacher looked, at tne clock in an in cidental sort of .way. Immediately the English books were closed and put awav and the class which had been so busily reciting within the space of two minutes was Just as Dusiiy stuaying something else. Three children simul taneously handed up their spelling books without being told, and the teacher, using three different tones of voice, began giving out words. evi dently the pupils knew what tone was meant for what class, for there was no confusion. There seemed to be a sort of a hang-over into the first part of the scelling lesson from one Of the English classes, although I could not tell what it was about, but the pupils seemed to understand perfectly. "The teacher seemed to be doing most of the talking now. whereas when I entered she had done hardly any at all. and It sounded something like this: 'Sentence with torn, onion, model; what 1b it? No. 6. Writi down two suffixes and tell what each means; orphan; molest; outward: mountain; overshoes: multiply: paddle; mumble: that's all; padlock; mumble; musket; pantry; muzzle: pen; nature; pad; that's all; pavement; pencil; pencil? pencil; nephew: people; nerve; perfect; nick name' eo it went on. without any In terruption whatever from any of the classes. Look Changes Work, "Once during the process the teacher looked at the clock, and a certain group of pupils changed over from studying one lesson to studying an other. I began to wonder whether the signal meant the same when she looked over the left shoulder as when she looked over the right. Before long the. teacher laid down one book. Im mediately, another .waa banded to lie evidently that from another class. Sho went on using the same three tones. The new class thus being relayed into the matter, of course, did not have a fair chance against the others, and did not finish with them; so It was going alone for a little while after the others had finished their papers. But the teacher was not Idle, for oy that time Ing some kind of summarized record in a little book which she carried con veniently in . a pocket especially de signed for it and for a pencil exactly the length of the book. "During the latter part of the cor rection of the spelling work, which as I have Indicated was coincident with the handling of the last class, the teacher was standing near the black board, holding one hand behind her and using it to clean off the board for the next day's work. This backhand operation she performed with the easa of long practice, and coincident with the correction of the last paper tho board was cleanly wiped. This brought the teacher within three steps of tho organ, where she seated herself, the pupils using the time which it took her to travel from the blackboard for put ting away their books. Upon the first she was inspecting the corrections of i chord they arose, and to the music of the papers of the first classes and mak- I a lively march passed from the room. SOCIAL TURN VEREIN TO GIVE ENTERTAINMENT AT GERMAN HOUSE TONIGHT. ?- , v At AA I W A - lsf A Everything is in readiness for the vaudeville entertainment to be given by the Ladies' Annex and Actives, of the Portland Social Turn Vereln. at the German House tonight. The programme consists of 14 acts, every one of which is composed of Turner talent. The Portland Social Turn Verein haa made an envious reputation in the past as entertainers, and tonight's per formance bids fair to rival past successes. Miss Marie Winn and Max Hurwitt will introduce a novelty dancing act, "La Bella de Fleurs,"