TIIE SUXDAT OREGOXIA5T, -PORTLAND, DECODER 17, 1916. V vase. The wife disappears and the sec retary marries. Tears pass and til artist's former wife comes to the happy married couple as a servant, and Uvea to see the same thing happen to the secretary that happened to her. At least that is what appears to be the case, though she is robbed of her revenge at the last moment. Broadhurst has given the American stags some of its biggest dramatla s.i.cesses. such as "The Man of thrt Hour." "Bought and Paid For." and "The Law of the Land." which The Al cazar Players were seen in a few weeks go. "The Price" is another of thu same strong type. Regular matinees will be eiven today, Wednesday and Saturday. j "TWIN BEDS" DUE AT HEILIO J - if- hi?,- . . ,m tart-- ; !. Ma! Tffilt ' -I r BY LEONE .CASS BAES. . WHOLESOME comedy comes Into its own again with, the return engagement ot "Twin Beds." at the. Helli-g next Thursday night to be housed for a week end. Thursday, and Friday' night, .with a matinee on Satur day. This is one comedy which has proved by its exceptionally easy popu larity that the dear public! and a theater-going, public Is always dear wants real situations, real humor and honest-to-goodness characterizations even in its farce. ."Twin Beds" is filled to its last minute with bright lines, charac ters who' -act like folk we have on our own list of acquaintances. Besides which, it discusses a subject on which all of us feel -we are mare or less in formed, either from actual ' experience or as lookers-on. viz.: the more or less exacting philosophy - of apartment house life in general, and the ups and downs of matrimony in particular. If one can say there- really is anything particular about matrimony. Margaret Mayo wrote this play. Also she wrote "Baby Mine" and "Polly of the Circus." fche is a former Salem. Or., girl, and be cause she is now world-famous, a lotta Oregonians like to tell about It, and "when we knew her and all her early day uprisings and down-sittings. If she hadn't made good, and made her name a household word in the the atrical game, the story would read dif ferently. As it : is there are a million people, right here in Oregon who went to school with her. Wfeiaii reminds me of the story David Warf ield told me the last time he was here in "The Auc tioneer." ' He said that in San Fran cisco, when he was an usher in a thea ter and hustling around generally, thai lie didn't have enough acquaintances outside of his fellow workers , to. make a committee. But now. when he returns to play an engagement in one of the new theaters there are 9U0 old ladies and a thousand old gents with whis kers "down to here." who stand in line at the stage door to say howdy and incidentally ask for a pass to see" his show. They all, each and everyone, remember perfectly when they were ushered Into such and such a seat at a certain matinee, and how at that time they observed that he was different from other ushers. " 'I just knew,' cackled one old crone of 93, 'I Just knew by the way you ushed me into my scat at a matinee onct to see "Handsome Harvey the Heart Smasher or Was She so Much to Blame" that some day you'd be famous.' " Mr. Warf ield Bald. " 'Maybe you remember me. I sat in section C, third row from the left, and I wore a white" shirtwaist. It was on a Tuesday. I remember you perfectly, Mr. Warfield. Could you let me have, three seats for your show tonight?" " Of course. It isn't really so exag gerated, but It's awfully near it in Margaret Mayo's case. Her name was Lily Slatten and she took the pen nane of Margaret Mayo. She is married "to Edgar Selwyn, of the firm of Selwyn & Co. There are three brothers of 'em and they've a sister, Rae Selwyn, on the stag! Margaret Mayo has made gobs of money and a great big name for herself and she did it alone and unaided. Ambition is her middle name. You gotta hand it to' her. To revert a train to our muttons. Her play, "Twin Beds,'" has to its credit one solid year in New Tork, six months in Aus tralia and it has already reached its secdnd year In London. Productions are soon to be made in Paris, Berlin, Petrograd, Rome, Madrid, South Amer ica, South Africa and Japan. The characters about whose Idio syncrasies and misfortunes "Twin Beds" . revolves are all distinct por traits, each of them enjoyable without end, each familiar to even the most re stricted experience. Lonely little Blanche Hawkins, newly married, in genious and sociable, moves into an apartment with her husband, a home loving young business man. Above them live a pair married for ten years, Kignor -and- Signora Monti, amd below -them a pair even more newly married than the Hawkins, the Larkinses. With them lives Xorah, a paragon of an Irish maid. The jumble which follows upon Blanche's ' cordial invitation to all of them to Join in a party in her new apartment, and upon Harry's avoidance of his visitors, and -upon consequent interchange of visits, make the three acts of "Twin Beds" enormously rich in human incident. This season the company is being sponsored by A. S. Stern & Co. The cast includes, among others, James Morrison, William Wes ton, Louis Alberni, Warren Hastings, Marguerite Kisser, Antoinette Rochte, Bess Stafford and Martha McGraw. Nellie V. Nichols, the young dialect comedienne whose nativity has been so much in doubt, especially since she began to sing "Will Someone Name My Nationality?" pays us a return visit at the Orpheum today. This season she lins an entirely "different act from her offering last season, when, if recollec tion is correct, she made what the praise agent would call "a terrific hit." Her songs are new and she has incor porated .a -new Italian characterization in which she is assisted by E. Colt Al- bertson and which is a sketch in Itself, although she offers it in conjunction with a song. This characterization, which is called "The Sandhog," was written by Francis Owen. A. sahdhog, for those unfamiliar with the expres sion, is the name given to the laborers who are engaged in tunneling where it is necessary that they work -under com pressed air. Many hundreds' of them, mostly Italians, are at present work ing in the building of the New jrora subways, the compressed air being nec essary when the work of tunneling takes them under the river or in places where the earth is sandy. The men are paid high wages for this work. owing to the dangers they face, chief among which is the disease commonly called "the bends." a paralysis which frequently is fatal and nearly always results in permanent injury to the vic tims. Miss Nichols plays the role of the wife of a "sandhog" who has been hurt. She is making a demand on the man ager of the contracting firm for whom her husband worked and she succeeds in obtaining ? 600 damages for what has happened to her Tony. Although the story is dramatic In itself. Miss Nichols makes the drama the basis for comedy, although she never departs from her true-to-life characterization. Of course "The Sandhog" is only portion OL cxiw guuu lii,OB u..sa -WVUWAV - MX fl mW - --r . - v. -v " :. & I fi. ' -f II I v - - : J T It ill I 4 hands out. She has so many new songs that she won't even sing the w. k. nationality song unless, of course, the audience Insists. And the audience usually Insists. There is no diminution in the inter est manifest in the Alcazar . players at the Baker Theater. Today they open in George Broadhurst's play, "The Price," with Ruth Gates appearing in the role which Helen Ware created in the New York production. Broadhurst's plays are invariably popular with stock patrons because of their distinctive American origin, their big dramatic impetus, their powerful heart interest, and that other important essential, genuine comedy. This appeal was evi denced not so long ago in "The Law of the Land." For Christmas week Eu gene Walters' dramatization of John Fox" novel, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," is- to be the attraction. The London Bell Ringers, a big musi cal act, tops the list at Pantages, open ing tomorrow.-At the Strand the Black stone Quintet, a band of vocalists, is the headliner. . At the Hip's new bill the ' topllner will be a King of mystery, the Great Pitnoff, who defies locks and bolts and chains. Of especial interest In thy near fu ture is the presentation of "Experi ence," George V. Hobart's sensational morality play, at the Hellig. GREAT PITROFF SCORN'S LOCKS Star to Perform All Sorts of Stunts In Escaping Confinement. i The Great Pitroff, world's famous king of mystery a wizard with locks and bolts, bars and chains and every kind of restraint usually put upon crim inals and insane persons of violent tendencies, defies anyone to keep him within any strait-jacket, handcuff or other safeguard used in Oregon. Pitroff will escape from all sorts of appliances calculated to hold him se curely. Much of his work is within full view of the audience. Among his stunts is to escape from a strait jacket while hanging head downward by his feet from the roof of a build I ' :! V -'.a '?-. rwt? - ' ktiw v,. ' 4 ing. He will free himself from hand cuffs furnished by the Portland police; in fact, this wizard will do any num ber of sensational stunts. Herbert Willison and Walter Sher wood, singers and yodlers, are late feature soloists with Law Dockstader's minstrels. They are among the best In their line seen here In a 'season. Special scenery is carried and their work is of the superior sort. "Putting It Over on Father" is a great little comedy sketch presented by Mabel Spencer and company. There are many laughs in this act and the work of the performers is excellent. Dressier and Wilson are classy dan cers who are certain to make a hit. This act is pleasing and highly enter taining. Gypsy Meredith and company offer "Much Ado About Nothing." which is a li Hi 4 Atitl Johu, Wke Appfnn ta Lnmiiil Sketck at Strand The ater. 4 ! l,j " 1 "'-" it 7- I f ,"v If ; - 4 1 - i- u'nv All ' ' ' "ZTl' ' ivW v' clever mixture of comedy and acro batics that is bound to be popular. Emil WUle and company present one of the prettiest novelties of the season in a big revolving hoop act. It Is a scenic balancing number that keeps the audience staring with surprise. ''Pearl of the Army." which is claimed to be the biggest serial ever to come from the Pathe studios, which features beautiful Pearl White, will have Its opening at the Hippodrome this after noon. Two-reel episodes, each of a thrilling, adventurous character, will be shown at the Hippodrome the first of each week. This is a great story. It unmasks America's secret foes. In addition, on the photoplay pro gramme there is the Pathe News, show ing the world events, and a funny Lonesome Luke comedy as well. PANTAGES HAS ANNIVERSARY Strong Bill Sent to Commemorate - Start of 1 2th Year. Local theatrical records will be shat tered at the matinee tomorrow at Pan tages with the opening of the new programme headed by the famous Lon don Singing Bell Ringers for the per formance 'will mark the 11th year of Pantages vaudeville in Portland. In the entire 11 years not a single performance has been missed, although the theater was opened at Fourth and Stark, streets, moved to' the old Mar quam Grand and back again to its first home before the beautiful new theater was constructed at Broadway and Al der street a few years ago. Manager J. A. Johnson has had charge during the entire period, coming from British Columbia to represent the Pantages Interests here. To commemorate the event Mr. Pan tages has sent an especially strong bill here. The London Bell Ringers, which are featured, recently came from Great Britain, where they have been tre mendously successful. They are won derful vocalists as well as true musi cians and they sing as they play. This is their first appearance in Portland and their programme is one that will appeal to all. "The Betting Bettys." a whirlwind musical comedy composed of pretty girls and tuneful melodies with Johnny Morris and Percy Chapman featured in the cast, is the special attraction. The. book and lyrics are by Edward Clark, author of the delightful "Coat Tales." Olive Briscoe Ib the unusual come dienne whose facility for amusing has won for her stellar honors in some of the leading road shows as well as in vaudeville. Miss Briscoe has an ex tended programme. LeMaire and Dawson, late of "The Whirl of the Worm" company, will be seen in their cyclonic laugh-provoker which was the hit of the big musical comedy at its recent local presentation. Sigsbee's Dogs have an especial ap peal to the children. The little animal actors are wonderfully clever. Smith and Ivauffman are Jolly enter tainers. Their songs are new and snappy and their dances are original. The eighth episode of "The Lass of the Lumber lands" with beautiful Helen Holmes in the principal role has reached one of the most thrilling points and interest continues to increase. "Mr. Inquisitive," the Jolly musical comedy, will end its week's engage ment with the continuous performance commencing at 2:15 and ending at 11 o'clock today. C03IEDIEXNE IS AT ORPIIEC3I Nellie V. Nichols Is Star Having In ternational Reputation. Nellie V. Nichols, an international star, famous not only as a songstress, but as a dialect comedienne, is star of the Orpheum show opening for a four 'days' engagement at the Hellig Theater this afternoon. Miss Nichols Is known to the vaudeville public par ticularly through her song, "Will Someone Name My Nationality?" which gives twr great opportunity to display her talent as a dialectician. . Id her present Orpheum tour she sings that song and several others and appears in a dramatic bit out of which she extracts comedy. "The Sandhog" is the dramatic part of Miss Nichols' new act. In this one she appears as the wife of an Italian laborer in New York's subway and through'a ruse ob tains $500 as damages from the cor poration hiring her husband, who has been afficted with paralysis, due to his underground work. In "The Sandhog" Miss Nichols gives a true-to-life por trayal of an Italian woman and she has won high praise from newspaper critics for this characterization. In Vancouver, B. C. Miss Nichols was hailed by the dramatic critics as being the biggest hit seen at the Orpheum this season. Three extra attractions also grace the show over which Miss Nichols reigns as star. These are "The Vol unteers," a singing novelty, presented uniquely; "Lots and Lots of It." a-com-edy sketch known as "the Potash and Perlmutter of Vaudeville," and Mr. and Mrs. Jtmmie Barry In their comedy gem, "The Rube." with which "hey have delighted the showgoera of two con tinents. Phil White, who appeared at the Hei llg here last season as Potash In the "Potash and Perlmutter" play. Is star of "Lots- and Lots - of It." Mr. White also : appeared here as the Hebrew in the play "Excuse Me." "Lots and Lots of It" Is dramatized from a Saturday Evening Post story written by two New York newspaper men. As a story it was known as "Mutterzolb &. Son." The sketch provides great comedy by showing the rise and fall of the value of a marsh bought by the tautterzolbs and an- interesting love story pervades the piece. - Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Byry are stan dard Orpheum artists who traverse the circuit every season. Their .vehicle, "The Rube," which was written by Mr. Barry himself, wins a laugii a second and it has a surprise Qnlsh that never rails to take down the house. Barry is regarded as one of the best "rube" characters on the American stage. Remaining acts of the new Orpheum bill are: Five Belgium girls, refugees. In a. vocal and instrumental divertisse ment; Fink's mules, who with the aid of several darkies, create great fun; Kena Parker, a singing comedienne; the Orpheum Travel Weekly, showing moving picture views of lndo-Chlna and Belgium, and the Orpheum concert orchestra, under the leadeishtp of George E. JelTery. Three Orpheum shows will be staged at, the Hellig Sunday. December 31. The regular matinee and night show will be presented as usual and the third show will be a midnight matinee, which will start at 11:20 o'clock. "THE PRICE" TO BE AT BAKER Pre-IIolldajr Attraction Said to Be Powerful and Gripping. This is the much dreaded week be fore Christmas, the most unpopular week of the year with theatrlca. man agers. It is the week In which many traveling companies rest" or draw only half-salaries. For that reason most j stock managers often produce some old non-royalty play, believing that , the people will not attend the theater, no matter what is on the boards. . With Just the opposite tho-ight in mind Manager Seaman, of The Alcazar Play ers, has selected one of the most pow erful Broadhurst dramas. "The Price." In which Helen Ware starred In New York. This wilt open at the Baker this afternoon. It has love interest and a strong dramatic appeal, making It an object for people to take a rest from shopping and holiday preparations by attending a performance really worth while. It is the story of an artist who has risen in the world and whose com monplace wife has failed to keep pace with him. He falls in love with his secretary and she thinks she does with him. But she meets another man who is the real one and the shock kills the artist, who is suffering from heart dls. "TICKET OFFICE SALE HE13LIG 2 Nights " Dec. 21-22 SPECIAL-PRICE MATINEE SATURDAY, 2:15 (No Performances Saturday Xight) A. S. STERN 4k CO. PRESENT Brilliant Comedy Success -WIN BED EXCELLENT CAST SCPERB PRODrCTIOX A play of life among apartment dwellers b Salisbury Field and .... Margaret Mayo. . WIGHTS Floor, 91.50. Balcony. SI.OO, 7B, 60e. Gallery, BOe. SAT. MAT. Floor, SI.OO, Balcof r. 73e. SOc Gallery. 35c, SSe. Human and Humorous Comedy' ot Apartment-House Life on Way. "Twin Beds," Salisbury Field and Margaret Mayo's human and humorous comedy of apartment-house life, which was hailed as the most amusing and enjoyable play seen in many seasons in New York, where it completed an un interrupted run of one solid year, will be presented at the Heilig Theater. Broadway at Taylor, next Thursday and, Friday nights, December 21 and 2.'. with a special matinee Saturday. The scene of "Twin Beds" sin a fashion able New York apartment-house and its characters are familiar types here, there and everywhere. Harry Hawkins is tired of his wife's social activities. His wife insists upon two things ehe will be nice to her neighbors and she insists upon having twin beds In her apartments. To , avoid the neighbors, especially a certain fat tenor who has become rather attentive to his bride, Hawkins moves from the east side of town over to the west side. Unfortu nately the tenor moves also and. un known to each other, into the same building. Between Mrs. Hawkins, the tenor's wife, another neighbor who thinks the tenor is a burglar, and a maid who follows orders too explicitly, the complications are tremendous. Besides its great New York vogue. "Twin Beds" played for six- months in Australia and has already reached its second year in London, and so great Is the demand for this marvel of a play that productions are soon to be made in Pans. Berlin. Fetronrad. Mad rid. Rome, Tokio. South America and I South Africa. The cast organized by A. S. Stern and I Company, under whose direction "Twin Beds" is to visit us. contributes much I toward the success of this play. FAMOUS ROMANCE AT BAKER 'Trail of the Lonesome Pine" Will Be Chrlfnias Week Offerins. For Christmas week at The Baker. Manager . Seaman has chosen Kugeno Walters dramatization of the famous romance of the Virginia mountains. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," one of the most popular novels and plays of the time. It will open next Sunday matinee and there will, of course, bo a special holiday matinee Christmas day. It is a tale of mountain feuds, moon shiners and fight against progress in these wilds, and io beautifully - told. Kittle June is a typical mountain wild- flower and we find her at the foot of her friend the great, lonesome pine where she studies and dreams, loves and hates as becomes her moods. Every one knows the tale. If any should not he has missed a rare treat in fiction, be he a -lover of nature and romance, and he could do no better than to get a copy of the book immediately, there by assuring himself a double pleasure in witnessing the play alter reading the fascinating story. Last season's production was superb and still more beautiful things are promised this time. Ruth Gates will play the title role and Albert McGov ern that of the young mining engineer with the rest of the capable members of The Alcazar Players in the other strong acting parts. , STRAND WILL HAVE THRILLER Mixed Blood," Redfeather Produc tion, Is Scheduled Attraction. Photovllle will be crowded Sunday at the Strand Theater, it is predicted, with the movie fans that are weary ot psychological stuff and pseudo-sociological stuff. 'Mixed Blood" Is the photodrama which balances up the movie end of a bill that includes some exceptionally attractive vaudeville as well. It is a Redfeather production, and is declared to uphold the boast of the Redfeather that it gets better and better with every production that comes out. There is the setting in the greatest frrtilrlui.4(f on rc :i. t'nlumn 3 COMING j JULIA Heilig Theater December 30 PBICESl Floor S2.O0, SI.KO. Bales-ay 2.o, $l.ru. si.oo. 73c Gallery. Iteserved, 75c. MAIL ORDERS NOW Send orders, checks and self addressed stamped envelopes to Steers & Coman. Columbia Building. . OPENS TOMORROW. Broadway at Taylor Main 1 and A 1122 GULP