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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1917)
2 4s t 4- b ' 1 je rT. r s J r ' ' BT LEONE CASS BAER. A-NNA "HELD ' is to be with us again.. She comes o the Hel-lig- Theater this week Thurs day, .Friday and Saturday, with spe cial Saturday matinee., in her latest musical comedy success, "Follow Me." The fair and vivacious Anna of the recalcitrant eyes comes not only as the star of the production, but as the owner of this enterprise which Is eaid to have yanked the indestructible Held puraeatrlnps in the neighborhood of 50 times at $1000 per yank. . Even more than star and owner comes the chic and dainty orb-rolling Queen of musical comedy as producer, for it is more than press-agent talk. From the ideas of this smart Parisienne were fashioned every gown worn by the stunning Anna Held girls, and every one of the three scenes making up what the New York theatrically wise stamped last season at the Casino as about the most harmoniously color ful production ever seen on Broadway. All of which she brings with her. It is quite the truth that there has never been, off the stage as well as on, i a star more interesting, and perhaps none quite as fascinating as Anna Held, ..and so consistency points the way to the writing of a few lines about what she has been doing since she was last in Portland four years ago. Anna Held is Intensely interested in the fate of her beloved France. She spent the first two years after the outbreak of the war entertaining the soldiers of England and her France in the hospitals, on the battlefields and in . the trenches. First she organized a band of French Boy Scouts and took - them around, singing to the poilus, even going to the trouble of teaching them to sing "Tipperary" in English for the entertainment of British troops. Sobn these young boys were fond of service in more strictly military en deavor, and Anna Held appealed to the' French government and received Its sanction to head a band of the greaest French artists of the stage on & similar mission. It is related that while thus engaged this fiery little Parisienne created quite as much of a furore (considering the size of her audience) as she has stirred up at any performance of any of her successes, when she refused, point blank, to eat dessert from a gold-plate. when her party was being entertained at a home of wealth and title in Bel glum and starving women and children clamored for food outside. Again, Anna Held commanded, just as her personal- . lty had commanded hundreds of thou sands of persons, to lay down their money at. the box offices to see her, with the result that the dessert course was abandoned and host and guests turned in to feed the unfortunates. " The horrors of war brought Anna Held back to America feeling that, since money was to play such a big part in the preservation of the homes of her people, she could do more by returning to the stage and giving lib erally of her earnings, a large part of , which she sets apart for 49 poilus. for whom she is godmother, and the chil dren and aged women of France, as well as for the comfort of the soldiers. Portland has not been one of the for tunate cities of America to know Anna . Held as a speechmaker. Touring the country in ' vaudeville, she addressed the principal clubs of business men wherever she appeared, urging the United States to stop the slaughter of Europeans, and was given the name by newspapers of being one at the most compelling woman speak ers of this day. And credit another " mark to. the Anna Held intellect her address was all her own, not words put in her mouth by a press agent. - This, . according to no less an authority than the praise agent himself. The attraction in which Madame Held comes to us is "Follow Me." a gay musioal comedy of rapid tempo, French spice and American wit, with its wealth of scenic and sartorial epleq,dor men tioned in the foregoing some beauti ful chorus girls wearing gowns that cost as much, as $1000 each and the : lovely Anna herself outdoing every pre- ' vious triumph in gown display and Its cast cf favorite Broadway artists. It comes with the stamp of approval from newspaper critics wherever it has appeared. . ; Is it the fascination of Anna Held, or can we say it is Portland's pros perity and appreciation "of the good things? No matter which. Manager Pangle. of the Hellig Theater, is ex pecting such big business that he has arranged for a popular matinee Friday afternoon, as well as the Saturday mat inee, that all Portland wftman will have opportunity to see the wonderful gowns In "Follow Me." Over at the home of stock the Alcazar players are going to present Owen Davis' newest play, "Sinners." which was one of the dramatic .sensations of two years ago in New York, and will be all the more interesting to us be cause it baa never been prfjented I v 1' . . . "w. locally. ' "Sinners" Is a bold, daring treatment of the age-old subject of one law for' the man and another for the woman. In this instance, however, the playwright has readjusted the situ ation and pointed a way for the ac ceptance of the woman through, her own regeneration. The play is one of topical interest and should prove one of the successful ones of the season. It affords a big role for Ruth Gates, and for Edward Everett Horton and for all the other beloveds of the Al cazar players. While the subject is intensely human and dramatic in treatment, the play abounds in plenty of rich comedy and a fine romance. Before Calvin Heilig departed for Seattle last Wednesday night he was beseeched by the ' Orpheum manage ment to drop'all plans he might have for rental of his theater next Wednes day night that the Orpheum might present an extra show. "If your show is as good as last week you may have the theater Wednesday night," waa Mr. Hellig'a reply. The Orpheum manager declared the incoming show to be just as good If not better than its predecessor, and ac cordingly the Orpheum has the use of the Heilig for an extra performance next Wednesday night. It looks as if the Orpheum is going to make, good its boast, for the show opening today is another three-star assemblage and the bill contains sev eral Portland favorites, including Rita Boland. She Is the daughter of Cap tain J. W. Brown, of the U. S. Engi neers' tug J. C. Post. The headliners are Fanchon and Marco with their 'Frisco jazz band, and Billie Montgom ery and George Perry. The extra at traction is "Fagan s Decision" as pre sented by Claud and Fannie Usher, who, of course are accompanied by the little dog, "Spareribs." Fanchon and Marco, dancers, claim to have been the first to introduce to New York the puzzling charm of jazz music as played by white musicians. tsorn ana orea in Los Angeles, Fanchon and Marco are sister and brother. They began to dance at an early age and it wasn't long before MtB'E CEL.ES TINE, ONE) OF THE I'O "FADS A-XD FOL II I n I V-1L 'u Sr 'riujiy fiSi 1 w" - ' -v-,w - 5 I i ; Vj I 5- i ii -v "., 4 5, , . i n THE SUNDAY OliEGOXIAX, POItTXAXD, DECEMBER O, 1917, III ? 1l " "v. ' It 5 fT- - - - I? " I 1 , ? IIP P S&aJznSxf &ru zjc&?fi&, their ability was recognized, both as musicians and dancers. After a tour of' Australia, they went East where their dancing at social functions soon won high favor. Then, about two years ago, Jhey telegraphed for the Jazz band to join them. The New Yorkers first listened with amazement. Then they applauded. They caught the spirit of the music and they rose to their feet. Fanchon and Marco and their Jazs band then were established. They bill themselves as "Two Bache lors of Arts." do Billie Montgomery and George Perry. They are more than that; they are bachelors of many arts, for, to quote their self-description, "they sing a little, dance a little, talk a little, play the piano a little and cut up in general." Billie Montgomery will be perhaps best remembered by Orpheumites as the former teammate of Florence Moore. George Perry was once of the team of Perry and Lee White. Vaudeville's favorites, Claude and Fanny Usher, return after an absence of three years. Their present vehicle is a comedy drama in miniature, en titled, "Fagan's Decision," and it is from the prolific pen of Fanny Usher herself. "Fagan's Decision" comes to the Or pheum after a triumphant tour of the East where critics hailed it as a play let gem. It is an unforgettable inci dent from life, and Claude Usher, as a retired prizefighter, and Fanny Usher as the orphan waif are so sincere and humorous that the audience, in doubt as to whether it should laugh or cry. as a rule does - both. Also there is Spareribs, the pathetic looking, dog of the sketch, who is quite a show in himself. Claude and Fanny Usher, for 14 years in vaudeville, are today consid ered one of the standbys of the two-a-day field. With originality ever their guiding star they have built for themselves an enviable following among vaudeville patrons. They have gained a reputation most desiredt by all vau devillians, ' the reputation that an Usher act must be good because Claude and Fanny Usher are in it. Next week's attractions at Pantagea vaudeville is topped by.Neek Suen in a baffling creation of Hongkong mys- PIXAB LYRIC ROSEBUD GIRLS. IX LIES" THIS WEEK, I i ComaczTtf CZ.zctst.G&B teries and tricks of the Orient. An other big act is the pretentious "Revue de Vogue," billed as a radium of splendor. "Fads and Follies" Is the titlu of the travesty on American tourists In the Europe that used to be, as viewed by the Lyric musical stock with the team of comedians, Dillon and Franks, at the bat. .! "Turn to the Right," the great out standing theatrical hit of the past year In ew York and Chicago, comes to the Heilig Theater commencing Thursday December 20. It is a comedy-drama of the good old-fashioned sort that the fathers and mothers of the'present gen eration of playgoers enjoyed. In j.to- ducing It. Winchell Smith and John L. Golden acted upon the assumption that human nature is constructed today on the same lines that it was t decade back. They were confident that the public had not outgrown its liking for a story that mixed smiles and tears, morals and emotions, romance and the home-made Jam of one's far-away childhood into a fragrant and delect able evening's entertainment. In Its .Introduction of farm and vil lage types. "Turn to the Right" ranks with "The Old Homestead." "Way Down East" and Winchell Smith's other great comedy success, "The Fortune Hunter, while in religious spirit It is faintly reminiscent of "Ben Hur." In its pro logue and three acts there Is never a line or situation to cause a blush, de spite the fact that two of Its principal characters are nimble-wltted crooks. Their regeneration through the Chris tian influence of an old-fashioned pray ing mother provides the underlying theme. "Turn to the Right" will be presented here with the original east and pro duction, exactly as It ran for nine months in Chicago and a year in New York. The engagement at the Heilig is for three nights and Saturday matinee. OBPHECM TQ PLAY EXTRA SHO Arrangements Made With Hellig Agent for Wednesday Night. Again Orpheum vaudeville will be presented In an. extra performance at the Hellig Theater, arrangements hav ing been made to stage the entire show next Wednesday night. The Orpheum management obtained this concession from the Heilig Theater Company on account of the magnitude of the show opening today. It Is another three star aggregation, the bill having two headliners. an extra attraction and several artists who are Portland favo rites. The favoritea include Rita Bo land, a Portland girl, who gained great success in vaudeville in the East. Miss Boland Is the daughter of Captain J W. Brown, of the United State Engi neers' tug J. C. Post. The headliners of the Orpheum show opening at the Heilig this afternoon are Fanchon and Marco, with their Frisco Jazz band, featuring. Rudy Wle- deoft, proclaimed to be the premier saxophonist of the world, and Billie Montgomery and George Perry, "The Two Bachelors of Art. "JazaV was unknown to New York until Fanchon and Marco came from San Francisco to the Great White Way. Fanchon -and Marco are prtlcularly capable dancers. Their repertoire in cludes prctically every variety of dancing. At present they confine them selves to ragtime steps with variations, these being presented when Mr. Marco leaves his partner to conduct his or chestra to add vehemence to their playing. The jazz band is composed of five men. Including Rudy Wledeoft, the saxophonist. A new act that has Just been crowned is. that of Billie Montgomery and George Perry. Mr. Montgomery until recently was half of the duo, Montgomery and Moore, and George Perry is the ferry ot ferry ana wnite. A description of their act. quoting their own words, la "We sins a little, dacce yJr- ) y s.a.a: sax. v , . a a little, talk a little, play the piano a little and cut up in general." The extra attraction of the new show is . "Fagan's Decision." presented by Claud and Fannie Usher. The Ushers are as well known for "Fagan's Deci sion as -J efferson was for "Kip Van Winkle" or Edwin, Booth for his "Ham let." The Ttory of the ex-featherweight pugilist, the orphan, and by no means least Important, the dog Spareribs, is a- tear and a smile squeezed together so tightly that it 1 difficult to tell which is which, but both are there. , Claude and Flnnie Usher have not been in Portland for the past three years. Rita Boland. the Portland girl, is making her second tur of the Or pheum circuit. In her former trip, however, she did not appear in her home town, as the Orpheum was closed in the Summer season when she was on tour. Miss Boland appears in mimicry and song sketches. She Is praised generally as being one of the big hits of the show. Miss Robbie Gordons, a statuesque artist, will appear In character studies and poses, reproducing old masters and original designs. Another Portland favorite In the new show is James H. Cullen. "The Man From the West." who Is making his 17th Omheum circuit tour. Cullen car ries with him a portfolio which Is filled with humorous stories, parodies and lyrical songs. The portfolio Is always being refilled with new material. This is one of the reasons Cullen is always welcome visitor wherever he may go and able to play IT return engagements over the Orpheum circuit. The Ioleen sisters. Australian sharp shooters on the wire, complete the show, and as usual the Orpheum Travel Weekly will show moving pictures of foreign lands, and the orchestra under the leadership of George E. Jeffery will play a 20-mlnute concert preceding every show. ANNA tttf.t.t TO BE AT HEILIG Famous Actress Will Appear In Mu sical Comedy, "Follow Me." Anna Held, in her own musical com edy. "Follow Me." Is to be the attrac tion at the Hellig Theater, Broadway at Taylor, next Thursday. Friday ana Saturday nights, December 13. 14 and 15, with a special matinee Saturday. "Follow Me" Is a typical Broadway attraction in that it Is Of rapid tempo. exceedingly funny, has numerous song hits and offers Miss Held the support of an exceptionally capable cast. It had a lonir run at the Casino, New York, last season, serving as the vehicle for the return to the American stage, after two years spent In administering to the maimed and blind soldieca of France, of the famous French star of musical comedy, who is sole owner of the production. The attraction Is In three acts, the scenes all laid in Paris, a villa, green room of a French theater and a Pari sian restaurant. All are striking ex amples of the art impressionistic, and Innumerable costumes -form an almost endless procession of bizarre creations, quaint combinations in color and de sign; chic and scanty effects In silks and satins and queer fancies illus trating articles of the toilette, the sea sons and other Ideas decorative and otherwise. Catchy songs, new dances and general high merriment are woven in about a story of philandering hubby, the Mar quis de Launay, whose American wife discovers bis flirtation with the actress Claire, of the Theater Varieties. "SIXXERS" TO BE AT BAKER Alcarar Players to Present Owen Davis' Startling Melodrama. Owen Davis' startling melodrama, "Sinners." will have its first presenta tion in this city at the Baker this af ternoon, where the Alcazar Players will offer it for the week. It is in many ways a departure from the gen erally accepted views of life as ex pressed on the stage, but being deli cately handled, with a certain sense of Justification for those wanderers from the straight and narrow path of duty toward society, and carrying a heart story of genuine interest, it Vas been a big success everywhere it has been offered in stock. A young girl, leaving a widowed .:.. ..' '- . ' v v r -4: f i' ST t - ' s - . . GEU KMGUl'S SEV EN POKTI,.M) SYMPHOXY BELLES AT HIP- PUDROatU TODAY. mother, to go to New York to seek work, is found almost starving, friend less and helpless by another girl who came from the same town, but who has fallen into evil ways. This girl Is the only one who will hold out a helping hand and takes her home, shelters her and tries honestly to protect her from falling as she has'done. The opening act takes place In a flat and gives a vivid portrayal of the lives these girls are living. It is filled with comedy of a different kind, a touch of tenderness and a genuine mel odramatic climax. The rest of the play goes back to the small town the two girls came from, and a natural ending is worked out for all the "sinners," different from the finish of girls like these in other plays. There are many strong acting parts, especially for the women of the company. "Sinners" will be seen at the Baker all week, with matinees today, Wednesday and Satur day. "FADS AXD FOLLIES" AT LYRIC Travesty on Doings of American Tourists In Paris Good. "Fads and Follies," dealing with a travesty on the doings of American tourists In Parts In the good old days, will open the week, at the Lyric this afternoon. We find not only the gay grass widow, ambition mad. the giddy young debutante and the antique buyer, in his dotage, but wo find also our two old friends, MiKe and Ike. Real mil lionaires this week it -seems, they meet on the boat coming over, each one try ing to beat the other in the mad race for social prestige. Both having mar riageable daughters, they quickly be come the victims of a bunco artist, who arranges with each unknown to the other) to get them a genuine French Count. The way Mr. Bunc separates them from their coin is a marvel, even manipulating the steel market for their education. They wrangle and fight, make up and fight over again like the good old boys they always have been, and nothing but fate intervenes to pre vent them from losing every nickel of their money. "Fads and Follies" is a big musical laugh show and it will be seen at Mhe Lyric with Dillon and Franks as Mike and Ike all week, with a matinee every day and two extra feature nights Tues day, country store and Friday chorus girls' contest. MAGIO MASTERS AT PAXTAGES Chinese Magicians Will Be Featured on Bill Opening Tomorrow. With the latest, most Intricate and amazing Oriental mysticisms. the Hongkong Mysteries, with Neck Keun and his corps of magic, masters., come as the feature attraction to Pantages for the week commencing with the matinee tomorrow. Neek Seun and his cast have created no end of a sensation throughout the East, where they have appeared ex clusively on the principal vaudeville circuits. "Where do the ducks go?" is but one of the perplexing but amusing tricks which entertain the audience. Neek Seun and his assistants offer feats tlat have astonished the Orient for hun dreds of years, and which are sen for the first time In vaudeville. N'cok Seun has made a lifelong study of the acts of mysticism which he present, and only the wise men of the Celestials know their secrets. A special attractio'n of headline merit is the "Revue de Vogue " with Al Clark, late of the Three Trouba dours, as the principal comedian, and a host of clever vaudeville people in his support. Miss Enlow, who was seen for three consecutive years with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau as violinist soloist, is another principal of excep tional note. The principals have been surrounded by a chorus of metropolitan beauties who sing and dance in the most delightful manner. The lines are bright, the song hits numerous and the staging most elaborate. Fr.ank Bush, the story teller, comes with a host of new stories which will keep his audiences in a gale of laugh ter. Mr. Bush is the celebrated racon teur who has told stories to the prin cipal rulers of every civilized country. McDermott and Wallace have an act replete with the latest songs, dances and jests. They are able Comedians f v r 1 .av tk ' v " ' I "fx. - M S i . ! i . . ! : ; . -. and they score one of the big hits o the bill. Nan Gray, with her songs of Scot land, will be a big favorite with every body, and especially with thos front the land of the heather. Miss Gray of fers new and old songs of Scotland. Martyn and Florence are artistic jug glers who utilize tennis racquets, ten nis balls, Indian clubs and similar im pedimenta to make their act a feature one. "The Fatal Ring," In its fourteenth episode, sears the close, and this strik ing Pathe sensation continues to hold the Interest of the thousands who are following the strange adventure of the tragic bit of Jewelry. WInnifred Gllraine. of New York Winter Garden fame, and her girls in the famous "Back to Nature" ballet. will close their engagement with the continuous performance today from 2 to 11, supported by an all-star cast. In cluding Harry Jolson. brother of the famous musical comedy star. GEXE EXIGHT RETURN'S TO HIP Sextet of Clever Girl Musicians Head Bis Opening Today. Portland will welcome the return of Gene Knight and her seven Portland symphony belles to the Hippodrome Theater today. Gene Knight Is a beau tiful and accomplished musician and the sextet that supports her Is com posed of attractive girls with lovely costumes. They have a refined musi cal act and an elegant stage setting. Every one of the girls is well known and all are members of the McDougal Musical Club. The personnel of the act is Gene Knight, Miss Mae Ross. Miss Delores Cullen, Miss Elizabeth Stanley. Miss Zalie Coloson, Miss Mae Ross and Miss Roberta Larson. Billy Link and Blossom Robinson, a couple of old vaudeville favorites, will be back again. Link used to work in blackface. Miss Robinson makes a charming foil for Link's clever comedy. Carl and Le Clair will be seen in a singing, talking and dancing act that fairly wreaks of class. The Costa troupe are a trio of nov elty aerlallsts who will offer a number of hair-raising stunts. Monohan and company, a man and woman, will offer a roller skating nov elty that promises to be far removed from the ordinary run of such offer ings. Gus Reed presents Cooke and Hamilton in a rare comedy skit enti tled "Samples," in which some very funny situations are involved. The picture for Sunday will be "Clubs Are Trumps," a Luke comedy. STRAND BILL IS PROMISING Good Motion Picture Play and Six Vaudeville Acts Scheduled. Monroe Salisbury and Ruth Clifford, co-stars in several recent Bluebird suc cesses, will be seen at the Strand The ater today in "The Door Between," a vividly dramatic picturization of the popular Samuel Merwin story, "An thony the Absolute." This photoplay, with six unusual acts comprising the 10th Transcontinental Vaudeville Road Show, are on the Strand entertainment bur. Leonard and Wright, In their spec tacular novelty, "In an Album of Songs and Dances," will headline the vaude ville programme. They appear In seven costume changes, ranging from colonial to modern, greeting the audience from the pages of a huge album. The act has been meeting with great success throughout the circuit. t The other acts, which promise much clever and diversified entertainment, are: Malumby and Musette, in a nevelty character singing act, aith aerobatlo and toe dancing: Clifford and Clayton, balancers and furniture tossers; Kath leen Kla-Wah-Yau in an Indian noltr including harp and banjo music; Dick Hyland, the dancing musician, and Walker and Burrell. the "Musical Farmers." "The Door Between." which is said to offer fandom something entirely new in photoplay construction, with a hero so bold that he faces the greatest dangers for the woman he loves, but Is so bashful that he does not kiss her during the entire five reels, intro duces the versatile Salisbury as An thony Eckhart, who goes to the Orient to make a phonographic record of a Chinese scale. He is unable to find anyone with a sense of perfect pitch to sing it to him. One night in Toklo Anthony meets Crocker, an American, who has come to the Far East to kill his wife and the man with whom she has eloped. The next day Anthony hears the voice he has been searching for. It belongs to a woman occupying an adjoining room In his hotL Anthony breaks down the door and discovers Heloise, a very beautiful but much frightened woman. Anthony's contrition appeases her. but he discovers, after he has given his heart to the woman, that she is Crocker's wife. He offered to give her up If Crocker would, but he lives fo nothing but revenge. So love's young dream leads through a duel, a mad es cape, and a suicide, to the point where "the door between" Is no more and there is nothing to bar their happiness. "TURX TO THE RIGHT" COMIXQ Comedy to Be Presented at Rellls Beginning December 2 0. "Turn to the Right!" the comedy drama success, comes to the Heilig Theater for three nights, beginning December 20, with a special matinee Saturday. It will be presented with the complete Chicago cast and produc tion, exactly as It ran for nine months at George M. Cohan's Grand Opera- Concluded on Pas 6, Celuaua aj
