4
- HMIfc ; ' jlBH SK jj
BY LEONE CASS BAEH.
WITH three successful plays to
his credit at the age of 38
years, Harry James Smith, who
killed in an accident near Seattle
In March, 1918, while engaged in vol
unteer war work for the Red Cross,
rave promise of becoming one of
America's most celebrated play
wrights, if indeed Mb works did not
actually entitle him to that distinc
tion. Mr. Smith's first play, written
about eight years ago, was "Mrs.
Bumsted-Leigh," a satire on society,
which Mrs. Fiske used as a vehicle for
aoveral seasons. Then came "A Tailor
Made Man." a comedy of American
"pep." perseverance and philosophy,
which New York critics declared to
be the best play of its type that the
native stage had seen In more than
a decade. Mr. Smith's third play.
"The Little Teacher." was a comedy
drama of intense human interest, and
scored an emphatic success in the
east. He also completed the manu
script of a fourth play before his
death called "Evvie's Romance."
which is soon to be produced, accord
ing to information current In New
York theatrical circles.
When America entered the war Mr.
Smith offered his services to the Red
Cross, and was in -the northwest en
raged In gathering sphagnum moss,
of which ho had an expert knowledge,
and which was being used extensively
lor surgical dressings in army hospi
tals. Mr. smith had completed his
uays worn in the mountains and was
returning to Seattle for the nirht
when an automobile in which he was
riaing was struck by a train at
i.. vmuih, uu in H oruiiant young
piaywrignt was instantly killed. At
inai lime nis most successful comedy
laiior-jiaae .Man.' was in the
midst of its year's run in New York
-uy.
This play is to open at the Heilig
December 25, and will be the Christ
mas week attraction, offering a mati
nee on Christmas day and one on Sat
urday afternoon.
"The Gingerbread Man" is the piece
elected by Manager C. V. "Everett for
the Christmas week attraction at the
Alcazar theater beginning tomorrow
night. "The Gingerbread Man" is a
most euita-ble vehicle for musical
etock companies as a Yuletide offer
ing, and Matt Grau, owner of the play.
Bays it will be played in 12 cities of
the United States and Canada for their
Christras attraction. It is an ideal
entertainment for the kiddies. It
takes them to the "Land of Bon Bon."
where they can laugh at the funnv
"Fairy Queen" and "The Gingerbread
Man," and enjoy the tuneful musio
supplied by A. Baldwin Sloan. There
will be a special matinee on Christ
mas day.
At the Baker opening this after
noon Maude Fulton's play, "The Brat,"
foes on for the Christmas week at
traction, with Verna Felton playing
the title role, which Miss F'ulton her
self created in the original play. The
entire Baker company will be seen in
support of Miss Felton in this whole
some, interesting play.
Noted for the sumptuous musical
comedies and revues which he has
Siven to vaudeville. Gus Edwards,
producer-author-composer, is said to
have surpassed his former efforts in
his new offering, that will be seen at
the Orpheum this week.
Mr. Edwards himself will head the
act, supported by a company of "new
ly found" youthful talent, including
Vincent O'Donnell. "the Kid McCor
mack" and Hazel and Alice Furness.
two beauties, often referred to as
"the sunbeam sisters of song and
steps."
The vehicle Mr. Edwards Is present
ing for his farewell appearance is
called "The Welcome Home Song
Revue." Musical numbers, old and
new. follow in such rapidity that it
is said to be a veritable kaleidoscope,
When Mayor Hylan and the Gerry
society permit a Juvenile act to ap
pear in public in New York, that act
must be an exceptionally good one
and therefore theatergoers are anti-
cipatlng a treat at the Pantages for
the week beginning with the matinee
tomorrow, when "The Rising Genera
tion" will be presented for the first
time in Portland. This great "kid"
act has been a huge success wherever
presented and it comes headlined on
a programme that holds many attrac
tive things, including Willie Solar,
the famous New York Winter Garden
comedian. ,
" TAILOR-MADE MAX" COMING
New York Success Booked for
Christmas Week at Heilig.
It Is seldom that one can heartily
recommend a new play as thoroughly
entertaining and worth while, and
also guarantee its intrinsic value, but
the vast majority of playgoers who
saw "A Tailor-Made Man" during its
solid year's run at the Cohan and
Harris theater. New York, agreed
that it deserved all the praise that
had been bestowed upon it. The late
Harry James Smith wrote the play,
which is based upon Gabriel Dregley's
work. "The Well-Fitting Drees Coat."
which had great vogue in Europe for
several years.
More than any play brought out
in recent years, Mr. Smith made "A
Tailor-Made Man" truly and em
phatically American. It breathes the
American spirit; it exhales the Amer
ican atmosphere in the business of
fice. In the circumstances that bring
young John Paul Bart his oppor
tunity to 'dfbo destiny and his star of
success. Its characters are types
cleverly drawn, types that show the
uprooting Influence of American
"pep" on old-world ideals of woman's
dependence and man's limitations. It
has a philosophy, shrewd, stimulating
and energizing.
John Paul's excursion into society.
and his enormous success In putting
across destiny, at the expense of the
high brows." is a real delight. John
Paul, as the Napoleon of the busi
ness fortunes of Abraham Nathan,
is a model of diplomacy and sagacity,
and John Paul, facing his Waterloo
in the last chapter of the story, adds
a new turn that holds the Interest
of the auditor to the last.
Cohan and Harris will present "A
Tailor-Made Man" at the Heilig
theater for the Christmas attraction,
next Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights, December 25, 26, 27, with
special price matinees Christmas day
and Saturday. It will prove one of the
real gems of the local theatrical sea
son. ORPHEUM BILLS EXTRA SHOW
Gus Edwards Remains Headllner
, for Christmas Eve.
An extra performance of Orpheum
vaudeville will be presented at the
Heilig next Wednesday night Chriet
mas eve as special arrangements
were made to thus effect, the show
here for Christmas being extolled as
one of the extraordinary bills of the
season. The haadliner is Gus Ed
wards, the celebrated composer-actor
manager-producer, who is offering
himself ana newiy-rouna proteges in
a. 'Welcome Home Song Revue." This
is Mr. Edwards' farewell personal ap
pearance in vaudeville and during hia
Orpheum tour he is glad in any city to
interview talented boys or girls who
r
are desirous of entering upon
stairs
careers.
Gus Edwards has written and pro
duced many song revues and in this
line he was so successful that a Gus
Edwards revue was accepted as the
last word in tabloid musical come
dies. Now he is appearing in person
at the head of one of his own compa
nies and his latest vehicle is charac
teristic of the kind he has always
produced. It has new songs, elaborate
scenic settings and costume creations
and a whole bunch of new Edwards
songs. Those songs are nut together
in an unusual manner so that each
number la a song production. As hia
assistants Mr. Edwards has Vincent
O'Donnell, known as "The Kid McCor
mack," and Alice and Hazel Furness,
newly-found proteges.
The Arnaut brothers, who are pro
grammed as "The Loving Birds," are
the extra attraction of the Oroheum's
holiday show. This act has made the
Arnauts standard clown comedians In
big-time vaudeville and they are such
experts In their various forms of en
tertainment that they defy imitators.
The third feature of the Christmas
bill Is the act of Ernest Evans and
girls, who have a .divertissement of
entertainment. Mr. Evans' girls in
clude a danseuse, a singer, a violinist
and a pianist.
Remaining acts arc "Skeet" Galla
gher and Irene Martin in "Sweaters";
Marshal Montgomery, the extraordi
nary ventriloquist; Jack Osterman In
15 minutes of "Something"; the Jor
dan girls, Nellie and Josephine, comely
wirists; Klnograms, news reel shown
at the Orpheum for the first time, and
Topics of the Day, peppery paragraphs
selected from the press of the world
by the Literary Digest.
In the extra Orpheum performance
next Wednesday night the entire reg
ular show will be presented and spe
cial Christmas music will be played
by the Orpheum concert orchestra un
der direction of George E. Jeffery.
'STUBBORN CINDERELLA GOOD
Last Performance Will Be Tonight
t Alcazar.
Tonight ends the run of "A Stubborn
Cinderella" at the Alcazar theater and
It Is one of those pleasing entertain
ments that has caught the fancy of
the Alcazar fans.
Miss Mabel Wllber is In the cast
and is singing and acting her role of
"Lady Leslie in her usual splendid
manner and has several big solo num
bers also.
"The Stubborn Cinderella" will be
followed by "The Gingerbread Man
beginning tomorrow night.
MUSICAL FANTASY BOOKED
'Tlie Gingerbread Man" to Be Al
cazar Christmas Attraction.
For the Christmas week attraction
the Alcazar Musical players are to
present the merry musical fantasy,
"The Gingerbread Man." beginning
Monday, December 2", with a special
Christmas day matinee on Thursday
and the regular matinee Saturday, but
there will be no matinee on Wednes
day. No better selection could have
been made for the children for their
Christmas entertainment than "The
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 21,
Gtngerbread Man," for It takes them
back to the "Land of Bon Bon," where
the scenes are all pretty candy houses
and there they will see the funny
fairy queen and the ever funny gin
gerbread man.
This smart fantasy was played in
Portland several times and gained for
itself many admirers, with its smart
dialogue, unusual comedy and pretty
muslc. "In the Land of the Beautiful
Bon Bon." "Magic," "Moon. Moon,
Moon." "Queen of My Dreams,"
"Every Little Thing." "Old Barneses"
are a few of the many song hits
that will recall old times and cause
many to whistle and hum to the fa
miliar melodies. There will be many
unusual novelties Introduced in "The
Gingerbread Man" to make It a
splendid Christmas attraction for the
young and the old.
ALCAZAR TO STAGE "OH, BOY"
Great Eastern Success Will Open on
December 29.
The fourth Princess theater. New
Lork. success to be furnished by Guy
Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse and Jerome
Kerns, was the Joyful musical com
edy, "Oh. Boy." which played for two
years in New York, seven months in
Chicago, six months in Boston, with
six different companies touring the
country at the same time.
This is only part of the phenom
enal success attained by "Oh Boy,"
the attraction scheduled to ' follow
"The Gingerbread Man" at the Al
cazar theater, beginning Monday, De
cember 29.
"Oh. Boy." has been termed the "Joy
show," and should make a splendid
New Year's attraction for the Al
cazar. New Year's matinee and even
ing seats now selling.
BAKER OFFERS "THK BRAT"
Maude Fulton's Flay Reviewed for
Christmas Week.
As a half-starved waif of the
gutters, with pinched features and
quivering voice, Verna Felton, In
Maude Fulton's "The Brat." will add
another new character to her long list
in the Baker theater's Christmas week
offering, which opens this afternoon.
Miss Felton will play the role writ
ten and first played by Maude Fulton,
and last seen In Portland when Miss
Betty Brlce played the part at the
Baker theater something more than a
year ago. As two rivals for the hand
of a popular writer of novels. Gerald
lne Dare and Mayo Methot will have
long and important comedy roles, and
as the younger and wild brother to
the writer, David Herbltn will be seen
to advantage. John G. Fee will enact
the character of the novelist.
The play, well known to many the
ater patrons, tells the story of the
little girl of the streets, "the brat."
who is picked up by the novelist to
servs as a type. When the book is
finished, the glrl newly accustomed
to the luxuries of her new life. Is
about to be sent again to battle with
the world when an unexpected ro
mance pops up and brings a speedy
and happy finish. How "the brat"
discovers that her love for the writer
was only a case of hero worshlD
comes when her idol is shattered and
she is about to re turned out of donra
Although main interest in the play
Tr.
a, dt-
centers around the doings of the brat,
the novelist, his brother and the so
ciety girls, George Webster, Claire
Sinclair and the other members of the
company will have a share In some of
the lighter and a few oi the dramatic
moments of the play.
There will be matinees today,
Wednesday and Saturday, with a bar
gain night Monday evening.
CHILDREN HEAD NEW BILL
Pantages Offers Exceptionally
Strong and Novel Playlet.
Because of Its astonishing merit.
"The Rising Generation." the huge
production featured at Pantages for
the week commencing with tomor- .
row's matinee. Is the only offering
- TICKET OFFICE SALE
HEILIG rHUSTi af1 Dec.25-26-27
.- ATTRACTION OAI I CVCOlf
SPECIAL PRICE MATINEES CHRISTMAS DAY AND SATURDAY.
The big hit!
COHAN & HARRIS PRESENT
Tiir
;V3inc ruivniLU Arauuu.
(IllW OF REffNT yEAlB
A TAILOR
i CAST OF
L BHARRf
EVE'S Floor, 3; Balcony, 6 rows
rows "uc, admission 50c
BOTH CHRISTMAS AND SATURDAY
9 rows $1, 13 rows 50c.
I IF YOU CARE TO ORDER BY MAIL I
Address letters, make checks and postofflce money orders payable to W. T.
Pangle. ADD 10 WAR TAX to price ticket desired. Include self.
addressed stamped envelope.
1919.
of the sort to have appeared before
New York audiences with the special
permission of the Gerry society and
Mayor Hyland.
Ten remarkable children appear In
the offering, which has been staged
and is presented under the personal
direction of Maud Daniel, who created
the feature. In its exceptional tour
of the United States, "The Rising
Generation" has been a tremendous
drawing card for the- little folk while
older patrons find It equally interest
ing. Amos the Juvenile stars Is Mary
Caroline Daniel, the child orator of
the west. Dominique Columbo, the
midget comedlam: Charles Monahan
OPENS TOMORROW -
miimrcT lurniriM
35 PEOPLE
JAMES SMIL.
$1.50, 17
rows $1; Gallery, reserved. 7
MATINEE
Floor, J1.50: Balcony,
HUE MAN
the famous child yodeler, and many
others.
As a special feature of exceptional
merit comes Willie Solar, the far
famed comedian of the New York
winter garden, whose original song
cycle will be one of the hits of the
season. Mr. Solar created the fam
ous "Monkey" song, which he will
rutwtu uuDtmif tppmiwr or
GUS EDWARDS
SSBBSBUn
astnat remit cwsa-i asiaii-au-
wnenw 4
"WELCOME HOME SONG REVUE"
nOmCat Newtrfto Prote9 Headed I)
Wacon e-DOIMCU. (The Kid McCormKh)
UCf and HAZEL FUHftCM
"SIEET-GALLASHEB MB MMnMRDtt
In 'tfweatcrV'
MARSHAL MONTGOMERY
satraordtwy VcntmoquMit
ERNEST EVANS
AND GIRLS
JACK OSTERMAN
y tS KSnutee of 'SonnUang'
THE JORDAN GSrUSKOMlja totK
UROGRAM (ndMDTOPtCS OF THE DAY
ARNAUT
BROTHERS
THE LOVING BIRDS
2
render in his inimitable manner. Mr.
Solar will be heard In the other song
numbers which have made him an
International star.
The Aerial Macks present their sen
sational offering m which they per
form o2 different feats In mid air In
four minutes, establishing a world's
record. Theirs is the act sensa
tional.
Happy Jack Gardner and his com
pany In "The War Zone" have a de
lightfully funny satire on the ex
periences of a stranded minstrel in
Belgium who is forced into the army
in order to save himself from the
enemy.
Stephens and Brunelle appear In
bits of musical comedy. Both are
exceptional entertainers and Misa
Brunnelle's gowns are without peer.
Ernie Forest Is a wonderful banjo
and xylophone player, while Grace
Church Is a remarkable dancer, and
together they present "A Vaudeville
Rhapsody" which scores heavily.
Movie fans will be delighted in the
announced coming of the first of the
Fox Sunshine comedies, "Footllght
Maids." which will be a real laugh
producer.
"Making Movies" concludes with the
continuous performance today, com
mencing at 1:30.
HIPPODROME BILL UNUSUAIi
"Fashions a la Carte" to Have
Headline Honors This Week.
"Fashions a la Carte" is the strik
ing name of a striking act which will
headline the vaudeville portion of the
Hippodrome bill which opens today.
Six pretty girls are the principal fea
tures of the cast, wearing dainty neg
ligee to sumptuoua costumes of
costly materials. Accompanying tlfe
fashion revue are singing and danc
ing. The picture feature will be an of
fering of Herbert Rawlinson and
Florence Billings entitled "A Danger
ous Affair." The story of the. play
In which the noted stars of fllmdom
appear is one that reminds of
one of Lever's Irish novels, with lots
of dash and comedy and a good supply
of melodrama.
Roth. Mitchell and Roth have. It Is
said, a splendid feature in their com
edy skit, "The Wrong Neighborhood."
A Dretty nurse girl, her policeman
admirer and an odd character who Is
not supposed to be in on the affair at
all provide the setting. Their chat
ter and crossfire conversation keep
one in high good humor. There is
(Concluded on Page B.)
EXTRA!
EXTRA!!
EXTRA!!!
SHOW
WEDNESDAY
NIGHT
(CHRISTMAS EVE)
XSL