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THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, 8UNDAY MORNINO. DECEMBER It, M64.
aN
A.T, THE
"""THERE ia a girl at Uie Columbia
meaire. playing in me k
1 company, who want to the Man
hat tan theatre In New York
once and saw Mra. Minnie Maddern
Flake In a one-act play called "Little
Italy." That settled it.
"I," said the girl, 'will be an actress
' a real actress an emotional actress!
J will be the leading lady!"
And now. If present plana do not fall.
Louise Brandt, the girl In the cited case.
la within one year of the realisation of
her ambltUm. Bhe la to be featured
next season in "Mra. Dane's Defense."
Whether this project carries or not.
It is certain that Mlas 'Brandt's ad
mirers among the Columbia's clientele
re numberless and they wlsa her all
the success in the world.
She came here a few months ago did
Miss Brandt with a small package of
experience and a large bundle 01 anility
to play ingenue roles with the Colum
bia Theatre Stock company. She made
a hit. Not one hit, but several. Ia
truth, they were so numerous and so
emphatic that the editor recently com
manded me to go out and gat an inter
view with Louise Brandt. This same
following being the result:
The object of my quest was found in
Elks' hall rehearsing a part In
"Camilla" It wasn't a long part abe
aid a matter of merely 46 "sides."
which I took to mean pages, and in a
few moments aha would be at liberty to
talk for publication. These few mo
ments having rolled by. the young star-to-be
propped herself up on the altar of
the eleventh hour and confided all her
history to Journal readers.
Mlaa Brandt waa born and bred in old
Kentucky, bar exact native heath being
the town of Newport. Her father and
bare Was a departure from the usual
story waa not opposed to the stage.
He took Louise to the theatre quite fre
quently and spent hours at home lis
tening to her imitations and burlesques
of the performances she had witnessed.
At a moderate ago it became apparent
that the girl would have a remarkable
voice, and at about the same time she
caught the grand opera fever. Time
and money were not lacking, and for
alx years Mlaa Brandt studied in a
conservatory of mualc in Cincinnati
with the intention of going into opera.
But she was not destined for that,
as developments proved. Like all mu
sical pupils who have a price, aha on
one occasion went to Naw Tork to
hear a great artiste sing Nordics by
name. She was entranced for one even
ing. The next night Mlsa Brandt saw
Mrs. Flake in the one-act play men
tioned. She waa entranced for the re
mainder of her life. Going to the office
of Charles Frohman. with all the nerve
of a youthful ambition, she demanded a
private interview with that giant of
theatrical affairs, and waa granted It.
To htm she told her story, the effect
of which was that shs no longer eared
to sing that ahe wanted to be an emo
tional actress.
"Well, young woman," replied Froh
man, "you cannot become an actress
by spending your time In a music con
servatory. Wade In and get some ex
perience. Begin at the bottom."-,
Thla happened only three years ago.
With what money ahe had left the girl
went to Rose Etynge and studied acting.
She threw her whole soul Into her work,
nd very little time elapsed before she
was engaged by a stock company in
Rochester, N. T., to play small bits. As
gradually aha Improved aha attracted
attention, and one day came an offer
from the Empire Stock company In To
ledo, Ohio, offering her an engagement
for "general business." meaning. In the
vernacular of the day, "any old thing"
that comes up. This she accepted. At
the Empire she became an Ingenue, and
while there. In her second esaeon, she
waa engaged to come to Portland and
enter the Columbia stock.
"And now," exclaimed Mlsa Brandt,
rapturously, "I want to quit the Ingenue
business and become a real actress! I
feel the power to play emotional roles
I have more confidence In myself for
that line of work than any other. It
seems to me exactly as though I wars
rut out for it. and If It is in me I am
going to find It out!"
Miss Rrandt has gray eyes, light hair
nd set features Youth Is In her favor
and, as ait of the Columbia patrons are
awe re, ahe makes a beautiful appearance
on the stag.
All of which are first principles In
the snaking of a star.
Frank Curtis, the rotund parcel of
geniality who manages the Florence
Roberts company, unloaded a few ex
periences of no little Interest the other
night In the Marquam's box office, and
In the course of his monologue tore the
strings from a story which he swears
has never been opened before.
Kara Kendall, sccordlng to the Curtis
version, was struggling along a few
years ago. trying to find the fame and
fortune ne knew would eventually be
his He had played In a small town In
Illinois, and buslnesa waa very bad.
Ttoelne Vokea followed bis show the
next night, and her house was sold out.
The morning efter his performance
Kendall and several members of the
tompsny eat In the hotel office looking
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blue as Indigo, whan George Fleming and
the Yokes company came In. After ex
changing greetlnea. Fleming observed
that Kendall was glum.
"Say, Ears," reaching for his pocket-
book, "can I do anything for you?"
"Yes." replied ...endall, "but it isn't
money I want You might run a line on
your program tonight telling them I
played hare last night."
Which r real Is another Kendall story
worth repeating:
While he waa en the road last season
In "The Vinegar Buyer," George Mac
Menus, a Denver boy, was his press
agent. The season was to open In San
Francisco and thither went the agent.
He framed up two original stories, and
with all the enthusiasm of youth rushed
over to Kendall's hotel. Presenting the
manuacrlpt to the comedian, MacManus
exclaimed: "I have already arranged to
have theae stories publlahed in thla
evening's paper. What do you think of
them!"
Kendall did not take the preferred
'script, but turned on hla agent rsther
sharply: "Mr. MacManus, I pay you to
think!"
Unabashed by hla reception, the press
agent smiled, and retorted: "True, Mr.
Kendall, but I have not as yet received
my salary."
Kendall thought.
Florence Roberts Is always a welcome
visitor In Portland, and It la gratifying
to learn that on thla occasion she played
to unusual receipts. She brought out
her new, latest, most doleful, yet beau
tiful acquisition. "A Doll s House," and
divided the remainder of the week
among previous auecesses "Teas.
"Lady Ursula" and "Zasa." Night after
night thla clever woman proved the
possession of a growing genius. Her
ability seems to Increase even as the
admiration of her admirers Increases.
Bhe la a star who never becomes tire
seme, a fact indicated by the substan
tial advance In bualness the week Just
closed, compared with that of her last
visit here. Mlsa Roberts la to play still
another engagement In Portland this
season, during which we may hope to
see the new piece by Lucius Henderson,
entitled "Pauline D'Orcy," which waa
in rehearsal hers.
The Columbia satisfied Its patrons
with a aplandid production of "The
Prodigal Daughter," Interrupted for one
night by tba big muaical spectacle. "The
Billionaire." At the Empire we had "A
Little Outcast" and "The Fatal' Card,"
neither of which calls for additional
comment
The 10-cent houses are going on a
usual some good bills and soma "simply
fierce." You never can tell until you
get inside just what you are going to
it through, but at worst a dime Isn't
much to loae. RACE WHIi'NEV.
SMALL TALK OF THE
8TACE.
Return of Greet a Players.
The Ren Great company of playera.
who presented "Everyman" at the Mar
quam last week, will be seen again at
the above theatre between Xmaa and
Hew Year,
Mlas Halite Ermlnle Rives, who vis
ited Portland last weak, has aubmltted
to Otis Skinner a scenario of "The Cast
away," In which Lord Byron is the prin
cipal character, and the actor will prob
ably produce It.
It is very likely that Maude Adama
will appear in "As You Like It" as well
as "The Little Mlnlater" and "L'Alglon"
this season.
Eddy Foy, the corned tan of upa and
downs in life, ia now. able to buy targe
pieces of property In New York state
out of hla earning of the past two
yeara.
Still another child wonder has ap
peared In Berlin, a i:-year-old Russian
named Mlahka Klmann. He Is a vio
linist The original announcement of a three
years Joint starring tour of E. H.
Hot hern and Julia Marlowe has been
confirmed since their big success in
New York.
Madame Rejane, who has captivated
New York, carries with her It costume
trunks measuring seven feet high by
four feet wide and about three feet
deep. They are complete traveling
wardrobes, leaving the gowns on the
hangers In exactly the same -position as
when banging In the ma dame's dressing
room.
The successful revival of "The Two
Orphans" by an all star caat haa led
W. a. Brady to the Idea that "ftarrl
clde" would be acceptable In revived
form.. Thla waa a notable melodrama
In the early aeventlea.
'The Little Mlnlater" Is to be pro
duced by Frank Perley as an opera.
Curiously enough, the prima donna star
will be Viola Pratt Gillette, a native of
Salt Lake City, from whence Maude
Adams, originator of the role of Babble,
also came.
Nat C. Goodwin, by the terms of a
contract signed a few days ago, will be
under the management of Charles Froh
man for the next three years. Mr.
Goodwin haa Just made his appearance
In 'The Usurper." In which he appears
as a cowboy. Hla next play will be
"The Beauty and the Barge." by Louis
N. Parker, author of "Rosemary."
Lew Fields has adopted a new Idea
and a paying one In hla new stock com
pany, which la now playing 'It Hap
pened In Nordland." Whenever a man
ager produces a hit on Broadway It will'
be burlesqued the nexr night at Flelda'.
In other words, the show will not be the
same, but new features will bo added
each week during the run. without any
change in the title.
The New York Telegraph wants to
bet that William Shakeapeare'a Income
In a year did not equal half of George
Ade'a In one month.
E. H. Rothem, John Drew and Ethel
Barrymore, three "stars" now before the
New York public, with Roland Buck
stone and Bruce McRae. also playing
there at the present moment, curiously
Illustrate the force of herjdlty and
Xumlly influence on the stage. White-
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haired men, whose early enthusiasm was
aroused by the early Sothern, the first
John Drew, Mrs. John Drew and the
great Buckstone of London, are now sit
ting In New York theatres every even
lng to applaud the descendants of these
historical artists. Perhapa the case of
the young light comedian. Bruce McRae,
Is most curious of all. With a single
"night off," on Monday, he sat in the
Lyceum theatre to see and study his
own uncle. Sir Charles Wyndham. in
"David Garrlck," his first and only op
portunity to do go.
Klrke LaShelle. ever ready to take a
chance, has paid Augustus Thomas
110,000 for a half Interest In "The Edu
cation of Mr. Plpp," which haa never
yet been produced.. It la said to be
the hlgheat price ever paid for an un
produced drama.
The funeral of Mrs. Gilbert was at
tended by such a crush of New Yorkers
that extra platoons of policemen were
called to preserve order. Dr. Btlnson,
who delivered the eulogy at the actress'
bier, read this poem, written by himself
for the occasion:
Eighty yeara of hopea and feara;
Eighty yeara of Joya and tears.
Eighty yeara by changes tossed;
Eighty years by losses crossed.
Eighty years of battles fought
Tell me not they were for naught.
Eighty yeara of garnered lore;
All that's true the heavens will store.
Eighty years of work all dona.
Cheery as when first begun.
Mr. Savage haa announced that next
year "Parsifal" In English will be taken
west of the Mississippi and aa far as
the Pacific ooaat, tha entire season be
ing consumed In that part of the coun
try, The following autumn, that of
It0, the entire production will be taken
to England.
Every star la supposed to possess a
fad. So, being a properly constituted
star. William Gillette lets his faddlstlo
tendencies run to houseboats His pres
ent possession In that line la the Aunt
Polly, named after a local character at
Tyron. n c.. where Mr. Gillette owns a
home and spends most of hla vacation
time. The first houseboat Mr. Gillette
owned waa what the French would call
a "mauvala sujet." She was under-en-gined
and topheavy, so that ahe steered
vary badly and often. In an emergency,
would not answer to the wheel at all.
he played the trick on Mr. Gillette on
the Hudson river once and ran afoul of
some canal boats. One of the men on
the boats dubbed her a "holy terror." a
name which seemed so apt that Mr.
Gillette promptly christened her It It
was In this boat that Mr. Gillette one-
day slowly approached a drawbridge on
the Connecticut river. The keeper of
the bridge looked at the craft In amaze
ment and then drawled: "Where from?"
"New York," replied Mr. Gillette.
"When?" "July 4th." "What centuryT"
L
MONOLOGUES.
"Camille" at the Columbia.
The production of "Camille" at the
Columbia theatre thla week, opening
wiin me usual Sunday matinee today.
and running all the week, will be the
moat elaborate production of this famous
love play that haa ever been seen in
Portland.
The large ataga and appointments of
the beautiful Columbia and the capabili
ties of the fine stock company are suited
admirably to a superb rendering and
setting of this most compelling and emo
tionally strong play.
There Is a great deal of Interest taken
in town aa to the way Miss Countlas
will act the wonderful deml-mondalne
"Camille," a part that has taxed the
capacity of all very high grade actresses
who have made their lasting marka upon
the stage. Mlaa Countlss is suited
exactly by temperament and physique
to give a masterly performance of the
heart-thrilling role, and predictions are
made that ahe will rlae to a very high
plane of art" the coming week.
Mr. Raume. the popular leading man,
will outdo himself aa Armand. Again,
there are great expectations for the Im
personation of the Count da Varvllla,
which will be given by Mr.. Barnard.
In fact, the caat is exceptionally high
class, and the settings are to be cer
tainly the most sumptuous that have
been seen heretofore on this coast It
will be a memorable week of fine act
ing and an appropriate and adequate
production of a really Wonderful play.
Being what la termed a "society
drama," the play affords a vehicle for
the display of handsoms modern cos
tumes, scenery and accessories, and will
be presented by the Columbia stock
company with lavish display and every
sttentlon to detail. It will be the most
beautiful and- sumptuous production of
"Csmllle" ever given on the Pacific
coast.
"A Chinese Honeymoon."
"A Chinese Honeymoon," which Is the
attraction at the Marquam Grand theatre
next Tueaday and Wednesday nights,
comes to us fresh from long runa In
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago,
and San Francisco, and Is headed by
John L. Kearney, and the role of Mr.
Samuel Pineapple seems to fit that
comedian better than any part ha has
yet piayea. The leading opposite cnar
acter, Mrs. Pineapple, la played by Mlaa
Reglna McAvoy, the clever prima donna
from the New York Casino. A notable
person with "A Chinese Honeymoon
Is Miss Georgia Bryton, who is said to
be Irresistibly funny as Flfl. the
"slavey," and the songs, 'Twlddledy
Bits" and "I Want to tie a Lydy." are
some of the hits of ths performance
Other well known people In the cast are
George Broderlck, Robinson Newbold,
Albert Froom. Joseph E. Miller, Mabellu
Baker, Winnie Carter, Helen Latten
Eveleen Dunmore and a grand ensemble
of 76 voices, making it one of the moat
expensive attractions that has visited
this city In recent yeara.
The story of "A Chinese Honeymoon"
relates to a certain Mr. Pineapple who
la desirous of spending his honeymoon
in the orient and Is attended by eight
brldeanralds who Join the party to watch
over Mr. Pineapple. The emperor of
China wants a wife, and Admiral HI
Lung, In trying to find him one, meets
Mrs. Pineapple, and she, angsred by her
husband's flirtations, allows the em
peror to kiss her. A royal kiss In Ylang
Ylang Is aa good as a betrothal, and as
Mr. Pineapple Imprints a ktss on the
emperor's niece, another wedding Is Im
perative, and out of this situation plenty
of Innocent fun Is extracted.
Howard Talbot, who has written the
music, which Is graceful, tuneful and
catchy, Is by no means new at produc
ing stage music. -The book and lyrics
are the work of, George Dance, and are
said to be uncommonly clever. Seats
are now selling.
"Princess Chic" This Week.
Among those who have big following
snd ars well known and popular with
the theatre-going public may be men
tioned Sophie Brandt, Gua Vaughn,
George Thomas, Lyman Wheeler, John
H. Henderson, George c. Callahan.
George Thomas. Tom Smith Msrtln, Har
ry Monroe, George C. ogle. Robert Al
gler, Jane Vender Zee, Carolyn Lum.
Julia Kohles, Dorothy Williams and
Anna Dreaaler. Theae and many others
of note are In the cast of "The Prtncesa
Chic," which comes to the Marquam
Grand theatre next Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights, with a matinee
Saturday afternoon. In producing this
opera the management has spared nei
ther money nor managerial skill in
equipping It with everything that could
possibly add to Its success. This year
new costumes and scenery have been
given the piece, and It la claimed that
the production today is more elaborate
and pretentious than It was whan orig
inally produced In New Tork.
In writing the libretto Mr. La Shell
endeavored to put forth a book that
would be at onoe arousing and laughable,
and still free from the tomfoolery that
seems to be almost the sole ingredient
of most of our comic operas. With thin
Idea in view he has mustered Into his
libretto a plot that haa some excuaa
for being.
Mr. Edwarde Is well known to tha
opera going public aa the composer of
many of the most popular operas of
recent years, -notably "Madeleine," "Tha
Jolly Musketeer," "Tha Wedding Day"
and "Dolly Varden." "The Princess
Chic," however. Is conceded to be his
most successful effort Bale of seats
Tuesday.
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Maxine Elliott at Marquam.
Maxlns Elliott comes to the Marquam)
Grand theatre Monday afternoon and
night, Tuesday snd Wednesday nights,
December 20, 27 and II, under the man
agement of Charles B. Dillingham, in
Clyde Fitch's newest and best eomedy,
"Her Own Way." Thla Is a bright and
entertaining comedy of New Yofk Ufa
of today. In which the leading character
Is a high-spirited, beautiful and Charm
ing American girl, who Insists upon
having her own way In her love affair.
Mlaa Elliott will be aupported by
strong company, which Includes Charles
Cherry, James Carew, R C. Hera, Osor
gle Lawrence, Nellie Thome and a clever
child, actor. Donald Oallaher.
Melba Coming to Portland.
Manager Charlea A. Ellis, who has
charge of Mme. Melba'a tour In America,
haa had to refuse many concert engage
moms throughout the country, and hast
received many evidences that Indicate
a continuation of tha success which at
tended her concerts up to the New York
engagement. Melba will be heard in
this city. Monday evening, January jn,
under the direction of Calvin Helllg.
"Shore Acres" at the Empire.
Manager Baker of ths Empire theatra
announoea an exceptional treat for hla
patrons In the first production at popu.
lar prices for this' Sunday afternoon and
night and Monday night of Jamas v.
Heme's famous comedy drama, "Shorn
Acres." This beautiful play has here
tofore been given at the Marquam Grand,
and was contracted for that house thla
season, but Manager Baker mads Mrs.
Heme a cash offer for three perform
ances, . snd the same hsa been accepted.
The company appearing In "Shore
Acres- Is, wth few exceptions, the earns
as was asm at ths Marquam two years
ago, and Is again headed by Measrs.
James T. Galloway and Atkins Law
rence, and unstinted praise Is lavished
upon this organisation throughout ths
country. Manager Baker feels that ha
haa secured one of the biggest bargains
that haa aver been offered to theatre
goers In Portland, and assures every
lover of the drama In this city aa fins
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