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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1934)
MTTOFOItD MAIL TKTBTJITC. MEDFORD. OltEGOX. SUNDAY. OCTOBER 7. 1934. PAGE SEVEN The Andrews Opera Company 20 Years of Opera From a Rail Fence Circuit Interesting Illitory of Medford'a Pioneer Musical Family In One Night Standi In the Mtddlewest Many Years Ago w Told by Ed Andrews to Charles Hyakell. Marion Marsh Heads Cast Craterian Picture No. V. Xn every man's life comes, from time to time, an Interval when he Hems to face a crisis. One of these appeared to the Andrews opera fam ily, when It closed Its season late In 1884. Our career a an opera com pany was apparently at an end. I had married a musician, Irene White, and we settled at Mankato. Minn., where George Andrews and I became managers of the Mankato the ater and booked traveling companies, among them the Pay Templeton Opera company, the Abble Carrlngton Opera company and others. The Car. rlngton company gave scenes from grand operas. My wife, who had Just recovered from an attack of typhoid, attended the Carrlngton performance against the advice of her physician. A relapse followed and she survived only two days. She was burled In the St. Peter cemetery, beside my mother. When spring came we gave up the theater and became agents of Dyer Brothers, of St. Paul, to sell their pianos. They located me at Delano, where I organized a choral society. Out of this grew the germ of an Idea, new at that time, which ultimately put us back into the opera business permanently. We gave a concert that fall, assisted by two Minneapolis women, Constance Heln. a pianist, and Harriet Robb. a soprano. Con stance Heln was blind. Yet she after ward went to Germany and became the favorite pianist of the Empress Dowager, mother of Kaiser WUhelm II. Johnny Rohan, a local editor, and I were sponsoring the choral society's concert and we had guaranteed the salaries of the professional perform ers. We didn't want to lose money and so we went around and Induced the townspeople to sign up In ad vance for tickets. The result was that we had a packed house and made some profit. Thinking over this plan later 1 asked myself If such a system would work for an opera company on the road. It would, and did. Here and there are newspaper men with the urge for a higher expression In art. In that day they didn't have typewriters and a mere lead pencil was more In the nature of hard labor. John Maclntyre, an able reporter on a dally paper, published by Alden J. Blethen In Minneapolis, had the opera bee and he put It on us with a lease on the Pence Opera house. With Mac's awlstance we organised a real opera company, headed by Marie Roe, soprano, and Henri Lerout, tenor; a second comedian, by name Charlie Gilbert: Fanny Mclntyre, a character woman, and others, ell from Chicago. Billy Matchet was our mu sical director and a very good one. V'e picked up a good chorus from Chicago and Minneapolis. This waa the fist time we had a regular orches tranine pieces, the director playing piano. We played Minneapolis five weeks and sent Luclan Wakefield out on the road making dates and listing advance sales. Then we moved over to St. Paul for another successful run. We charged 75, 60 and 25 cents admission and took In an average of $1000 and upwards a week right from the start, over the states of the upper Mississippi valley, playing "Pinafore." "Chlmea of Normandy" and some of the older standard operas. It waa at this time that we abandoned horses and took to the railroads. Marie Roe, a good singer and act ress, had got her experience with the Holman Opera company of Canada. Among others that Mrs. Holman put into the business were Perogint, whose real name waa John Chatterton. at one time husband of Lillian Russell, and Roland Reed, long a popular co median throughout the west. Miss Roe waa with our company atx or even years and retired from the tnge wh.n she married an insurance man at Des Moines, Iowa. Some years afterward we played Des Molnei. Our prima donna waa 111 and unable to aim in "Marltana." I went out to ira (m tn iue Marie and found her wenrlnK a pair of rubber boots In rain-soaked chicken yard, surrounded bv sunflowers In full bearings. "You are certainly doing a big bit here In "Patience," but you're booked this evening for the star part In "Marltana," I said to Marie. She went Into the city with me and sang tne part very beautifully that nlgnt Henri Leront was an Important per son In the history of the Andrews Opera company. He had been a tenor In the Paris Opera Comlque, and came to this country first with Mme. Ssuldlne. who was the first prima donna to popularize French light opera here. Leront was a finished opera singer, and I have never seen a greater Interpreter of the French operas. When he Joined us he was a bit too mature and gray around the temples for Broadway roles. He taueht George Andrews and me how to act and stage the French light t operas, and more than anything else he taught us phrasing. In which he was a consummate artist. He avoided directing us In the Gilbert and Built van operas and was quick to see that Gilbert could not be tampered wltn. "Gilbert's Idea Of comedy la always to play the role aa If you were In a STOPS ITCH ON FEET AND TOES peck of trouble," he said. And that ts the basts on which I worked with It throughout my career. Alter closing our season In St. Paul In 1884 we took our profits and fitted out an elaborate "Mikado" produc tion. To this company we added some members of the Andrews family, notably Florence, who became the outstanding Katlsha In this opera. Alice Andrews Clayton became musi cal director. Fred Clayton under studied Ko-Ko with me, later becom ing a fine all-round comedian. I have never seen his equal as Farmer Rocco In "Mascot" and Brother Pell- can In "Falka." Leront work with us being con cluded, he accepted a place as stage manager with an eastern company. Charlie Gilbert became our stage manager and a good one, too. In that season our leading tenor was Charlie Dennis. Through a music teacher's Introduction while we were playing at Sioux City, a young lady came to sing for me and her voice waa so good that I engaged her for chorus work. Soon she was singing email parts. She developed so rapidly, both as singer and actress that be fore the season ended she was our prima donna. This young lady was Nan Wilkinson, who a year later be came my wife, and ultimately lost her life In a railroad wreck. In our repertoire at that time was "Glrofle-Olrofla,' composed by a Frenchman, Charles Lecocq, text by Van loo and Aterrler, first produced In Brussels In 1874, and the next year In the Park theater. New York. In this country It was almost the first Important production Involving the comic portrayal of drunkenness the stage. We had to soft-pedal the revelry to avoid a walk-out by our esteemed temperance customers, who formed a considerable element that always patronized the Andrews Opera company because of Its known Metho. dlst origin. Nan Wilkinson's exceptional voice and her vivacious artistry as an act ress, were always depended on to put over the difficult role of Glrofle, daughter of the grandee, Don Bolero Alcaranzas. He has betrothed Glrofle to Maras quln, a banker, who loaned him a lot of money; and Glrofla to a pirate, Mourzock, who has long been cooly levying tribute on the Eton. Mourzook was an original grafter who would rival present-day racketeers. On the wedding day Glrofle mar ries the banker, but Glrofla Is ab ducted by rival pirates and when Mourzook arrives to find no bride he Is In a terrible rage. In the Don's desperation Glrofle, the twin, Is In troduced as Glrofla to Mourzook and her extra wedding is set for the next day. The wedding festivities In the sec ond act became a spree In which even the double bride became tipsy. Drunk. ennesa as comedy material has always been of questionable utility and to be really effective has to be tempered with art to the nth degree. But when the entire cast goes whiffed the Job becomes a near-tragedy for any self-respecting stage manager. (To be Continued) 4 r ? ;u i - V V x ; ' I ? .-.v. ; W u Gene Stratton -Porter's famous nov el of Indiana country life, "A Girl of the Llmberlost," comes to the Cra terian theater today in the screen ver sion that recaptures the llesurely charm of the pre-War d&vs In Amer ican rural life. Marian Marsh, playing the title role, la the girl who fights for the things she wants despite the many obstacles thrown Into her path by her mother, played by Louise Dresser. Ralph Mor gan Is the kindly uncle and Helen Jerome Eddy plays the part of the Aunt. Also featured in the cast are Henry B. Walthall, grand old char acter star In the role of Dr. Ammoii. Edward Nugent, G1G1 Parrlsh and Bar bara Bedford. Estimated to have been read by more than 12,000,000 persons, and with a book sale of 1,750.000 copies, "A Girl of the Llmberlost" Is prac tically the life story of Its author, Gene Stratton-Porter, who experienc ed a great deal of diversity as depict ed both In the book and In the picture. PROBLEM SOLVED I OF G.O. P. SENATOR NETTLES FARLEY "Bolero" at Roxy Today ST tkMfit 3 vl WASHINGTON, Oct. . (AP) A yawning chasm opened today between Governor Gifford Plnchot, who has been called a "Roosevelt Republican." and Postmaster General Farley, the president's chief political aide. The capital sat up and toox not ice as Farley assailed the Pennsyl vania governor for coming out for the re-election of Senator David A. Reed, Republican. Observers noted that Farley's state ment criticising Plnchot for a 'pol itical somersault," was Issued after the postmaster general had talked with President Roosevelt. Governor Plnchot, an old Bull Mooser, sought last spring to wrest the Republican nomination from Reed, who Is widely regarded s a spearhead of the regular Republican attack on the national Democratic administration. Plnchot was defeat ed. The Democrats nominated Jos eph F. Guffey. Recently Plnchot made a speech In Wilkes-Barre in which, Farley said, he expressed "his definite pur nose to aid in the reelection" of Reed. "Governor PInchot's political som ersault Is, to say the least, a trine bewildering." Farley added. "In his speech announcing his return to tiie Republican party, he proclaimed bis high regard for and deep confidence tn President Roosevelt and te pres ident's policies. The uninvited guest! the unexpect ed visitor! that "bogey" of every housewife, the emergency meal, when there is "nothing in the house." How often that combination has made happiness fly out of the window and turned a surprised spouse Into a hen pecked husband. "The test of an efficient housewife, as with a business man, lies in ner capacity to meet an emergency," says Hester Heath, popular home econom ist, who will come to Medford Wed nesday to conduct the Mall Tribune's cooking school, "and It is the duty of Mrs. Housewife, as her husband's help-meet, both in the home and In business, to do Just as much as she can to meet such emergencies as riwh meals graciously." "The only thing necessary," Miss Heath continued, "is for the house wife to prepare herself with a reper toire of quick recipes end have on hand products that will permit her not only to serve a meal that will re flect to her advantage, but one that will permit her to greet her husband's guest with a smile of welcome and appreciation. "Pity the poor husband who Is greeted by a tirade of abuse and Im agined martyrdom when he presents an unexpected guest. Pity the poor housewife whose culinary training is so limited that under such circum stances she can hardly control a fit of hysterics and a good cry. Her usual reaction Is to serve a meal with the aid of a can opener and a visit to the delicatessen store. Under such circum stances, the guest leaves conscious of the fact that before he is out of ear shot, the opening guns of a domestic ! sat will be well underway. "Of course," said Miss Heath, "It ts a great help, to have an emergency shelf to fall back on, but It Is even more important to know Just what to keep on that shelf. There are Innum erable ways of stretching salads made for two to accommodate four, and "doing thngs" to two ohops so that everyone will have plenty. An intimate knowledge of house wife's problems make Miss Heath'c programs of vital Interest to every woman reader of this paper. If you are not a subscriber, do not hesitate to come. This Happy Kitchen program Is sponsored by us entirely for you. It is YOUR cooking school and we in- open- All the elemnts. that made Mau rice Ravel s "Bolero" one of the most exciting and popular of modern mu sical compositions, at last have been captured by the motion picture cam era and translated Into the language Ursula Parrott Story At Rialto Featuring Frank Morgan and Bln- nle Barnes, a newcomer to the Amer ican films but who made a decided hit as the second wife of Henry VIII In the p let url station of the famous monarch's Ufa, "There's Always To morrow" plays today and Monday at the Rialto theater. The story is by Ursula Parrott, who has won a reputation for her keen Insight Into the lives and loves of married couples. It picture two years In the life of a typical American father of five children whose sole function seems to be that of "a meal ticket," not only to the children but also to the mother and wife. The ex istence of the family Is tranquil until a girl who understands the husband fat Her re-enters his Ufa. Gay and hi larious in the esrUer reels, the film play builds to one of the most tense situated created on the screen In some time. O. V Myers Joins Skinner's Staff For Truck Sales I O. V. Myers, pioneer automobile dealer and truck man, has assumed a position on the sales staff of Skin ner's Oarage, according to an an nouncement yesterday by R. A. Skin ner. Southern Oregon people wilt re member that Mr. Myers operated his own concern In this city a few years ago. Bulck and Pontlao cars and O. IL O. trucks, featured by Skinner's Gar- s7S. will be sold bv Mr. Mvera. Ona has been received In Medford and Is r on display at Skinner's showrooms on South Riverside, according to Myers, u ( "Hollywood Party" at Studio James M. Davis, 62, driver for th K. T. Produce company of Spokane, waa killed this morning about 12 miles south of Canyonvllle when the produce truck he waa driving rolled off the Pacific highway and Into a deep canyon. L. F. Zelger, relief driver, was asleep at the time of the accident and was thrown out of the cab and escaped with only minor injuries. "Howywood Paxty,-- an nuarious ro mance staged as a spectacular musical extravaganza with an all-star cast. Is tne fum attraction at the Studio theater today. The large cast of stars Includes Jimmy Durante and Lupa Veless. ol the screen. It Is in "Bolero.' lng todav at the Roxv theater. With George Raft, Carole Lombard, Sally Rand, Frances Drake, the film Interpretation carries the same ex citement and emotional appeal, so evident In the muslo. vlte you to make It so by attending every one of the lectures. They wlU be held at the Craterian on Wednes day, Thursday and Friday afternoons from two to four o'clock. Andersons Leave For Vacation To Wid-West States Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Anderson are leaving on the Shasta today for Min neapolis where they will spend the next three weeks visiting relatives and friends. Mr. Anderson, who Is manager of the Safeway store located at Main and Holly, stated that It has been five years since he has seen his relatives. "Andy." as ha Is familiarly known here says he has been too busy In the past to take a real vacation. It has taken long hours of work to build up the comparatively small Safeway store of five years ago to the large modern food market of today. Stabilized Prices Aid To Consumers Says College Man Present day trends toward price stabilizing are frequently beneficial to the consumer In the opinion of Professor R. A. Roberts, member of the teaching staff at the University of California College of Commerce, a well-known authority on merchandis ing. "With prices becoming more stabi lized,' said Professor Roberts Jn a re cent speech before a convention of manufacturers and retailers, "the emphasis In selling must be on the basis of quality and service. Reputable merchants and manufacturers are striving to give consumers products of honest merit and stressing the neces sity of sn understanding service to ward the buying public." Walk upstairs and save $10. Bank er's gray suiting. 31 60. made to measure. Klein the Tailor. Use Mai) Tribune want ads. "This movement toward service has been studied carefully by most de partment stores and many gasoline service stations. The courses of train ing for gasoline employees have done much to develop courtesy and assist customers with speed and accuracy. These and other services are appre ciated by the traveling public and might be studied by other enterprises who deal directly with consumers." As port of this trend toward better service, the Shell OH Company an nounces that It has already acted to assure the motoring public clean, sanitary washrooms, in their thous ands of company controlled and af filiated stations throughout the West. Shell stations will be signatories to a Washroom Code which provides that they maintain station washrooms at a high level of cleanliness at all times, and subject to regular check by Shell's sanitation inspectors. "Preserve that extra vacation health by drinking pure, na tural milk. The Midtoni Dairy's raw milk has a very high butt erf at content and low bacteria count. They take every precaution to serve the people of Medford with as fine a pro duct as con be produced." eays Billy Break O'Day. MADRON A DAIRY J . PHONE 201 J i M approved product (rmM Hotel Figueroa rigneroa St. at lUtta. Loi Angele Call! One of U antelei' newtal llotelv 400 Outalde Room, at Comfort. Downtown. Oarage In Connection. Ha(a iron 11.50 pet da; mtnont Data tV.OO per day with Datn 9S.O0 per 6mj. twin beda and oatn a RMITH. utita 1 Am ITCHIfc&a. y y''. 285 LBS. U weight of hea? leat piece In thl 2 to 4 ton Rib-cone Ball Mill Total weight, 840 Saves Gold! la. ewtly traoa No lo.a from po'""' "'"J- quire, only I'i K H. P. and little Pr'. Mao Oth water Q-i'-ca r' UP to 150 ton grlnnli Dell- P"T' P0'" ?r f I mailed J."- ' fsnofn.Buue" Straub Mf?. Co. 9l?tL m rhe.lnut ft, inoi (wkHnii. ml. "Kllli mil of athlrle'l fool." f;r It i v l Tl UN 1 mill T 'TOIIK Hi ta.t Slxlh St. 'I AUTO GLASS Fender, Body A Radiator Repair General Sheet Metal Llcht structural Iron BRILL MKIAL WORKS loi e. nth St. nione 41 HIS TEETH ARE PRICELESS1 Bt hailn t""r elilld'. teeth fared for remilnrly joa will Insure hl future health and happlne. Dr.I.H.Gove !H F. Mln. Tel. STJ-J PHEASANT s?m&&? 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