Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 44

SIXTH SECTION PAGE 'What Will Chauncey Say to This? TWO. THE PITTSBURGH AZF.TTF TTMF.S ST'VnW PTFMRPT? irt 101 7 MA thi dramatic gamut, enacting f.ar. 5 i Hi III of the Theater 7 I -x ma s. mi AIV1N MARILYNN MTIXCDK IN IXKVIS K1TTVB3SVAN" "WITH "rOOT5 H.TJSBitVNDS" SHOV OP VONDBES' M. BREGG.

some clever principals ana aitrac- tively garbed torvuhft. It was the Davis, by the way. that last weak gave the local theater its i most artistic nove'ty. The 'operatic i act cf Mmf. Doree was a really fine thing for vaudeville to do.

aiid if some of the singing organizations that visit from time to time under the i of grand opera companies could capture some of Mme. Dorees song birds our music lovers would have confidence in the low-priced opera ex- perlments I AM STILL convinced that war alarms have failed so far to check theater-going in thin prosperous city. Money is plentiful among a class of people who do not hesitate to spend it for theater. J'-'n th inoreasln a seat heat of a mav- oralty campaign has not affected the upon me playhouse. The weather during part of last week, betn as wintry as November Hmii.tJ less helped alon the At any rate, all the theaters claim to have, had a prosperous period.

"Experience" draws Its audiences very largely through the delusive assumption of its moral lessons, and the ex- HAKRIS cellent company that presented it the Alvln last week enjoyed great prosperity. John Haziard. Percival Knight and A. Baldwin Sloan? have very little cause for self congratulation in the musical farce they sent Pittsburgh last week. The Hazzard dialogue is only funny in spots and then never i.

wsssr0 r-C', BE called the "Chauncey Ol- cot 1 of Vaudeville" is a consu- mation f.ir which manv a sinter has devoutlv wished. It has come to one. however, savs Eucene L- Connelly. Jack Boyle, star of "The Four Husbands," a miniature musical comedy at the Davis Theater this week. Mr.

Boyle has had a varied experience in practically all the branches of theatric art. He be- fan as a utility jack Beyle. man in a Ftock company, hut before long was playing juvenile parts. In the interim, however, he had ranged acter delineator, is a newcomer to local vaudeville. Long and Gibson will offer a series of vaudeville specialties.

La Viva is the gymnastic girl Han- Ion and Ward are standard players. I Hartz and Evans in a eing'ng and dancing specialty and The Karins with their shadowgraphs wil! round I out the bill, which will be augmented by a new Keystone Comedy film. i I Sheridan Square Vaudeville. At the Sheridan Square Theater this week comedy will predominate. For the first three days modern minstrelsy will hold the honor position with the "American Minstrel Maids" making i their initial appearance in Pittsburgh vaudeviille.

Other bookings include Joyce. West and Moran In an oddity entitled "Tunes Vocal and Otherwise, with Steps to Match." Cum-mings and Shelly are newcomers here with a laugh skit, "One Afternoon." Craven and Belmont in a novelty surprise, and Lightning Wes ton, a cartoonist, will complete the vaudeville. The film feature w.ll be the first installment of "The Seven Pearls," with Mollie King in the leading role. For the last half of the week "Crar-berrries" is the headline attraction. "You Can't Believe Them," is the title of the act Ford and Goodrich will present.

Conrad and Conley will offer their piano and violin act. The Dudley Trio, "In the Moonlight," have a novel entertainment, and Swan and Swan, dancers and jugglers, will complete the bill, with the added attraction of "'The Fatal Ring" in an interesting serial film with Pearl White as the star. Gayety "Hello America." "'Hello which comes to the Gayety Theater this week, is a brand new show In burlesque. Every word and line of the book is new; all the music and every number is new. Every piece of scenery is new; ail wardrobe is new.

It is a patriotic musical review. The "'Two Sams," Lewis and Doty, who have been headliners in big time vaudeville, are the principal comedians. Primrose Semon, known a the "dancing diamond," is the sou-brette. Kittie Glascoe. Ina Hay ward.

Frank Wakefield, Arthur Conrad and Lou Turner are other well-known names. Election returns will be announced fform ge. -4- Victoria Burlesque. The Follies of Pleasure company will present their latest offering, and Down Broadway" this week at the Victoria Theater, It comes recommended as one of the most pre- tentious productions on the burlesque SJ --w 2 Wk 4tHr -d 5 PC I SULJM "rf 1 I 'nil 1 saw sassjiiBaBBBaKinvc.HJw'Bsa -n tAtWMKW LYCEUM THE HEART OF WBIOTJV" not very generally beneficiaries of the war prosperty. Indeed, people with a great deal of money and hitherto a great deal of leisure are considerably more careful in their indulgence in luxury than in peace times.

Incomes ere being conserved looking to a future drain upon them. are distracted with many things very fresh, which is surprising to me. jan niinds that formerly were receptor Jack Hazzard is a clever enter- ve to the higher arts of the theater jJflTt; hsSMriias.sirousht to life. "The Bvli Vjkji the Lyceum Theater Wednesday night between the acts of "The Heart of Wetona." Yvette Guilbert. the celebrated French song interpreter, will give a recital at Carnegie Music Hall in early November under the direction of Edith Taylor Thomson.

The Siiuberis have leased the. Chest-( nut Opera. House, in Philadel-; pbia and after remodeling it will use it for their traveling attractions. 4- Burke returned to the spoken drama last week, appearing in a new play called "The Rescuing Angel," bv Clara Kummer. David Warfield begins his tour in "The -Music Master" at Louisville, tomorrow night.

the Theaters Ilough turned out "The Four Husbands," vhich will be played afternoons and evenings by a company of 30. headed by Jack Boylo and Kitty Bryan. There will, of course, be the usual number of other attractions in the Davis bill the forthcoming ween. John Swor, late of the popular team of Swor and Mack, and West Avey, former star of Al. G.

Fields' minstrels, will depict the Southern darkey in his drollest moods. Lively ooon Songs, eccentric dancing steps and a silent game of poker, pantomimically eloquent, will disclose the versatility of these two burnt-cork humorists. Alfred De Manby and Lillian Durkin will present "A Love Song Fantasy," in which they will be assisted by Hec tor McCarthy. It is real novelty. Thomas Dugan and Babette Raymond, in a skit called "They Auto Know Better," will satirie motoring sport.

They will introduce a trick motor car a "flivver." Bennie and Woods, two young musicians, will offer lu minutes of syncopation. They will play violin and piano, rendering chiefly popular songs. Joseph L. Browning, in "A Timely Sermon," will discuss the doctrine of the gayety of nations. Hopgood and Hare will give dancing diveriisements, with an exchange of pertinent patter.

Eccentric gymnastics will be performed by the Thomas Trio. These acrobats bound from an elastic table, and as their lithe bodies hoot through space describe many curious gyrations Moving pictures of news events will throw on the screen particularly interesting depictions in the war zone. Lyceum "The Heart of Wetona." "The Heart of Wctonia," a melo- Thft of tVi on- tain manv well-known names among which rA GlaH I Kenmore, Jess Sidney, Ethei Beban, Leslie Bassett, Bert B. Melville. Marie Dantes, Chief Strongheart, a full bred Comanche Indian.

Harris Vaudeville. Heading the list of acts at ie Harris tliis week is a miniature musical comedy with the title of "The Jolly which is described as merry melange of mirth and melody. The action of the piece is entirely nautical. Other bookings include Kenneth Gratton and a company of players in a new sketch. "The End of a Perfect Day." Ward and Faye are two vaudevillians who have become standard in their purpose of laugh makers.

McCulloush, a char- 1 iX'- actor parts from adolsoeno ta senile ol.l aip. The chadow i iii.fin often upon his placid features, for I he was wont to be the "heavy man" he was wont to be the "heavy in a series of melodramas. Mr. Boyle next found his way into vaudeville, where his voice and his 1 nimble feet, coupled with his person gave him an instant vogue. It was from vaudeville that mui ical comedy tools him.

and Broadway 'him for the first time as the leading i player in a revival of one of George Cohan's successes. After this en-jgagement he was employed en several new productions coring their mcmi-politan run. He remained in the metropolis for two consecutive seasons and then went upon the road. William B. Friedlander selected him to lay the part, of Jack Mortimer.

in "The Four Husbands" when the production was originally jnada. COMING TO THE THEATERS. Marlon If strain, itmnt Price. Who plays Luana In "After Office in ne uird of Hours." Paradise." at the Lyceum Alvin next week, week at the next Vfvlae fllarkbnrft. With the musical revue.

"Peacock at the I 'avis next week, September 14, -e The newest comedy from the pn of Somerset Maugham, the ntot brilliant among the contemporary English playwrights of the light comedy school. "Our Pettere." is n-itoupced ms the attraction at 1h Nixon Tbeat-r for ore wek. beginning Monday evening, September 24. Al Reeves with his big "Beauty Show" is th underline attraction for the Gayety Theater the week of September 24'. -e 4- The Army and Navy Girls will the bill at the Victoria Theater rent week, presenting "A la Carte" and "Call to the Colors." written and staged tiy Billy K.

Wells. For the week beginning Monday. September 24. the headline attraction at the Harris Theater is Solomon, the man-monkey, the ttst Importation in animal Duqueinc Special Announcement. Owing to the fact that it has been found necessary to rewrite one act of the new play in which Josephine Victor will be featured the opening has been postponed until Monday" night.

September "4. The Duquesne Theater will be dark next week. Thompson Buchanan is the author of the play in which Miss Victor will appear, sup ported by an unusually strong cast. This play is going to be John Cort's big dramatic offering for the sesop. of the play will be placed in the hands of the dramatic editors of Pittsburgh.

ODD FELLOWS TO MEET. An important meeting in the inter- est of Encampment Old Fellowship in Western Pennsylvania wil! be the I niihlie installation of nffirnra of Alte- Understudy was asked to jump into the part. Pruette was a man weighing 150 pounds more than Hare. This didn't matter; the public had to be satisfied. Although his clothes hung on him loosely, Mr.

Hare went through the part. When the Winter Garden forces were organized Mr. Hare was engaged for one of the leading roles. On New Years Day in 1912. Al Jolson was then beginning to shine in the firmament, when taken suddenly sick.

"Who can take his place?" asked Mr. Shubert. "Why not put on Ernie Hare?" said the stage manager, familiiar with the actor's qualifications. "And that day Mr. Hare established himself as the Winter Garden understudy.

Needless to say, after reports reached Jolson about the success of his understudy, he was back on the job next day. In his time Mr. Hare has played many parts. He has assumed George Monroe's part; he ha3 gone on in place of Eugene Howard; he has tilled in John T. Mar-ray's rolo and for two weeks did the part played by Herbert Corthell.

He has done everything about a Winter show even directing the orchestra. A couple of years ago-one of the Winter Garden attractions player Watertown. N. Y. The orchestra was on a strike, and a non-union array of musicians was in the pit.

The company director was not allowed to conduct so Mr. Hare jumped in and wielded the baton for two shows. News and Notes By CHARLES A WEEK of much leanness in the leading theaters Is to be suc ceeded tomorrow by an im portant dramatic novelty. Margaret Anglin, an actress whoso career very largely justifies her assignment to a place among "America's leading artists," is to bring us a new play. Mia Anglin's play Is a child of war conditions in England where the scenes are laid and was written by F.

Tennyson Jesse and If. M. Har-; wood, English authors. Confusing press copy as to the nam of the play has left doubt In the- mind of many as to just what the, play will Anally be railed in this country. Being a comedy complication growing out of war and its social environs the title "Lonesome was predated in England.

wher army ttTTw -rv woman and child. Because such conditions of knowl-edg do not as yet prevail so extensively In this country Miss Anglin decided to call the play "Doing Her Bit" for her use in America. It was this title that appeared In the press copy last Sunday. But her a difficulty faced the actress. "Doing Her Bit" in now so common an expression on this side and the changes on it have been rung so persistently and in connection with so much that was trivial, that Miss Anglin regarded it as lacking Vti tons and dignity.

Mlsa Anglin particularly deserves a very high place In the esteem of those who go to the theater with intelligent and appreciative purpose. She has been peculiarly unlucky in recent years In the selection of her ffw plays, but even here there was credit to be found in behalf of the pioneer spirit on the part of the actress. Of this new comedy that she is bringing us I have only the information that it was very successfully played in London. It concerns the Service, patriotism and romance of a Jour.g English woman, a member of a nouns lit nn 1. polish home since the war 1 WAS announced enrlr in the I week that Josephine Viet-tr.

uriVr thei management of John Cort. Would prevent nt the 1 this wek a new play by Thompson Vu-chanan. a New York newspaper man and author of "A Woman's Way." At the last moment this announcement was withdrawn and the date the opening moved forward to Monday. September C4 at that theater. This cancelling of the original date was due to the desire of both author and manager to present the new drama in more perfected form.

No name has yet been selected for the offering, the tentative title of "The Verdict" being discarded a unsuitable. It is now proposed to leave arrtiiushfortunes of, choice. by. member lot the first week's audience at the Du-quesne, beginning Monday, September 24, a very excellent but much-used advertising method, but somewhat doubtful as a means of appropriately tagging the work of a playwright who. by all the laws of authorship.

Jhould be best qualified to select a name for his own brain child. DESPITE the fact that a majority of the. producers) ttave expressed a purpose to keep away from JII subjects bearing upon the war conditions, it is inevitable that the playwrights should find in the world conflict a fruitful field. The public thinks and talks of little and when it goes to the theater it will doubtless not be much further depressed by finding the subject kept before them. Flippant or sentimental reference to it is now a common thing in all the lighter forms of entertainment.

"nut" comedian in vaudeville last Jveek gave us amid his volleys of sheer nonsense a war song said to be Jhe latest and. most popular ditty among1 the English soldiers in the Jrenchts In Flanders. The Winter Garden exhibit that 'comes to the Alvln this week offers as its special spectacular novelty a submarine thriller, while we find interpolations of war reference in monologues, songs and patter of all grades and degrees of frivolity and sentiment on the stage. Why. therefore, the fearful shrinking from war drama that is interesting-, dramatic or informative? One of the real hits of the season last fear on Broadway was a little war xcerpt arising almost to tragedy in Its passion and pity.

Lauretta Taylor did this drama, playing a little Cockney girl who became a patriot in her seal for the Allies at war. If are to have war thus interpolated in all the minor forms of stage, entertainment, why not have it as the central and dominant theme ff serious drama? Certainly, as ur participation in the war becomes Jnore acute and the American mind is still further fed up on news from fhe front that Immediately concerns mm. the lustful and often the lascivious tyle of musical comedy and sex drama will react upon the public to the point of actual disgust. I THE announced "Show of Won ders' at the Alvln Theater this peek. which the gifted and voluble Canad tells us is the Winter Garten's most ornate and sumptuous production- we really have an old friend for those who like these scenic and chorused eut-ups.

The cast involves George Monroe. whose feminine impersonations reach back nto antiquity with hardly the change a syllable; the Howard brothers. Yho are facile vaudeville singers and Impersonators, and Marilyn Miller, taulte the daintiest and most delightful dandn Ingenue of recent years, as principals and a host of support-tn singing-, dancing and comic assistants. The performance has been seen here. If not under its present name under other a-ulaes.

It is always largely at. tended, and. as in the present visit, adds an unusual spectacle stir Jaded nerves or risible. Thin time It is a spectacular submarine scene In which the auditor given a pretty fair illusion as to the peratlons of the deep tea war machines. The vaudeville bill at the Davis will boast this week, of a miniature musi-t4l comedy claiming a cast of 40 with at in I I tZ of of stage, exploiting such well known en- of 1917-18.

It will be presented Mon-tertainers as Clyde J. Bates. Tom day night. September 24. at the Do-McKenna.

Billy Shuller, Nat Shack, i quesne for the firht time. The naming Charlotte Worth, prima donna; Violet Hilson, Mite Mills and other clever players prominent in burlesque. A unique novelty is the famous boxing giris. whose exhibition in the art of self defence is said to be one of the hits of the show. Academy Burlesque.

GAYETY -sr- VIC VIOLE.X H1LSON Augirst -6 to John C. Thomas of! Pittsburgh. I Full details of the primary-election i returns will lie read from the stage of Programs in Alvin ''The Show of Wonders." -T-slIE New York Winter Garden 1 exhibit, the "Show of Won-flr-rs." 14. sot-ctaciilar extrava- j.a,I2;1 wni open at the Alvin Theater troorrow "The Show of Won- ders onjoyrd a run of 1100 nights at the New York AS'inter Garden, 150 nights at the Palace Theater in Chicago, whence it comes to this city almost direct. In the cast will be found the well-known stage favorites, George Monroe.

Eugene and Willie Howard, Marilynn Miller, Sidney Phillsp. Arthur Davis, Eugene O'Rourke, White and Clayton. Dan Quinlan. Edmund Mulcahy, Ernest Hare, Edmund Makalif, Adele. Ards-ley, Patsy O'Hearn, Virginia Smith, Myrtle Victorine and Irene Zoar.

In addition, there will be the same huge stage settings that were seen at the Winter Garden, of which there are 14 in all, including the sensational undersea thriller, "Submarine F-7." This novelty, reproducing the interior of a IT-boat in action, shows the attack and sinking of a huge man-of-warsman and the tinal destruction of the submarine itself. A special' company of 10 actors is carried to portray the action of this act. And, as usual, there is one of the New York; Winter Garden choruses. Nixon Margaret Anglin in New Play. The announcement of the engage- ment of Margaret Anglin nt the Nixon this week will be welcome to playgoers who are interested in good acting combined with intelligent stage direction.

Miss Anglin's fame rests on her achievement in both fields, for in addition to being a true actress, i I I I Patrica. an Oriental dancer will be pheny Encampment. No. 101. on next Cue extra attraction at the Academy Wednesday evening, in Forman's Theater this week to appear.

Sandusky and Ohio streets. The "The Spring Chickens," a burlesque, i installation ceremonies will be in in two parts. charge of George W. Richards, dis- In both parts Joe Perry, Hebrew i trict deputy grand patriarch, assisted comedian: Billy Mossey, German fun-j by the following grand encampment Mrs. Fiske will not appear under the management of Klaw Erlanger and George C.

Tyler after all, it: is reported. This fact is not generally known, but within a few days it is likely an announcement will be forthcoming coupling her name with a young and enterprisinar manager, who i comparatively new to the stae. The sudden chance in plans alo means that Mrs. Kiske will not be seen in Catherine Chisholm Cushinji's I which had liuen for her ap pearance under the Kliiw Erlnns-r 1 bannf-r. Instead she will appear in at play in which she depicts the amours of Geovge the celebrated novelist.

-e Joseph Kiter received Uis-t week a letter from Mary Anderson de Navarro which defeats for the present the plans which he has long entertained of bringing the distinguished actref to America for a series of per formances, the entire proflts from which were to have been given to war relief funds. The negotiations, which l.ave been undr way for several months, were hampered by tion-deliv- fr' of cable messages and delay in forwarding letters. Madame ie Nn varro writes in part: "1 am now en- gageJ far ahead and cannot am pt any offers Besides this, our little Kirt oeen ami I coma not think of leaving her. Variety says that "Pay Templetoii and Sam Bernard are to be co-Rtnrred in the production by A. H.

Woods, entitled "Call a which was composed by Earl Carroll, now with the Seventy-first Regiment. The piec- was originally intended as a vehicle for Bernard Granville, and it is possible, that he will be able to make ftomo sort of an arrangement to at least open in the piece in New York. Granville at present is also with the recruiting squad of the Seventy-first Regiment." The Negro Piayerv who were organized last year by Mrs. Emile Bige-low Hapgood and who appeared In Rldgeley Torrance's plays at the Theater, will be active a.sain this season. They are to give performances) for the benefit cf the Emergency Circle for.

Negro. War Relief. Thbj organization has been formed to give necessary aid to the families of Negroes in the Army. The engaging countenances of, the theatrical celebrities who formerly adorned our billboards, shop windows and telegruph poles have been, displaced in behalf of the variegated faces of the political citizens who are seeking to serve, us in public office. The change Is less ornamental from a pictorial standpoint, but more familiar and home-like.

4 8, Conn Little, for a number of years treasurer of the Nixon Theater in this city resigned that position at the beginning of (he present season to accept the position of treasurer of Raymond Hitchcock's Theater in New York. formerly tha Forty-fourth Street Theater, which Mr. Hitchcock has taken over and renamed. Donald Brian wiil shortly bring his vaudeville season to an end In order to take his place in ler Ivegiment." maker, and Jim Daily. Irish laugt officers: Deputy grand high priest, producer, will be featured with Dollvj j.

a. Whitehead; deputy grand senior Sterling, Viola Elliott, Lillian Fal- warden. John A. Vogel; deputy grand mer and Phillis Eltis. Max Gordon junior warden, William Curtis: dep-and Jack Christie have also been nty grand Robert Mullen: given good roles.

I deputy grand treasurer. D. J. Craw- The first act has been called "A I ford, and deputy grand sentinel, John Night in a Harem," and the second Morrison. part is entitled.

"'The Hotel de Luxe." Allegheny Encampment. No. 101. is i one of the oldest in the state. It Election Returns at Davis.

ajso one 0f largest, both finan- Primary returns will he read at the cially and numerically. The follow-Davis Theater Wednesday night ani i Sng officers for the coming term will at the special 10 30 performance. be installed: Chief patriarch. L. II.

Owing to the keen interest in th Frazee; high priest. Mark Clunk; sen-primary election In Pittsburgh and 1 ior warden, Wilbur Hoover; junior Allegheny county. Manager Harry warden. II. N.

Burt; recording scribe, Davis has arranged to give an extra F. E. Richards; financial scribe. Will-performance at the Davis Theater be- iam McCarty; treasurer. W.

J. Pat-ginning at 10:30 p. m. The show will rick; trustee, Walter Harper, be in addition to the regular perform- The speakers of the evening will bfe ances, which begin at 2 and 8, an I George B. McDowell, John W.

Pickett, it will include all the acts in the bill. I L. K. White and George W. Richards.

tamer and has written some very funny stuff in his day. ii Mr. Sloane's music is jingling at times, and in one or two instances rises to the point of popular melody: but the effect as a whole gave little reason for critical joy. Entertainments like this Hazzard-Knight-Sloane product, where neither subject nor interpretation reach more than mediocrity, should be regradeJ price. A theater should never lack the courage to make its wares and it-s prices tit.

The old hoodoo opiniim that changing the box office lax; downward is dangerous to the re pit- tation ought to be discarded in these days of increasing discrimination In LII. 1.10 puoui; Most peopie would ratner oe over- charged for what they want to see i than to be the victims of an inflexible policy that bunches everything, good and bad, under one price, and that the maximum. WIHT I lingnes said above about the wil- I ess cf a certain class of people to spend more money for the- atergoing because of the prosperity that prevails Is Illustrated by tne varying size and character of the audiences in different theaters. The money-making power has been conferred upon what we are often pleased to call the working classes. Men and women whose wages a half dozen years ago ranged from SI 50 to 50 a day are now pulling down as high as $5 and.

In many instances, even more. This unaccustomed surplus of cash has created thousands new theatergoers, but for the present their tastes are largely elementary. Having received their primary education in theatergoing in "the low-priced moving pieturo houses tbey naturally seek something of like obvious and uncomplicated kind when they begin to enlarge their theatrical visions. I am told, as an Illustration, that Bartley Campbell's ancient melodrama at the Lyceum a week or so ago, played to $1,400 more on the week than It had ever received during its 15. 20 or more visits to Pittsburgh.

"The White Wave" is a drama of broadly obvious emotions. It appeals very largely to a class of people untrained In dramatic values. That class today has more money to Indulge Its desires In this direction than ever before. Hence "The White Slave" does the biggest business it has ever done in its history in Pittsburgh. Vaudeville, both of high and low degree.

Is a style of entertainment largely affected by people to whom the term "art-drama" is like a red I flag before an angry bull. Ileal art may be given them In I vaudeville, and Is. but the pill sugar-coated with a name they have come to associate with detached and uncomplicated mental exercise. Hence we find that vaudeville never. was so prosperous in Pittsburgh it is jut now, the best specimens of Its kind being able to run all through the summer at largely increased margin of profit.

THK deduction from all this is plain. The theater In Its more elemental forms is receiving the bulk the overflow from the general prosperity that prevail. On the ether hand, the patrons of those theaters that charge the maximum prices, and where the appeal is presumed to be based on a higher level of artistic entertainment, are ica. Thus I take it, if the theater Ms to suffer largely through the con-, flict in which we are engaged it will be in that department of it that de mands a larger sense of appreciation of the artistic things as well as a larger price for their indulgence. The war of the theatrical press agent has opened up fiercely with the new season.

To one who is in a position to observe, it is astonishing how the heralds of the stage manage to keep up the pace. It is obvious to the most indifferent student of the institution that publicity is the very breath of life for the theater. This fact has created a vast amount of 1 .1 neeaiui puoucuy may ue socureu. ne theory, very generally ad vanced, is that ths daily newspaper cannot live and get along without the aid of the theatrical press agent. Of course, it is not put so bluntly as that.

but the same thing Is meant when it I declared thit the news of the theater is indispensable to the life and prosperity of the newspaper. This may be true in a sense, but the news of the theater and the opinions of itself as expressed through the versatile press agent are two quite different things. The theater must be exploited for the benefit of the public, hut whether the present means and methods of Its exploitation is the best for either the theater or the newspaper is still an open problem. Who will decide the momentous question unbiased by either theatrical or newspaper traditions and prejudices, Claude Payton, who plays the lead In "The Heart of Wetona." this week's attraction at the Lyceum Theater; cornea of a theatrical family and has been Identilied with the Plage since boyhood. His brother.

Cored Payton, and hia sister, Cecil Kpoon-cr, were for years at the head of tho well-known Spoon-er Stock Company. Claude Payton's early efforts were devoted to fctocn playing with th? members of his family. His first attempt with road attractions a with the ill-fated Claude Payton. Weaker Sex." He played leading roles in various dramas, among which might bo mentioned "Texas." "The Garden of "Sherlock Holmes. "Cheating Cheaters," "Within the Ijiw," "The Third Degree," Madam and many others.

As the time draws near for the opening of the Schenley Theater public Interest quickens as to the fortunes of the new venture which the A born Comic Opera Compa ny proposes to Inaugurate at the house. Evidently the presentation of popular light-operas has a wide appeal as it has been many jears since a repertoire opera company has been a feature of our theatrical entertainment. George Sammis. the manager of the Schenley, rays tbe seat reservations indicate a prosperous season. The selection of operas so far announced displays excellent judgment, for all of them are established successes, and are fresh enough in the public mind to have great drawing power among the lovers of melodious light music.

I she is also distinguished as a producer drama of Indian life, originally pro-with a correct sense of artistic values duced by David Belasco, will come to in attaining complete perfection in; the Lyceum this week. The cast is her stage picture. For her first pro-J headed by Doris Wooldridge, who for duction this season Miss Anglin has the last three years played and cre-chosen a new comedy of English life, ated the title role in "The Bird of which is now having a 'successful run -adise," and was especially chosen at the Royalty Theater in London. It I for thft part of Wetonla with an eye is called "Lonesome Soldiers" and I)ot OIlly to her dramatic ability, but it is the work of F. Tennyson aiS(, (m acc0unt of her swarthy com-Jesse, and II.

M. Harwood, two anj resemblance to the In- Lo, the Poor IS an axiom of the theater that a good understudy makes a healthy star. Every manager be I lieves that many 01 tne 111s 01 uio flesh his actors compiam 01 are imuj mental or temperamental afflictions. The understudy is to the stage family what the proverbial red flag is in a lower stratum of the bovine family. The mere mention of the word has been known to effect marvelous cures, for an actor or actress never likes to contemplate the possibility of another slaughtering his or her part, while the thought that the impersonation mWit be improved is even more odious.

And so, while the player may grumble and growl at ills, real or imagined, and may say unkind things to the managers, for reasons selflish or unselfish, he rarely ever plays his audience false. Ernest Hare Is a name that has been seen on programs of Winter Garden attractions for the last seven years. But always Mr. Hare's principal occupation has been standing in the first entrance ana waicmng tne stars perform, for his main and prin- clpal calling has been that of chief understudy of Winter Garden stars, Mr. Hare curses his brst part on the I stage as being responsible for his po sition as understudy.

It was when he played in "Havana'-' with James T. Powers. One day William Pruette was taken sick, and Hare, who was the only one in the company who had a voice approaching Pruette's which ill open within the next jes as a delightful anil good-humored month. For this piece Caroline White Latire on tha conditions that prevail will forsake Grand Opera for Her-j BOine 0f the small villages in Eng-bert. William Le Baron, who wrote an where the officers are quartered "The Very Idea," is responsible for on ay to the front! the story and the lyrics.

4. i Davis Mufic and Comedy in Vau- Tyrone Power has come back to 1 the legitimate stage after a long ab-I sence in the pictures and will plav A complete musical comedy eom-the leading role in "Chin Chin Cbow." pressed into the tabloid period or 4-1 the big spectacular drama imported I minutes is to be the premier T.onHon bv Elliot. Comstoc-k nni'tioti in the bill of refined vaudeville dramatis! who liave won favor the English stage. Tho play nraised by the London crit- acts at the Davis Theater every afternoon and evening this week, beginning tomorrow (Monday. September 17).

It is called "The Four Husbands" and has- just concluded a long run at tho Palace Theater, New York. William B. Friedlander and Will M. Get. It has just been announced that Bird Millman.

wire-walker with Bar-num-Bailey's Circus, and who hts frequently appeared in vaudeville, was married in Detroit, 011.