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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1914)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY UKM: JANUARY 4. lid- i m jl 1 1 m ii m m i i wl. 7r, . 0 .. Allien - w r777 - . " Ok ti fmAiirt mm wmn bsBsbSbW I f aWMbU '"AkSVL , , ' AbMI H b.bHHbW . ,"JbF iaaft 7.3' ft X.L KSdH I Tavlowa. and NovikoP At he Brandeis .BRE'S a thought for tnc pro ducing managers; it la sug gested by a conversation had during the week with his honor, the mayor of Lincoln, Frank Zchrung, who Is also some theatrical magnate as well, and la novt moro than ever Interested In tho affairs of Omaha becauso of his position as responsible manager of the Brandels theater under the lesseeshlp of Crawford, riillley & Zehrung. Not enough stand ard attractions within tho reach of people In moderate circumstances are available. Sir. Zehrung, speaking of a musical com edy company, said It Is the best the pro ducers can afford for a dollar, and that 1s really a good attraction judged from tiiat standpoint. And with the fore of r. Zehrung's argument there will be no contention. It Is the. answer to the ques tion so far as It goes. But It gives rise to another question, and one that might scem pertinent at this Juncture. Vhy does not some enterprising pro ducer outfit a company of capable actors for tho purpose of presenting some one of several hundred really good plays that arc' available at "popular prices?" 'T'he expense of maintaining on the rdad a company of first-rate nctors for tho pro. ductlon of a first-rate play is considera bly less than the cost of maintaining a company to present with even approxl- Malo correctness a good musical comedy moreover, tho demand for musical corn ed) at reduced rates is far less than Is t) request for good drama. Burlesquo and vaudeville afford amusement qf tho sort at a rate far less than Is possible for. a musical comedy producer, unless lie sink his standard far below reason, and thus he is competing at a disadvan tage. -. nut it is possible to put on a urama at a cost tnat will allow for a Very fair margin of profit under normal . business conditions and yet charge not to exceed 75 cents or Jl for the seats ' (downstairs nnd corresponding prices for the upper" floors of the theater. Resident stock companies have thrived and are thriving on the patronage thus neglected by jtho producing managers. Tho stock company has an advantage In that It cjoes not travel from town to town, thereby saving much In the way of rail way fare and other xpensesi but this Is to some extent offset by tho fact that the stock company is at considerable cost oach week for scenery and accessories for the.iew production that must bo made each seven days. What l proven by the experience of the stock company Is that In every community Is a large element of, potential patrons of the theater who will not pay the high prices asked at present by the standard producers, but who will cheerfully go to see, plays given under rather discouraging circumstances, because the admission fee Is within reach. This has been proven again and again, and experiments more directly In line with the thought, made in New York arid in Chicago, have proven that the people still want tho drama, want tt. Ijost there is in it, and are willing to pay for it. If the pi ice is st at a figure they can reach. It Is not especially to tne credit of the wise ones" of New York, on whose ver dict depends the success of most theatri cal ventures-for Broadway Is still the m "Sh'Jinf BtPy " HtesoA At Me Qayef-y acid test of the stage In America that "Peter Pan" would havo died from want of support, had It not been for th,c exist ence of n society In New York through whoso agency a large number of tickets wero placed on sale at reduced rates , whero tho poorer folks of tho city could secure them. It was this patronage that kept the Barry triumph alive until the unresponsive 2-publlc awakened to the fact that It was neglecting one of the most delicious fantasies ever staged. Other plays have had similar experience and it is admitted that, given tho oppor tunity,, tho people who cannot afford to pay - a sent aro the best- patrons of tho theater and not merely for' the sake of amusement when admission rales aro put within' their reach. . Omaha has thousands of residents who would much prefer to see one of the great modern plays enacted by flesh and blood actors to seeing It in pictures, but the policy of the managers has so far been to put the real thing out of their reaclt. If this policy could be changed to the ex tent that where it Is not possible to send the stars, a company of lesser luminaries could be organized Hnd equipped for the purpose of letting the great public have a chance at the good things of -the theater. It Is qulto likely the men who have put their money Into these ventures would have less occasion to complain of the lack of patronage. Such a change would bo a welcome relief from a practice that Is altogether too prevalent and which has cost the men of the box office end of the business a lot of money; the practfee of developing a play on Broadway with the aid of a well established actor, and then sending It on tour with some other and less expensive star In the big role, but Insisting on the public paying the Broad way rate for the "provincial" production. This custom has been so general within the last few years that It Is now accepted In the business of the theater as a matter of course. Whatever of Justice may be In it is no longer thought of; It Is profitable. and that ends the argument, so far as the producer Is concerned, The point aimed at Is that not enough really good attractions may be seen at reasonable prices. It Is not expected that Broadway stars will be sent en tour to play at popular prices; but capable actors may he found who will bo glad to have the chance to appear In such good plays ns the manager who will embark In the enterprise may select, and at such figures ns will make the venture one of profit. Here Is a good chance to rehabilitate the theater, to 'overcome some of the present competition with the legitimate stage, and to win back for it something of the pres tige it has lost since It marked up its prices In company with other "necestl- ..tlcs." It Is Just as easy to give the people a good play at 73 cents as it is to gtvo n musical comedy at the same price, and the result will be far better for tht theater, now and hereafter. Authors will be Interested In this, too, for it con cerns them In the matter of royalty; butv thev can easllv arrange the matter, and will be the gainers In the end, for not only will It incieae the Income by reason Chariot Ihrjrv IBBhHhhK of the employment of their plays, but It will widen their popularity becauso It will bring more people Into contact with their work. It will mean better employ ment for more actors, anil It ought to mean a great deal moro than that to tho theater Itself, for It will bo putting the plays dealing with the great questions of the time directly before those It Is most desired to reach. Debate on this point may be'rescrved .for. another occasion, but for tho present tho ' suggestion Is mado that great Fcrvlcc can be rendered by put ting the good plays within reach' of a large njinibcr pf people who are now shut out of the 'theater by the prices charged. 'Announcement came out from Now York during the week that ownership of tho' Dramntlc Mirror hid passed Into con trol of Messrs. Frederick V. Schrader and Lyman Otis Flake, who have been in edlto'rial and business chargo of the paper for longer than a year. In the an nouncement Is set. forth a statement that seems scarcely necessary, save as an earnest that the Mirror Is to continue as It has 'for the thlr.ty-flvo years of Its existence, tho dignified nnd exact chron icle of matters of moment and genuine concern to tho theater in general, and particularly to the stage In America. The statement referred to is that no one con corned In any theater, moving picture or other amusement enterprise owns a share of stock in the Mirror. This assures the absolute Independence of the publication, which Is Just at present apparently moro prosperous than It ever was. Under the long-time editorial control of Harrison Grey Flske, the Mirror held front rank In Its fUld of endeavor, and oven while Its editor was most earnestly Involved In the stubborn flglif he made for Independence of the theater and ngalnst syndicate con trol, nothing In Its news columns was tinctured by the ma'nngeilal Interests of Its editor. Colonel Flske most gracefully surmounted, what to a lesser man would have been an Insurmountable obstacle, nnd successfully divorced his activity as a theatrical manager from his avocation as an editor. All the years of that struggle the columns of the Mirror were most dt-pendable, and when Colonel Flsko could no longer give the paper the time It deserved and demanded, he found capable suscessors In Messrs. Schrader and Flske. If the Mirror be continued nlonr the lines of Its founder, a medium for the dissemi nation of nrcurate Information, of con structive criticism and helpful comment. It will find the old guard of Its support ers largelv enhanced s'"1 Its field of usr. fulness continually widening. And the months It has been under the direction of Its new owners Is an exrllet guaranty that It will not depart from It tradi tions. After settling the 'disturbances In Tur key, and ending the war in Slcxlco, Bud Fisher, with the assistsncn of Gus Hill and his big company of fifty comedians, singers and danders, wlll send "Mutt and Jeff to Panama to finish tho great deep water way to the Pacific Ocean. Bud Fisher himself has suggested a story, and Owen Davis has worked it Intd a play and -ailed It "Mutt and Jeff In Panama." Leo Edwards has given It new music and song numbers, while D. B. Cobb has fitted the lyrics, after which tho dean of cartoon comedy productions, Qua Hill, added his years of experience. "Mutt" Is, a government secret service detective and his little partner "Jeff" Is his troublesomo prisoner. After a deep and dark melo-drumatic, plot, they succeed In capturing a pair of foreign spies who have stolen tho plans for the fortifica tion of the great Panama canal zone. The scenic, electrical-and mechanical ef fects are a postlve sensation, beginning at Jacksonville, Fla., and ending with the Midway at the Panama exposition at Ban Francisco. Laughter Is Incessant throughout the two and one-half hours of the play with "Glrly-Whirly" mancu vers enough to fill two plays. "Mutt and Jeff In Panama" will begin a four day engagement at the uranucis, com mencing tonight. Two attractions In one are booked for the Brandels for one night only on next Thursday, January 8. They aro Anna Pavlowa and her company of Imperial Russian dancers and Theodore Stter and hta symphony orchestra. Under tho baton of the famous conductor the musl clans with tho Pavlowa organisation give an evening's entertainment delightful to the most critical, music lovers. Equally, Pavlowa herself, without her organiza tion of nearly 100 persons, would bo whole show. The staggering sums of fered to her in vain by eager vaudeville managers emphasizes the last fact. Pavlowa and the members of her troupe as they will appear here, scenery and costumes that are the last word In ar tistic gorgeousness, will delight all sorts of people. Thoughtful folk of the most fastidious artistic sensibilities are charmed. Those who are seeking only amusement are enthralled, With a per fect musical setting and with lavish staging tho great art of dancing as In terpreted by Pavlowa has a universal appeal. There Is this universal appeal In the music to which the Imperial dancers mock old Sir Isaac Newton and tils law of gravitation. The serious stu dent ot music lm opportunity to hear composition not Included In ordinary concert or operatic program. He or she ho simply eeks entetlalnuif nt hrars melodies that, tiring Unnro mustn, charm , the attention ot even those who usually i elleve they like only ragtime. Home of the. great component whoso compositions aro used by Pavlowa and her company lire Glinka, Glasounov, Drlgo, Chopin, I.lsat, Rubinstein, Sulnt-Snrn, Pndcr- ewBkl, llrtmouil and Sarasatc. H Is music of the best kind, yet at the same J who music ui uerinuo popular nppciu. -- - , Added to tho genuine delight. Invariably rrnte.l whonever Mrtntyro & llenth Bp- ' Pear before nu audience. Is one of th-J ! best tnuMcnl comedy choturos that was ever graduate! fron Ned Wnyburn'.i t rinlshlng si-hcnl." with the result that i 'Tho Ham Tree." which conies to the ' Brandels theater on Friday nnd Sntur- 1 day, Janunry 3-10, proves a rattling good show With tlieso two famous black face comedians setting a rapid puce us ' entertainer!", nnd the oilier pcrfonner.i following along nt nn equally high rnto ' of speed, when the nudlenco Isn't laugi- Ing at tho stars themselves, U Is enjoying ! and rpplaudlng pxcpllcnt sliming n-id dancing. As drllut-nlor of the negro character. Mwsrs. Mclntyro A llenth 1 have for cars stood pro-cmlncnt In Vw theatrical profession. KhoIi pref-nts n distinct type of the southern dnrk M, Mclntyrc ns Alexander, the livery stable hand, and Mr. Heath as the somewhat pompous minstrel performer, offers a bit ot human nature which stands nn notliin,: , less than a dramatic achievement Thero I la n plot to "Tho Ilnm Tice" nnd It tells ' ot the fortunes of these two oomlcal fel lows, one of whom Is supposed to k-iow , the rupee of the show business, while t'.o other has been induced to give up a 'good Job takln' care of hordes" tint he nmy shine on the stage. The Join I the "Georgia Minstrels" nnd In tour day tml In four day -1 K Then L'omi' tho , I'jH i found "rountlnc i fll ......... ... (5 tho show 'Voei broke big scene wherln they lire Mo lies. .xio.ximuor s mmcntniums us he sits on n trunk relloctlng on his fatal mistake Is tho lilt of the piny. Without hlB partner or tho "man who led htm nstruy," It would never find such fuvtir, I to that the combination Is a big winner, 1 In his toxical this year John Oort has! given 'The Hnm Tree" a magnificent production and surrounded his stnrH with a notable cast, including jtiwnrl wane, Arthur Harry, John lirenz, Ted Holmes, Otto Johnson, George C. Youngmnn, Ed- vnrd S. Iloldcn, Normiiti Woodward, Mildred Bcwrly, Lulu Wells and Mabel Ulaln. A very Important booking ot great In terest to local theater patrons Is that of Jumes K. Ilnckett. F. C. .chruny, man ager of the Brandels theater, has Just completed arrangements whereby Mr. Huckott will play a spcrlul onga?emcnt of one night only at tho Brandels, Hun day, Januiu.) 11, In his most successful play, "The Grain ot Dust." Mile. Emma TrenUnl In tho now com edy opera "The Firefly" with the origi nal cast and ensemble direct from Its successful run of twcnty-flvo weeks nt tho Cuslno, New York, will appear hero at tho ltrandels theater for three day.i, commencing January 12. "The Firefly" was written by otto llaucrbach nnd Ru dolf Krlml. Tho ciut supporting Mile. Trontlnl Is compoccd of .Melville Stewart, Roy Atwell, Crnlg Campbell, William Wolf, Sammy Lee, Loulan Mink, Knthrr Ino Stewart, Ruby Norton and Mile. Vera noBa. Mr. Frlml, tho composer of "The Firefly," wns born In Praguo In XSSI. 11 studied nt tho Prague conservatory and afterward devoted his efforts to con cert work and composition. In 1001 ho ' uccompanlcd his compntrlot, Jan Kubrllk, to this country, nnd In 1!KW ho played his own piano concerto In B major with tho New York Symphony orchestra. Hassard Sliort'n "Dance Reveries, " with a cast of beveii people, Is to bo tho most prominent of the attractions HiIm woek nt tho Orphoum. With Colt Albertson playing tho role of tho Dreamer, and six attractive young women In' his support, It Is said to bo especially pleasing. Char lotto Parry, In her fantasy culled "Into tho Light," delineates flvo different characters. First she appears as n col ored maid, then as nn Italian, nn Irish girl, a Yankee nnd a young girl. Five Chinamen, swinging by their cues nnd performing strange evolutions, will bo a curious feature of the act to bo of fered by natives of Manchuria. Tho monologue comedian, James J, Morton, wlt be ono of the features of the bill. One of tho amusing phases of the negro Impersonations to be contributed by Swor and Mack Is a piece of humorous pantomime, a silent poker gamo -Mono by Mr, Mack. It Is said that no musl cian ever awakened such sweetness of tono from nn accordcon as is accom plished by tho Italian instrumentalist, Froslnl. His Is not a freak performance, uut solo work displaying true musician snip. Aerial feats of a spectacular quality ure to be offered by La Vlor, a iraposn performer. Completing the en tertulnment will be a motion picture ox cluslvcly used at the Orphoum entitled Btanton a Last Fling, nmy v. WAUon and "dlrls from llnppylantl" will make merry nt tlio popular Gaycty during tho week MtartliiK una anernoon. It's really an all-Wat on show, and though ho Id aurroundel with the beat element of funmakcra, tho ciever comedian will furnish the major portion of tho merriment himself, Tho plots of the two burletlas arc Indeod happy ones and auugest an endlea chain or Hilarious incidents which have been moat succeeafully worked out. While the flrat brings the acme of humor and spirit of llirht-heartedncBS, the closing offering is well seasoned with lively Iniiredlcnta, PT1 Tl..ll . a . ma imjus i ran e mant is stamped on tho attraction, the superb and best as surance or its merit. "Slldlnj; Billy" will be on tho stage the greater portion of the time. Iadles' dime matinee dally all week, starting tomorrow. P. a. Ixwrey's75ixIo Fashion Plate Minstrels," will be the attraction at Me Krug theater for four days commencing with a matinee today All read darkles from southern plantations are used In this year's show, Tho company Is under the porsonal direction of Messrs. John It. Andrew and Charles O, Gaines. The min strel first part with tlilny-flvo artists starts the show and for two hours ono may hear the popular ragtlmo tongs and ballads of the day, sung by darkles from the southland In their own Inimitable way, A street parade will bo seen on tho downtown street at noon headed by a brass band of twenty-two piece. Again In the evening In front of the theater a popular concert will be given. Popular i rices within reach of all will prevail during the special engagement for this cltv. The bill at the Kmpress beginning today Is headed by the Seven Colonial Mont rose troupe, offering a musical acrobatic l'oitr Onys, itcgltiutnc Tonight Hjuo. BftANBElS The Ono Dig Laughing Musical Evont 50-S5EGSRS AND COSVIEDIANS50 ONE NIGHT ONLY JAN. 8th "Tho Divinity of tho Dance." ns tho N. Y. 8un calla her, will appear hero In two now sensational Uanco dramas, "Tho Magic Fluto" and "Tho Invitation to tho Danco." AIbo 8 lUvortisoments, includlne tho latest bocIiiI darning crazo, Tho Oavotto Pavlowa. COMPANY OK HO, INCH l)IN( M. XOVIKOKK, Hl'llKim SYMPHONY OUCllKSTUA OF THIRTY. TIIKODOItK MTIKlt, CON'Dl'CTOH. Friday-Safd'y, JOHN CORT Presents M9INTYRE LD HEATH V j AND COMPANY OF 100 i INAMAGNIFtCIENT REVIVAL OF THEIR BIGGEST MUSICAL j COMEDY SUCCESS THE- SPECIAL HAMTRIEORCHESTRA SEAT SALE MONDAY PRICES: JAM. 11th I J AMES K. HACKETT LWniy'M IN "THE GRAIN OF DUST" Three ITIjUts, Wednesday Kixtlnee January 19, 13, 14. "5 .T1 fcClVUViA f T t HE XNCOMIO I RENTIN " 1 Orchestra of 83 Ensemble of 00. rvnvvrwri .w. 1 ? mmmmmwmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm "St 1 v Night, 8:30; Daily Matinee DIXIE FASHION PLATE MINSTRELS X C Best Singers, Dancers, X tZ J J Comedians, Musicians v-J OHAX.X.SKOB CONCERT BAND SYMPHONY O&CXSSTBJL PrlooB, lSo, SBo, 30c, SOo nnd 70o. Phone, Douglas 494. ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE Wcok Starting Mat. Sun. Jan. 4 Tho All Htnr T-amliM Gambol Sucoesn KASSABD BnORT'S " DAIIUE REVERIES " CHARLOTTE PARRY' In "into the Light." A Physchuloglcal Phantasy by Frank Lymun. First American Tour BRYAND CHEERBERT'B MARVELOUS MANGHUR1ANS The Monologue- Comodlun JAMES J. MORTON "A Fellow of Inflnlto Jest" SWOR AND MACK Reallatlc Impressions of Southern Negroes FROSONI The Man Who Flrat Dignified the Accordlnn In America, LA VIER Dauntless DolngM Aloft, Completing tho Entertainment Will Ho a Motion Picture Inclusively Used nt the Orphoum and Kliown tor the First Time. Subjsct, "Stanton's Last Pling." Prloes Matinee, Gallery loot Best Beats (exoept Saturday and Sunday) 35o ; Nights, loo, ase, SOo and 70o. "OMAHA'S PUN CENTER." "SLIDING" BILLY W. WATSON dSu. girl?h?Jm happylakd Fastest show on the circuit. Company of B0. Crowds so great we Hiiould have rclitfd the Auditorium for the week. LADIES' DIMS MATINEE WEEK DAT. novelty and employing some novel effects on musical Instruments. Danny Sim mons Is a well known character com edian, and his presentation of "The Military Hobo" Is wall known to tho vaudovllle and musical comedy stage. Kelcy Comboy and company offer a comedy sketch called "The Claim Agent." It deals with a waitress who Is out of funds nnd who atonipts to beat a trac tion company on ff-fuke accident claim. The vaudeville, bill Is completed by the i Hpldsworths In a slngliiK and comedy , offering. Tho regular number of ox- j elusive first-run pictures will be offered In connection with every performance. Four shows dally, beginning at 2, 3:3", 7.30 and 9 P. m. ' 1'opulnr Mnt. XVcd. ."Or, il.-c; Night $1, 7f5r, nor, 25c. An Entirely New Vefrsion of MUTT AND JEFF PANAMA Rents Now Belling. Prices Box Seats, J 3.00. Orchestra, J3.U0. Balcony, $2.00, J2 00 and Jl-60. , Kocond Balcony, Reserved. J1.00. Plenty of Good Scats lot. fSi Jan. 9-10 BOOK By GE0.V.HOBART lyRic By WILLIAM JEROME & MUSIC By JEANSWARJZ WORLD'S BEST DANCING L CHORUS S raged by jvea burn Matinee. SOo to 91.50 Hlffhts, SSo to 93.00 Mall Order sow Y IREFL am 4 DAYS Commencing -Matlnes today, 2:30 lOc HippTheater 15th ind Harney 3 Days, Starting Sunday, Jan. 4 Daniel Tronman Presents th Internationally Tamous Play, LEA H KLESGHNA" With the Distinguished Ainerloaa Actress, Carlotta Nillsos The stirring story f a woman's regeneration shown In four parts. Shows begin on the area honrs from 11 a. m. to 11 . m. WfcSK OF JAN. ATH THE SEVEN Colonial Montrose TROUPE MUSICAL ACROBATS KELCY CINBOY & CO. Presenting THE CLAIM AOEHS DANNY StMiVtONS ITART HOBO THAT MOLBSWORTM'S Comedy Instrumentalists EXCLUSIVE! rntST sur SHL 10c 1 f Smoke JJ MUTT jS JEFF 5