Telegraphic News - Chicago (May 22, 1899)

Summertime Harbingers — Players in the Social Swim — Timely Tips.

(Special to The Mirror.)

CHICAGO, May 22.

The best theatrical season which local managers have ever enjoyed is coming to a close. The people thronged the theatres all Winter and it is evident that they are now tiring of the indulgence, for the best of attractions are not enjoying the attention deserved. The Lyceum management expected to keep Trelawny of the Wells on at Powers' for three weeks, but John Ingerfield was put on to-night for the last two weeks of the engagement and was well received. Maude Adams will follow in Romeo and Juliet for a week. Then Because She Loved Him So follows for two months, opening June 12.

The Forty Club's last dinner of the season will occur at the Grand Pacific Hotel to-morrow afternoon, and among the club guests will be James T. Powers, Cyril Scott, Jacob Litt, William Courtleigh, Richard Golden, Joseph Herbert, E. J. Morgan, Charles W. Butler, Harry Woodruff, Harry Brown, Melville Eltis, Henry Norman, Paul Dresser, and many others.

Although The Fortune Teller has been doing over $8,000 a week at the Columbia, this is announced as its third and last week, and after it departs, with Alice Nielsen and the comedians, the house will be closed for the Summer and Manager Will J. Davis will hie himself to his Willowdale Farm, near Crown Point, Ind., where he has four hundred and sixty rolling acres. I spent Sunday there a few weeks ago and I don't blame Davis for going there for a Summer run.

Weddings and engagements of interest to theatrical people abounded here last week. Lillian Sommers, the talented sister of Harry Sommers, treasurer of the Columbia, was married Wednesday evening to Howbert Billman, dramatic critic of the Record, and on Thursday evening May Stoddard and J. H. Wright, of Remember the Maine, were united in matrimony.

Otis Skinner's local popularity was reasserted at the Grand Opera House last week, when he opened to more than $1,200 in Rosemary, which is not a Sunday night play, by the way. He had a big week. Gretchen Lyons, his new leading lady, won much praise for her work. Mr. Skinner will soon return to Chicago for the Summer. Mrs. Skinner is now here.

Manager Jacob Litt is in the city to look after rehearsals of The Club's Baby, which will have its first production at McVicker's next Sunday evening, following West's Minstrels, which are doing well. Eugene Blair, by the way, was engaged by wire for a part in the new farce, but when she arrived here she declined to play after hearing that she would have to wear a dress suit. Hilda Spong was offered the part, but she is going to England for the Summer.

Manager John W. Dunne is here after a very successful season of the Dunne and Ryley attractions. He and Mrs. Dunne expect to go to New York to live.

At the Grand Opera House to-night the Daly success, A Runaway Girl, began an engagement of three weeks before a very large and delighted audience. James T. Powers, Cyril Scott, and Virginia Earle were cordially welcomed.

Robert Edeson and Arthur Byron have been engaged by Manager Harry L. Hamlin for the cast of Augustus Thomas' new play, Arizona, which follows A Runaway Girl at the Grand.

A frequent visitor to my police court is a bibulously inclined female who seeks to fool me every time by changing her name, and she selects her names from the billboards. She first came up as Lillian Russell, then as May Irwin, and later as Catherine O'Toole. One day last week she appeared as Rosemary Ryan. I had given her many chances for reform and thought it best to call a halt, so I told her that I recollected her well and would fine her $10 and costs. "I didn't think he'd know me," she said to the clerk as the officer led her away. And the clerk entered $10 and costs against her name and said: "Yes, Rosemary, that's for remembrance."

Ward and Vokes have made a hit in their Summer travaganza, The Floorwalkers, at the Great Northern, and since the opening night have done much judicious pruning. The principals are very funny and the bill is likely to draw for many weeks.

Colonel Harry Emery dropped in here the other day from his farm at Benton Harbor, across the lake. He and his wife, Katie Putnam, have enjoyed a very successful season with A Texas Steer.

Lou Houseman, sporting editor of the Inter Ocean, has leased the Adelphi and will give weekly boxing bouts up there. Manager Barry will probably have the house again next season.

The stock company at Hopkins' is giving The Land of the Living this week, and next week that hard-working little leading lady, May Hosmer, will have a big testimonial, which she richly deserves.

Patrons of the Studebaker have asked for repetitions of Martha and The Mikado, but the Castle Square management prefers to adhere to the rule providing for a weekly change of bill. This week The Bohemian Girl is the opera, and it will be followed by Pinafore and Cavalleria Rusticana. The business is very large.

Madeline Smith Ryley's play, The Mysterious Mr. Bazle, is being produced this week by the stock company at the Dearborn.

St. George Hussey gave his new play, Mrs. B. O'Shaughnessy, over at the Bijou yesterday. In Old Virginia will follow.

The Eastern papers announce the early formation of a "yarn trust," and I am anxious to see whether or not they put "Punch" Wheeler in on the ground floor, where he belongs.

Now that Admiral Dewey has started home I hope some of the men who are essaying to impersonate him on the stage will take to the woods. If they do not I should like to hold them while he aims.

Al. G. Bonney, of the Spooners, sends me from Scranton, Pa., a Sunday paper which prints a cut of Jeff De Angelis in The Jolly Musketeer and labels it "Katherine Rober." Bonney wants to know who the joke is on. (Regards to Jeff; Katherine please write.)

The "troopers" have been doing right well here of late in a social way. Mrs. H. H. Kholsaat gave a luncheon last week for Mary Mannering and Nikola Tesla; Jennie Hawley, of The Fortune Teller, has been entertained by Mrs. F. M. Smith; Hope Ross, of The Club's Baby, is with Mrs. George D'Essauer, and Gretchen Lyons, of Skinner's company, was entertained by Mrs. F. K. Root.

Some one has sent me the name of "George Pippin, leading juvenile." He is not exactly a peach, but he will do.

Up in the police court the other day I had a golf fiend under arrest, and I had to send out for an interpreter in order to understand him. It has been my experience that a man who talks golf forgets the English language.

W. F. Kelley, of Winfield, Kan., writes me as follows: "You have been recommended to me as a reliable agent in obtaining positions for first-class actors. I have had some experience on the stage and am confident of success in that direction. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated." Managers interested in Mr. Kelley can secure his services by writing to me and inclosing stamp for reply. "BIFF" HALL.