July 23, 1908
GREW UP ON INDIAN CLUBS.
Community in Chicago Has Supplied the Country With Jugglers.
Within five blocks in Chicago, South Side, nineteen Indian club jugglers who are now appearing professionally were born and raised. Nearly all are attached to the Orpheum circuit.
Five of them are the Juggling Jordans, playing this week at Carnival park, who will play the Orpheum circuit next winter. The Five Mowatts, who are now in Paris, the Five Normans, now playing in the West coast theaters, the two McBranns and Fred and May Waddell also learned their tricks there.
"The babies around where we were raised play with old Indian clubs," said George Jordan, one of the Carnival park five. "All of us practiced in garrets and no one could ask a more critical audience than that which gathers when some young fellow announces he has become proficient at the game. If he can pass muster with the Indian clubs before that crowd of experienced critics, he need never fear the 'hook' on any theatrical engagement he gets. That crowd has seen the best in the business.
Labels: Carnival Park, theater, visitors June 16, 1908 YOUNG WOMEN IN BLACK FACE.
Minstrel Show to Raise Funds for a Delegate's Trip.
There was a large audience in the gymnasium of the Y. W. C. A. last night to witness the "De Creole Ladies," a production arranged by the You Will Come Again Club of the association for the purpose of accumulating money to send a representative to the Lake Geneva conference next August.
The entertainment opened with a minstrel show, in which thirty participated, the interlocutor character being in the keeping of Miss Georgia Thurman, who had her hands full because of the antics and questions of the four end "men," who were impersonated by Miss Ada Ackerman, Miss Hazel Gross, Miss Grace Curtis and Mrs. Elizabeth Harlow. All other participants were thoroughly drilled in their respective parts and there was not a dull moment from the upgoing of the initial curtain until the end.
Other features of the entertainment were negro songs, jigs and sayings, and a sketch, "Miss Pepper's Ghost." Because of the pronounced success of the event it is probable that within a short time there will be another, the proceeds of which will be used for some other of the many needs of the association.
Although it will now be possible for the Kansas City association to be represented at the Lake Geneva conference, it at this time is not known to whom the errand will fall.Labels: organizations, race, theater June 15, 1908 WALKS A WIRE ON ONE LEG.
Novel Attraction Coming to Forest Park Next Week.
The aerial act scheduled for Forest park did not go on yesterday, as the artists engaged for this act were unable to get to Kansas City on account of the flood. The management replaced this act with one equally as good, namely, the Long Brothers, premier acrobats and tumblers, La Wanda and Garrick pleased all who saw them in their ring contortion stunt and the Luken's bears game ther last performance in the evening. They leave today for St. Louis, where they will play a return engagement at Forest Park Highlands. The bears will be replaced by Roy Fortune, the world's premier one-legged wire walker. The couples' skating contest is popular. There are now entered over forty couples. A large crowd visited the park yesterday despite the threatening weather and the flood.Labels: flood, forest park, theater June 12, 1907 NEGRO WHO ROBBED ACTOR KOLKER CAUGHT.
J. H. ANDREWS FLED TO PARIS WITH MONEY AND JEWELS.
Stole Bag Containing $1,000 in Money and $2,500 Worth of Jewels in Sexton Hotel Cafe Last April.
After a successful flight that entailed many narrow escapes from pursuing officers, and on an itinerary through St. Louis, Chicago, New York and Liverpool, J. H. Andrews, negro, the Sexton hotel waiter who robbed Henry and Mrs. Kolker, actors, of $3,500 in money and jewels while they were taking lunch in the cafe the night of April 22, was captured in Paris yesterday. Andrews was a postcard fiend, it is said, and the fact that he constantly sent them to a negro woman in this city was the cause of his undoing.
Local police authorities give Patrolman Daniel Keenan credit for the capture of Andrews. A few hours after the negro's flight from the city, Keenan somehow discovered the woman friend and obtained from her a promise to help him discover his whereabouts.
Taking a tip from her, he went to the Union depot, where she said Andrews had taken a train for St. Louis. There Keenan discovered the negro had purchased a ticket for St. Louis , but that it had never been taken up on the train. The patrolman then believed, he says, that he was working on a blind lead and, returning, told the woman about it.
"Oh, that's all right," she assured Keenan. "He is one of those postcard fiends and if we wait awhile we will hear from him that way," and the policeman decided to wait, as there was nothing else to do.
The following day the negress called police headquarters and wanted Keenan.
"First card," she said. "I think he is going on through St. Louis, for he did not give his address."
The next card received by the woman came from Chicago, the next from Buffalo and then one from New York. There was a long interval before the one from Liverpool arrived. Even that one did not give an address, and the name signed was merely "Andrews," in a protracted scrawl.
The post card from Paris arrived Wednesday. It bore on the back a few words of greeting and the street address of the rooming house where Andrews was stopping, followed by a line asking for a letter from his woman friend. This was turned over to Patrolman Keenan, who cabled at once to the police headquarters at Paris asking Andrew's arrest on a grand larceny charge.
A cablegram telling of the negro's arrest by Parisian police came addressed to Keenan at police headquarters yesterday morning, and word has been returned to hold Andrews for extradition.
Henry Kolker was playing an engagement with the Barker Stock Company at the Shubert theater the week of April 22. It was after the play on the night of that date that he and Mrs. Kolker, accompanied by a woman friend, went into the cafe of the Sexton hotel, where they were stopping for supper.
Mrs. Kolker carried a large purse-handbag, which contained the money, 10 $100 bills and jewels. They sat at a small table, upon which there was not room for the handbag. Mrs. Kolker placed the bag on the floor beside her, and the three remained in the cafe until all the other patrons had gone. It was near closing time when they finished their supper, and in the hurry of departure Mrs. Kolker left the bag behind.
It was an hour later that she discovered her loss, which was at once reported to the hotel people and the police.
Detectives at work on the case next morning found that J. H. Andrews, a negro waiter, had suddenly left the hotel. In his rooms they found Mrs. Kolker's empty bag and letters which led them to believe the negro had gone to St. Louis.
Mr. Kolker said he carried a large sum of money because he was preparing to leave for Australia, where he had a theatrical engagement. He was to have sailed the latter part of may, but the loss of his savings made it necessary to cancel the engagement. He offered a $500 reward for the arrest of the thief and the recovery of the jewels.Labels: crime, hotels, police, race, St Louis, theater, Union depot May 16, 1908 IT ISN'T ALL HONEY.
The Umpire's Life Not a Happy One When the Home Team Loses.
Oh, it's great to be an umpire. Steve Kane is an umpire. Things didn't go just right, from the fans' point of view, at the baseball park yesterday and it looked as though a reception committee might greet the umpire as he left the park by the big gate after the game. At least, the police thought so and they hovered conveniently near until Kane had safely boarded a trolley car for down town.
Last night Steve Kane refereed two wrestling matches at the Century theater. The principals were introduced and then the announcer said:
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to introduce to you the referee of these matches, the very popular and affable baseball umpire, Mr. Steve Kane."
Enter Mr. Kane, R. U. E., bowing and smiling.
Siz-z-z! Wow! G-r-r-r! Zip-p-p!
For five minutes the audience hissed its opinion of Umpire Kane and then it settled back prepared to roar its disapproval of his decisions in the wrestling matches. But he was so manifestly correct in his decisions that the crowd was forced to acknowledge that he at least knew the wrestling game.Labels: sports, streetcar, theater May 9, 1908 TWO WOMEN DOCTORS.
Homeopaths Hold Graduation Exer- cises at Shubert.
Friends of Hannemann Medical college and of the graduating class filled the Shubert theater yesterday afternoon and witnessed the confering of M. Ds. upon thirteen young men and two women.
Dr. Frank Elliott, dean of the college, presided. Rev. Samuel Garvin delivered the address. The invocation was spoken by Rev. D. S. Stephens. Hiner's Third Regiment band played several selections. The fifteen who received diplomas from the hand of Dr. Charles, Ott, president of the college, are:
W. P. Abell, O. P. Bourbon, C. Brashear, L. R. Chapman, H. B. Clark, Mrs. M. H. Farnsworth, O. R. Gregg, C. B. Magee, E. A. Montague, J. R. Newton, P. A. Petitt, John L. Reid, S. H. Snow, E. H. Zellinger and Leo J. O'Shaughnessy.Labels: doctors, ministers, theater, women May 4, 1908 MANY INDIANS WITH SHOWS.
Wild West Organizations Furnish Employment for Hundreds.
That the numerous Wild West shows are giving employment to many Indian families and affording them a means of livelihood other than the government is evidenced by the fact that the railroads are constantly handling parties of Indians en route from the West to join the shows at Eastern points.
A Wild West show takes better in the East than in the West, and for this reason, as the show go eastward for summer work they are calling upon more Indian families to join them. Those Indians who are expert in horseback riding or shooting get the first engagements, but others are employed at sall salaries simply because they are Indians.
During the past month several hundred Indians have passed through Kansas City en route east to join some show and help to portray scenes that never existed at all or are fast dying out, even in the West.Labels: Native Americans, theater May 1, 2008 ITS GREAT TO BE FAMOUS.
Joseph Yanner Says Friends Are Kill- ing Him With Kindness.
Joseph Yanner, the Kansas City boy who is with the "Strongheart" company at the Grand theater this week, is a busy person. To hear him tell it, one would think that he scarcely had time to eat. "Never in my life have I found it so hard to keep engagements as I am finding it this week," said he; "it is almost impossible for me to get around to the theater on time. Between automobile rides and chumming with all of my old friends it is always just a few minutes before the curtain goes up when I am able to get into my dressing room.
"Yesterday my family took me to one of the theaters in town to see Robert Mantell. I was immensely enjoying the play when a party of my friends burst in upon us and carried me off for an automobile ride over the boulevartds. That's just the way I have been going all week; keeping only parts of engagements and then having to make a sprint for the theater. It is all very enjoyable, though it does seem rather nerve-racking."
Mr. Yanner will stay with the "Strongheart" production until the end of this season. He will then come houme to Kansas City and spend the summer with his parents. He has made no arrangements for his next season's work as yet, but expects to do so before he returns home.
Kansas City has been Mr. Yanner's home for twenty years, having been reared here. He attended the Christian Brothers' Catholic school at Twelfth and Broadway.Labels: automobiles, Broadway, schools, theater, Twelfth street May 1, 1908 SHE WANTED TO KISS THEM.
An Apparently Demented Girl An- noyed Penny Theater Patrons.
A 12-year-old girl, unable to say anything but "da-da" and believed to be feeble-minded, was taken out of the Electric penny theater on East Twelfth street yesterday afternoon by Patrolman Thomas Keys of the crossing squad, after she had annoyed several visitors in the theater by climbing up on their backs and trying to kiss their cheeks and ears. She is being held at the detention home until she can be identified or someone calls to claim her. She has blue eyes with red lids, yellow hair an wears a checked gingham dress and black shoes. Her stockings are ragged and she has no hat.Labels: amusement, children, detention home, mental health, police, theater, Twelfth street April 22, 1908 BABY ADOPTED BY ACTRESS.
Iola, Kas., Woman's Child Given to Burlesque Performers.
Dorothy Evaline Mack is the name which the baby of Mrs. Emma Ingledue of Iola, Kas., will carry through life. The infant was yesterday adopted by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Mack, who are here this week with the Trans-Atlantic Burlesquers at the Majestic theater. Last Friday Mrs. Ingledue left her baby with the police matron, Mrs. Joan Moran.
"I am too ill to care for her," she said. "I know that I could not give the child the advantages in life she deserves, I would rather some good couple had her."
"We only have two more weeks on the stage," said Mrs. Mack, "and then we will be back at our Philadelphia home. And by the way, that little home will soon be paid for. Next season I will stay at home and be mamma to Dorothy Evaline while J. C. Mack rustles around and makes a living for all three of us."
Mrs. Mack said that for three years she had been trying to adopt a baby.Labels: children, custody, police matron, theater, visitors April 21, 1908 3,000 THEATER CASES DISMISSED.
PROSECUTOR KIMBRELL CLEARS DOCKET UP TO APRIL 3.
WAS NO EVIDENCE TO CONVICT.
300 CASES, ALL RECENT, REMAIN TO BE TRIED.
Kimbrell Acts on His Own Initiative as Soon as the Cases Are All Transferred to Porter- field's Court.
Over 3,000 theater cases were dismissed by County Prosecutor I. B. Kimbrell yesterday shortly after Judge W. H. Wallace had transferred all of the Sunday closing cases of all kinds to Judge E. E. Porterfield's division of the criminal court. Every Sunday labor case against theater managers, house employes and actors, filed after grand jury indictments, from the beginning of the crusade last September until the indictments returned April 3, was dismissed.
Mr. Kimbrell stepped to Judge Porterfield's bench during a five-minute recess in the trial of a shooting case and said quietly to the judge:
"I want to make a world record at clearing a docket. The state asks that all theater cases numbered 5,337 to 8,849 be dismissed."
"Certainly," replied Judge Porterfield. He then directed James Gilday, the clerk, to make the order on the record. None of the theater attorneys nor Attorney R. R. Field was present. Kimbrell's action came as a surprise. When Judge Wallace was asked about it in the afternoon he said:
"That's news to me, but I knew that Mr Kimbrell intended to dismiss all of the old cases sometime. He talked with me about the matter some days ago and I told him that I was in favor of dismissing the older cases, if Judge Porterfield insisted upon trying them in the order of filing."
These are the cases in which Judge Wallace recently said he had no evidence. They would have been dismissed in his own court eventually. His talk with Kimbrell shows that he was aware of this.
"There is no possibility of all the theater cases being tried," Mr. Kimbrell said. "If the state secures convictions in cases of this nature it will be only in those recently filed and while deputy marshals still remember what they saw in each theater on certain Sundays, Judge Wallace himself has said, that the state has no evidence in the old cases.
The dismissal of the old cases is a help both to Judge Wallace and to the theater managers. The state is now in a position to secure convictions and the managers are freed from their burden of bonds. Enough cases remain to use as a test of every phase of the Sunday labor statute, which Judge Wallace is attempting to enforce. There are about 300 cases left, a hundred or so each week since the return of indictments on April 3. It will take us all summer to try that many."Labels: criminal court, Judge Wallace, Prosecutor Kimbrell, theater April 18, 1908 BOLEY WINS CIGAR CONTEST.
Makes Ten of Them in Eleven Min- utes at Century.
The cigar making contest at the Century theater last night was of unusual interest to onlookers. Few of them had ever seen cigars made. John Boley won the first prize of $10. He rolled ten cigars in eleven minutes. Boley is 17 years old and has been employed by cigar firms only one year. The second prize was won by Jacob Kern. His time was 12 1/2 minutes.
The contest was under the supervision of the cigar makers' union, of which every contestant was a member. The judges were John T. Smith, business agent of the Industrial Council; Joseph Henkle, business agent of the cigar makers' union, and Frank M. Reynolds, a cigar manufacturer.
In introducing the contestants Mr. Smith said: "The cigar industry is in Kansas City to stay, but we need your patronage. The factory of every wholesale dealer in the city is open to your inspection and we invite you all to visit them."
It is the purpose of the manager of the Century to introduce different trades to the public from his stage. The next will probably be a horseshoe making contest.Labels: cigars, theater April 15, 1908
CARTOONIST'S FUN WITH JOE STEIBEL
SAYS HE COULDN'T MAKE HIM "LOOK PLEASANT."
"Apollo" Bergfield, the Big Copper, Also Suffers at the Hands of the Visiting Artist. 
CARTOONIST LEVI'S LIBEL OF "JOE" STEIBEL, THE POPULAR PRESS AGENT OF THE ORPHEUM THEATER, WHOSE SMILE IS PERENNIAL.
"Behold the man who never smiles, or to whom it is at least painful to smile," said Bert Levy, as he pointed out one of his drawings of Joe Steibel, the affable pres agent of the Orpheum. "I tried every way in my power to make him even look pleasant, and at last he turned on me, serious as he could be, and said, 'Levy, I can't smile; I'm a sick man.' But I know the reason why he is so doleful -- it's because he has been working too hard this season.
"Why, just look what he has been up against all year, another vaudeville house in town, a bank suspension and lastly, Judge Wallace. It's enough to take the humor out of anybody."
"In this man you see the one who has made and unade vaudeville stars and Kansas City. He doesn't care whether the actor was headliner in the last city or whether he was put in the most inconspicuous place on the bill; if his act has merit, Joe will pick him out and begin work on him at once. Honest, he is the busiest man about the Orpheum theater -- no wonder he can't smile. He hasn't had time to practice.
The other picture here with the cop as centerpiece is true to life," continued the artist. "I made a sketch of this picture while standing out in the foyer of the theater, and this is just what I saw. People look upon this genial officer of the law, Joseph Bergfeld, I believe is his name, with real fear in their faces. What there is for them to be afraid of is more than I can see, for during the three years that Joseph has watched the box office window to see that the ticket seller does not take in any bad quarters, not an arrest has been made. At least that is what Joseph himself tells me.
 THIS IS JOSEPH BERGFIELD, THE WEST NINTH STREET APOLLO, CAUGHT IN HIS FAVORITE POSE BY CARTOONIST BERT LEVY, WHO LABELED THE DRAWING "INTIMIDATION."
"It may be that the reason for this is that the benign cop is put together in such wonderful and fantastic proportion that the 'con' men prefer to risk arrest in some other quarters. Just what would be your feelings when you march up to the box office window and have to pass between it and a ferocious looking cop, slowly balancing himself first on his heels and then on his toes, his heavy club swinging behind his back in time to the musical movements of his body?"
Mr. Levy is cartoonist on the New York Morning Telegraph. In speaking of his life work he said:
"My career as an artist began when I was but 13 years old, in the rear of a dingy little pawnshop in Melbourne, Australia. It was a pawnshop which belonged to my brother-in-law. I was put in to mark the tickets which we used in the show window, an I would delight in cutting them out in heart-shaped and different designs. The letters I would form as artistically as possible. This gave me a start, and as days went on I began to sudy the faces of the men as they peered in through the show window looking at the articles for sale. Then I began to copy them, and I am afraid let my pawnshop business pass iwth little attention. Soon my brother in law caught me at the drawing and I was forthwith discharged. I was them put into school, and after much pleading with my father I was allowed to take a course in art.
"Two and a half years ago I left Australia and came to America. When I arrived in New York I was penniless. I had nothing save my portfolio of drawings and a courage which was born of centuries of persecution. Immeidately upon my arrival in that great whirlpool of hope and despair I went to the editors of the New York papers and tried to find a market for my work, but because I was poorly dressed, and I was, for my shoes were almost off my feet and my coat was in rags, and because I was a Jew, I was given no hope, no chance to show that I could draw.
"For five days I wandered about the Ghetto, hungry and in dire want. My meals were picked up at the free lunch counters, and my sleep, what little there was of it, I got any place htat I could find. Then after many efforts, I succeded in getting a trial on the New York Telegraph, and, well, I am still on their staff, and do work for many other large publications. I won out after a terrible struggle, but I think of the thousands of talented artists, geniuses, who are almost starving in New York simply because fate wills it."Labels: arts, immigrants, Judge Wallace, Ninth street, theater, visitors April 11, 1908 MACMILLEN WILL NOT PLAY.
Fiddler Cannot "Endure Humiliation of Arrest," He Wires.
Upon learning that Judge W. H. Wallace would order County Marshal Al Heslip to stop the concert of Frances Macmillen, violinist, at the Willis Wood theater Sunday, if it should be necessary to arrest the artist and his assistants, O. D. Woodward, manager of the theater, telegraphed the fact to Macmillen's office in New York. This reply was received last night:
"Will not play in Kansas City Sunday. Cannot endure indignity of arrest."
So, there will be no concert at the Willis Wood tomorrow. Over 600 seats have already been sold and over $200 spent in advertising. Those who have purchased tickets may have their money refunded upon applying at the ticket window.Labels: arts, County Marshal Heslip, Judge Wallace, theater April 3, 1908 HISSED SPEAKERS FROM STAGE.
Century Patrons Did Not Want Any Politics Injected Into Bill.
Three candidates on the Republican city ticket found that the audience at the Century theater last night did not care to have the play interrupted by political speeches, and, in fact, had little interest in politics. Such loud hissing was never before heard from a theater audience in Kansas City as when one of the candidates attempted to make a speech. He was forced to leave the stage and the others had no better success.
"If that is the kind of reception we get on election day I am afraid things will not look as bright as they do now," said one of the candidates. After these men left the stage, the members of the burlesque company performing at the Century this week mentioned politics once or twice and received slight hisses from the audience.Labels: politics, theater March 27, 1908 HE WAS A FAKE WILLIAMS.
Person Who Collected Money Here Not the Veteran Minstrel.
After using burnt cork on his face for thirty-eight years to appear in almost every variety of stage performances, saving a small bank roll, raising a family and being comfortably well off, Billy Williams, the old minstrel, finds than an impostor had been visiting every city in the country, using the name of Billy Williams and depending on charity for support. Billy Williams, the original and only, is at the Auditorium theater this week with "The Way of the Transgressor."
A man who claimed to be Billy Williams came to Kansas City last fall. He said illness caused principally by drink, had forced him to quit the stage, and his wife and children, as well as himself, were in need of money to keep them from starvation A benefit was given for him and he secured a tidy sum from local sympathizers. He then disappeared and was heard of in other cities playing the same game.
The original Billy Williams is 53 years old and has been on the stage since 1870. Besides his minstrel career, he was seven years with the Gray & Steve company, five years with the "South Before the War" company, five years in vaudeville with his daughter, who is now the wife of a well known showman and five years with "The Way of the Transgressor" company which is now playing at the Auditorium theater. It will be remembered that the "Billy Williams," who was an object of charity here last fall, delivered a temperance lecture in a local church, and stated it was from his own experience that he was able to speak. The is one reason the real Billy Williams is indignant.Labels: con artist, theater March 20, 1908 MADE LIQUID AIR ON STAGE.
Edisonian Society Has a New Form of Entertainment.
A departure was taken in the regular assembly day programme at Manual Training high school yesterday afternoon. During the last part of the school year the different literary societies and other organizations of the school take their turn in giving entertainments on assembly day. Heretofore these entertainments have been pleasing, but hardly instructive to the students at large.
Yesterday was the day for the Edisonian Society, an organization composed of those who wish to study things of a scientific nature, to give its programme, and something altogether original was hit upon. The society staged a one-act-play with the scene in a physical laboratory. At the time for the arrival of the instructor he does not materialize, consequently the students take charge of the class and lecture in a most interesting manner upon the subject of air in all of its phases. During the lecture practical experiments are worked out, showing the audience the power and practical value of air.
The way in which this lecture was given was both entertaining and instructive. The process of making liquid air was thoroughly demonstrated and the uses of the air were shown. "Such a programme as the Edisonian Society gave should be encouraged and given the hearty support of the faculty," said Professor Philips, principal of the school. "The Edisonian Society is a new one here, and it is doing a splendid work."
The society was named for Thomas A. Edison, and the great inventor and scientist was notified of the liberty which was taken with his name. To this notification he responded with a gracious letter, which has been framed and is hanging in the physics room of the school.Labels: organizations, schools, theater March 15, 1908
SHE'LL PLAY TWO PARTS NOW.
Miss Cleo Lewis, Actress, Assumes the Role of Wife.
From stageland into the sterner realities of life have plunged two members of the Parisian Widows company which will show at a local theater this week. At noon yesterday Miss Cleo Lewis and S. Frank Scheuer were married by Justice Festus O. Miller.
The wedding was a surprise to the other members of the company.
Mrs. Scheuer is in from Philadelphia and her husband is from New York. Mr. Scheuer is musical director of the company and his bride has a small speaking part in the show.
James W. Rowland, the comedian of the company, was best man and Miss Delia Walker, also of the company, was bride's maid. The bride was given away by Frank Abbott, manager of the company.Labels: Judges, theater, visitors, wedding March 14, 1908 NIGHT COURT FOR ACTORS.
It Was Eleven o'Clock Before All Were Arraigned.
One hundred and forty indictments against theater folk were returned by the grand jury yesterday afternoon. The actors and house employes came straggling in until 11 o'clock at night, it being impossible to get together before that hour companies from the Gilliss and the Auditorium, in which no matinees were given yesterday. The matter of the managers giving bond on the duplicate indictments went over until Monday.
Judge Wallace kept the court open until nearly midnight, because he is scheduled to leave the city this morning for Paris, Mo., where he is to make a speech.Labels: criminal court, Judge Wallace, theater March 9, 1908 WALLACE DIDN'T INTERFERE.
With Production of Jewish Play at Shubert Last Night.
The dramatic opera, "The Witch," was given at the Shubert Theater last night by permission of Judge Wallace by a Jewish home talent company under the direction of M. Kasol and assisted by J. Herowitz. The play was given as a benefit for the congregation Tefares Israel, which is building a new church. The theater was filled and the play considerably above the standard of amateur theatricals. T. More was the musical director and Master Heimie Shapiro played violin solos between the acts.
Miss Ester Herowitz was the star of the cast and M. Kasol had the leading part as the witch. Mr. Kopperstein also figured prominently in the play, supporting Miss Herowitz. Others in the cast were:
J. Goldman, Mrs. B. Rosenberg, Miss Pearl Herowitz, J. Berkowitz, Sam Alport, Hary Koletsky, M. Silverstein, J. Herowitz, Miss Sadie Herowitz, J. Goldman, Miss Fanny Copeland, Miss Diamant, Mrs. S. Alport, Miss Dora Markowitz, Miss Tobi Silverstein Miss Della Baum.Labels: churches, Judge Wallace, theater March 5, 1908 KEEPS WORD WITH THE JEWS.
Wallace Says They May Present Their Play Sunday Night.
The Jews of the Tefares Israel congregation who have planned to present the five-act drama, "De Boba Yochna," in the Shubert theater next Sunday night, will not be molested by deputy marshals, according to Judge W. H. Wallace.
"When I gave my consent to the Jews giving their play on Sunday I thought they were to present it in a hall somewhere and not in a theater," explained the judge yesterday. "But since I have given my word that they shall not be molested for violation of the Sunday law, they shall not. That's only for this one Sunday, however. If they want to repeat the performance they can not use a theater again on Sunday."
Admission is to be charged to the Shubert on Sunday. The proceeds will be devoted to the furnishing of a synagogue at Tracy avenue and Admiral boulevard. The play will be given in Yiddish.Labels: Admiral boulevard, churches, Judge Wallace, theater, Tracy avenue March 4, 1908 WHAT! JUDGE WALLACE RESIGN?
Not a Chance, According to His Honor's Avowed Statement.
I have started on a work that I'm going to stick to until the end" said Judge Wallace last night, in answer to a question about the report circulated yesterday that he will resign if the supreme court decides against him in the application for a writ of prohibition, brought by the Kansas City theater managers.
"There's not a word of truth in it," continued Judge Wallace. "I haven't had the least idea in resigning -- not the least idea I don't know where such a report could have started."
"Then the decision of the supreme court will have no affect on your decision to continue the Sunday closing crusade?"
"Not the slightest. Whichever way the court decides, the work will be kept up just the same."Labels: Judge Wallace, theater March 1, 1908 BIRTHDAYS ARE FAR BETWEEN.
Egbert Hunter, Sixteen Years of Age, Celebrates His Third.
Although 16 years old, Egbert Hunter of 820 East Eighth street, celebrated his third birthday yesterday. Egbert had the fortune or misfortune to be born on the twenty-ninth day of February, 1892, a leap year, and, as a child, birthday parties were unknown to him. His second birthday occurred February 29, 1904, and he was given a big birthday party then that more than made up for those lost in previous years. He had grown four years older since his last birthday and now, at the age of 16, a birthday party would have been unseemly, so Roy A. Michael, his manual training teacher at the Lathrop school, and his class mates, gave him a theater party last night at the Auditorium.Labels: children, Eighth street, schools, theater February 29, 1908 WILL WALLACE STOP THIS JEWISH PLAY?
SAYS HE HAS NOT GIVEN PER- MISSION FOR IT.
But the Congregation Tefares Israel Declares He Has Signified His Willingness to Let Sunday Performance Proceed.
Although the Jews of the Tefares Israel congregation, who are to present "De Boba Yochne," a dramatic opera in the Shubert theater Sunday evening, March 8, claim that they have a permit from Judge W. H. Wallace guaranteeing that they shall not be arrested or indicted. Judge Wallace says he has made no decision in the matter.
"First time I ever heard of Tefares Israel," the judge replied to a questioner. "Didn't know they were going to give a show in the Shubert theater on Sunday. I cannot say what I shall do, because I never cross bridges until I come to them."
When word of the judge's indecision was brought to a dozen Jews who were in M. Herowitz's meat market at 509 Independence avenue yesterday evening, there was a great shaking of heads. The men, all well along in years and heavily bearded, had been busy studying the lines they will have to speak in the play for it is to be a home talent performance. A man who was reading from a grayish book, grew silent and Herowitz, who was standing behind his chopping block humming the lines of a song he is to sing, snapped his jaws together. Not a word was spoken for two minutes. Then Herowitz filled and lighted his pipe and stepped from behind his counter. He took the pipe from his lips and spoke slowly through his beard:
"You bring us news. I do not understand. The judge has given us a permit, but we cannot be sure what he may yet do."
TO FURNISH A SYNAGOGUE.
"Yes, we will charge for tickets, but we will use the money to furnish a house of worship for our congregation. We are not rich people and we do not desire to beg. Why should we not give our time and our voices for this drama? We hurt no one, and we furnish our synagogue."
Everyone paid respectful silence for a full minute after Herowitz quit speaking, for he is assistant director of the proposed performance and his daughter is to be leading lady. At last another black-bearded man spoke:
"It is the last few weeks that we bought the church at Tracy and Seventh. It is small but a nice house. We want money to furnish it for a synagogue. We cannot give the opera on Saturday, for that is our Sabbath, and we take Sunday because many of us cannot open our shops on that day because of the court."
"DON'T PREJUDICE THE COURT"
As the reporter took his leave, five or six of the bearded men followed to the door.
"I beg of you, kindly," two or three of them said, "not to write anything to make the court go back on his word. We want the money for our synagogue."
The play, "De Boba Yochna," which the Tefares Israel Jews are rehearsing, and for which their wives and daughters are making many brightly colored gowns and robes, is a five-act drama. For fear, though, that those who attend may not receive their money's worth, half a dozen songs are to be sung by the sweetest voices of the congregation during the intermissions between the five acts.
Every word spoken will be in Hebrew. Even the judge, who closed sacred concerts in the Willis Wood theater and shut up A. Judah's playhouse on Sundays, should wish to indict the congregation of Tefares Israel, he would have to send interpreters with his deputy marshals in order to secure any evidence that a play, and not a son and prayer service, is in progress.Labels: churches, grocers, Independence avenue, Judge Wallace, Seventh street, theater, Tracy avenue February 24, 1908 CHARGED WITH KILLING BOY.
Frank Blueford, Aged 14, Is Accused of Stabbing Harry O'Bannon.
Upon identification of Castor and John O'Bannon, Officers McCall and Good arrested Frank Blueford, a 14-year-old negro boy, in the Gilliss theater yesterday afternoon for the killing of Harry O'Bannon, a 10-year-old negro boy. On the night of November 3 Harry O'Bannon quarreled with a boy said to be Blueford over a cup of water at the Gilliss. Harry was stabbed in the abdomen with a pocket knife. He was in the general hospital two months, and was then taken to his home at 1007 Pacific street, where he died at 8 o'clock Saturday night. The Blueford boy, who lives in Kansas City, Kas., denies that he stabbed O'Bannon and lays the crime to a brother of his. He was held by the police last night, and will be turned over to the children's court today.Labels: children, general hospital, Kansas City Kas, murder, Pacific street, theater February 22, 1908 USUAL THEATER INDICTMENTS.
Are Returned by Judge Wallace's Grand Jury.
About 150 theater indictments were returned by the grand jury yesterday. The managers were indicted on some sixty counts for "work" done last Sunday by their employes and by actors playing in their houses. They will appear in court today, give bond for their employes and refuse to furnish bond on the multitude of cases against themselves.
The circuit judges will meet en banc this morning and hear arguments in the habeas corpus cases of four managers, growing out of last Saturday's indictments against them on sixty-six counts.Labels: circuit court, theater February 21, 1908 BUSCH MAY BE INDICTED.
Orchestra Leader and His Men Liable to Suffer for Sacred Concert.
The grand jury will meet at 1 o'clock this aftrnoon and return indictments against theater managers, actors and others who will be charged with working last Sunday. The names of Carl Busch and his orchestra have been reported to the prosecutor's office by a deputy marshal, who heard them giving a sacred concert last Sunday at the Willis Wood theater. T. F. Willis, foreman of the jury, declined last night to state whether or not the jury would indict Busch and the orchestra for violation of the Sunday labor law. At least three of the four membes of the jury, who were absent last week, will attend today. The jury, therefore, may take up the Merchants' Refrigerating Company's tangle over warehouse receipts.
The second batch of habeas corpus cases, growing out of the release from jail last Saturday of four theater managers, who refused to give bond in sixty-six cases to Judge W. H. Wallace, was assigned yesterday by Presiding Judge T. J. Seehorn to Judge J. E. Goodrich's division of the circuit court. Judge Goodrich has asked the other judges to meet with him Saturday morning and hear evidence in the cases. Agreements of attorneys on both sides was necesary to this call, as Saturday is a legal holiday.Labels: Carl Busch, circuit court, Judge Goodrich, Judge Seehorn, Judge Wallace, theater February 18, 1908 HISSES IN WALLACE CRUSADE.
How a Philharmonic Audience Greet- ed an Officer Getting Names.
While a most circumspect audience of about 1,000 sat in the Willis Wood theater listening to a sacred concert last night by the Philharmonic orchestra, Carl Busch leading with the baton, a deputy county marshal walked out on the stage and took the names of the musicians. Preparations had been made for the circumstance when Conductor Busch at the outset made the statement that "after the first number there will be an intermission to allow a marshal to get the names of the players." This was not understood by many at the time, owing to the way in which it was said, but by the time the deputy appeared the mystic word "Wallace" had gone round the theater and when he walked out on the stage he was roundly hissed -- but the hisses were not for the individual but for what he typified.Labels: arts, Carl Busch, Judge Wallace, theater February 11, 1908
JAILER ON RAMPAGE WITH BIG REVOLVER
STEPHEN DEHONEY ALMOST TAKES BYSTANDER'S LIFE.
Police Board's Employe at No. 2 Sta- tion Discharges Revolver, After Hitting a Citizen on the Head With It. While Stephen Dehoney, jailer at No. 2 police station, was resisting arrest by a brother officer at Fifth and Walnut streets last night, Dehoney's revolver, which he held in his hand, was discharged and the bullet came near hitting someone in a crowd which had gathered. Whether Dehoney, who had been drinking, was attempting to shoot Patrolman Charles D. Fuller, who was trying to arrest him, or whether the revolver was discharged by accident is not certainly known. The bullet shattered the plateglass window of the Dougherty & Lorber Commission Company, of 514 Walnut street. Fuller took Dehoney to police headquarters, where he was locked up "for safe-keeping." Fuller, in his report, said that while he was on duty at the Gilliss theater, a citizen came running in and told of an officer with a gun attacking him on the street. The citizen was bleeding from a wound back of his right ear and claimed that the officer had hit him with the gun. Fuller said that Dehoney had the revolver in his hand when a moment later, he accompanied the complainant outside and accosted Dehoney. A few minutes after Dehoney was locked up Miss Jessie Wilson, an actress with the Irwin company, scheduled next week at the Majestic, who came to the station to tell of an assault by an officer, identified Dehoney as the offender. "I was leaving the Wellington hotel about 7:30 o'clock, on my way to the Ashland," Miss Wilson told Police Lieutenant James Norris, "when I had to go pass a man scuffling with a negro. The man grabbed me roughly and said, 'Here, you're under arrest, too.' I was frightened, for he had been drinking. He showed me his star and I walked along quietly for a bit, but at Missouri avenue I jerked away from him suddenly and ran all the way to the Ashland hotel." Lieutenant Morris said last night that he would put no charge other than "safe keeping" against Dehoney, but would keep him until he had orders from Chief Ahern to turn him loose. The matter will eventually come before the police board, it is presumed. On one occasion Dehoney had trouble in a rooming house. Two years ago a couple of negroes ran to the station late at night and said that a man had fired two shots between them because they would not give him all the sidewalk. The police heard the shots at Fourth and Walnut and ran out. The negroes described the man who fired at them and soon pointed Dehoney out in Granfield's saloon where they said he ran after the shooting. No attempt was made to even detain him and the negroes fled. Not until a citizen complained to the police that they had not even searched Dehoney for a revolver was he held. Then the negro witnesses were gone and Dehoney was soon released. One time after that Dehoney was taken to police headquarters. He was with two deputy sheriffs, walking out on Independence avenue. Two shots were fired. The police took all three to the station, but they were released. Dehoney was appointed to his present position by the police board two months ago. He is said to be a personal friend of one of the commissioners. Labels: Fifth street, Fourth street, hotels, Missouri avenue, No 2 police station, police board, police headquarters, theater, violence, Walnut Street February 6, 1908 MADE A GOOD IMPRESSION.
But Minstrel Show on the Lamp Cir- cuit Didn't Get the Cash.
Last week Joe Donegan, manager of the Century, was prevailed upon to back a minstrel troupe which was to play the kerosene circuit in Kansas, and which was "bound to make us all rich," the promoter assured Donegan. The show was booked for Olathe, Edgerton, Le Loup, Pomona, Lebo and Emporia, one night each, and was then to go to Topeka and come back by way of St. Joseph.
The manager of the company each night wired news of the day's business to Donegan. The telegram the first day read: "Receipts only $21, but made good impression." The next day the receipts had dwindled to $17, but Donegan was assured again that the company had made a good impresion. Last night after the company had played Lebo, Donegan got this wire: "Receipts only $7.50, because of bad weather, but made a good impression."
Donegan immediately sent the following wire:
"Make one more impression, and then come in."Labels: theater, Topeka January 25, 1908 HE STRUCK MANAGER WILSON.
Policeman Malloy Objected to Testi- mony Before Judge Kyle.
James Malloy, a special policeman, yesterday attacked Clinton Wilson, manager of the Majestic theater, in the lobby of the playhouse, striking Wilson with his club. Maloy had complained about a dance given by some of the women in Wilson's theater. Wilson was in police court yesterday, but Malloy did not appear to prosecute and the case was dismissed.
Malloy objected to the testimony given by Wilson, as reported in an evening newspaper, and the assault on the manager followed. Charges have been preferred against Malloy and Manager Wilson will ask his dismissal from the force.Labels: dancing, police, police court, theater January 16, 1908 MINISTER VISITS PLAYHOUSES.
Presbyterian Pastors Want Evidence at First Hand.
Look ye upon the vaudeville while it is good.
And take heed that ye applaud all good acts.
Remember that a red skirt may look as well as a blue, if properly hung.
Let not the kinetoscope delay thy rush for a car.
And be, ye, happy in all things. -- Howesians Chapter 1, verses 1-5
The Rev. William K. Howe of Grace Presbyterian church did not go to see "The Clansman" last night. He could not get the sort of seat he wanted. He may go tonight.
First, according to the text, this is the story of a quest to see whether the theater is moral. Let us take up each phase of the question as it presents itself, noting carefully what is written.
Each year the Presbyterian clergymen make visits to the theaters. Not all of them go, but one or two of their number is assigned to the work. Last year it was the Rev. J. L. McKee. This year it is the Rev. Mr. Howe.
Secondly, Rev. Mr. Howe went to the Orpheum Tuesday night. In considering this section of the discourse, it must be borne in mind that he liked the show. He said so with his hands not once, but many times. There was not one of the allusions, which the vulgar tongue has seen fit to call a "gag," to which the pastor, still adhering to the language hereunto above used, did not "tumble." There was not a merrier man in the house. Realizing, with proper insight, that it was foreordained for him to have a good time, he had it. Just before the kinetoscope, he fled.
Thirdly, lastly and to sum up all that has here above been written, Dr. Howe will visit other theaters and on some day early in the month of March, which is not far distant, he will discourse to his brethren in the cloth upon the theater as an institution and upon its moral effect in particular. Whereupon he will be given a vote of thanks, and the same thing repeated next year in these months.
"Did you enjoy the show at the Orpheum last night?" Dr. Howe was asked yesterday evening.
"Sure I did," he replied, or to that effect.
Directly accused, Dr. Howe acknowledges the following: He is 35, athletic and has red blood. He is a baseball fan, never missing a game on the home grounds, except on Sunday, and never coming away from an unfinished contest without a rain check. He lives at 3009 East Tenth street.
On the following points he refuses to plead: Whether he is for or against the Sunday theaters. Whether Pulliam, Dreyfuss or McGraw discovered Honus Wagner. Whether the championship batter's medal hoodooed Ty Cobb in the Tiger-Cub series. Just when he will report to the association of Presbyterian ministers as to the theaters.
Dr. Howe is a friend of the theaters. They ought to cultivate him.Labels: churches, ministers, sports, Tenth street, theater January 12, 1908 ACTORS ON LONG JOURNEY.
Shubert Discontinues Vaudeville and Players Go East.
Last night closed the last week of vaudeville at the Shubert, and Kansas City was the scene of a "leave taking" among performers which was unusual. Vaudeville artists do not usually journey far between performances, but with the closing of the Shubert every performer was sentenced to a term on the Atlantic seaboard. Some of the longest "jumps" recorded in vaudeville were announced last night, when all the players had been placed by the syndicate.
It would be impossible for any of the Shubert performers to reach their destination for the regular Sunday show, but each will open with a Monday matinee. Long and Cotton go to New York. Vasco to Boston; Greene and Werner to Johnstown, Pa.; Quigley Bros. to New York; Barnold's dogs and monkeys to New York; Alexander and Bertie to Rochester, N. Y.; Lilly Fleximore to New York, and Newbold and Carroll to Syracuse, N. Y.
The performers, whose traveling expenses are paid by the theatrical syndicate, will travel in most luxurious appointment, but the dream will end at a half a score of stage doors when the curtain goes up on Monday's matinee in the East.Labels: theater December 10, 1908 FOR ITS LONDON ENGAGEMENT.
"The Clansman" Company to Begin Special Rehearsals Monday.
Rehearsals will begin on the stage of the Willis Wood theater next Monday of the version of "The Clansman" to be produced at the Lyceum theater, London, in June, and later in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. George H. Brennan wired his representative here last night that the London booking had at last been definitely arranged and that contracts had also been closed with J. C. Williamson -- the Charles Frohman of antipodean theatricals -- for the principal Australian cities.
While all the dramatic features of "The Clansman" will be retained, some changes will be made in the characters and dialogue to suit the comprehension of non-American audiences. The rehearsals for the foreign version will be supervised by a director who has staged several of the American plays most successful in London.Labels: race, theater January 4, 1908 "LEGITIMATE" AT THE SHUBERT.
Its Days as a Vaudeville House Numbered, Says Lehman.
Promptly at the beginning of the performance this evening the Shubert theater will pass officially from the control of the Klaw & Erianger-Oppenheimer regime into the hands of the Orpheum circuit management. Martin Lehman, manager of the Orpheum, will at that time assume actual control of the other playhouse and a new order of things will be instituted for the Shubert. After being buffeted about for more than a year, the theater will at last settle into what seems destined to be its future as a home of legitimate drama of the highest class. Its days as a vaudeville house are numbered.
To a Journal reporter last night, Mr. Lehman made a semi-official announcement that next week's bill would be the last of the vaudeville bookings at the Shubert. He declared that the one remaining bill had been contracted for and that after its finish the new engagements scheduled would be of the "legit."
"There remain three contracts to be filled after next week's show," said Mr. Lehman. "The first of these will be be Bertha Kalich in "Marta of the Lowlands," which will begin a week's engagement January 13. On March 9 Ibsen's drama of "Rosmersholm," with Minnie Maddern Flake, will begin a week's engagement, and the "Rose of the Rancho" will play the week beginning April 6. These three contracts will finish the bookings of the old company. Aside from them the bookings for the rest of this season will be entirely new.
"While our management has not instructed me to give out any advance notices of the rest of the season's engagements, I think I may safely say there will be no more vaudeville. We shall doubtless try to secure the best possible productions in the legitimate drama, and hope to offer strong bills for the rest of the season. I think there is little or no foundation for the rumor that the theater will be closed. There will be no changes in the working forces at the Shubert. All the old employees will be retained."Labels: theater January 1, 1908 HE RAN COLISEUM MANY YEARS AGO.
HENRY D. CLARK, THEATRICAL MANAGER, IS DEAD.
Came Here a Penniless Song and Dance Man With Eddie Foy, and Made Half a Mil- lion Dollars.
Henry D. Clark, famous as the creator of the old Coliseum which he conducted throughout Kansas City's frontier days, died last night at his residence, 3300 Broadway. He had been ill for three weeks and succumbed to acute gastritis and bronchial pneumonia following grip. The phenomenal will power of the man enabled him to rise from his bed against the advice of his physician and family as late as Sunday, when he shaved himself and went about as he wished.
Mr. Clark was one of the youngest soldiers in the civil war. He enlisted in the New York heavy artillery when only 13 years 6 months old, and served throughout the war. New York was his birthplace, but he went in childhood to Wisconsin. Starting in a theatrical career in Chicago after the war, he came to Kansas City to locate in 1877.
He was the most picturesque and amazingly progressive theater manager Kansas City ever had. He came here moneyless, "opened" in a cellar and amassed over a half million dollars. Then he retired. That was ten years ago, after he had discovered that the things he knew about running a frontier place of amusement did not suit the public when taken out of the original setting and sold to them at uptown prices in a regular theater.
But the most Kansas City ever knew of Clark was far back of his retirement. It was thirty years ago when he first appeared here. He was a young man then and had been doing a song and dance with Eddie Foy. His working partner called herself Zoe Clark. She was the more thrifty of the two and decided that Kansas City would be a good place to open a theater. Clark's father lived here then and drove a one-horse job wagon. The elder Clark was not up on theatricals, but he was willing to help his son get into business.
So the old gentleman rented a cellar in Fourth street for Henry and Zoe and bought them a keg of beer. Business was good in the cellar, and Clark built the Coliseum at the corner of Third and Walnut streets with the receipts. The only "legitimate" shows "making" Kansas City in those days played in a hall over the present site of Arnold's drug store at Fifth and Walnut streets.
The Coliseum was a money-making venture too, and Clark soon quit "doing a turn" himself. Zoe started a boarding house to take care of the actors and actresses who played the Coliseum. And then came to Kansas City the embryo of advanced vaudeville. The Coliseum attracted the best variety performers in the West and Eddie Foy. McIntyre and Heath, Murray and Mack and scores of others played long engagements there.
And the best of all these performers were then destined to be plunged into the legitimate sooner or later. Clark realized this and built the old Ninth street theater. It burned and he rebuilt it, but he could never make it a financial success and he leased the property and during the last ten years he called at the theater at 10 o'clock on the morning of the second day of each month, rain or shine, to get the rent. It was the only time he was ever seen about the place.
Surviving Mr. Clark are the widow and five children. They are: H. D. Clark, Jr., and Palmer Clark, druggist and dry goods merchant respectively at Genessee and Thirty-Ninth streets; Miss Hazel Clark, Willie Clark and Mrs. J. B. Shinn of Seattle, Wash.Labels: Broadway, Civil War, dancing, death, druggists, Fourth street, Genessee street, theater, Thirty-ninth street December 25, 1907
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
Theatrical Managers Agree to Open on Sunday, as Usual.
At a secret meeting of the Theatrical Managers' Association yesterday at the Grand theater it was decided to continue the fight against Sunday closings as long as necessary, al managers agreeing to pay their share of the expense.
After the meeting it was declared taht the manager of a local burlesque house, which has not been kept open on Sunday, had been expelled from the association, andwould be kept out until he agreed to keep open on Sunday along with the rest of the theaters.Labels: theater December 16, 1907 SHE'LL NOT WORK ON SUNDAY.
Variety Actress Refuses Out of Prin- ciple, and Not Fear.
There is one performer at a local theater this week who will not be indicted by the Wallace grand jury. She is Miss Pudge Catto, of the team of Catto and Heath, at the Century. Miss Frankie Heath went on with her singing and dancing set yesterday afternoon and when Manager Donegan inquired why Mis Catto did not appear he was informed that that young woman never works on Sunday.
"My folks opposed a stage career," the performer told Manager Donegan, "and I had to promise before I left home that I would never appear at a Sunday performance."
Miss Catto, not being around the theater, did not know she would be indicted by the grand jury if she "worked." I was a matter of principle with her. Miss Catto's parents live in Bath, Me., and are old-school Presbyterians. She is 19 years of age, and handsome.Labels: dancing, theater December 15, 1907
LOOKS LIKE PERSECUTION
WALLACE HOLDS THEATRICAL FOLK AS PRISONER.
AFTER THEY'VE GIVEN BOND.
STATIONED DEPUTY MARSHALS AT COURT ROOM DOOR.
Hair-Splitting Legal Points and Dila- tory Tactics That Resulted in Sev- eral Curtains Going Up Late Last Night.
Curtains were delayed in going up in some of the theaters and there were overtures by abbreviated orchestras last evening because Judge W. H. Wallace had stage hands, ticket sellers and other theatrical folk in the criminal court room from 5 o'clock until 8:25, nearly three and a half hours. The Shubert theater suffered the most, as four of the members of its orchestra stopped to get dinner when they were released by Judge Wallace ten minutes after the curtain was supposed to be rung up at the theater. They, as others arrested yesterday, had been arraigned and given bond nearly two hours before Judge Wallace permitted them to leave the court room. Two deputy marshals stood at the door and forcibly detained everyone whom the court ordered to stay inside. Just what Judge Wallace was trying to do, after the arraignments were concluded at a few minutes past 6 o'clock, no one seems to have any clear idea. That he succeeded in interfering with week day performances at local theaters, no one questions. THAT TANGLED RECORD.
In the words of the law the court held the prisoners after they had given bond, to give them opportunity to withdraw pleas of "not guilty," which their attorneys claimed they had never made. When they declined to withdraw the pleas the court acted for them, assigned their cases to Judge James L. Fort, overruled certain accessory pleadings and then stated that their pleas of "not guilty" be restored to them. If any court's record in the history of the world ever looked like Judge Wallace's record will appear when the stenographer untangles it, it has been expunged from the memory of local attorneys.
The delays started a little before 4 o'clock when the theater people began arriving for arraignment. Judge Wallace was hearing an argument in a larceny case and declined to deal with the crowd of indicted ones until 5 o'clock, over an hour later. When Deputy County Prosecutor Charles Riehl called the first name, "William Warren," manager of the Auditorium theater, both he and Attorney A. L. Cooper attempted to waive a reading of the indictment in each case. That would have saved half an hour in the sixty-seven arraignments. But Judge Wallace thought they should be read. As each indictment was read in full , the court asked what the plea would be and Attorney Cooper laid a plea in abatement and an application for a change of venue on the clerk's desk, saying that he filed them as his plea. Judge Wallace in each instance said the attorney had not filed the papers, but merely thought he had filed them and ordered the clerk to file a plea of "not guilty for the defendant, standing mute." The bondsman was then called upon and required to stand and be sworn in each individual case. It took time to go through all of this sixty-seven times. BUT IT WASN'T ALL. When finally Charles Riehl said, "That's all, your honor," and Clerk "Waxy" McClanahan had remarked, sotto voce, "Bring on a double porterhouse next," the court called the name of William Warren, the first man arraigned. "Senator Cooper," said the court, "you may now withdraw your plea of not guilty and file your plea in abatement. I will rule on that now."
"The plea in abatement is already filed," replied Attorney Cooper. "The pleas of not guilty was not filed by the defendant but by your honor. I decline to assume the responsibility of touching it. Your honor may withdraw it, if you choose. If any mistake has been made, the court has made it."
"Have you anything to say?" asked the court.
"No." "The defendant and his attorneys standing -- or rather the attorneys sitting mute, the court directs the clerk to withdraw the plea of not guilty for the defendant and to file the defendant's plea in abatement. Do you wish to be heard on the plea of abatement, Mr. Cooper?"
"I desire to be heard on my application for a change of venue, which was filed at the same time. After such an application is filed this court has no jurisdiction to hear anything else in the case." "The attorney standing mute, the defendants' plea in abatement is overruled. What do you say now, Mr. Warren, guilty or not guilty?" "I object to the court's trying to make it appear that all this is being done after the bond has been given," said Mr. Cooper. "The defendant standing mute, the court directs that a plea of not guilty be entered fro him. Now the court will take up the change of venue. Do you wish to argue that now, senator?" "I object most emphatically to the court taking that up at this time. It was filed two hours ago. The defendant has given bond. He wants to go home to his supper. It will be time for him to go to his theater in a few minutes. I object to this court's interrogating this defendant further. The motion for a change of venue, as filed by me two hours ago, I ask to be granted. As this court is trying to make out that it is filed at this time, I refuse to even consider it." HE GRANTED IT, BUT-- Judge Wallace replied: "The change of venue is granted insofar as it does not apply to transferring the case to the judge of the second division of this court. It is assigned to Judge James L. Fort and the trial set for January 7." It took much longer for the court and the attorneys to go through this rigamarole for each defendant than it did for the original arraignment. As proof, only twelve men went through the second ordeal during the two hours that the court sat with two marshals at the door. It looked as though there would be no termination and County Prosecutor I. B. Kimbrell went out to dinner. Some bitter things were said. Attorney Charles Shannon, who was associated with Senator Cooper, was assigned to remark every thirty-five seconds, "we object," and "we except to the ruling." Several times he interrupted half-finished sentences of the court. Once Judge Wallace turned about sharply and said: "What are you objecting to now?" "I don't know," said Shannon, "Whatever it was you said, we object to and also except." Later on when the crowd became restless, Judge Wallace wasted a good deal of time in asking the attorneys why they did not want to make arguments. When finally Attorney Cooper broke into one of the many controversies between Judge Wallace and Attorney Shannon with a direct and pointed plea that performances in the theaters were being delayed by the court's actions, the judge said: WANTED A PROMISE. "I have been very lenient and moderate with the theater people. Do you think they will all promise not to work tomorrow, if I let them go now?" "I don't know," said Cooper. "Well, I'll once more be moderate and I'll continue this hearing until 9:30 Monday morning." "The court doesn't deserve any credit for its moderation," were Cooper's last words. Attorney Cooper's statement to the court that the people held in the court room were needed at the theaters for the Saturday night performance, was not news to the judge. He had asked Prosecuting Attorney Kimbrell early in the afternoon about this and had been informed that they were needed. Labels: attorney, courtroom, Judge Wallace, Prosecutor Kimbrell, theater December 10, 1907 HERE TO MANAGE THE SHUBERT.
Thomas H. Davis Knew Kansas City When Men Carried Arms.
Thomas H. Davis is here from New York to take active management of the Shubert theater. He recently purchased stock in the American Amusement Company of the Oppenheimers and will make his home in Kansas City. Davis comes from White Plains, a New York suburb where millionaires are as common as actors in Broadway. He has grown gray in the theatrical business and says he is here to make a few changes and start the Shubert out under real theater management.
Mr. Davis has been here before. He was a frequent Kansas City visitor in the '70s and early '80s when men carried guns and traveling men "made" the town on pack mules. Later he became foreign agent for the Barnum shows, and then he put "In Old Kentucky" on the road to an interrupted run of good business that is still being demonstrated at a local theater this week. David tried to get Alfred Henry Lewis, the writer, into the show business in the early days. Lewis was timid, the theatrical manager said last night, and feared to go out "ahead" of a show. So he flipped a coin to see whether he would go out with Davis's show or go to Washington and become a great newspaper correspondent.
"The newspaper won him," said Davis last night. "It has only been a few years since I tried to hire him to write a play for me. He declined, but finally arranged the plot of a story, and I had another finish it."
Mr. Davis has not been active as a manager for several years. He has a number of plays, but has them farmed out to stock actors and has devoted his time to the monthly publication of "Stage Folks" and "Rome Folks," both of New York.
S. N. Oppenheimer stated last night that since he has found a live manager for the Shubert he will return to St. Louis. He stated that the American Amusement Company will build more houses and extend its business generally, and that he can not afford to stay at any one point of the circuit that is being opened. He will turn the management of the house over to Mr. Davis Saturday.Labels: St Louis, theater December 8, 1907 211 THEATER INDICTMENTS.
146 Arrests Yesterday Afternoon Did Not Discourage Managers.
Indictments were returned yesterday morning against 211 theatrical persons, including actors, actresses, musicians, managers, ushers, stage hands, and all employes.
The clerk of the criminal court prepared 211 warrants and delivered them to Al Heslip, county marshal, for service. The marshal then conferred with Frank M. Lowe and Senator A. L. Cooper, attorneys for the theaters. It was agreed that yesterday's afternoon matinees should not be disturbed. Judge Wallace said he was willing to accommodate them, but that he didn't wish to hold court far into the night in order to arrange the bonds.
The county marshal assigned two deputies to ever theater yesterday afternoon. The attorneys agreed to have everyone for whom there is a warrant to go the the criminal court immediately after the matinees and answer to Judge Wallace.
The theaters and theatrical companies, for whose players a |
