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THE COMING SEASON ON THE
THE PACIFIC

COAST

IN THE GLARE OF THE CALCIUM

BY PAUL GERSON

T

HE THEATRICAL future of the Pacific Coast is fraught with significance. Never in its history has there been displayed such universal interest by the public and theatre-lovers in particular. A good deal of this interest has been stirred up by the Shuberts, whose determination to establish an independent chain of theatres, from coast to coast, has brought about a new era in American theatricals. These young wizards, who love to style themselves the "Independents," have virtually set about to beard the theatrical lion in his den, or, in other words, to fight the theatrical syndicate to a finish. The task they set themselves was a herculean one, and the wiseacres shook their heads and said that they could never do it; that the result would be ruin, utter oblivion and annihilation. In the first place, a theatre was needed in every principal city of the country, as well as many of the smaller towns and one night stands. Then again attractions must be found to give these houses consecutive bookings.

After a campaign extending over some years, the Shuberts announced themselves as ready, and threw into the theatrical arena the gage of battle, and this season the merry war will be on in full force. The Pacific Coast, owing to its geographical position, will, in a measure, be the great gainer. Heretofore, we have not had fair treatment at the hands of the New York booking agents; in other words, the trust. They have had absolute sway and domination over the theatrical destinies of this coast, and any old thing has been good enough for us. We have been obliged

to accept the good with the bad, with equal grace. Local managers have been at their mercy, and have invariably been given little consideration, and their protests have been in vain, as they have been told if their bookings were not satisfactory, they were at liberty to go to a much warmer clime or close their houses altogether. Naturally, such conditions have been unfair, and managers and public were not given a fair and square deal.

The recent visit of the Shuberts to this coast has resulted in their leasing or erecting in every syndicate town of any importance, a theatre for their own attractions. This activity has, of course, been noted by the syndicate, and, intuitively, both forces have selected this territory as their chief battle ground; that is, excepting New York. The result is, that this season we shall be surfeited with a menu of good things from the theatrical larder, and some real original productions will be a feature. At this writing, the first gun has been fired, and the entire coast is on the qui vive, smacking lips in anticipation of the theatrical feast spread before them. It is almost impossible, for many reasons, to obtain even a partial list of the various companies and productions to be seen here, but as many as possible of this and last season's successes will be brought

out.

Owing to these new conditions, and the renewed and added interest of play-goers in general, a partial summary of this season's output should be of general interest, because the majority will in due time be seen on this coast.

The enterprises, owned or controlled,

by the Shuberts during the coming season number nearly fifty. The official statement of the attractions follows: Miss Lulu Glaser in a new musical play, "The Girl from the States." Sam Bernard in a new musical play, "The Girl and the Wizard." Planquette's new opera, "The Paradise of Mahomet," will be given a big production. A new English musical comedy entitled "The King of Cadonia." Lew Fields in a new revue as yet unnamed. Louise Gunning in the Pixley & Luders operetta, "Marcelle." Corinne in "Mlle. Mischief." Emma Carus in a new musical comedy. James T. Powers in "Havana," and a road company in the same play. "The Girl Behind the Counter," with a prominent comedian at the head. Frank Daniels in "The Belle of Brittany." "The Persian Princess," London's latest musical success, and another imported one called "The Barefoot Dancer." John Philip Sousa's newest opera, "The Glassblowers." Eddie Foy in "Mr. Hamlet of Broadway." A comedy called "The Motor Girl." Jefferson De Angelis in "The Beauty Spot." Madam Nazimova in a new modern play. Florence Roberts in a new play. Mme. Bertha Kalich in a new play. Mary Mannering in "The Independent Miss Gower." Forbes Robertson in his big London success, "The Passing of the Third Floor Back." Maxine Elliot in "Deborah of Tods." William Faversham in Stephen Phillips' "Herod." Bertha Galland in a new play. George Fawcett in "The Great John Ganton." Charles Richman in "The Revellers." "Lawrence Wheat and Walter Jones in the comedy, "Going Some." Chas. Cherry in "The Bachelor." Marietta Olly, the Viennese actress, in a new play. Two companies in "The Witching Hour." A road company in "Going Some," as well as two companies in Clyde Fitch's "Girls," and three companies in "The Wolf." Three companies in the "Blue Mouse." Clyde Fitch's new play, "The City." "The Typewriter Girl," a new musical play by Joseph Herbert. "The Mouse Trap," a new play by Hartley Manners. Zelda Sears in a new Clyde Fitch comedy called "The Manicure Girl."

A perusal of the list conclusively shows. that the enemy is armed and well prepared, and it might be added that as a matter of fact, that the Shuberts are now

the largest single producers in the world.

A few early New York productions are "The Gay Hussars," an operetta from the German. "Billy," a new comedy by Geo. Cameron will be brought out at Daly's. Also a drama at the Hackett by Wilson Mizner and George Bronson Howard, called "The Only Law." At the Liberty, a musical play called "The Florist Shop," by Oliver Herford. A drama called "The Ringmaster," by Olive Porter, at Maxine Elliott's theatre. "A Broken Idol" at the Herold Square. At the Garrick, Michael Morton's comedy, "Detective Sparks." At Wallack's, a drama called "The Dollar Mark." At the Lyceum, "Arsene Lupin,” a French detective play.

Among other things, Charles Frohman will produce Edmond Rostand's new play, "The Chanticleer," also "Israel," a powerful new play by Henry Bernstein. Also a Paris success called "Scandal." Alfred Sutro has two new plays. John Drew in a new comedy called "Inconstant George." Ethel Barrymore in a new comedy by Pinero. Otis Skinner in a new play by Booth Tarkington. Also Conan Doyle's London success, "The Fires of Fate." Bruce McRae in "The Flag Lieutenant.” A new musical comedy called "The Dollar Princess." Maude Adams in "What Every Woman Knows." Julia Marlowe and E. H. Sothern in "Antony and Cleopatra."

David Belasco will have a new comedy, "Is Matrimony a Failure?" David Warfield in a new play, and Charlotte Walker in "Just a Wife." Frances Starr will continue in "The Easiest Way," Blanche Bates will continue in "The Fighting Hope."

Henry W. Savage will bring out Bisson's new drama, "Madame X." Also a new Viennese comedy. The Lieblers will have Walker Whiteside in "The Melting Pot." Viola Allen will be seen in "The White Sister." Dustin Farnum in "Cameo Kirby." H. B. Warner in Royle's new play, "In the Blood," which is a sequel to "The Squaw Man." Chrystal Herne in a new play by Henry Blossom. Harrison Grey Fiske will present "Septimus," with George Arliss in the title role. A drama called "The Bridge." Mrs. Fiske continues in "Salvation Nell."

Henry B. Harris will continue "The Third Degree," and a new play of Russian

life called "On the Eve." Robert Edeson in "The Noble Spaniard." Edmund Breese in "The Earth," a new play by an English playwright. A new play entitled "The Heights," with Frank Keenan. Also "Such a Little Queen," by Channing Pollock, also Kellet Chamber's comedy, "An American Widow." Mr. Savage will also present "The Love Cure." Grace Elliston in "An American Girl from France," by Harriet Ford. Among other Harris productions will be "The Commuters," by James Forbes, and a new play by Charles Klein, which is as yet unnamed. "The Barrier," with Guy Standing and Theodore Roberts. Maclyn Arbuckle in "The Circus Man." Lillian Russell in "The Widow's Might." Mlle. Adeline Genee in a new play. Klaw & Erlanger will bring out "Through a Window," which will feature Lillian Albertson, and another play called "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm." Their musical plays will be "The Young Turk," with Max Rogers, and Maude Raymond in "The Air King," and a Victor Herbert piece with May de Souza in the principal role.

Mr. Brady will have Robert Mantell in Shakespeare. Grace George in "A Woman's Way." Tim Murphy in "My Boy," and Clara Lipman in a new piece called "The Sins of Others." Cyril Scott in "The Little Brown Jug." Phoebe Davies in a new play by W. J. Hurlburt. Fritzi Scheff will continue in "The in "The Prima Donna," and Elsie Janis will again be seen in "The Fair Co-Ed."

Mabel Taliaferro will be seen as the star of "Springtime," by Tarkington and Wilson. Also "The Assassin," a new play by Eugene Walter. "The Fool's Comedy" is another new play by J. Hartley Manners. Also two new plays by Porter Emerson Browne. George Ade and Gustave Luders are writing a new musical comedy for Montgomery & Stone. Wagenhals & Kemper will produce a new play by Eugene Walter, and "The Raven," by George Hazleton. Henrietta Crossman in "Sham." Francis Wilson has a new play called "The Bachelor's Baby." William Collier in a new play by himself. De Wolf Hopper has a new play. Joseph Weber will continue in "The Merry Widow and the Devil." He will also produce a new opera called "The Song of a Soul." Brady will

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Miss Antonia Vallejo de Portola. This is the Spanish Californian type of beauty. Miss Vallejo is the great-great-great granddaughter of Governor Vallejo and of the Portola family.

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