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Show i i THE CITIZEN 10 With The First Nighters my ears were assailed with WHEN shriek and concussion of explosives at the Salt Lake theatre during the performance of 'The Better Ole by De Wolf Hopper, my memory winged its way back quite a few years to that day the admirable comedian was under fire, in front of the Metropolitan opera house on Broadway, New York. I could not help contrasting the perfect sang froid of "Old Bill with the excited agility which De Wolf Hopper displayed on that occasion. In the comer .of the Metropolitan ' building, at that time, was a bank which made a feature of much plate glass, so that the public mightlook in and see how open and above board high finance really was, or something of that sort ' The president in all hi3 mahogglory was seated at a flat-toany desk near the biggest expanse of plate glass. On the day I speak of De Wolf Hopper, having naught better to do, was attitudinizing in the pleasant spring sunshine just outside the window, with his back to the presip dent fought libertys battles somewhere in France. Preceding The Better Ole at the Salt Lake came Julian Eltinge in his Vaudeville Revue of Nineteen Nineteen. He has associated with himself some of the most popular vaudeville artists, most of whom have been seen here before. The first part of the performance was devoted to these features and then Eltinge appeared in his feminine characterizations. The concluding number of the bill was a playlet, His Night at the Club, in which Eltinge, in his usual transformation role, teaches a jealous wife a lesson. SALT LAKE much emphasis cannot be laid the importance of the forthcoming engagement at the Salt Lake theatre for three days, beginning Tuesday night next, of "May time. Thissuccess which ran for sixteen months to capacity business in New York City, six months in Chicago, and twenty-twweeks in Boston, ccmes to this city direct from a record breaking success at the Curran theatre in San Francisco, and it reaches the theatregoers of Salt Laxe City writh TOO o lunatic entered the bank, walked up to the president and asked for $100,000. To enforce a rehe placed demand his volver against the presidents head. A struggle followed and the lunatic began firing. The head of the bank was killed. One of the bullets passed through the plate glass window close to De Wolf Hopper. The leap he executed was described in admiring terms by eyewitnesses in their stories to reporters a few minutes later. The moral of this story is that it is difficult to be a hero without preparedness. In The Better Ole the piece de resistance of the plot is an heroic exploit in which Old Bill (De Wolf Hopper) figures, winning the French medale militaire and the Victoria Cross. The program described the play as a fragment in twro explosions, seven splinters and a short gas attack. On the opening night the performance was varied by the attendance of boy scouts en masse as the guests of the Herald. One of the lads, when the star was called to the footlights for a speech, presented him writh a souvenir of the occasion. By way of response the actor acquainted his audience with the fact that he was the father of a boy who was destined to be a boy scout just as soon as he was big enough. In conclusion the actor delivered the funniest curtain speech of the season with almost the gusto he w'as wont to display, in the years agone ,wlien he recited Casey at the Bat. Around Baimsfathcrs cartoons has been written a comedy with many snappy musical interpretations. De.. spite the foolery and travesty one ac-quires at least a sense of what all the soldier boys went through as they A four-year-ol- rons in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. This success which ran for sixteen be confounded with the usual road company, for it is the real metropolitan outfit identically the same as it was in the larger centers of population. Heading the cast is John Charles Thomas, one of the most popular of the younger stars in New York and the east; Carolyn Thomson, prima donna, and John T. Murray, for years leading comedian with the big New York Winter Garden spectacles. Maytime, with book by Rida Johnson Young, the well known playwright, and music by Sigmund Rom-Bercomposer of the New -- York Winter Garden shows, is a most enchanting romance. It is a period play with scenes laid in the romantic Washington Square district of New York City in 1840, 1855, 1880 and Each period is faithfully reproduced as to costumes, manners and settings the Messrs. Shuberts, producers of the piece, having spent a fortune on its equipment. Its story deals with tne romance of two youthful lovers which goes awry only to be consummated years later in the love of their grandchildren. An g, li; apple tree planted by the youthful dies in sight of the audience during the action of the play. Some of th most entrancing melodies ever heard pleasingly interrupt the action at times and these numbers are adequately handled by a singing cast of rare ability with an ensemble of real New York chorus beauties. This city is one of a very few that will be visited by this unusually pretentious attraction as most of its time is booked in only the very large places. PANTAGES A GAY A IS, little musical offering of ex- ceeding cleverness toplines the exceptionally well balanced bill now running at the Pantages. Miss 1920, tis called and its a flaming bit of color and beauty, a big bundle of comedy, a swift little plot of unique interest, and carries a charming bevy of beauties. In the cast of principals who make the offering such a success are Benny and Western, the funniest comedians ever; Olive Callaway, alluring prima donna of pleasing voice, and Eva Warden, toe dancer of superlative grace. Who Is He? Murray Voelks big riot of fun, is bringing down the house at every performance. It is packed and overflowing with the brand of comedy that chucks one under the chin every second. McLallen and Carson do their lil bit in "Oh, which is a rolling-skatin- g Sarah! act of uproaring and patter-slingincleverness. Irene Trevette, who calls herself Maid of the Allies, has a pleasing song offering that wins instant favor, while the Three Weston Sisters offer everything in a musical line imaginable, including playing on the violin, piano and cornet, as well as some charming song selections. A funny photo comedy and a travelogue picture complete the show, which runs through Tuesday night. A budget of clever new acts comes to the Pantages Wednesday, with the starline attraction in the Colinis Dancers, who have a wonderful offering.. The rest of the new show includes the Four Danubes, in an amazing gymnastic act; the Bullet-Proof Lady, featuring Capt. E. Lefell and Mile. Dealmer; Beth Chal-liin a song revnue; Charles F. SiThe Narrow Feller," and mon, Housh and Lavelle in It Happened in Arizona. g terpis-chorea- n s, d HOT WATER. SCENE FROM " THE UNPARDONABLE SIN, THE BIG PICTURE HIT AT THE ORPHEUM THIS WEEK O Speaking on the prohibition situation recently a prominent liquor dealer said: Cur opponents keep quoting scripture to us, but leaves me cold. Not very long ago I went through the Bible from Genesis to Revelations and I found only one instance of a man asking for water and he was in hell. |