INSIDE THE BURR McINTOSH-MONTHLY • Sept 1909

This is the 13th and last in a series of theatrical memorabilia as it appeared in the Burr McIntosh-Monthly magazines during the first decade of the 20th century. A diverse number of articles in this issue are credited to a variety of authors, but there is no by-line on the theatrical section, which is titled simply Players and the Plays. Photo credits are listed, however.

This post focuses on Vol. 20 • No. 87 • September 1909

MABEL TALIAFERRO (Photo by Moffett Studios)

Miss Taliaferro has been on the stage since a child, and has seen more service than many of her sister actresses twice her age. She scored a big success during the past two seasons as Polly of the Circus, and this season will be seen in a new production staged by her husband and manager, Frederic Thompson.

THE DeFAYE SISTERS (Photo by Gross)

The DeFayes are great favorites in vaudeville with their mandolin and guitar playing in conjunction with some pleasing vocalization. They recently finished an extensive tour on the Keith Circuit, and are now in the hands of William Morris.

NATALIE DAGWELL (Photo by Sarony, Fifth Avenue)

Miss Dagwell is a particularly bright ornament to the vaudeville stage. Her principal work is dancing of the olden times and the crinoline age, her rendering of the minuet and other costume dancing being extremely pleasing to the eye.

AILEEN FLAVEN (Photo by Fields)

Miss Flaven did some splendid work last season as Polly Jordan in The Great Divide, and as Anita in Catspaw. She will again be under the management of Henry Miller this coming season, and will be seen in a new production.

HELEN FALCONER (Photo by Matzene)

Miss Falconer is a member of the A Broken Idol company, which is now playing at the Herald Square Theater. Last season she was also with the company when it played in Chicago and on tour. Prior to this, she appeared in the The Three Twins, also at the Herald Square.

CHRISTINE NORMAN (Photo by Otto Sarony Co.)

Miss Norman has been filling a highly successful engagement this summer as leading woman in the stock company at Elitch’s Gardens, Denver. Last season she replaced Charlotte Walker as Agatha in The Warrens of Virginia, and was previously seen in the principal roles in The Darling of the Gods and The Girl of the Golden West. She has been specially engaged by Charles Frohman to fill an important part in the new Bernstein play, Israel, which will have its premier early in the fall.

JULIE OPP (Photo by Marceau)

Miss Opp is the wife of William Faversham, the English actor, and in 1896 abandoned a journalistic career to make her first appearance on the stage in Paris as a guest in the ball-room scene of Camille in Mme. Bernhardt’s company. After much experience in London with several well-known actors, in 1901, Charles Frohman engaged her to play Marita in A Royal Rival, in support of Mr. Faversham. In 1902 she became this actor’s wife, and has subsequently been his leading woman in The Squaw Man, The World and His Wife, etc. She will be seen in New York this coming season with Mr. Faversham at the Broadway Theater in a sumptuous production of Herod.

IDA ST. LEON (Photo by White)

will take the place of Mabel Taliaferro this season as Polly in Polly of the Circus. Miss St. Leon has been a circus equestrienne for some time, but her clever reading of the above part during the absence of the star at rehearsal one day led to her engagement to fill the role.

NOTABLE PRODUCTIONS

The Follies of 1909 (Photos by White)

has been the warm weather attraction at The Jardin de Paris atop the New York Theater during the summer. It is a very meritorious production, being essentially clean, and full of mirth, melody and novel features. Eva Tanguay heads the bill, and the cast includes many well-known favorites. Miss Lillian Lorraine in her aeroplane song is a distinctive novelty; in fact, this young lady runs a close second to Miss Tanguay for first honors in The Follies.

Going Some (Photo by Hall)

was produced by the Shuberts at the Belasco Theater last season and afterwards transferred to the Maxine Elliott Theater where it will again be seen in August. It is an amusing comedy of western life and makes an hilarious evening’s entertainment.

I hope you've enjoyed this 13-week series as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you, and that you have come to love the theatrical side of the BurrMacs as much as I do. But in addition to the lively arts, the BurrMac Monthlies presented society features worldwide, and explored all manner of graphic arts from gallery showings to its annual photography contests. In fact, they were lauded for helping to raise photography to a true art form. There are people today who collect BurrMacs solely for their early coverage and photos of Ivy League sporting events and athletes. Much like today's Internet, BurrMacs appealed to people with a wide range of interests.