The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-27

Lyncn, Mamie Trimmer, Anna Lyncn,
Louie Olinger, Mary Olinger. Patti Todd,
Mrs. Colonel Stewart. Mrs Anna Watson.
Later the Color Guard" was given, and
H. w. Lewis took leading part, and at
the time it was generally conceded in town
that Mr.. Lewis had missed his calling and
should go on the stage. In this play Judge
Henry G. Sluss tread the boards as a fierce
captain. The tableau was again its glory,
Misses Efie Williams. Mossie Baldwin,
Jessie Hill, Maud Packer, Nina King,
Lode Tarlton, Carrie Fisher, Minnie
Jewett, Matte Lynch, Hattie West. Grace
Hill. Lucy Louck, Clara Bailey, Clara
Lynch. Mamie Trimmer and Kate Schu-
maker taking part.
This was in 1881 In 1882 the Russell
Opera company scored again with pre-
sentation of 'BelshaZzar." II. ". Lewis
was Belshazzar; Mrs. f. w. Waller was
Queen Antonio. H. A. Bliss was also
in an important role. Mrs. E B. Jewett,
Jessie Hill and Edith Ellsworth were court
ladies. Frank Dale, A. A. WOOD and @.
". Davidson mere magi. Charles Hatton
was Babylonian captain and Ed B. jew
EFT made blood stained truculeut execu-
Great. C. s. Caldwell, Aleph Russell and
Miss Nina Caldwell, H. Imboden, Miss
Nettie Barnes and Patti Strong were also
in BelshaZzar.
In the succeeding years many amateur
performances claimed the attention of the
public. Mrs. H. 6. Toler did much to ele-
vate the order and perfect the setting Of
home talent performances. She gave
many beautiful pieces, adaptations of
fairy tales with a suggestion of the spec
tacular. Her "Cob-webs" was a great
success and performance followed per-
formence at the repeated request OF the
people of the city who always filled the
opera house. In the early eighties, Thick
La was given. Misses Mossie Baldwin,
Isis Holtsneider, Mamie Manuel. Winnie
Goodnoe, Laura Piper and Fred Baldwin,
VIII Oliver, Ed and Foster Toler took part
Mrs. Toler. among many other pieces, gave
tom Sawyer" Some two years ago,
"ThekIa' was again presented at the Craw-
ford opera house
Mrs. G.. G. f urley also was successful
with many ventures. her burlesque on
"The Woman of the Future" being excep
the abused husband was clearly the star.
1t was at the time of the boom, though
that the Wichita amatuers reached the
pinnacle of frst-class performance which
rivalled many and many a professional
troupe. This was Wichita's famous home
talent Mikado company. Hi. Alden as 10
10 has never been equalled and the re-
mainder of the company were all superior
in their parts. This was played time and
time again, always to OVERLOOKING houses;
and surrounding towns were visited with
like success.
This was followed by a deluge Of comic
operas. The Garfield opera house opened.
Olivette, Ermine, Fra Diavolo, Patience,
Mascotte, Chimes OF Normandy and many
others were given. Since then Wichita
has been entertained by home talent regu-
larly. The Peak Sisters, Among the
Breakers, The Paper Carnival, the numer-
Gus MINISTRIES and so forth.
The Paper Carnival had some amusing
phases A Mrs. Howe was the leading
factor in this entertainment. She was old
and cross and the extremity and sourness
of her temper caused many a row and
rumpus among the participants. She
would shove the girls out of the road;
chide them for their awkwardness; push
them this way and that, and in short,
played the absolute tyrsnt. Her husband
was a hen-pecked individual and rs was
afraid OF her as the girls and young ladies.
But Mrs. Howe's vigorous severity had its
effect. The choruses and ballet figures
Acre wonderfully executed and without a
hitch. No better performance, of its kind
was ever given here.
During all these years, hundreds OF CON
certs were given. A German uamed
Faszbender, who afterward turned out to
be q butcher, drummed the piano and
gave many concerts in the seventies;
Campaneri, an Italian violinist was also
great favorite and once gave ''Stabat
Mater in the Russell Hall on North Main
street. Recitels were given by Mrs. Hen
erickson, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Hays, Pro
fessor Sickner, Professor Metcalf and
many others still fresh in the minds Of the
public,
1t is interesting to study the evolution of
the amateur entertainment in Wichita.
As year follows year the school house gave
way to Eagle hall, Eagle hall in turn 10
the Turner opera house, and then the
Turner opera house to the Crawford
Grand. Year after year the young people
who took part in some previous entertain
ment grew up and out of that kind of
thing and became burdened with business
and parental cares and laughed at the bare
idea of themselves "a the stage. The
Young ladies who sang In the first opera
were all settled down in life when the
young ladies of Wichita later sang In the
Mikado And they in their turn have now
all settled down. and different set entire
". who sang so we'll in The Pirates of
Penzance." has come up.
''The Pirates Of Penzance." as given this
week, was an excellent entertainment.
The Young ladies' chorus was especially
superior, and has never been surpassed if
eoualied in this city. Miss Virgsline
Lucy sang sweetly, and deserves particular
mention. Miss Ella Copeland's voice was
also sweet and a prettier face than hers
has never looked out on Wichita aud
fence. Miss Estella Even Of Topeka rem
dered her part well and has an excellent
voice The only objection to be heard,
and tnat has the elements Of unfairness
about it, is that Wichita girl should
have had the leading soprano. The police
man chorus was in good voice, and
we'll drilled. Fred and Bob Sweet took
their parts well. Mr.. aud Raft also, were
valuable aids to the entertainment
Authorities aver that the minstrel
show Monday evening was By far the best
thing OF its kind ever given il Wichita.
Sherman Skinner kept them in roar with
his topical song. Messrs. WoodcOek and
ketzler occupied the extreme ends and