The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-30
LIKE KIRALFY SHOWS
In Brilliant Costumes and Glow
ing in Red Fire
Suggested to Entertain Audi
ences of Tens of Thousands.

Topeka must give her Fall Festival
this year under different circumstances
than last.
While the State Journal believes that
100. 900 visitors can be secured for the
Festival, they will have to be brought
here by somewhat different methods
than last fall
The soldiers reunion here at that time
guaranteed a large portion of the at
tendance. G. A. r. posts came bringing
with them their families and friends
These visitors came without any extra
inducements.
This year not having the reunion we
must look for a larger attendance OF
other classes of people, merchants, pro-
fessiOnal men, secret society members,
etc.
In order to secure the crowd, Topeka
must be prepared to present sonnet hing
unusual and original No ordinary en-
tertainment is going to catch the public
fancy and bring visitors. While all the
customary professions, parades, band
and hremen'S contests, should be given
as part of the weeks show, there must
be some particular OVershadOWing fea-
Ture, which is to form the chief basis
of the advertiseme ents-and the adver-
tlsing this year must be no trit1ing af-
fair. Every town in Kansas should
have at least two or three Snowy post
erS with striking pictures upon them
L L
SiVal expenses should be the advertis-
ing. Besides the posters, arrangements
should be made with Kansas editors to
advertise the Fall Festival. Every cent
spent in this way Will be money well
spent
The Overshadowing feature of the
show to be given during Festival week
should be determined upon soon. It
should be free. Topeka should give it
out far and wide that it is to present
the biggest free show ever seen in Kan
sas. We shall have $4,000 to do it with
and perhaps, $15 900. No city in this
state can equal this
What should the great feature of the
week be?
First, it must be striking and original
and not like anything ever attempted
an Kansas
The first idea that presents itself is
the proposition already made several
times in the last two years. of giving
a series of allegOrical pictures of the
history Of Kansas on an immense stage
in the open air, with I. 600 characters in
costume on the stage at one time These
SableauX can be accompanied by suit
bic music and choruses. the words of
which can be written by TOpekanS of
whom there are many sufficiently gift
50 Perhaps, Capt Joe Waters might
be induced to compose part of the Ii
bfetto- The work of the librettist and
composers might be paid for out of the
FESTIVAL fund. 1t would do no harm to
adopt the best music of famous COM
pOsers. The back ground of the stage
could be arranged on the same plan as
Pains great fireworks exhibitions
with painted scenery, which Prof. Wor-
rail- and others could easily create
The finest effect of these tableaux
would be produced at night, suitably
Hghted up with cOlored fire OF course
no curtain would be possible for such a
tremendous stage The tableaux would
necessarily be moving pictures. the per
sons representing the different scenes
marching upon the stage from the
wings and the rear.
The different scenes need not be con
fined to strictly life-like representations
The whole effect would be heightened
by allegOrical representations the intro
ductiOn of gOddesses. fairies and var
aous forms OF symbolism. The living
American nag composed of several
hundred persons properly costumed
which it was proposed TO give last year
could be represented on the stage as one
of the scenes. A series of floral scenes
representing the four seasons in Kansas
would afford AN opportunity for uagnih-
cent display by means of floral arches
ana banners which could be carried by
the participants and a grand spectacu-
lar march arranged that would make a
picture well worth loo. 900 people com
ing TO Topeka 10 see.
The idea is to introduce brilliant and
spectacular effects such as are witness
ed in great scenic dramas like Amer
ica" at the Auditorium in Chica go
Kiralfy had 400 characters in his Der-
fOrmarces, while this plan conternplates
more than twice as many.
All this can be done without very
great expense as the services of the
l 900 participants would be volunteered
But if we undertake such a splendid
show it must be seen to that every man
woman and child in Kansas is informed
about it. It must be kept before the
minds of the people all summer. Every
means of advertising the affair should
b utilized. The lowest possible rail
road rates must be secured. Last year
the railroads brought 10000 people to
Topeka according to their own figures.