The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
1T BEATS Transforming.
AMATEUR ACTING ron 4 PRICE
ON TILE BOWERY.

nt tho Niokelodcon amateur nights than all edo
push " Of amateurs put together, and It has
como TO such q pass that Manager Woods OF
that theatre bars him from the competition on
every other Thursday night In order to give the
others q chance; otherwise tho amateur night
the night Of nights with the Bowery theatre
Roer-would become q thing of tho past
for lack OF ambitious amateurs. The
KID Scott 10 Is years old, with n
face like that OF a cherub and q sweet
soprano voice that might win for him o place In
n church choir. His hair is blond and bis eyes
arc blue, and as he stands on the stage, with a
handkerchief around his neck, an empty whis-
koy flask in his trembling hands. singing. with
his clear, piping voice:
For I'm a poor oil bum
YouIl agree with mo every one.
Il seems ms II butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
But when the audience makes moro noise than
he thinks is due to his superior talent, no sticks
out his chin. shufios to the footlights. and re-
marks, with q true Bowery accent:
IVY don't some O. youse get up heah and do
sometingi Youse q lot O. hoboes, seof'
Then Kid Scott 10 not o cherub. He 10 one Of
tho ''perfesh," and "ho won't stand no monkey
business from no one, seef'
1t was tho Kids night Oft Thursday. He
didn't get the watch, for that went to Lew
Jones, who sang popular songs. Jones is Q little
brown darby, with O mellow darby voice, and
he gave a brand.now song. But the shower Of
nickels and pennies that greeted the Kid served
to soothe his wounded feelings.
Amateur night ut tho Nickelodeon 10 a weekly
event of Importance on the Bowcry for two req
sons. 1t gives tho audience q chance to let off
steam. and 1t gives unlimited chance to any
%aspirant for thespian honors to show what he
can do. The Nickelodeon is the latest develop
ment Of tho dime museum. 1t Is n nickel
museum in the old National Theatre in the
Bowcry. Just below Grand street. In the old
lobby of tie theatre Is the museum. whore four
beautiful young women engage in q gum-chew-
ing contest eight times q day and a strong
necked man allows himself to be hanged by the
audience the same number OF times. There are
other wonders in the museum. but the museum
is really only a side issue. Tho show Is tho great
attraction. and eight times o day the side-burst-
Ing burlosque Mr.. New York. Jr.," Is per-
formed by EN- accomplished company that intro
duce it with vaudeville turns.
Novelties are sought as eagerly in tho Bowery
theatres as in the uptown playhouses. and some
time ago it was announced by the Nickelodeon
management that on Thursday nights. after the
first regular performance, a chance would DO
given to all amateurs to show what they could
do, and to the most successful would be awarded
q gold watch. The amateurs came by the fifties
aad tho auditors by the hundreds, the amateurs
doing their turns In deadly earnest in the face of
demonstrations that would drive the most hard
ered transformer from the stage in tears.
On last Thursday night there was what might
be termed a gala performance. Word had been
passed around that q particularly ano lot Of
amateurs would perform. and long before the
doors opened at 7:3O. an eager crowd pressed
forward, every one in it bound to get into the
front row. Whom the doors swung back. the
last show having been concluded and the audi
ence dismissed. tho crowd burst in with a wild
howl. und the Professor" began to play "El
II was not the Kind Of an audience to be found
elsewhere than on the Boyeryy: 1t was noisy.
else. 1t cannot be said that 1t was a patient
crowd. It howled and shouted. whistled and
yellow plush curtain vent up. The noise did
Woods. clad in a diamond and a black suit.
came to the front of the stage to make an an
f nS" siismes. but The he m miRahnss ss p %sll III have Hi tr hspf is
stop 4 cable car. HI began to talk,,at least his
After Ave minutes these Words were carried a
short distance from the stage:
that "Ee %s Ss s1a tEsnls Sp ;tr 7 nISa to s s%sssafs
T !hSinS wG Inn to out r%n 9Pus Sou i. s s% ss!l !%h o"yii
s sariai i s"t Y & asS 'Gsll gus! !se% " it h Oh! E'n .fG sSs a ne u;
achance. tDat's r;gi Give EN- n chancet!
G oa,, , sssr o 'FY Ess! % NOW, . H < Y fir S ss%sk is
me introduce Clifford and Kellan' the grea'
Mr.. Woods with rev and the team came on
no makeup. the others face was painted will
alternate streaks OF red and black. They wer'
mendons. One loud, resonant howl that mad
the roof rattle was the first greeting, followed
s By { s1Snl like y ahsgk Of a. dRs siGsHi sss,! F9n K Z 'e% aH'
"Snoot emf Amt dey peaches" sc. Thu
m 1MG stood Mr. N tR %o stage aS fTinni91F t tse9 9Ryo at fd tat
oneo and got order. Then Clifford Tor Keiian
Gentlemen n loidics--'
"Aw. say. wot yer givin' EN-" remarkks Ike
kellan Tor Clitford) In a Bcornful voice. Tn
Don't yer know how to dress a audionce,T j..
asked Clifford Tor KeIlani.
The crowd was waiting for a joke of this kind
speaker than n shower OF paper wads fov
toward the stage and a howl went up befor
canoe. The team tried to 90 on. but they coni
not be heard two feet away. They retired to tn
manager. Then the one with the. painted fac
walked forward and talked with tho professor
piano II This brought Gniot once more. and Ii i
comedian, walked TO the footlights and M
nq gsai Bp 'has he so was T FSisE b aS sins :" o sSns sn %SGs
demonstration, hut cries OF Order! Order! Civ
do mug u chance! restored quiet, Tho PEI
former began in II thin, quaveririg voice. at totI
variance from the key given BY, the professors:
I'm n little Bowery boy"
The rest OF the song will never be heard. II
stood there a couple OF minutes wagging HI
mouth. perhaps singing. His partner came oy
bowling and stamping Of tho audience. The
two husky youths camo ont and swept thel
cheering OF tho crowd in front.
The Boworv, crowds know a good thing whc
they see II or henr IL, and even on an amateu
night one will listen to anything that is goo
When Low Jones, the little darky, came on til
stage to Sing sentimental songs he got the usul
reception, but his first song was new, and in
minute tho audience was quiet. The refrain raj
Every Niger had u lady hut moi
stood there "a glaDcinR,
While the Others were adancing.
All Of thcm rs happy rs could be.
The applause he got was enough to turn ar
ones head, and he had to sing an encore. III
refrain ran: "As | listened to the chimes
Trinitee, that tolled for tho rich and tolled Il
the poor and tollcd for marriages and funera
and lots Of other things. The audience kne
thEa uan1 md ininnI { "a tl,n rlnn,.a I 20,