The herald., 1897-12-13
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The Los Angeles theater was filled last

The Los Angeles theater was filled last
evening with people whose curiosity
had been aroused by advertisements
which purported that DR.. Lloyd Cooke,
besides being "world-famous inde-
scribable phenomenon" and few other
things, could demonstrate Spirit Power
In the Light"
When DR.. Cooke materialized on the
stage, however, in a short introduce
tory speech he carefully disclaimed af-
filiation with spiritual or any other ism
except dread and butterism," which
was discreet, since there was nothing in
the performance that would convince a
skeptic of spiritualistic intervention or
aid.
A program that lasted nearly two
hours followed, made up Of what seemed
to be tricks, if they were not Many of
them have been given here before, some
have not. All of them were extremely
clever, and DR.. Cooke, as a prestidigi-
tateur, would rank in the forefront Of
that genus.
A message was written between
double states; wooden table danced
about under the entertainers hands, his
assistant wrote some figures on a slate
on a stage while DR.. Cooke was in the
audience with his back turned. Judge
Smith, w. II. Busch and Drs. Wilder
and Wise were called upon the stage,
and after making q vain hunt for trap
doors and other accessories, spent the
rest Of the evening trying to see at close
range, but without success, how DR..
Cooke succeeded in doing apparently
impossible things.
With his head tied up and his feet
tied down and his hands tied behind
him, DR.. Cooke sat in his shirt sleeves
in a cabinet, with Judge Smith holding
him in a firm but chaste embrace. The
curtains were dropped for the briefest
possible time; when they were again
drawn, there sat Judge Smith, divested
Of his coat, which was gracefully draped
about the shoulders Of his pro tenn host.
A number Of similar demonstrations"
were made-the old familiar bell ring
ing, tambourine and guitar playing.
with an eruption Of all the instruments
over the top Of the cabinet at the con-
clusion of each demonstration. And
then DR.. Cooke asked for handouts. He
was given a pair and retired into the
cabinet, but returned in very short
time and stated that his vital forces
were too weak" and he couldn't get out
of the handouts, which was shabby
trick Of the spirits, IL they were to blame.
But that was the only failure Of the
evening, and later, after he had given
a demonstration OF q ghost that had a
suspiciously strong resemblance to the
assistant who had helped him all the
evening, DR.. Cooke took pair of Detec-
tive Goodman's handouts and per-
formed the feat of extricating one Of his
hands and clasping the steel bracelet
into the handle of china pitcher. 1t
was all very neat, and a particularly
clever performance, as tricks; as DEM
onstration Of spirit power in the light 1t
was distinctly open to question-by the
skeptic.
4 + =
TONIGHT's ATTRACTIONs.-At the
Los Angeles theater, "In Gay New
York." with its large company and its
wealth OF color and jingling music, will
|afford an entertainment that Is prom
ised to be the best and brightest Of the
Casinos productions Of recent years.
At the Burbank the military drama
ACROSS the Potomac" will be played
with appropriate scenic effects and by
the full strength Of the company.
The Orpheum furnishes number Of
new vaudeville novelties, and the con-
tinued presence during the week Of the