The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
THE HONK4TOSk.
Decadence Of Okiahoma's Favorite Style of
Dramatic Entertainment.

GUTHRIE. oklahoma, Nov. 29.--rhe no nix atonk
IN one of the few institutions Of Oklahoma which
remain to satisfy the tcnderfoOt visitor in search
OF the wild West scenes he has read about. And
II isn't very lively. In the times that were
the cow puncher WAS expected tn perforaie the.
gaudy curtain when the performance Jagged,
or shoot glimpse Of daylight through the star
performers sombrern II his interpret tion Of his
part lacked animation. At the climax. when the
wideyed heroine. in boots and spurs. rushed
msdly upon the stage. and fired the shot which
put her lover y pursucrs out Of the WAY and saved
him from an awful death the audience not
alone permitted, but expected. to rise a. man
and accompany the fatal shot with volley that
Jared the raf,ers. There IL not even this byplay
10 stir the Fasteners nerves nowadays.
Ordinarily. the honkatonk opens about q o'clock.
and continues in full blast until |. or thereabous as
long as its patrons will patronize the bar. There
no reserved SEATS and the visitor may have
his choice Of floors The higher he gors the more
II will COS, him Fifteen cents is the regular par.
quot price. II will cost him dime extra n he
prefers q balcony or box seat where he may con
verse with the after they have done their
turn Down on the first floor you can get drinks
"a, bar prices, gents" as the hustler from the
saloon annex announces at frequent intervals
Wherever the visitor sta it Is unncces sary at any
Of the house. he ise1pectcd To be liberal in his e1
p,nditurc for liquid refreshments. Along about
II o'clock the stage manager advances TO tho
front and announces an in.ermission Of ten min
u,es "to give you all time ample and sufficient
for TO refresh yourselves" and then you pay for
more drinks.
The programme is made up largely Of special
ties Whatever the feeling Of long suffering
public the honkatonk vocalists never will permit
Sweet Rosie OGrndy" and sJust One Girl to
perish from the earth and coon songs are sung
as May Irwin never did and never will sing them
Always at least one drama is presented. the en.
tire company, vocalists, dancers and al partCi.
Dalton Boys" and, Mildred the She Of the
Plains" for the old traditions still are respected
audience Is no longer solicited
Eye ssr hsc a% sS ny al Il
| the others. and remains In a community ~ long
as the mnnngemcn, will pay him his price, or,
at winning checks by inducing her admirers Ia
| buy bccr. A. what age the performer usually
Gerry Society would hardly find the honkatonk
| stage a successful field for operation, even when
! LtHe Era or ,Jdck The Boz Scout makes her or
/ his appearance
:, The stage manager is an interesting individual,
u he Is the valuable ran the proprietor expects
him to be he can beat the drum in the street band
/ sell tickets when the doors are opened: leg" for
tnc bartender during in,ermission, play the heavy
| NIllhln w" HhRely ACT, ana 40 n tUrn hS clog
| dancer all in one evening Long hair and n soilrd
| frock coat nrc the marks which distinguish him
| from his fellows on the stage Every afternoon
he gathers the people Of the cast at the theatre nd
| puts thrm through rehearsal OF the picc, 10 he
| put on that evening
| There IL no defined circuit Of hankntonks bit
| the performers swing around circle Of a hNlf
dozen theatres which dot Texas and the two crri
| tories The once popular institution In d, mn
! oil. There is one In Guthrie. one in Ardmorc
| one in Fort Worth. and few others further south
! Wcathcrford had n honkatonk, which the stars
~ he haat naxsin6 NJ hntl H..
the city authorities cut down the corn In the streets
and Weathesford was declared TO he a city Of III,
| first claAs II was crowded out
| Every child Of the range can tell what hOnGn
! tonk means and where II ,hmc from. Away
away back in the very early days. 80 the story
goes, a party of COW punchers rode on, from camT
! at shutdown in search Of recreation after day ri
! toll They headed for a place Of amusement, hui
| lost the Trail From far out in the distance Their,
| finally came 10 their ears "honk n tonk a honk
! tonk,n," which thev mistonk for the bass viol
| They turned toward the sound, 10 find alas! a
| flock Of wild geese So hOnkhtOnk WaSsnnme