The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-22
Ernest Hogan Will Take Out His
Own Company.
HAS A MUSICAL FARCE
Fun and Pathos Regns In IA King of
Coon Town" Features That Are
Bound to Make, Hits-"What
Happened to jones' Is Fine.


fellow, has completed arrangements, for
taking out company of his own
next season to produce his musical
farce comedy "A King of Coon Town"
Mr. Hogan will have some good finan-
cial backing and according to present
plans and the outline of the production
it will be the most pretentious organi-
cation of colored talent the country
has ever seen. "a King Of Coon Town"
has an interesting plot in which fun and
pathos both reign, and will serve for
the introduction Of a number of new
songs written by Mr.. Hogan. The
scenes of the comedy are laid in the
black belt of Louisiana, where Scrub
Ashley rules as king and leading poll
tician among the colored people. His
rival is Bob Rustic. and both are striv-
ing for political supremacy. The play
opens in a convention hall in which
Major Johnson of the Ashley faction,
and Chickenfoot Jackson of the Rustic
faction are rival candidates for the
nomination of mayor The King" is
victorious and Rustic and his followers
bolt the convention and put up an
independent ticket. The campaign of
political meetings and torchlight ratifi-
cation Of Major Johnson's election fur
nish the themes for lot of lively work,
some great scenic effects and a lot
of singing and other specialties. One
feature that Is bound to make a hit, will
be the Introduction, in the second act.
of a revival of old plantation and
negro melodies, which generations ago
charmed the people Of this country, and
like unto which nothing has ever been
DrOdl1re1 hv yI1OIarO writer's
The election of Major Johnson was an
expensive thing to him, and it broke
him financially. The old homestead is
to be sold under a foreclosure of
mortgage. At this dark period of the
story, the Majors daughter, who had
been in Europe where she had been re-
ceiving a musical education. returns
home and upon learning the condition
of affairs resolves to 60 on the stage
to earn money with which to redeem
the home. 1t happens that a company
of Sam 7. Mules Cree Ais had just
stranded in the town of Scrub Ashley
The king, who had fallen desperately in
love with the majors daughter, con-
ceives the idea of recognizing the
company, headed by the majors daugh-
ter The COMPANY -0as out and makes
tremer dous hit, and money flows into
the treasury and everything ends
lovely. The last, act shows the waiting
d
heard on the stage after the manner
of the scene from Trilby.
Mr.. Hogan has already selected a
number of eminent colored performers
for his company He will play the part
of the king" and Sam Lucus will
play Bob Rustic The part of the majors
daughter will be filled either by Rachall
Walker or Matte Wilkes, two of the
greatest singers of the colored race in
the world. Mr.. Hogan will have about
rs people in his company and every one
will be a star. With Mr. Hogan at the
head of such an organization, success
is assured, and everyone will wish
him the best there is. His reputation
as clever comedian extends from San
Francisco to New York, and every adj
mirer of his will await with anticipated
pleasure his appearance in his own
play.
Mr.. Hogan last summer made a great
hit in the Casino roof garden in New
York in the Paul Lawrence Dunbar's
comedy. "Chlorinda, or the Origin of
the Cake Walk" and he is now as great
a favorite in the East, as he is in the
West.
Last season, upon his initial starring
tour. the comedian, Harry Corson
Clarke. appeared in Butte, presenting
the farcicial comedy success What Hap
pened to JONES' which has proved
great New York success and is now
in its twentyseventh consecutive week
at the Strand theater, London, Eng
land. At that time it was something of
an untried comedy, but in the interim
it has proved itself one of the most
valuable theatrical properties in Eng
land or America. and the young star
has reason for congratulation in hav-
ing secured the sole western rights.
This season, Mr. Clarke has been play
ing What Happened to Jones" ex-
clusively. He opened in San Francisco
in September, appearing in that city
for two weeks to extraordinary sue
cess. He then toured Southern Cali
fornia and from there journeyed by
easy stages eastward as far as New
Orleans, thence north to Kansas City
and Omaha. He Is now en- route west
to San Francisco and last week played
a most successful engagementein Salt
Lake City. Mr. Clarke has every rea-
son to feel proud of the reception ac-
corded him in every city he has visited,
and is now assuredly launched as re-
putable theatrical star. He returns to
Butte next week, appearing at the
Grand next Friday and Saturday
nights, also at the regular Saturday
matinee 1t is said that he has gather
ed about him a company of uniform ex-
cellence. and that the farce is so pre-
scented that the audience are simply
convulsed with laughter for 1t is I'M
ouestionably one of the funniest come
dies Of later days, exemplifying as it
does, the cool nerve and unauthorized
cheek of the average American drum
mer. Harry Corson Clarke has a style
that is purely his own, and is noted
for his dry convincing humor and
quaint chara cterizations. In the early
fall he will visit Honolulu where he is
a great favorte. and upon his return
to San Francisco will present an en-
tirely new comedy, now in the course
of construction, which has already been
supplied with an extremely funny titNe.
II 1t proves a success, he will take it
into the eastern cities, retaining What
Happened to Jones" as companion
piece Mr. Clarke has made many
friends and admirers in Butte who will
rejoice with him in his success. and laugh
with him over the troubles Of the ire
pressib1e Jones'
Again, Manager Sutton is to the front
with something new for Butte. This
time 1t is grand ladies' week. and the
IL. Tod f,,fls0