The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-02-08
END OF HONKATONK.
Decadence of Oklanoma's Favorite
Entertainment
what II Was When the Audience
Used TO Rise UD and Join In
the Fasillade Mt
the Climax.

10 Sauhy tne tehueflOOJ flSltOr IN
search of the wild west scenes he has
read about. And 1t isn't so very live
ly. In the times that were 2he COW
puncher was expected to perforate the
gaudy curtain when the performance
Jagged. or shoot a glimpse OF daylight
through the star performers SOM
brero IL hfs Interpretation of his part
lacked animation, At the climax,
when the wild-eyed heroine, in boots
and spurs, rushed inadiy upon the
stage. and fired the shot which put
her lovers pursuer's out of the way
aud saved him from an awful death,
the audience was not alone permitted,
but expected, to rise as man and
accompany the fatal shot with a volley
that Jared the rafters. There is not
even this byplay to stir the easterner's
nerves nowadays.
Ordinarily, the honkatonk opens
about nine o'clock, and continues in
full blast until one, or thereabouts,
as long as its patrons will patronize
the bar. There are no reserved seats
and the visitor may have his choice OF
floors The higher ne goes the more
it will cost him. Fifteen cents is the
regular parquet price. 1t will cost
him dime extra If he prefers BAL
cony or o box seat where he may coz
verse with the actresses after they
have done their turn. Down on the
first floor you can get drinks "at bar
prices, gents" as the hustler from the
saloon annex announces at frequent
intervals. Wherever the visitor sits, it
is unnecessary at any time to abandon
his cigar, and whatever the part OF
the house, he is expected to be lib.
eral in his expenditure for liquid re.
freshments. Along about IL o'clock
the stage manager advances to the
front and announces an intermission
of ten minutes ito give you all time,
ample and sufficient, for to refresh
yourselves" and then you pay fer
more drinks
The programme is made up largely (
of spccialties. Whatever the feeling
of ong-suffering public, the honka-
tonk vocalists never viii permit
Sweet Rosie O'Grady" and "Just 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 pre-
sented, the entire company, vocaEsts,
dancers and all, participating. Among
the most popular plays are "The Dal-
ton Boys" and mildred, The She
Devil of the Plains" for the old ira
ditions still are respected to certain
extent, though The participation of
the audience is no longer solicited.
The performers do not travel BIZ
companies. Every star hustles for
himself regardless of all the others,
and remains in community as. long
as the management will pay him his
price. or, if in case of an actress, as
long as she is u success at winning
checks by inducing her admirers to
BUY beer. At what age the performer
usually enters his career is question
lble, but the Gerry society would
hardly find the honkatonk stage a sue.
'essful field for operation, even when
Little Eva or Jack the Boy Scout !
makes her or his appearance.
The stage manager is an interesting
Individual. If he is the valuable man
he proprietor expects him to be, he
an beat the drum in the street band; !,
ell tickets when the doors are /
'pened; 'leg" for the bartender dur. +,
ne intermission, play the heavy vii !
ain in the tragedy act, and do a turn :
IS clog dancer all in one evening.
.ong hair and a soiled frock coat are =
he marks which distinguish him from =
is fellows on the stage. Every after :,
Don he gathers the people Of the cast !
t the theater and puts them through =
rehearsal of the piece to be put on Z
hat evening. g.
There is no defined circuit of honk- =
tonks. but the performers swing
round a circle of half dozen thea =.
srs which dot Texas and the two ter r
tories. The once popular institution :,
) dying off. There is one in Guthrie, :,
ne in Apimorc, one in Fort Worth, =
nd a few others further south. \
7eatherford had a honkatonk. which !,
le stars say was one of the best-pay-
lg of all, but when the city authori- -.
es cut down the corn in the streets
I'd Weatherford was declared to be n
ty Of the first class it was crowded
At.
Every child of the range can teD