The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-14
A Realistic Piece of Vaudeville Act
ing Done I'm n Box.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
The vaudeville performer who can make
a joke at the expense of some one in his
audience is sure of scoring a hit. Vaude-
vile folks discovered this long ago, and
have planned tricks with this purpose.
One trick was 10 Ak electric wire un-
der an orchestra chair and touch IL off in
the middle of the performance. II would
give a slight shock TO the occupant Of the
chair, but under such circumstances a
slight shock is all that is necessary 10 scare
the average man half to death.
1t worked famously in a Brooklyn thea
ter some years ago until one day the man.
ayers were served with papers in So 600
damage suit, instituted by man who had
been shocked for the amusement Of the
others in the theater. That ended the
tricks usefulness.
Later another joke rung In by vaudeville
performers was to stop a performance sud
denly, while a comedian, stepping to the
edge of the footlightsa would ask in an
awed tone:
lis there doctor in the house?'
In most audiences there is al least one
doctor. and for long time this gag was
never worked without good results. II a
physician stood up and said:
I'm doctor; what's wanted?" the come
dian would Immediately say;
Glad TO see you, Doc. You want TO stay
and see the rest of the show. It's great"
ways amusing. This joke lived a good long
life for joke of the kind. and finally died
a natural death.
Various means Of fooling audiences have
been tried in the last few years. but none
which was worked last week in a BROOKLYN
theater at six evening performances and
six matinees. 1t never failed to throw the
audience into a tumult of laughter
On the first night, OF course, Il made
a big hit, because even the ushers hadn'
seen it and were fooled like everybody
else in the right-hand stage box sat a
well-dressed young man His hair was
carefully brushed, he wore a flower i'm his
buttonhOle and he was a very neat-looking
proposition.
He sat well up toward the stage, and
other occupants of the box had 10 line
their chairs up behind him. Right be-
hind him sat a well-dressed woman, and
beside her a man. Behind them was an
other couple and behind this couple still
another man and woman.
About the third act on the programme
was a team Of knockabout comedians who
cut up all sorts of horse antics. To the de-
light Of the audience. They kicked each
other in the face. banged each others ribs
all of which was a delight 10 the specta-
tors.
Suddenly one of them dashed 10 the front
of the stage with a broom In his hand. He
shot IL out In the direction OF the right
hand stage box as though he would hurl IL
into the face OF the youth already mem
toned He hauled II back at once but the
feint had had its effect.
The youth let out one howl OF apparent
terror and fell over backward I'm his chair
He topped against the woman behind him
she grabbed the man next TO her. and they
both went over. And so IL went down the
full length OF the box.
Almost before the audience realized II
the half dozen people in the box, men and
women alike were scrambling on the floor
They had gone down ike a row OF wooden
soldiers from the slight impetus given by
the youth at the head Of the column. who
had seemed TO dodge the broom.
When they got up all looked daggers
at the youth. and the rest OF the an.
dience just screamed its delight. II 4
doubtful IL any trick attempted on an au.
dience ever worked so well
II took ten minutes 10 get the audience
back 10 where IL would pay any attention
TO the performances Some women were