Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-12
THE RUIN OF POMPEII
Big Spectacular Production Secured
for Ottumwa Sept S and 8.
AHEAD OF FORMER ENTEETAlNM ENTS

AHEAD OF FORMER ENTEETAlNM ENTS
Contract Closed BY Committee of OF
tun1wa EIks and Representative of
Henry j. Pain Last Evenine-WilI
Be in Caldwelrs Park.
Last evening arrangements were
made by the local committee of Elks
for the presentation in this city of
the biggest entertainment in the way
of fireworks and spectacular theatre
Gals that has ever been attempted
here. This is PAINS celebrated DE
struction Of Pompeii," the greatest
achievement of that wizard, Henry j.
Pain, whose Battle of Manila, San
Juan HILL" "War in China" and
"Fusijami," have charmed and thrill
ed millions of people in the large cit
les of the American continent during
the past few years. Ottumwa is for
tunate in having such an attraction,
and those who have seen either of the
above named exhibitions are already
congratulating the Elks upon having
secured SO excellent a substitute for
their proposed fall carnival, which
was necessarily given up.
The entertainment which will be
presented for the people of Ottumwa
on Sept. and 6 is one which Wis
it's the larger cities only as general
rule. However, after exhibiting at the
state fair in Des Moines, and the COM
pany will be in Ottumwa, on these two
evenings, at Caldwell's park in the
West End, which is easy of access
from the street car line.
Something of the magnificence and
stupendity of the production is to be
obtained from the fact that it carries
200 supers, in addition to the principal
characters in the entertainment. The
old city of Pompeii, with it's splendid
,, buildings and its gorgeous people, the
games of the citizens. the drill of the
Roman guards, the procession of the
priests, priestesses, flower girls and at
PENDANTS, and the other events which
lead up to the finale in the forum Of
the destruction of the city by the erup
ton of Mount Vesuvius, are all to bt
:. seen and admired
The Bacchanalian orgies and feast.
l in which the reckless prodigality ant
. wealth of the Romans is clearly Sc
forth. Unrestrained mirth, fanatica
:. strife, revelry, riot, song, display, dane
, ing and other pleasures of the palate
and passions, are all wondrously de
picted true to life. The grand ballet
an exact and living moving picture o
:; like events as they were executed il
! the ancient city of Pompeii. Fully 90
: young women are seen at one time il
/. this ballet, moving with grace and en-
! trancing beauty one living line of AM
: mated motion, extending entirel
: across the gigantic stage, which has t
:; be $50 feet in length to accommodate
= the hosts upon hosts of dancing girls
!. The scenic effects are grand beyon
n description. The imperial palace {
.. the emperors, the streets, temple
" gates. monuments, citadels, fortresse
u battlements, prisons and other int
\ esting objects, are all portrayed wit
= exact mathematical precision and ST.
:. diOus attention, the whole requirin
- five acres of canvas and material. TIL
awe inspiring eruption of Vesuviu
and total destruction of the city, SUI
coed the colossal dazzling ballets an
holiday assemblages and festals of tt
T. ancient city, and are made the a
casion of a grand. tumultuous even
Us in which the populace are seen flyir
Or in terror, men, women and childre
soldiers and citizens, vestals al
priests, maidens and barbarians, slav
and masters, rulers and serfs, all WI.
~ ly rushing to escape from the impen
VI ing disaster and fame and lava al
y riot and destruction.
-. Following this thrilling episode fro
el ancient history and colossal realism
IS destruction, will be seen one of Pair
ie glittering and dazzling eye feasts
do the latest devices and designs in pyl
80 technic display.
~ The past record of the Pain pyl
JIG technc spectacles, the largest, graz
est and best productions of this or a
other country, speaks volumes
he themselves and the selection of Il
Ills seasons subject Last Days of Pc
m. peii." affords a wide scope for the
ok PRODUCTION and presentation, on t
M grandest possible scale, Of all t
ng thrilling, romantic and tragic in
ng dents connected with the awe insI
Wit ing eruption of Vesuvius and the to
ice destruction Of that city; so that 1t nj
be really considered another magn
cent addition to the long, unbrol
-. line of stupendous and amazing
MS y! umphs covering the space of ma
!, III IL, years. that have made Mr.. Pain fa
u Gus the world over, and such as
other man has ever dreamed of i
tating. Mr. Pain, recognizing
rst wants of the public. conscious of til
for needs, aware of their demands {
the necessities and supplying all these
era their hearts content, has proved
of key to the whole problem of his S
SUI cess, and to execute faithfully all
cas- details Of this most wonderful, histt
spectacle, with none of the small
features omitted.
1t is one of the most colossal
,,o magnificent achievements of
twentieth century to exhibit Pom
as she appeared in the zenith of
:, architectural, imperial, civic and
INA. tai splendors two thousand years {
o. and the expense has been fabulo
lrcn for besides the careful and studi
u