The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17

Those who have laughed this week at the
comicalities of the Crane Brothers and Bel
mont in their Midtown Minstrels" at the
Grand will find ii hard to believe that in
making up the comedians are giving what
they insist are faithful copies of we'll
known living characters-that is, well
known in a particular locality. Lew and
VIII Crane have little summer cottage at
Oyster Bay, Long island. where a number
of other theatrical people reside during the
heated term. The Crane cottage is but a
short walk from the homes of President
Roosevelt. the Tiffanys and Mackays. The
comedians do not claim, however, that
their IDEAS of Rubes are derived from con-
tact with these public characters and mil
1onaires.
Jacob vanfort is a familiar character
who hangs abou tthe Syoset postoffice
Long island, and Will Crane declares that
when made up in his Rube outfit, he is
perfect counterpart of Jacob. Although
living but twenty-nine miles from New
York city Jacob has never been in the
metropolis and doesn't even show any de-
sire TO go there. He and his goat whskers
are famous for miles around. Lew Crane
says that an old truck farmer near Oyster
Bay furnished him with his inspiration for
o ridiculous makeup. While no one is like
ly TO give the Crane Brothers and their as
sistant credit for producing a sketch that is
true to life-the act being a bowling alb
surdity from start to finish-there isn't a
doubt that the clever buffoons are making
a hit OF no small-sized proportions.
xxx
Weber and Fields will give the initial per-
Torrance of their new burlesque tomorrow
night at their popular music hall in New
York The comedians have seized upon
Mary Mannering's new play, 1.-The Stub
bornness of Geraldine" as good thing to
poke fun at, and their latest skit, which
will glory in the euphonious title of THE
sickness of Gelatine," is pretty certain TO
prove uproariously funny. In the new farce
Willie Collier will have a role that is en-
tireiy new to him. He will impersonate
the "grl from Arizona" caricature of
Amy Ricard's Girl from Butte" who fig
ures In the original play. Peter F. Daley.
John T. Kelley. Fay Templeton, Louise Al
len and the irrepressible Weber and Fields
themselves will all have appropriate parts
and New York first-nighters are looking
forward to q rare treat
XXX
The Christmas pantomime season opened
in London Monday night. 1t wouldn't be
Christmas in the English metropolis with
out the popular extravaganzas made over
from favorite nursery rhymes and good old
fairy tales A large number of American
performers will play principal parts in the
leading Christmas shows this year and
many new American popular songs will be
fnterpolated Mother Goose is now the
offering at the Drury Lane (the home of
pantomime), Water Babies" taken from
Kingsley's delightful story. is on the bills
at the Garrick; Mrs. Frances Hodgson Bur
nett's children's story. a Little Un-Fairy
Princess" Is being staged at the Shafts
bury and a number OF other merry enter
tainments with inviting titles are being adj
yertised by many other amusement houses
In New York the other night at Proctor's
Fifty-eighth-street Theater, the stock COM
pany presented the old-time blood-curdling
melodrama. 1.-THE Strangers of Paris. -
with specialties, Indianapolis theater-goers
who remember the continuous round OF
horrors upon which this old play is built
will appreciate the following paragra oh
which appeared In New York theatrical
paper in reviewing, quite seriously the
opening performance OF the dramas re-
vival:
.'During the evening Billy Carter inter.
tected witticisms. with banjo PLAYING and
coon singing; Burnett and Weyerson gave
clever exhibition OF eccentric dancing
and the kalatechnoscope (they don't dare
call IL by such commonplace name as
'.biograph" In New York; displayed NOV.
Ing pictures with the usual satisfactory re.
suits" And still the Fasteners talk abou,
the crudeness or the theater tout in the
provinces"
The Parks attraction for the latter hall
Of the week. beginning with the matinee
tomorrow afternoon. will be Hiida Thomas
In a new comedy drama. entitled 1.-The
vishsrman's Daughter Miss Thomas wal