Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-16
THE FLOATING THEATER
Supplied to Small Towns on the Ohio
 and Mississippi.

Supp1leQ 10 SHfdH IOWnS on The ONlO
 and Mississippi
 In the early days of the drama the theatrical company that travelled from town to town in what later became known as prairie schooners labored for the entertainment of the residents of the frontier and the baekwoeds; to- day the floating theaters" of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers supply the de mands of thousands of small rlVer towns, where the foot of the Broad way actor has not trod- Of this, latter enterprise w. Frank Mcclure has written an interesting account for the Pittsburg Dispatch.
 SsThe legitimate drama aided by a caIiope and brass band and on board a floating theater, is this summer in- vading 2,5o0 miles of towns which have seen no form of theatrical enter tainment. except vaudeville, since the better days of Uncle Toms Cabin. says he. 'sThe drama presented IS sFa1lsst,'. and this is the first time that it has been played in a floating the ater There is very much Of interest in connection with the floating drama, not least of which is the tr1nsforma- tion of the deck hands into actors and vice versa A
 Leaving Pfttsfurg the floating the ater steams up the Monongahela river to the towns of the coal miners l and steel workers. Returning, It continues it's journey down the muddy Ohio to the Kanawha, the conditions | of navigation, in this instance, De- l ing depth of eight feet of water and l a population of 4,0OO in the towns along banks. The route of the Doat 1 is next down the Ohio to Cairo, anc l then up the Illinois river to La sane, which is only few hours rairoau l ride from Chicago. From La SalH l the playboats steam back to the MS 1 sissfppi, and thence to the vlcfnlIy oa l New Orleans where the theatrical sea- l son ends late in the southern W1ndef. l Over this route there are thousands oI 1 towns in all, with many varled types 1 of people for patrons, including tEose of the famous Mississippi plantations.
 ssF,or twenty-five years past rom one to four playboats have been on l this long water circuit Years ago French's fIaating theaters, one of the | Cabin'' on the very river over which Eliza escaped on the ice. The water ~circuit tired of the Uncle Tom show, however, and until now there has been 1 nothing in the floating theaters ex- cept vaudeville.
 @AThis year the drama has been re vived on water, and version of I Faust full of electricity and life E being shown before thousands under more novel conditions than surround most theatrical audiences.
 ssThe floating theater is notably in- dependent It pays no railroad fare hires no houses. divides no receipts and incurs no hotel bills. From the time the stock company goes aboard the steamer at the beginning of the season until frost comes way down south no member of the company need step on land.
 Pack on the steamer odors O! cooking mingle with the smell of suI phur from banked fired under the boilers The deck hands wash their hands and faces and become actors The captain stops chewing the tobac co of the sailor man and lights the ci gar of the theatrical manager.
 ] Make fast that for'ard port Iaw ser he says to deck hand not yet transformed.
 Put another weight on that No drop, MT Jones; we want that an chor for the boat he says to the stage carpenter.
 When night falls the whole outfit steamer, theater, and all, blazes witt electric lights. A dynamo on the steamer supplies plenty of current an6 the floating theater is as brilliant witt lights as the front of Broadway play house. The steamer proper is | closely Iashed to the main theateI boat. From the edge of the upper deck of the steamer searchligh, flashes about over the hills, the trees the Onan finIds ar Ina mills