The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17
APPLAUSE WON BY ELKS
TwENTY-THIRD ANNUAL ENTER
TAINMENT PLEASES BIG AUDIENCE.
The Jokes Pronounced Fresh and the
Singing of a High Order-An-
other Performance.

There were many features to make the
opening night of the twenty-third annual
entertainment and benefit of the Indianap
oils Lodge of Elks at English's last evening
very attractive and entertaining. The pro-
gramme was well arranged and not too
long, which is generally a drawback to
most amateur entertainments. The jokes
were bright and witty, and, of course, OF
local flavor. The musical numbers, both
by the soloists and chorus, combined the
most popular ballads and coon songs, and
the olio contained enough of the profess
sional art to give pleasing finish to the
evenings entertainment
The theater was crowded, and every num-
Der on the programme was enthusiastically
received. the soloists being forced to re-
spond to many encores. The first night
took WE'LL" and the performance showed
much careful preparation for the annual
event
The entertainment opened with the usual
first part, the chorus being arranged like
real minstrel show, with Bert FEEBLE
man, as interlocutor, occupying a huge
chair in the center of the first-row assem-
bly,. The first edition of comedians intro
duced Saul Munter, Harry O'Brien. Will H.
Rost and RENE Miller as the men who rat
tied the bones, and Ed Rauch. Harry Wal
lace, William Holtz and Charles Kuhn as
the tambos.
Jokes were cracked" on the condition of
Indianapolis clean streets, the manner
in which John b. Cockrum strung the
city adminis alton on the track elevation
question and other topics of local interest
Harry Wallace told the people that he quit
the police force because he could not carry
one of the big shields the officers are now
wearing. Ed Rauch opened fresh con-
md hn 9TH
comedians helped in the funmaking.
Several solos were interspersed between
the sessions of jokes. Harry O'Brien sang
Vile professional. Neil Fleming, al
though suffering with a severe cold, beau
tifully sang the ballad, Tell Me That
of "Bloomin' Lize," which he sang well,
gave a few steps of a dance showing care
full preparation and hours of practice be-
fore show windows harry Y. Mercer was
encored several times when he sang king
OF the Winds" Saul Munter surely acted
the part of a man who is constitutionaly
opposed to work when he sang I'm Get
Elks' Octette sang Heidelberg Interlocu-
tor Feibleman tried to make an announce
ment but Ed Rauch persisted in playing a
little ditty on a small fife. The occa sion
furnished a good exit for the first edition
of end men.
The second edition brought out AL Dona-
hue. Gus Schmidt. Joe Bauer and III. H.
Ohio Yeamans, Frank Davey and o. D..
Bales, tambos, and another collection of
jokes. There was ripple of laughter when
Mr.. Powell strutted across the stage, with
a pink carnation tucked in his wig. His
makeup was perfect and when he took
the front seat and opened his rapid fire
joke producing machinery on the interlocu-
tor the crowd was kept in an uproar Of
laughter. His song, That's the Way to
Spell Chicken, toward the close of the
first part gave him an opportunity for coon
dialect and his efforts to please touched
the generosity of James l. Reach, who
sent to Mr.. Powell a huge bouquet of
the choicest vegetables. enough for sew
eral big New England boiled dinners. AL
Donahue, assisted by eight little boys,
sang "Hinky Dee" and Joseph Parsons
was encored several times after singing "A
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea-" Master
Elmer Themes, who possesses a beautiful
soprano, sang the ballad May Be-" The
first part ended with a grand chorus.
Mrs. Alice Fleming Whallon and COM
pany of singers opened the olio. Mrs. Whal-
lon, assisted by the chorus, sang several
songs and received many encores. The
Kelley Sisters, professional dancers, were
the next number of the programme and
their act was applauded. Bryant & Seville,
musical team, playing at the Grand Opera
House this week, concluded the olio.
The last performance of the Elks enter
tainment will be given tonight.