The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-29
HAWAIIAN
PR|MA DONNA
Madame SIapoffski
Proposed for
Honor.
Cohen'S Plan for Band
to Appear at st.
louis.
Indicates Manner in Which Hawaii
Would Be Advertised to
Advantage.

There is a strong disposition on the
part of business men to have the Ha-
waiian Government band go to the ST.
Louis Exposition instead of having a
display of products of the soil forward
ed. A proposition is now afoot to send
| the entire band, with Captain Berger
as the leader, the best ''quintette" play
ers and singers in the city, with
Madame Slapoffski, renamed appropri-
ately the Hawaiian prima DONNA as
| the star. There is believed to be oppor-
tunity for better returns for every dol
than in any other way.
j. G. Cohen has made a partial canvass
of the business men of the city and finds
them favorable to sending the band
to st. Louis if the Territory decides to
cut off the band allowance He pro-
poses tour of the principal cities west
of st. Louis en- route to ST. Louis Civ
ing concerts wherever possible, and her
aiding the approach of the organiza-
ton through the press. He believes
that the advertising resulting from the
bands tour will be worth many thou
sands of dollars expended in another
direction.
e Mr.. Cohen realizes that it will be a
big proposition to undertake a band
tour, but has faith in it. There is a
certainty that the band will be well
advertised it's unique organization be-
ing it's principal attraction.
1t is proposed that Madame Slapoff-
ski, whose soprano voice is the wonder
of music-loving enthusiasts, be billed as
a star attraction of the band as the
Hawaiian prima donna"
when Madame Slapoffski, or River
di, or whatever cognomen she chooses
to use, is heard in San Francisco,
critics will undoubtedly say that there
is not voice in the United States to
equal hers said Mr.. Cohen yesterday.
Should she acquire fame, as she is
certain to, Hawaii will be we'll adver-
tised during the stay of the band at
ST. Louis. People who go to EXPOSE
tons want something to attract the
eye or the ear, they want something to
amuse or entertain. The Hawaiian
band may not be a Souzas band, but
it has acquired fame, and people from
every country on the globe have heard
it here and praised it. The proposition
of the band going to the exposition
seems to me to have every advantage,
and Hawaii will be we'll represented
with an exhibit so to speak, that will
keep the islands we'll in the public eye.
My proposition is this: I will under |
take the management of the singers and
the band, book it for tours, pay salaries
while away, etc. All that I ask is a |
guarantee from the Chamber of Com |
Merchants Association and the |
business interests in general to pay the |
cost of transportation to ST. Louis and |
return. If the band proves an unquai- !
fed success, and there is no reason why |
it should not, l then agree to take up |
the transporta ton cost and repay the |
business men for their outlay. I do not |
wish to put myself in the light of I'M |
dertaking to finance the whole PROPOSE
ton. That is too large for me, but in |
the way I have indicated, the commu
nifty can send an exhibit forward, and |
reduce business mems subscriptions to
the minimum. This will cost the men
who are asked to see that Hawaii has
some sort of an exhibit at the fair, |
about one-fifth of what they are asked
to contribute for the show of products.
The band will be a great advertising
medium. The newspapers in every city
1t which we stop will certainly print
considerable stuff about it and about
Hawaii. That's way of making Ha-
vail known. The Hawaii Promotion
Committee would also have a splendid
opportunity to send a representative
With the band to distribute its litera-
IRE on the islands and see that the
newspapers get the stuff they want"