The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-04
At the TheaterS.
Lafayette-"On the Yellowstone.

Gdidy 6llC- vi the 1CllOWSLOHe.
stage realism said Howard Kyle.
who will he seen in his new play. ION
the Yellowstone at the Lafayette
Opera House tomorrow afternoon. has
developed so far I'm the last few years
that except in certain isolated cases the
old time props have no place in mod
crn production. I believe that the pub
lie has come to look on the stage as
an educational influence of no mean
value. and so TO demand that it be given
real Things. instead of false as in the
past. Take. for example this produc-
ton OF on the Yellowstone one would
hardly believe the lengths we have gone
10 make everything not only seem real,
but be real.
"As YOU know. the play is founded on
the fascinating tales of the West written
by Frederick Remington. the famous ar
fist. When we began TO make ready
this production Mr.. Remington was en-
phatic in his desire to have everything
as nearly perfect as It is possible in
these days. Take for instance. the
alkali dust to be seen on the uniforms OK
the soldiers. AS q rule stage dust is
made from what we call 'FuUers earth
This did not suit Mr.. Remington at all.
for he declared IL was not bit like the
alSal dust from Wyoming. We made
no further effort TO initiate but sent all
the way TO Red Butte. Wyo., and had
them ship us three barrels Of dust This
Will last us all season.
Another item was the log hut i'm the
woods. Our stage carpenter made what he
thought was a very good log hut. but II
wasn't at all Ike the real thing This
time we sent still farther. to a spot
high ~ the mountains near the Tongue
River, which, by the way, is the actual
scene Of the play. where Mr.. ReminE-
ton knew there was a log hut. This
was carefully taken down, placed on
wagons. and dragged nearly 100 miles
L across the hills 90 the nearest railway
station. II was then loaded on fiat cars
and shipped TO New York. Mr. Rem
inEtOu wanted us to use that nut on
the stage but allowed MS to make a
perfect copy Of II when he found that
Is would take four men full day 10 set
/ IL u". and as long again TO take #
down.
Another item was that or weapons.
/ We have secured rifles actually in use
! during the Indian wars. two Of them.
/ lu fact, having been found on the field
Of the Custer massacre. the battle OF
the Little Big Horn. AS FAR as posi-
/ bic We use uniforms which were actual
I lF IN use ln the year Of 1873. IN which tGe
events from which our play is made
4 t-anspircd John Ermine really lived.
, and so did nearly all the other charaC-
/ ters in the play, which, To my mind,
gives b. "a tremendous interest. ! know
/ ] take more pleasure ia poytraylug that
wonderfully brave young scout. Ermine.
/ than I'm any character ! have ever be
! fore impersonateQ lie was a wonderful
I man
/ AS for the scenes" continued Mr..
Kyle. MIR. Remington has himself fur
/ nrShrd the scene painters with models
/ ios every scene used IN the play, and
each rs an exact duplication Of the ar-
I tual country In which these events.
which form the basis for our play. trans
piTed.
! "As 7 said before" continued Mr.
( Kyle. this IS the age Of truth on the
/ stage"