Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-05-17
THEATRE was DARK.
Electric Lishts Went Out and There
Was Disappointment.

For about half an hour last night
it was rather doubtful that the vaude-
Vile performance at jacques theater
could be given For some minutes
It looked as If one of the largest audi
enres OF the season would be disap-
pointed and would have to be content
ed with receiving their money back.
The trouble was caused by the lack
of proper electrical effects, due to the
fact that one OF the large boilers at
the power house OF the Connecticut
Railway and Lighting Co had met
with an accident and had unceremOn-
iously quit it's work of furnishing
light for the city. The accident oc-
CURED about. 8 o'clock.
The house was about half filled
when suddenly the electric lights
went out and the house was enveloped
in pitch darkness. The audience was
rather surprised and somewhat
amused at first. but as the lights con-
tinued to refuse to burn the smiles
faded away and their faces became
more stern and serious. They did
not know what they were up against.
And so 1t was with the management
and the stage hands. They were in
a quandary at first. They waited
for a few minutes to see If the cleo
trio tight would burn again and then
decided to light the gas jets. Stage
Manager Fitzgerald and his assist
ants were kept busy for some min
mites, The gieam from burning gas
jet at the side of the stage was hailed
with applause by the audience. But
some OF the gas jets were cut of or
der owing TO lack of usage and the
vain attempts to light them were
greeted with rDars of laughter by tbs
spectators, who saw no other way to
amuse themselves. At length the
body OF the theater was fairly well
lighted by gas. It was now time to
start the show. but no show was
started, Some plan must be devised
for lighting the stage properly and 10
was impossible to do 80 without the
aid of the electric effects. The audi
ence was becoming aomewhat impa-
tient and were moving about restless
" In their seats. Soon the iRspiFiRg
strains of sweet music were heard.
Professor Browne had appeared and
was succeeding in entertaining the au-
dience He was ably assisted by
the gallery gods. who wflistled with
the most perfect harmony the popular
ballad Mister Moon
The electric lights were still on
strike when Al HI. Burton, styled
1.-THE Country Boy" appeared. He
sang several catchy songs Sand was
ene0red several times, While re-
spending to one of the encores, the
lights came back to life and all was
clear sailing thereafter.
An interesting feature Of the show
is the appearance OF NJ J. KelliheF.
the well known major of the St Jo-
seph's drum corps. He appears In a
baton swinging net which Ii rather
unique He is very oievr and swings
the baton in an excellent manner. He
received warm greeting last night
Jacques theater was only one Of
the many places which suffered from
the accident at the power house last
night In many saloons and drug
stores, however, the gas Jets were
lighted when the electric lights went
out. The streets were I'm darkness.
however. The electricity was turned
on again about 1875. for by that time
connection had been made with AM
other boiler. The cause of the Accis
dent is unknOwf as yet.