The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-30
STREET IS THEIR STAGE.
Vaudeville Artists Make Living by
 Giving Open Air Shows.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press. Several actors who were formerly on the vaudeville stage and earning fair salaries are now playing with the asphalt pavements for stage, the curbstone TOT footlights, and the audience composed of those who have no alternative other than Standing room only" unless they are "box occupants and watch the show from apartment house windows. Any one or a dozen reasons may be given for the ap- pearance of these actors on the streets instead of In a regularly appointed the atre The fact remains, however, that they make a fair living and amuse thous- ands in their daily travels. They frequent the upper west side section, as coins are supposed to flow more freely there.
 One team of four men makes more than fair living. They give really in- terestng and humorous performance. One of them is a juggler another is an aero bat, the third Is musical. comedian and the fourth acts as the orchestra and money collector
 The juggler carries a wooden box con- taining his juggling outfit while the aero
  large rug, rolled under his arm. The mus ical comedian has a large drum slung over his shoulder. On each side of the drum a drumstlck is attached while on the top are cyinbals A long rope reaching down to the mans shoes Is attached to both the drumstick and the cymbals On the end of the rope is a loop. The orches- tra consists of a harmonica and accord lon, both cleverly played at the same time by the fourth man.
 Having selected their theatre" the acrobat spreads the rug in the middle Of the roadway, The juggler opens his box and begins to toss about rubber balls, knives forks a lighted lamp and other articles. The acrobat does some high and lofty tumbling on his rug. The or chestra then strikes up some lively tune. The musical comedian places his heel Into the loop of the rope and stands on one foot and with the other pulls the rope that sets the drum and cymbals playing
 AS he hops around on one foot, like a monkey on a stick, with the drum and cymbals crashing he makes all beholders laugh.
 The team takes nearly half an hour to give their act They never fail to draw a large and interested crowd, who shower them with coins.
 Another actor, cornet player, makes his appearance only toward evening, be- cause. as he confessed, he is ashamed to be seen in the daytime.
 This young man was clever cornet player a few years ago He was on the vaudeville stage and earned handsome salary. He fought in the Spanish-Amer- ican war and lost an arm. After that he could not play his instrument as well as he once could, and engagements were hard to get.
 He appears on the streets dressed In a soldiers uniform. As he stands on dark and nearly deserted streets, an empty sleeve dangling by his side playing taps in a mournful key, he presents pathetic picture
 Then there is a team of two negroes, both of whom were on the vaudeville stage few years ago, when the country had the ragtime craze. When that died out they. with many others, were no longer wanted. ono of them plays banjo right well, while the other does clog danc- ing and the cakewalk. They finish their act with singing once popular ragtime songs.