The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-29
81 AZ hA - -
Second Elks' Show Draws a
Large Audience.
Only One Tiny Hitch in the
Performance.
MIR. GALATIANS WORK
One Of Pleasing Features Of the
Programme.
Not a Single Bad Feature in
the List.


Pope Leo XIII had to say Amen twice
last night in Topeka before he could get
the footlights on tAeater stage turned
out
This rather sensational little touch of
incongruity all occurred at the Elks
snow at the Auditorium last night. In
cldentally it represented the one lone
hitch in the entire proceedings, and was
sa naturally funny, that the audience
took 1t as if it had been specially pre-
pared.
Joe Callahan does some great stunts
He is character sketch change artist
doing the mikado of Japan, Car Mich
| olas Abraham Lincoln. Mark Twain
rope Leo XIII and other notables. He
was impersonating the head of the
catholic church when this incident hap
pened. His representation of this char
aeter is one OF the most remarka Bile
pieces OF work. He gets the attitude Of
Leo, his half smile, the stoop of the
shoulders and many of the little eharac-
terlstics of the great prelate. He speaks
a few lines from the great churchman
| then delivers the blessing both in Eng
llsh and in Latin. At the close he raises
his fingers and says Amen"
While Callahan does his impersona-
tons only the foot-lights are turned on,
and as soon as he is through with a
character, the house is supposed to be
entirely darkened to permit him to get
behind the curtains. But the man be
nlnd the SWItch-bOard' didn't take the
cue from Callahan's Amen" He left
the lights on. The audience and Gala
| han waited And still the lights stayed
on. Amen came from Callahan in
deep sepulchraI tones. "Click''-out
went the lights. The audience reared
That was the only slip in the whole
performance. The rest of it passed off
as smoothly as well oiled, perfectly bal
anced machinery. There was not hitch
not a single delay, no badly working
curtains, no long delays between acts,
nothing at all in the way of criticism
so far as dispatch is concerned. But
one criticism can be laid against Mr..
Brigham, the Elks and the show, and
they oughtnt to become angry to have
the charge made against them. They
have too many good things, and it al
most tires out person to sit and see
them all. But there was a decided i'm
provement on last night so far as the
total length OF time was concerned. 1t
was seventeen minutes after eleven on
Monday night when the performance
was overt was a quarter of eleven
last night when the last hurrah was
heard from the Tricl-House performers.
There is not weak spot in the bill.
There are some exceptionally strong,
and these are of course Harry Corson
LARK anu COIlpdIlys MISS GLOCAWSti ana
Mr. Joseph Callahan. Clarke's sketch
carried the house with it every minute.
His supporting lady, Margaret Dale
Owens, is the biggest aid in the world to
Mr. Clarke. Her acting is intelligent,
natural, quick. She had the good will
OF the audience before she had been
upon the stage two minutes.
Maud Rockwell, THE Nightingale of
California''-howt the name fits her. Sing
yes indeed, she sings. Did you ever
see such contrasts as these-"Dixie'' and
1.-THE Ave Maria from Calvalleria. Her
voice is incompatible and makes one
wonder why she is not singing a role in
standard opera. She sings with feeling
and naturalness. THAT voice is great,
positively great" said Harry Corson
| Clarke Monday afternoon. cit is simply
magnificent. Then take the intelligence
and her appearance. That girl has a
great future. Her voice is one out of a
thousand"
The crowd last night numbered almost
two thousand. The lower floor was
comfortably filled, while the balcony
contained a good percentage. The re-
served seat section in the parquet sold
well last night as it did the night be-
fore.