Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-15
Dancers Of Vaudeville.

an editorial war against vaudeville.
1t carefully explains that its antagon-
ism against the popular form of amuse-
ment is by reason Of the tragic occur
ences which have been the result of
vaudeville jokes and songs. Most OF
us have attended vaudeville entertain
ments and have come away with dis
tinct impression that there was some
thing wrong and something lacking in
this form of amusement, but few of us
have realized the serious dangers in
volved in it. The Kansas City Journal
gives several illustrations to back up
its opposition to vaudeville. For in
stance it shows that the baleful influ-
enre of the vaudeville song was StriE-
ingly Illustrated a few weeks ago in
Chicago. The theater was crowded, and
a woman in pink and green came upon
the stage to sing one of those touching
mother, home and heaven ballads
which are rendered additionally affect
ing by means of pictures cast upon
screen. The singer had just lifted her
voice and was sadly warbling-
Down in Il vine-cl;td cottage sits Il mother
old and gray,
She's wondering where her Maynard
boy can bc-t-e;
She longs to See his face again before
she's called away.
The boy she's held upon her
in, shot
is heard. Investigation proved the
location of said Maynard boy who had
become so affected at the reminiscent
scene conjured up by the singer that he
had killed himself. AT the coroner
inquest the song WAS marked "EHhio''
A."
Not long after the foregoing incident
thu spot light fell upon "piackt'ce
comedian" on a vaudeville stage i'll
Columbus. @. He had made indus
trious progress through Joe Miller
famous masterpiece and the audience
remained intact. But in an mad
vertent moment he wandered from the
time-honored path and sprung this one:
How do they get the water in the
watermelons? No-yes? He, he
Why. because they plant them in the
spring. In the springfield YOU get
that? In the-ha, ha, ha.
Again there was a commotion in the
gallery. This time il was dull thud
ana something large and heavy rolled
over the rail and fell. striking wo-
man in the pit--of the theater. After
the excitement had subsidized it was
found that 4 young man haG
laughed himself to death-only another
victim of the deadly vaudeville"
The latest instance of misfortune
following a vaudeville turn was in
Kansas City the other evening. With
out any previous warning by the man.
agement Il young woman started to
sing comic English recitative" song
about the SORROWS of married life. She
had scarcely started the unfortunates
upon their unhappy matrimonial way
before she stopped suddenly, Mortified
by what she saw in the thirteenth row.
\ man was having fit. COnsterna-
ton filled the already Overwrought au-
dience, and as others evinced pre-
monitory symptoms Of hysteria the
singer declined to finish her song-a
delicate show of consideration which
proba bly, saved several lives.
Says the Journal, These are only a
few instances of the havoc vaudeville
is playing in the land. The cases are
given As showing the range of the evil.
The pictorial song. the "blackface CO.
median' and the b;tlladst are the very
bone and marrow Of the vaudeville
programs. What shall he done with
these artists? This is Il question
that must sooner or later receive the
serious consideration of the public. 1t
is doubtful if anyone will advocate the
determination of the cult, and reforma-
ton seems impossible. The vaudevil-
liam must be restrained as a measure
OF public safety. His jokes must be
fumigated and his songs uuarantined.
Eut how"