The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-27
KALEIDOSCOPE
Season Begins with Big Crowds
at All Houses.
People Get First Glimpse of New
Grand.
NOT QUITE FINISHED.
1t Looks Like a Brand New
Theater.
Good Vaudeville Bill at the
Novelty.
NOT QUITE FINISHED.
s Like a Brand New
Theater.


Notwithstanding the unfinished con-
dition of the new Grand theater at the
preliminary opening Sunday evening.
the players in the attraction, cat Grip
pie Greek" put the piece on with
zest that found an echo in an audience
that filled the two upper floors com
pletely and more than half of the first
floor.
With a great deal of work yet to be
done before the house is really in
readiness. enough has been accom-
plished to permit its use while the
finishing touches are being added.
It was to q house with Its interior
aspect entirely changed that the old
theater goers went last evening. The
emodeling of the house has left it
with a much more comfortable ap-
pearance-a great deal of the old stiff
ness and chilling formality of the place
having been lost in the transformation.
Where heretofore bleak walls
broken only by severe lines greeted an
audience, there Is now a dash of color,
and a suggestion of warmth in the deep
reds and other shades which harmon
ize with the gilt. all combining to lend
attractiveness to the house.
Mission chairs of neat pattern fill
the main floor boxes. which have been
entirely remOdeled. Pending the ar
rival OF the new chairs for the Orches-
ira pit, the old chairs are still in use
on the first floor. together with a num-
Der of folding chairs to fill the space
the regular opera chairs failed to fill
on account of the additional floor space
under the plan Of the house as it has
been remodeled
Cork carpets cover the floors and
aisles and red lights mark the exits.
The plan of electrical illumination of
the house is pleasing.
"At Cripple Creek" pretends to de-
pict life on the western mining from
tier in earlier days With a cast of
considerable ability the piece received
a hearty reception. and won a storm
of applause in more than, one stage of
the progress of its presentation.
Juan F. VIlasana. as Manuel Al
varez, Mexican bad man, is worthy
of considerable praise. Lloyd A. Sa-
bine. as Joe May6eld. nicknamed THE
Parson," and one of the heroes of the
piece was popular with the audience.
his clear tones and engaging manner
pronouncing him a favorite. Bertha
Bell, from way down east and F. r.
Hamilton as Reginald Harwood. the
Boston tenderfoot looking for mining
investment, were also of more than
ordinary ability. while Little Virginia
as Little Tatto won the hearts of all.
Lucille Smythe, as Maggie Mason,
sang Cheyenne, one of the recent song
| hits during the progress of the first act,
and Sam Bransky. the negro bartender
received vociferous applause for
negro song.
The next attraction at the Grand is
Billy Kersands MINISTRIES, which comes
Thursday night
Crowds which taxed the utmost ca
pacity of the house attended the open
ing performances at the Novelty thea
ter last night and 1t is safe to say that
not a person in these crowds went away
with a feeling other than that of ex-
IRENE satisfaction. There have been
longer shows in times past at the Nov
city but there have been few which can
compare with this weeks show IN merit.
Each act on the bill is Of a high class
order and wonderfully amusing is the
sketch presented by Warren and Hib-
bert, blackfaced comedians. They are
without doubt the peer of any team of
this sort that has been seen in Topeka
in years. Unusual as it seems they have
q lot of new jokes and WitticismS, some
of which are excruciatingly funny But
| their exchanges of repartee are only q
small part of their act. Warren plays
some remarkable rag time on the piano
ana ne also gives an imitation of
chimes which is clever. And then he
does a breakdown dance which is a fine
piece of work. but Hilbert the funny
man Of the team. does the dance which
counts. It is not frequent occurrence
that a man can so dance on the stage
as to cause his audiences to double up
with laughter. But that is exactly what
terday afternoon and last night and
what he will continue to do all week.
His eccentTiQue dance is undoubtedly the
funniest that has ever been seen here.
Another clever act on the bill is the
clog dancing of Billy Hines an old time
expert in this line of work Hines
dances clogs to patriotic tunes and
SOusa's marches. Werrell Spencer VINO
made such a hit towards the close of the
last season a the Novelty in the sing
ing of illustrated songs, is in better
voice now than he was then and his
song for this week, LET Ne Write
What I Never Dared to Tell" was
heartily applauded by last nights audi
ences. THE Terrible Kids Is the title
of the moving picture. These kids, with
their dog who gets them into all sorts
from moving patrol wagon. after their
arrest, are whole show In themselves
Little Rex Wilson, nine years OLD.
made an instantaneous hit at his APP
pearance in a song speciality at the
Crawford theater between acts sun
The Mcdonald stock company open
ed two weeks engagement at the
Crawford Sunday which was we'll at
tended when it is taken into considera-
ton that there were no less than four
or five forms of amusement to choose
ance was good at the night perform
ance.
The Burglar and the Wait, q thriller
of the customary stamp. was the open
ing bill for the two performances yes
Moonshine viii be the bill for to-
night and Tuesday night. Utah will
be presented on Wednesday and
Thursday nights and Dixey Land Fri
day and Saturday nights with Saturday
matinee
1t is announced that new specialties
will be introduced at each perform
ance together with new moving pic
lures. A profusion Of vaudeville spe-
cialties are given during a perform
ance of each of the plays in the Nc.
Donald stock repertoire
Rex Wilson, the child prodigy. in a
ruha makeun. sang BY gosh BY gosh.