Arizona republican., 1908-10-09
NEW ELKS THEAIER
 OPENED LAST NIGHT
Given a Flattering Audience and Responded With a Good Entertain ment.

The people of Phoenix gave the Elks a fine testimonial of their best wishes in the opening of the new Elks theater last night. The audito- rum, though not packed" was well filled, there being but very few un- occupied seats It would have been accounted good audience for any company at any time of the year and this was only the opening night
 of the season.
 Somewhat to the embarra ssment of
 the management, the new scenery, carpets and the draperies and other
 furnishings for the establishment of
 the theater have not yet arrived,
 though they are somewhere between
 here and Los Angeles and were ex- pected yesterday. Nevertheless. only
 the ornamentation was missed and there was nothing lacking material
 to the production of Little Johnny Jones'" a charming musical comedy, presented by Jos. M. Gaite's company,
 which weeks ago was booked for this date as the opening performance
 in the new playhouse. The company
 is not only a fine one in its per
 sonnel, but is equally as perfect in its equipment, the production requir- ing scenery specially designed, so the new scenery of the theater would for the most part only have been in the way had it been here or to say the least could have added nothing to the excellence of the performance.
 Paul Ingles in behalf of the Elks, addressed the audience a few mo- ments before the curtain rose, ex- plaining the efforts that had been made to fully furnish the building before this date. He called attention to the reputation of the order for doing things right and promised that this particular project would be car ried out as planned and advertised, asking patrons to reserve criticism of decorative features until after a subsequent visit.
 The entertainment was a splendid one from curtain to curtain and the audience enjoyed a continuous fes- tival of comedy and good music. The orchestra was the regular house or ganization, led by the musicians of the company, and that alone was fine feature of the evening, affording excellent accompaniment to the num- erous songs and choruses on the stage as well as rendering a number Of special orchestral pieces.
 William Keough as the self-pos- sessed and good natured Unknown" given to a perpetual friendliness for his cups, was incomparable, and if all wine bibbers could secure such delightful effects from their satura- "a have fewer adherents. but it is sur missed that William would be all right even when he was sober. and all the credit should not go to liquid inspir- ation. IL is the old story that a good drunkard. if the term may be per mitted, is a tolerably good man when he is sober. For the benefit of those not present, and in defense of Mir. Keough, it is explained that the above discussion is only in respect of his stage drunkenness. for pri- vately he probably is a prohibitionist
 No effort will be made to review the cast, crediting all the good things said and done. for it must be re- memhered that this is a daily paper and not a magazine and to tell it all would require q reproduction Of the bill, for which The Republican has no copyright. MT. Forrest was a clever specimen of handmade Chi naman. Denny Simmons the horse man, Harry DeLong the sport, Sam as Hang Chung, and a half dozen others, each earned special recognition to say nothing of Charley Brown as Little Johhny Jones. the A t,o time he stayed in the limelight.
 Miss Mordaunt as Mrs. Kenworth and Miss Ada Clifford. the reporter for the San Francisco Searcher, were seen to the best advantage, as was Miss Amy Mortimer, who played the triple role. In addition there were numerous companies of dancers and chorus girls whose singing and Del sartian gracefulness commanded at tention, equally as much as their clothes, and that is saying a great deal, for their costumes were elegant and in many cases novel. Many of the songs appealed to patriotism while others were witty and all were engaging.
 The company is one of the largest ! On the road and is an aggregation | of good people personally and profes- It travels in two private l rars for the accommodation of the | players with two more cars for the !. of it's scenery, which | Is both unique and attractive and em- braces everything from a hotel front | To an ocean pier and a steamship | For last nights occasion the manage | ment of the theater issued a special 1 program furnished to all | patrons.