The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-11
Their efforts were not

not forget 1t. Their efforts were not
half bad.
Leslie Lewis, another young man.
followed with black faced comedy
act in which he got off a string of
jokes, many of which came over in
the ark with Uncle Noah He sang a
parody on why Don't You Try?"
that was really so good that the au-
dience demanded two encores to
which he was not slow in responding.
Wilson was decidedly nervous. And
most of this nervousn ess made its ap-
pearance in his hands. He had hard
ally anchored them in his vest pock-
cts and then apparently proceeded to
bore holes in his abdomen with his
fingers. Then he got so excited over
being called out for second encore
that he forgot half of the chorus.
Mr. H. Clayton. announcing himself
as an imitator, furnished the third and
last amateur" effort. His first imi-
tat1on was that of solo on violin
cello which he performed entirely
with his face. Then came an imita-
ton of the tune that made the Chica-
go Midway famous, which was accom-
plished, so Mr.. Clayton said, with the
throat and which he declared to be
one of the hardest limitations that i'm
itators try to initiate. In addition to
initiating the tune it looked as though
Mr.. Clayton was also trying to put on
the dance which made the tune ia
nous through the medium of his
Adams apple. This was followed with
some rag time selections played with
ordinary table knives on the top of
hard wood table. Mr.. Clayton got
an encore for this as he did for his
other efforts and the audience insisted
on his being given the SIS in gold
prize which Mr.. Crawford will put up
on every Friday night of each week
for the best amateur act that is pre-
audience declares to be the best by
the volume of its applause.
The decision is reached at the con-
clusion of all the acts. The perform
ers are led out on the stage. The
master of ceremonies lays his hand
on first one and then the other, and
the one that gets the 1oudest applause
but that Mr.. Clayton got the applause
and noise emitting him to the money,
and there is likewise no doubt but
that Mr.. Lewis put on far and away
the cleverest act. But an audience is
a good deal like a jury. One never
can tell just what it will do and SYM
pathy is apt to creep in to defeat JUS
tice. This is probably the reason for
the award of last night.
One thing is certain, however,
amateur vaudeville made a great
hit in Topeka last night and there is
liz uOupI Oot lllcl tic Il IlOdy
of the future will find the Majestic
damned to the limit of its capacity.
The amateur acts followed the reg
ular show and will do so in the future.
Larger crowds than ever seem to be
going to the Olympic and the patron
age is well deserved for the shows
that MIR. Bryant is putting on there
are as good as anyone could expect
for the money. In fact it is hard
work to figure out how it is possible
to put on such good shows for the
small admission that is charged
And next weeks bill promises to be
just as good if not better than the
ones which have been on the boards
at this house during the past . few
weeks. a distinct feature on the COM
ing bill will be the act presented by
the Great Herr Jansen company dur
ing which will be presented myster-
ious feats of mind reading, Tightening
changes, wonderful illusions and skill
full hand manipulations. Another
feature act on the bill is the comedy
sketch THE Dog Catcher" which will
be produced by Watson, Wallace and
Keith. Still another feature act will
be the Brownies, Charles, Bessie and
| Hoodoo in THE Lady, the Dog and
the Fool" The other acts on the bill
include Clarence Martyne, a blackface
comedian and Herman Lindhold a
funny man of the German type Mr.
Galbraith will have for an illustrated
! song. Meath the Old Acorn Tree.
Sweet Estelle." and a fine series of
moving DictureS will he shown