The sun., 1908-05-17
THEATRICAL OPENING OF LUNA
TIE CEREMONIES EXTEND FROM
t2D STREET TO THE PARK.
Men Who Are Prominent In the winter
shows Uptown &" OoSn to the Seaside
IN Autos to Help start the summer
,,errymnkins-Bi crowd Helps Toos'

Y
IN Autos to Help start the summer
Nerrymnkins- Big Crowd Helps Toos
With the help OF cowboys. Mexicans,
Our Stuty, elephants automobiles, brass
bands, aass, hoorsys and things, young
Mr.. Freddy Thompson opened his Luna
PARK Yesterday afternoon with O getaway
that trsiled parados and -etuf all the way
from the Thompson q D,nidy Offices In West
Forty-second street down to Coney Island.
The storm centre did its centring over
Forty second street during the first part
of the afternoon while the theatrical mana
GERS, producers, press agents. newspaper
men. house managers. theatrical costume
dos gners, wiggists. oritigs Of the drayma,
Mason Peters and Eddie Rosenbaum and,
in fact. all that part of Broadway from
Forty-second street to Forty second street
gathered in front OF the T. a d. offices till
the sidewalk looked like the front yard OF
the Main street home Of prominent Elk
,ust before the funeral party starts from the
residence.
In the first Of the long line Of chugging
automobiles that shivered inpatiently along
the street curb at o clock was Our Stuhy,
snaiously consulting julius Cahn's theatri-
osl guide to lay out the route for the parade.
And when the chuffer OF the big sight see
ing auto that held the first section OF Lem =
leip's Luna Park band of brass had been
shown the Calm route to Coney Our Stuhy
gave orders to everybody to get ready
70 90 by some other route; and then Mr..
stuffy Davis gave the starting order by
standing UP and firing - cartridge
from 80 calibre revolver with a shattered
hone that he would be arrested.
our Stuffy had complete control OF the
start of from Forty-second street because
Freddy and a man whom everybody called
Paul, but whose last name could not bc
learned, were arranging the cowboys.
Me1icans, moro bands. khakisd soldiers,
elephants and additional policemen all
around the Coney end Of the Ocean Park
wav to receive the automobile parade at
the finish.
This Coney reception parade that was
10 escort the Forty-second street parade
from the Parkway into Luna Park was
Grand marshalled by this man that every
BODY called Paul, and who is a playwright
by trade, with Doctors Potter and Living
ston as aids. Freddy. wrapped in q
Surgling touring car. just circled in and
around and out and in among the Indians.
COWBOYS, MeIicans, elephants ana bike
and mounted cops giving orders to curb
their impatience until Stufy had arrived
upon the scene OF the reception prepared
for him. And to keep the waiting crowds
in good hunor until Our Stuffy should ap
pear this man named Paul. mounted on a
calico bronco trimmed with spangles
and carrying the largest sword ever seen
on Coney Island outside OF SHOW, drilled
the khakied soldiers for hours at a stretch.
In the meantime Stuffy Davis had the
badge privilege away up at Forty-second
street. and as the official openers Of Luna
we're conducted to places in the autos
snlhy handed out badges to heaps Of dis
tlngiished folks. Among others that took
part in the parade and drew badges we're
ice Grammont. president of the Hard
Licker Trust; Marcus Aurelius Klaw and
Abraham Lincoln Erlsnger, Erianger Abra-
%olfrf. Flo Aegfeid, John G. Fisher, the the
Hon. Bill Brady, the well known after din
ner speaker; Samuel Somersault Harris.
Franklin F'yles. Lawyer Henny J. Goldsmith,
Rube Goldberg tho artist, Bert Cooper,
Diamondjimbrady. John Tenant, Mason
and Eddie, Freddy Zimmerman, Bill Hep
per, the wiggist and wag; Julius Calm, and
about two dozen more automobile loads
Of the guiding spirits Of dramatic art.
stufy's car as the parade got under way
and Lit OUT for Broadway. White silk flags
with the names Of various theatres snapped
happily from the hoods and lamps Of the
cars. The bands on the. sightseeing
parade left the Gross Roads Jim. the head
barkeep at tho KA-nick suggested that the
curtains be drawn and the shop closed for
the day. For when the auto parade had
merged into the southern horizon there
wasn't a single soul left between the Square
who is in Europe; Felix Isman. Lee Shubert,
Willie Hammerstein. Dan Frohman and
the Hayman boys, AL and ALI. e1
Everybody watched Stufy keenly during
the run to the park because it was Stutfy's
first actual effort az Coney Island Snowman
..1o every one wanted to see him get away
with it. Stuffy fell down now and then
but perhaps one should not carp at a be-
Ginner. He directed the cars across Essex
street. for instance, when the East Side was
reached, whereas q man of larger expert
ence would have gone over Attorney street
beyond the peradventure OF doubt, owing
to the pavements being 80 much better
ON Attorney street than they are on Essex
street. And when it came to paying the
toll across the Williamsburg Bridge he
didn't have the exact change ready for
his car, thus OBTAINING tho entire line sew
eral seconds.
The auto parade got tangled into slight
knot at the Williamsburg end Of the bridge
split up one Of Mason Peters's touring cars
which Mr.. Peters kindly had donated for
the day. Here again stufTy was TO blame,
inasmuch rs there were several policemen
around any one Of whom would have arrested
somebody IL Mr.. Davis had entered a COM
plant, and thus the story would have got
greater publicity.
But when the Parkway was reached
freddy Thompson himself came northward
in one OF his own cars and personally took
charge OF the procession. From this time
on there wasn't hitch. None of these
remarks, by the way, should be taken as
derogatory to Our StIffy's work. They are
inserted only in the interest Of the young
man himself to point out to him In q kindly
uav and with only the gentlest intentions
sn the world that AZ a Snowman he might
almost be called q dub.
The autos when they reached Coney
Island fell In line behind more bands and
Il the gaysty that Luna could turn out
ir the way Of fancifu costumes among
The Mexicans and cowboys and the parade
moved down Surf avenue toward the white
hsdecked towers OF Luna with thousands
iamming the sidewalks to welcome the
raraders. From the first car now was
Nrtering a large silk flag trimmed with
gold fringe and beautihed, In the centre
nth a picture OF Mrs. Frederic Thompson,
hest known as Miss Mabel Taliaferro.
Mr. Erlanger unlocked the park with a