The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-23
FORMER topeka BOY
Charles Brownie. Vaudeville Star,
Spent Boyhood Here.

Topekans seem to have the faculty
of attaining success in nearly every
line of activity. This is certainly evil
dent in the case of Charles Brownie,
wife, Bessie. who appear in neat
little sketch-"The Scare Crows
Dream''-at the Novelty this week.
Brownie spent his boyhood here and
his parents still reside in the west
part of town. 1t was while here on a
visit that Manager Crawford induced
him to appear on the Novelty pro-
gram this week. The Brownies have
a unique act. Brownie himself first
appears as a scarecrow dropped over
a picket fence. He remains face
downward for six minutes after the
curtain rises. and few even -surmise
that the ghasty looking affair is hui
man being. He soon comes to" and
while dreaming pulls off great
amount of comedy and then closes the
act with a rich dramatic scene. Mrs.
Brownie has an important part in the
playlet, and interprets her part in
auditors.
Brownie, who is now on the shady
side of thirty, got his start at the old
Grand theater, long before the Craw-
ford's got hold of it. His first duty
was to light the footlights with
match, as it was before the time of
electric footlights. Later he had
charge of the property at the old
Crawford. This was about twenty
years ago At one time the Craw-
ford's put out a road company and
Brownie acted as advance agent, and
a good one he was.
Brownie is full of tales of the old
kerosene circuit days. One time
in Cawker City at time when Chef
Crawford was trying to fill date af-
ter half his company had missed the
train. 1t was late in the evening,
when he reached town. Going up the
main thoroughfare of that peaceful
little village, he saw a crowd in the
street in front of the theater. Think
ing perhaps that it was the farewell
appearance of Mary Ellen Lease or
some other event fully as noteworthy,
he wedged his way through the
crowd to the front row. only to find
Chef Crawford the center of attrac-
ton. Chef was forced to double sew
era1 of the parts for that perform
ance which was Just over and met
with anything but success. This was
the aftermath. Chef was in the ring.
The young bloods Of that town were
placing eggs in his new Derby hat
and then smashing the hat and eggs
on his head. 1t was great sport for
the natives. Chef was glad to get
back to Topeka even though he had
every appearance of a Spanish
omelet.
Brownies first appearance as a
with an Uncle Toms Cabin company
which Travelled the western kerosene
circuit Brownies part in the COM
pany consisted of lightning changes
from Topsy to Marks and finally en-
acting the death scene as Little Eva.
He also appeared in the Roy Craw
ford Comedy company few years
ago in Zig Zag,'' which toured
through the southwest.
Brownie finally forsook the west
and went to New York. where he
worked his way into a road company
which played "The Widow Brown"
Later he toured the west in 1.-The
Ragged Hero" In this latter pro-
duction he got in bad with the
theatrical powers that be" because
the stars from Gotham.
In 1906 Brownie managed a !
stock company in Sioux City, |
where they played at the Orpheum |
theater- The manager of the house |
was impressed with him and urged |
him to go into vaudeville. His pres |
ent sketch. which was written and
copyrighted by himself was the re-
suit. He has now been in vaudeville |
for two and one-half years and likes |
1t. He has played in all the central |
and southern states besides making a |
trip through Canada. Next season he |
will be found in another production, |
which is now being written for him |
by ex-senator French A. Beamon of |
Chicago. This one act play will be |
ready for him by next season, and he |
expects to make a much greater sue |
cess than he has in this one
Brownie was married in Oklahoma 1