The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-14

show and the players decided it would
be the fair thing to make a hui and
divide the proceeds after the expenses
were taken out. The snuse was pack
ed to the doors and the receipts were
satisfactory, but the expense list was
so large that when the time for the
division came, all Berger got out of
it was ten dollars. He called the bus
mess manager to one Side and said,
"Never again. No more hui for me. =
Another era in minstrelsy dates from
the time the Elks gave an entertain
ment for the benefit of the local lodge.
There was, and is, an unlimited amount
of talent in GIG, and it has been uti-
lized on several occasions for the en-
tertainment of the public. One of the
comedians was Guy Livingston and
another Sonny Cunha. They were on
opposite ends and made the shows sue
eessful. A popularity of Guys was
his absence of memory, and he invari
ably put the rest of the company, par
tieularly those who happened on the
stage at the same time, to disadvan-
tage by his failure to remember what
he was to say. On several occasions
he would say something, regardless of
the lines in his part, get laugh and
walk off. He was under the impression
that the laugh was his cue to move
along, and at those times Cunha would
have to go after him. and bring him
back. He was sure of a laugh, because
he did not try to be funny. When he
did he was a failure, for he invariably
overdid it. On the ends, Livingston
was as quiet as Cunha was active, and
the result was there was something
popping all of the time.
r The productions by the Elks were
spectacular in a sense, and the stage
was often set after the manner of the
big theaters on the mainland on ocea-
sions when a minstrel aggregation Wis
tied it. Cunha had been away good
deal and he knew what took over the
water. Murphy had the center of the
circle in most of the productions, and
filled the position well. Jimmy
Dougherty sang solo tenor songs and
occasionally a comic number, but he
seldom appeared in the olio, for com
edy is not his forte. Hastings How
land was the bass singer and was al
WAYS in demand when a performance
was TO be given.
An act that is pleasantly remember
ed was the "'F1orodora Sextette,' in
burlesoue. It was devised by Cunha,
and was a great success. chap by
the name Of John Piver was always
called on while he was here, and made
q lot of fun for the audience. lie
got ND an act and called it "The Ger
man Band" the characters in it and
the makeup being those of local celeb
rites who had been pictured by yard
lev in The Advertiser. In the city at
the time and for a year or two before
the production was George Kunkel,
professional. He took part in the
plavs and gave his assistance in many
ways.
There was q play, or an act, given
on one occasion called "Sappho, " with
Sonny Cunba in the name part. He
went TO a great deal Of expense in
the matter If wardrobe and came on
erawned in blue satin bolOku. In
makeup he was great. but he overlook
ed an important matter Of ladies APP
parei. He forgot the lingerie. AS a
covering for his extremities he wore
black tights. and when it came to the
time for him 70 leave the stage it was
in the act that he was 70 be hoisted
with derrick Everything went well
rrtI the front Of the house, and the
stage was darkeued and someone in
the hack threw the spotlight on Sonny.
Bu- he didn't mind.
Lately CuHba has devoted his time
- the music business with Wall, Mich
elz Co.. and occasionally acting as
stage director. He was IN 1.-The Mas