The Detroit times., 1909-12-09
EVENING STUNTS At
BENNETT PARK
NEXT YEAR
President Navin Admits He's I'm
Pressed With Hlppodrome Idea
and Is Ready To Rent the
Park for II.
Experiment Made in Eastern Cities
Last Year Likely To Result in
Big Enterprise.
BY PAUL n. BRUSKE.

III they want our ball park, let en-
e6iTfo'=to tft and make me PROPOSE
ton. I'll rent IT,.
Thus spoke President Frank j
Navin. uf the Detroit Baseball club
when asked regarding his attitude to-
ward the theatrical syndicate which is
said TO bc forming chain OF parks In
cities In the big leagues for the pur'
pose OF providing evening entertain
ment in the open air, after the fashion
tried last summer AT Pttsburg and
Philadelphia
Accordingly there seems an excellent
prospect tuat the regulars at Bennett
park will have the pleasure of watch
Ing the Tigers whale the everlasting
stuffing ont of some luCklcss ball club
In the afternoon while in the evening
with bright lights illuminating the dia-
mond, they may return to their places
In the stands and bleachers and watch
the theatrical stars do their stunts.
Just Imagine.
From che distance which Sam Craw-
ford occupies out in center field, div
ing horse NAV tear off a thrilling
aerial tiip. ending with n splash in a
temporary pond out in the territory
guarded in the afternoon by DOME
Bush. other acrobats may do their lit
tie Zip iOpS i gay soubrette may re-
lisyc Charlie Schmidt after the shades
of evening fall and barefoot dancer
may omciatc where Il few hours before
the mighty Mu!lin had heaved the bail
up 10 the hcfuddlcd batSman
That some such plan Is very likely
tn he tried ont on a systematic basis
next wear seems reasonably certain.
Tne hippndromcs which were staged
Forbes Field. Pittsburg. and Con
lie Macks old park in Philadelphia
last season, were money getters. or
ganized on q systematic basis tho
profit would doubtless he larger and
the quality of the entertainment OF a
higher order \ couple OF weeks IN
each city would probably be the plan
of the try-out The evening attrac-
ton would doubtless be first tested
m a time when the baseball team was
ON the road. though there is nothlag
which would prevent the occurrence
of afternoon and evening shows on
tho same day.
Scheme Looks Practical.
The scheme appeals to the thcatri'
cal people because of the fact that II
provides in each large city OF the
country thcater which we'll know II
10 che public. conveniently situated
and ample in size. Circus facilities
of permanent nature are virtually
available.
The fact that several of the con
fidcntial men of Keith. the vaudeville
imprrsSario. are members OF the new
bnard of directors OF the Philadelphia
National league club has started the
rcport that Mr.. Keith is the real back
or ri Horace Fogcl in the recent puf-
chase OF that club. Whether or not
the acquiring OF such an interest is
caused bv the desire of the theatrical
man 90 get foOthold I'm league poll'
lies which will enable him 10 negotiate
for tho evening use Ot The parks Is
matter omen to conjecture.
At any rate, IN" promoters OF the
scheme will have free rein II they
want to try il in Detroit
Nirht baseball has never appealed
to the level head of IN" Detroit club
executive. bat this hippodrome thlne
looks worth trying. so long rs inc
responsibility is assumed hy someone
else. -
And who knows but three or tour
wears hence. the American league Will
ie rescrymg theatrical attraction.
with Ban Johnson i'm the role OF chici
.murrgSaTiD'