The Washington herald., 1909-02-02
.ELKS' MINSTRELS
MAKE GREAT HIT
Picturesque Scene at Open
ing of Big Event.
MAsoUERADERS HAVE FUN
Actorines, BIack-faee Men. and VII
IHge cut-uD Make Merry, and SDIen-
aad Chorus Sings Ensembles that
Stir RisibIes of a Big Audience
at the First Performance.

Strawberry blonds. bleaehed actorines.
blackface artists. and silver-tongued So
loists Paraded In a kaleidoscope Of 5oIlity
and burlesque across the stage at the
Elks' Hall last night. as the dramatis
personae Of the opening performance of
the three nights engagement OF the EIks'
Minstrels.
The 200 men and women who found
seats in the auditorium so completely
filed every available space that an an
nouncement was made by Fred J. Mer-
shelmer, chairman OF the executive com
mittee. that 100 more seats would be
placed on sale for the performances to-
night and Tomorrow night
Unstinted applause greeted the wearers
Of the buskins from the moment the cur
tains slid apart TO reveal the opening ar
ray Of minstrels TO the final numbers.
the rendition OF the sextet from Lucia
by the orchestra Of the Marine Band, IN
der the leadership Of Lieut. William
H. Santelmann. and tie ssntelmann
Thomas Jefferson" march.
Picturesque Decorations.
The auditorium was profusely decorated
with American flags and bunting The
stage was banked with ferns and greens.
and at the back hung a large banner
bearing the insignia OF the order
Following the opening selections By the
Marine Band orchestra, the blackface
chorus was presented. with Dana c.
Holland in the center as Mr. Interlocu-
tor. Epholding his advances on the
risible nerve we're the end men, ". c
Balderson and r. German, and A. J.
Cummings and Frank RebstOck. who was
also stage manager. Clad IN yellow
'spats' and black gloves. these four
brought down the house with sheir
dialogues and parOdies. although Isl"
Cummings repeatedly dared the audience
TO applaud
Roland p. Rodrick sighed so musicaIy
for Just Some One" that he was called
back for several additional sighs.
Although operate stars. as a rule. scorn
TO make use OF too much OF the actors
Illusion in their singing, Mr.. Rodrick
created an impression OF utter forsaken-
ness that caused much comment
A RumbIlng Bass Solo.
T. A. Murray, matching the size Of his
voice 10 his CorpOreai dimensions. sang
bass solo that rumbled about the low
places and made the lights flicker. He
was followed by Charles E. Myers. the
possess0r Of a high tenor. who led the
chorus in old Heidelberg. Mr.. Hol-
land. introduced as the famous Cali
fOrnia harytone. sang Down in a Dun
geon Cell"
The members OF the chorus were Ed
ward ?. Schwartz. Conrad Hoffman
William B. Dawson. John G Wood
Frank Pierce, G. c. Cole. Albert s. Smith.
James n. Dunn, Herman Richards. c. E.
Bright, John P Purvis, Patrick F. Cof-
Fey. Joseph r. Wood. George Ackman.
Charles r Hermann. Frank B. Swart.
Allen HOllauder. Walter J. Tharp. 3. z
Sauter, and Thomas A. Murray.
One Of the best features Of the en-
teTtainment was the work Of the quarter.
consisting Of Mr.. Myers. Mr.. Rodrick. Mr.
and W EmbTy- They opened
the second inStailment OF the perform
ance with the singing of NY Rosary"
before the curtains were drawn. The
shifting harmony of the popular song was
well brought out. and the applause was
long and enthusiastic
Mr.. Holland and Nj Myers then ap-
peared in an operate fortune-teIling
sketch. in which Mr.. Myers called upon
Mr. Holland. palmist. 20 have his palm
read The dialogue was entirely in song.
Mr.. Holland caroled:
Pay me ny fee
al--m