Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1909-02-18
Keen Interest Manifested In The
Staging OF .Ben-Hur" At
Billings, Feb. 25-27.

formed to visit Billings, Montana
to see Klaw & Erlanger's mammoth
production of "Ben-Hur," at tht
Babcock Theatre in that city, or
Thursday, Friday and Saturday eve
nings, Feb. 25, 26 and 27, and at the
special matinee on Saturday, FEB
27. Those intending to witness this
spectacle should make seat reserva
tions as early as possible in order t6
secure good locations, as the fact
that "Ben-Hur" has never been pre-
sented in Billings warrants the pre-.
diction that it's engagement at the
Babcock Theatre will be prefaced by
a tremendous advance sale.
"Ben-Hur," with its lustrous Star
Of Bethlehem, its camels, Arabian
steeds, Oriental trappery and mimic
splendor Of the gorgeous East, is
beyond doubt the most elaborate
spectacle ever staged in the history
Of the world. It's series Of seven
teen scenes present to the eye a
feast of multifarious beauty and va
riety all set to a symphonic accom-
paniment of graceful music. The
exciting episodes, such as the galley
scene, with its horde of chained
slaves, the sea fight, the rescue in
mid-sea, the thrilling race with its
quadruple teams of galloping hor-
ses, combined with the picturesque
scenes representing the appearance
Of the Star of Bethlehem to the
Wise Men in the Desert, the moonlit
lake in the Orchard of Palms, where
Ben-Hur and Iras make love, while
drifting in the barge of the fair
Egyptian, the palm-Waving worship
ers on the Mount of Olives, and the
Grove Of Daphne, with its nymphs
dancing in the skins of beasts to the
music Of the kissing cymbals, sim
ply captivate the great audiences
that are nightly in attendance Wher-
ever it is being enacted.
AS now arranged and staged by
Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger, the
public sees a great spectacle which
appeals not merely on the strength
of it's dramatic values but as CO.
lossal and picturesque pageant.
Where before there were fifty dan
GERS in the revels, there will now be
one hundred; and where before
there were one hundred men and
women in the throng that goes
forth from Jerusalem to meet the
Saviour, there will be two hundred
And in the chariot race, the scene
which, coupled with the popularity
Of General Wallace's book, gave the
play it's enormous vogue, eight hor.
ses, aided by the most intricate me,
chanisms, viii produce the prodlg.
ious illusion Of the struggle for vic
tory in the arena Of the Circus OF
Antioch. Edgar Stillman Kelley
brilliant musical score, which sc
| heightens the dignity and solemnity
Of the Biblical narrative, and wa:
one Of the most potent factors in it:
success. is made dominant feature
of the present production, being in
terpreted by special orchestra ane
chorus carried by the company fol
that purpose.
Seats for the Ben Hur" engage
ment will be placed on sale at tht
Babcock Theatre box Office on Mon
day, Feb. %. Prices range from 81
cents to $3.50. Mail orders will 1a
Iceive prompt attention, and seas
will be assigned in accordance witt
date of their receipt, after the open
| ing of the seat sale. All communica
tions should be addressed to tht
! Manager Of the Babeock Theatre
Billings, Montana.
On Jan. 20, the Secretary Of tn