New-York tribune., 1910-09-04
H|PPODRONE'S BIG BILL
Proves Anew Standing of City's
Largest Playhouse.
THREE SPECTACLES SHOWN
Aeroplane and Yacht Races, an
Earthquake, Ballet and
Circus Presented.

Circus Presented.
The large audience at the opening Of ING
Htppodrome last night proved anew tHat
the great PLAYHOUSE occupies an unusual
place in the hearts of the people
In giving a show that delights the chl4-
dren the managers of the Hippodrone
please grown folks, for it is one OF the
blessings of human nature that the ma
iorfty OF men and women are, IN their
love of play. still children They are
amused at the ridiculous antics OF the
clowns They like to have the villain de-
feated in his plan TO kill and rob. Ihey
love TO see the hero and his sweetheart
court and marry in the face of opposition.
They are fond of big spectacles, bright
lights and motion They enthuse over
mimic railway trains and shipwrecks and
mock battles, They love 10 see crowds.
They like TO see the king of beasts, the
bears and the elephants, Their inagina-
ton is aroused by street scenes in strange
lands They adore bright music and merry
dancing. All of these things and more
thew find at the Hippodrome. behind which
there are as keen and perhaps more prac-
ticaI students Of human nature than one
finds in many chairs of psychology in our
universities.
The Hippodrome show does not change
much from year TO year. except that the
proprietors try to make each one better
than the last This year they have Ger
tainly succeeded. In place of the spec
racular neIodranaa Of last season, A Trip
10 Japan." they have The International
CUP" which opens in a small village on
the outskirts of Paris, showing military
encampmen+ near the grounds Of the Aero
Club of France. The people and their
guests from many nations assemble TO
witness the finish of the aeroplane race
from New York 70 Paris. While they are
waiting a travelling circus performs on the
village green. N1arceline, 'SHvers' and
the other clowns have carnival of fun
The Three Hucks, French equestrianS.
dressed in army uniform, give splendid
performance of trick riding. Miss Louise
Stickney drives a trained white horse The
Metzettis aerislists, do the double sonler-
sault and other remarkable feats. Powers's
eIepnan+s. with Lena and her four weeks
old baby, do their tricks. Spellnlan's bears
perform and they are rewarded with
sweetened water. which they drink from
bottles in most amusing fashion Muel-
Ier's lions in a cage do tricks at the crack
OF a whip and show their teeth and growl
when they are displeased. All of q sud
den the sound of 'Airship, Atrship,' is
heard, and Roy Carewe bert Wainwright
sails by in his aeroplane. winning the in
ternationaI cup
In the twinkle of an eye the scene is
changed 10 q railroad station in New York
City Then wireless station in full oper-
alton at Sea View is shown This is fol-
lowed by the wreck of d yacht, repro
, e fJ-
realistic yacht race and beautiful sum
rner garden. All have their places in a
pleasing story of love, sport and adven-
ture.
Next comes The Ballet of Niagara"
which in poetic beauty, color effects, cos
TUNES and dancing surpasses anything of
the sort that the Hippodreme has ever
done The story is based on the Indian
tradition that the spirit of Niagara de
mauds the sacrifice of two souls each year,
one of which usually occurs by accident.
The other results from the selection of the
fairest maid of the Neuter tribe. Ioneta,
daughter of Chief Keneu dhe War Eagle
is chosen But she is loved by Rushing
River the chief of a hostile tribe. with
whom her people have been at warfare for
years Just as she is about to be launched
in q birch bark canoe filled with flowers
her tribe is attacked by Rushing River and
she is rescued from death
In this scene there is q most remarkable
imitation OF Niagara Falls. with the mist
rising from the foot OF the cataract.
group of water sprites emerge from the
rocks and gather around the sleeping
Ioneta, whose part IS delightfully."- taken by
Mile. Albertina Rasch, premier danseuse-
Signor Vincenzo Romeo the ballet master.
Is a splendid Chief Keneu Miss Nanette
FIack priaa donna. sings charmingly as
the spirit of the waters.
The last number was The Earthquake
which tells an interesting story of a revolu-
ton in South America, the most spectacular
effect in which is the collapse Of the city
during ali earthquake The re-echoing
sounds of the terrible cataClysm are heard
in realistic fashion. Buildings fall. fire
breaks forth and crazed women dive into
the lake for which the Hippodrome tank
serves as an excellent substitute.
The finale is wonderful spectacle of
beauty with maidens rising from the lake
on islands that had been submerged. Foun-
tains play, soft lights shine and angels
without wings fly to the heavens
All three Of the epectacles ware sug-
gested and invented by Arthur Noegtlin,
scenic artist of the HlppCdrome. and r. H
| F,1Irnsidp stage director, who wrote and
produced them. The music, which Is tune
/ fuI and bright, was written by Manuel