The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-21
FIRST RIPPODROME
CROWD MADE GLAD
League Park ThrOnged on
Opening Night.
CIRCUS STARS WIN APPLAUSE
Trained Animals, Dare
devil Babcock, DeImore and Oneida,
and a Funny Clown Keep Laughers
Busy, and the Accommodations
and Lighting Effects Are Good.

The American League ball park last
does on a day when the Detroit Tigers
are scheduled to play here with one OF
their best twirlers in the box, for the
grand stand and pavilions were filed
with those who had come out to see the
opening Hippodrome performance.
AS the result of judicious advertising
and a bill of acrobatic and other special
ties of more than usual interest. seats
were in great demand. The crowds were
kept in perfect order, and were enter
tanned by a concert by Pistorio's Band
until the commencement Of the perform
ance proper
The management had made ample pro-
visions for the comfort and convenience
OF the patrons. and saw to il that they
We're all placed In positions, so that they
had not the least difficulty in seeing all
that was going on on the stage The
latter had been erected inside the dia-
moEa Just in front OF home plate. and
was constructed so that 1t might be In
stantly made larger or smaller or done
away with altogether.
To the right and left respectively. OF
this stage were two rings laid over tan
bark similar to those in use at the cir
Gus for the equestrian acts At one time
during the performance these two rings
We're both In use at the same time, while
an equilibrist was using the space i'm
mediately in front Of the stage for his
act. thus presenting somewhat the ap-
pearance of a three-ringed circus.
The entire performance reminded one Of
a circus. with all the acts star ones. for
the vaudeville features that the man
agement has secured for the opening
week were those which have been seen
at times in the highest class vaudeville
or In conjunction with the greatest show
on earth" The illusion 0i tae circus was
further borne out by the calls of the
boys selling ice cream cones and pop
corn in place of the time-honored pink
lemonade and sandwiches.
The lighting OF the arena and stage
was effected by the use Of a number of
searchlights and spotlights situated on
the roof and sides of the grand stand.
these sending the light into the inheld,
Illuminating It 20 such a degree that Il
seemed possible to play an entire game
Of ball by their light Great credit is
due the management for this lighting ef-
feet. as well as for the other details
which went TO make up the whole en-
joyable performance.
some of the Features.
The vaudeville part of the entertain
ment was composed Of acrobatic feats,
trained animals and equestrian features
which, together with the addition OF Silv-
ers, the clown, and the feat OF Dare
Devil Babeock in looping the death
trap gap" made up an evenings enter
tainment which was as novel as it was
entertaining.
The honor OF being the first to appear
on the stage OF the Washington Hippo
drome fell to Delmore and Oneida. whose
act was one OF balancing and feats of
strength and agility. Following them
came the Martell Family. cyclists, whose
act reused the audience 10 the greatest
applause OF the evening, The work Of the
smallest Of the family, a little girl Of
apparently five or six years, was partieu-
larry good.
After these came Reid and De Mott.
in equestrian tricks in the tan-bark ring;
the Matsuda Troupe, and the Lunette
Sisters, who presented a beautiful act.
including a fire dance while suspended
By their teeth and whirling around at a
high rate OF speed. Following the inter-
mission came Nile Nanon's trained cock
atoos and macaOs. the Carl Dammon
troupe Of acrobsts. the Dupont Brothers.
the Great Streck. and others
Clown a Perpetual Hit.
At intervals during the performance
Slivers, the clown. appeared in various
roles 10 amuse and entertain the audi
ence. The concluding number on the
programme was the looping the gap per-
Torrance Of Babcock. wherein the cyclist
started from the top of an inclined plane.
rode down into the loop. around the lat
ter, and out over the gap TO the foot OF
another plane. The act proved a suffi-
GENTLY thrilling finale to an evenings
entertainment which had the double
merit of being the first Of its kind in this
city and Of presenting a particularly
We'll balanced and pleasing bill