Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-01


Of a really and truly. honest-to-gosh monarch of
man-eaters without embonpoint? Nobody.
II there is any thing that is more essentian
than all others to being good cannbal king, it Isl
this selfsame thing of which just have been!
speaking This being true, when Samson's prin-
cipa director of risibilities Herr Oscar Leben and
his assistants started out to find suitable party
for the role of sskonuz hannibal king of the Black
Hand what did they look for first? All togethers
now.
Ahn-bawn-pawn. Correct Be seated I
There are more than few men in Omaha who
possess the aforementioned; but Oscar is an ex-
acting cuss and he had an idea that in order I'd
play this part as it should be played in the Gymkv
hama, man must have the artistic temperament.
He must be able to efface himself" said Oscara
raising one hand with artistic gesture and patti
ting his Mozart head. He must be welded I'd
his art that when he goes he loses his own PERI
sonaty in the character he plays. Our man must
cease being himself He must be Sakonutz."
They started out to look for the man with. the
embonpoint and the artistic temperament. A fell
low named Baker and another named Metz and a
third called Dunn considered after the search
had combed the town. They agreed that
of the three must be the best man in Omaha for
the job. They took their time in making de-
csion. Baker and Metz had bit the better Of
Dunn plumpness of person, but Henry w.
on temperament.
Everyone who has been to the Den and has seen
Hank work. says that Herr Lieben is a regular
Strauss when it comes to picking out the talent.
Before Leben and his helpers found Dunn he
nothing but lowy police captan-apd look
at him. He has rings on his fingers and bells
his toes and everything.
The list of in the show who have served
long and faithfully is of no mean length.
Charles Gardner, who has played T. Hellyer Sleigh
this year. learned all he knows about play acting
81 d. All
of the champion character men, his greatest tr-
umph having been scored two years ago. when he
played the inn keeper in "Paprka Schnitze" Tom
Swift, William Wappich William Kennedy, Alex
Reed, Will Stryker, William F. Nagle Gus Layidge
Henry Ehrenphort, Frank Simpson, Herman Metz,
L. j. Gillespie, E. l.. Potter, Bert Minor Fred
Paffenrath, /. A. Medlar, Ed Thompson and Robert
Manley-all are high class actors and singers and
all from year to year have played leading roles.
This year Jim Swift, Bert Minor, Clifford Boyle
and Ralph Snyder the four Hottentotts, probably
we're the best part of the show. After it was over
they jumped down into the stockade in which the
candidates kept. welding their spears when
necessary and making that no guilty man
escaped.
Frank Simpson and Herman Metz were the
sitting committee that looked over the candidates
and decided what tortures should be visited upon
them, whether they should be put through the Mil
waukee Mixer or shot down the pedriver, or both.
Dan Butler, Jim Morley, and Jim Carr, other old
timers, helped in this work.
- Ed Thompson was the man who the famous
dough machine. After the show each night he
threw aside his uniform of Sir B. Hangyff Knott,
chief of cavalry, put his horse in the stable, and
got on his devil clothes in time to give the dough
to the imposters that were "out for it,"
Jack Hogan the man who slammed the
knives at the candidates to test their nerves He
has not been with the Den crew long some. but
with his work is making up for lost time.
Bernard Johnson the chief of artillery who
committed terrible slaughter with his typewriter
cannon. 8. S. Hamilton and John Brennan played
the regimental surgeon and the Red Cross nurse,
one of the best parts of this years show Alec
Reed and Vincent McDonough, the Chinese servants
added much to the mirth. Adolph Storz, as in pre-
vious years. around the Den nearly all the time
doing anything that needed to be done. B. F.
Thomas George Powell and F. w. Fitch in their
royal robes, looked after the heavy work welcom-
ing the candidates after initiation. administering
the obligation and preaching the Monday evening
sermon. The three of them have been leading
knights for years.
The House OF Ak-Sar-Ben is proud of its work
ing crew, and little wonder But for that crew
there wouldn't be much OF house.