The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-27
WENT IN FREE.
Fred stones First Appearance
at Grand, 1885.
Did Brother Act in Elks Benefit
Show.
GAVE HIM TICKETS.
This He Considered as Sufficient
Compensation.
PractiseG Circus Stunts Nhen
EahnnE
Practised Circus Stunts When
Attending Quincy School.

One rainy evening in 1885 when Ezfs
KendeH was playing at the ola cram en-
in "A Pair of Kids" two small poS
who had walked all the va from n. -ns
Both were so small that they mad &c
look up to see the man in the box
I'VE want to see the show" said
one.
Where's your money!" asked the man
In the office.
we think you ought to let US IN
free was the reply.
.sWbv should you get in Tor noth-
tng?" queried the man.
Because we are actors W dIo 4
brother tumbling act in the show here
last week for the Elks
The man in the box let them IN
one Of the BOYS was Fred Stone, who
appeared at the Grand last nlghl III
s'rbe old Town" The other was MS
brother Ed. who has since died The
Stones are cousins of W. NJ. NanNess'
of 1909 North Kansas avenue, salesman
at the Guild Music company. Mr. Stone
is also a cousin of Mrs. F. P Gilmore
wife of f. P. Elmore, cashier OF the
Shawnee state bank
Mr. stones Parents are Mr.. and mrs
L. r. stone The family came to Kan
xas from Iowa, in the early days
The Stones first settled at Burton
and from there moved to North To-
peka, making their home in the Bar
rett block at Gordon street and Kan
sas avenue. The elder stone ran par
Der shop. Fred Stone and his brother
Ed. attended school in the old Quincy
school building. When quite young. the
boys began to play circus. They learn
ed to do all sorts of flip f1ops, hand
springs and rope walking feats. much
to the admiration and envy or their
companions.
At one time the Stone brothers gave
of silver AXE BESIDES
their circus stunts, both often took
part in the musical entertainments
given by the young people of North
Topeka When they We're about II
years old the boys Travelled with Sells
Bros circus, and later with Ringing
Later Fred Snow was given the part
of the "Searecrow" in the original
Wizard Of OF" company. The mai
ager of the company said that he was
especially adapted for the part, as t
requires both an actor and an acrobat.
Ed Stone took the part of the Lion
in the same company. Mr.. Montgom-
ery played the Tin WoOdman. Some
time after this Ed Stone died. Later
with the Red Mil" company in part
nership with Mr.. Montgomery
Mr.. Stone is married. He is said to
receive a salary of $1,000 a week. He
has a summer home on Long Island,
near New York city.
my first appearance in public was
in a brother act at the Grand here"
said Mr.. stone as he was making up in
his dressing room, between greeting
his Topeka friends who were con-
tinuaily dropping in. I'VE did some
tumbling in a show given for the bene
lit of the ElKs in 1885. About a week
later we came to the show free on the
strength of our acting and saw Ezra
Kendall in a Pair Of Kids This was
h. oh 7 ol1ea1- Of
4 recall some of my teachers at the
Quincy school on the North side quite
well. In the first reader I went to
Mrs. Kate Smith, now dead. Miss
Fink and Miss Perkins We're other of
my teachers
yes, it seemed to be in us to be
show people. While in school we
practiced stunts between times, and
gave pin admission shows. and would |
print our own handbills announcing |
the performance. We practiced tight |
rope walking back Of fathers barber |
shop.
1.-The first circus we were with was !
the old Sebury & Berry wagon shows. |
in Topeka with the D'Arley shows !
The tents were pitched in a then va
cant lot a few blocks north and cast |
of the present theater, I believe. That |
was the last time I was in Topeka I'M !
til today
1T seems good to get back to the
old town and to see my friends. I ap-
preeiate the way they have turned cut
tonight
Joe Warnock of the North side. who |
employed Fred's father in his barber |
shop and who gave Fred his first |
trapeze apparatus, was one of his !
visitors last night.
Last Nights Production.
Notwithstanding rainy, sleet and |