The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-16
OPEN AIR CONCERT
DRAWS BIG CROWD
STORM DOES NOT PREVENT FOLK
FROM TURNING OFT IN
CHIMBORAYO.
BILLS Al THEATRES
MONKEYS At COLONIAL GIVE
UNIQtE ENTERTAIN ENTI
EMPIRE SHOW EXCEPTION
AL, LUBIN's ATTRACTIVE.

Not even sharp thunder shower
could prevent Kessnichs band from
giving its opening concert of the sea-
son In Chi,nborazo park. last Fight
The shower was over at g. 30 O'clock,
save lor a littlo intermezzo between
the third and fourth numbers. but
the crowd didn't seem to mind that
much.
1t was an unexpectedly large crowd,
not specially demonstra tive, but as
white skirts and shirtwaits predomi-
mated In the crowd--the masculine
element was noticeably lackine-this
was not so surprising, although So
called popular music occupied a PROM
inent place on the program.
Ragttrns ffourished. This was ont
Of difference 10 the music committee
that had recommended the approprla-
ton for the mid summer open air
concerts.
Give EN- ragtime.' said the mem
bers Of the music committee. none
OF this educational stuff. What they
want Is .Everybody's Doing It, and
'Alexanders Ragtime Band. Give 'em
plenty of that" Or words to the
same effect. the "'em' and them
being the citizens OF Richmond. who
pay for the entertainment
Director Kessnich did SO. He rag
timed in the opening number, in the
third and fifth and sornet ines in the
gxth. The paraphrase OF "Oh. You
Beautiful Doll was rich. rare and
racy. The trombone player vas
source of wonder and delight TO the
nd ait II iktsY
was eminently successfal
Mr.. kessnich's Program.
Perhaps II Mr.. kessnich was 20 ar
range his own programs he might
leave out "Everybody's Doing IT. and
even some of the other less atrpcious
numbers. but he has the music COM
urally he must obey orders.
Mr. kessnich did offer d somewhat
more ambitious number for hts second
on the program, the overture 10 'Aias-
sandro Stradello," by FTotow and
there was a ripple OF applause at It's
conclusion. indicating that number
in the crowd approved OF II. Alto
gether it appeared as If Mr. Aess-
nichs Judgment had been indorsej,
and that even music that is got rag
/ time might be popular at open air
concerts.
For a irst concert the band did we'll
and gave promise Of becoming an ef-
| fective organization. II seemed as II
| a greater volume OF sound might be
| obtained. as II the men had had not
enough open air practice. Soft bid
/ low tones that are heard distinctly in
a room are lost entirely in the open
| air The opening bars OF the overture
could not be heard distinctly Fifteen
feet away from the band stanl. nut
when called upon in the less exacting
numbers the men responded With Il
volume Of tone that argues we'll :or
future concerts
The park presented an anir~sted APP
pearance, the electric fountain form
ing an effective background FOR the
people 'nassed around the band st1rd.
Undoubtedly there would have been
a greater throns had II not bean for
the storm AS it was there must have
| been several hundred in the pa-ll when
the concert begun
Tonight the same concert VIII IL
given In Monroe park. and, tomorrow
night CANDLES Hill will be tie Sc. ne.
" the Empire
Even though the rain last evening
served to hold down The attendance
somew hat. the Empire attracted a
large audience and displayed q pro
gram that is without exception the
most thoroughly way led and lqughaIi'r
! Of any given thus far
RutAns song birds are. of course
the faNorites-they we're when seen
| before and VIII he the next time
! These clever Riddles show marked
/ INN ROY q "a hay pf
/ songs and smiley things. and the adult
members dc immensely we'll
/ Little Dot" Americas most di-
| minutiVe conedie9ne. is little only
| where size IL concerned Her fashion.
| If delivery Is grown TO the let
I ter yet is childish in the extreme. An
/ itIsaixtSsre, ossR sni-ht ssas5> OF 1szvenil~
simplicity and adult ability.
II you failed to see Natures
4 Sweetest Warblers'' on their last visit
YOU should avail yourself OF the pres
ent opportunity
The PARROTS offered comedy and
I gyrnnastic act on the flying rings
| Their comedy IS really funny and their
| gymnastie feats OF the kind that
! makes one marvel
| blackface comedian and vioiinist
| who IL head and shoulders above the
! average. is seen in the person OF Josh
p lJtiE- re IduttS+ Gnu ooSS IL NEAaf
and gets away with some gags that
are original,
Dollo and company are found 10
! present a novel aao rnystifying act.
/ They show what appears to be a me-
/ chanical don. Vet startlingly unlike
ANYTHING mechanical. They leave it
! To the audiences Imagination as To
whether the doll is really alive or
whether it is mechanical. and state
that II will he exposed on Saturday
night
Griffin and Lewis replaced. tenn
porarily. the four Soils brothers. who
/ were DELAYED en- route here,
The photoIife reviews shown were
| very good and serve 10 round out
the excellent bill in approved style
| At the Colonial.
/ The bill at the Colonial this week
and which opened its engagement at
the matinee yesterday. Is one OF the
! best shows that this comfortable play
house has seen In many weeks
The feature IL clever animal act.
| Norris balloons are wonders nearly
| human in their actions and intelii-
/ gent beyond expectation.
rhara uip,ia n ruarxel& two af IN = m