The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-21

sional men of all sorts found them
selves unconsciously opening the
American at the funny page to see
what new stunt Mutt and Jeff had
done. Not only all of New York, but
the entire country kept tabs on Mutt
and Jeff and Fishers idea was pro-
claimed the most successful cartoon
series in the history of Journalism. The
father of successful cartoon plays be-
gan to sit up and take notice; he
quietly secured the stage rights to
Mutt and Jeff had suitable book and
music written, rehearsed four COM
panies of forty-five people each in a
musical comedy entitled Mutt and
Jeff and sailed forth to reap the bene-
fit of the most tremendous advertising
a play ever had at the hands of the
newspapers of America. Dit it make
good? 1 should say it did. Not only
because the cartoons We're a success
but because the play as a play, ire
spective of the fact of its title being
Mutt and Jeff" was a hit from its
first performance.
Uncle Josh Perkins, to be seen De-
cember so at the Grand, offers whole
some entertainment of the rural COM
edy sort. The play tells a simple
story, draws realistic pictures of farm
life and brings back pleasant memories
to thousands whose life was spent
away from the cities. Many novel spe-
"Rube Band will play all the latest
airs.
Press notices state that no comedy
in recent years has contained more
musical hits than Louisiana Lou" to
be given at the Grand December 81.
The publishers of the music, who make
an annual report, disclosed that $4,000
copies of the various songs had been
sold. 1t is a surprising fact that more
than 10000 copies of this number were
sold in England More than 100000
copies were of the great ballad in Act
II My Rose of the Ghetto;" while
62.SOO We're of the serenade and
dance in Act II, Louisiana Lou, My
Lou
A matinee and evening performance
of Freckles, Neil Twomey's dramatiza-
ton of Gene Stratton-Porters book
will be given in Topeka on New Years.
The play is under the direction of A.
G. Delamater, one of the prominent
producing managers of New York. Mr.
Twomey, the dramatist, has trans
ferred the spirit of the wildwood, Wis
ualized the delightful characters of the
story and woven the incidents into
logical and wonderful play. That is
why it is making dramatic history. The
public is not slow to find a play that
is truly deserving of success and this
Wfnchel Smith, author of 1.-THE For
tune Hunter and ''Brewster's Mil
Iions,' wrote "The Only Son. in which
Thomas Ross appears at the Grant
January 5. The play possesses three
strong points of merit, which insure
it's success-it has heart interest"
touch of comedy to emphasizethe tragic
parts, End keeps coriosity keped to
the highest pitch. Thomas Ross, who
made record of six months in Chi
cago after the play ran for three
months in New York, will be remem-
bered for his successful work in 1.-The
Fortune Hunter and Checkers"
On January 4 Topeka theatergoers
will have an opportunity of seeing the
much talked-of and long wished for
''Bunty Pulls the Strings the now
famous Scotch comedy, The play has |
made an exceptionally good impression |
in London, New York and Chicago.
"Bunty' is a mild satire on Scotch !
virtues and vice the austere religious |
practices are shown, coupled with that |
shrewdness which profits by observa- !
ton of form and violation of spirit. 1t
depicts the stern patriarchy of father
who has himself past, and details !
with an unerring, humorous touch of
remarkable delicacy, lights and shad- |
ows of Scotch domesticity, frugality |