The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-10-31
Al. G. Fields Ministries
Coming.

VVluluSs
We clip the following from the
Memphis, (Tenn.) Commercial
Appeal of Oct. 10, 1914:
Like Christmas, Thanksgiving, the
Fourth of July and othsr glad events,
AL. G. Field and his merrymaking
ministries come to Memphis once a
year.
Last nights attendance at the
Lyceum gave the laugh to hard times.
Not in many seasons has such an au-
dience witnessed a performance in this
particular theater. Several hundred
people were turned away, and because
of the fire ordinances it became neces-
sary to stop selling standing room ad-
missions. This applied to four floors
of the theater.
MIR. Field had occasion to feel graft
fled, because the theater records show
that this was the largest audience he
has ever played to in Memphis, and
this covers period OF 25 years.
The explanation is easy. Many
seasons ago Al. G. Field won the con-
fidence of theater-goers. He has
never betrayed this confidence. He
has dealt honestly and ambitiously
with the people and has tried each
season to make his production little
better than the one before.
Theater-goers know this. They
know that they will get their moneys
worth. They know that they will not
ment of dates is enough. If there is
any criticism to be made it is that AL.
G. Field gives too much for the price
of admission. One laughs until he
becomes tired. One is pleased beyond
measure, and one feels grateful for
the bounty of the producer.
''Ah," cried Rabelais, with an
honest pride as his friends were weep
ing around his death bed, "If / were
to die 10 times over should never
make you cry half so much as I have
made you laugh"
AL. G, Field can make the same salts
factory remark when his summons
comes, and for the sake of mankind
may he live forever.
This year the Field show is the most
elaborate he has ever offered in
spectacular sense. In point of deople,
in the excellence of his singers and
dancers, in the comedy of his end
men Mr.. Field has surpassed him
self in his good judgment of selection.
There are many old faces familiar
and popular; there are few new ones
Since his days of humble beginning
AL. Field has never lost sight of
his artistic ideal his prediction for
the spectacular. and this year he has
INDUCED this penchant to riotous
extent
Opening with realistic first part,
showing the birth of minstrelsy, tho
entire company is introduced.
In the first part there is happy
blend of the serious and the conf: in
song, dash of dance and a humor-
Gus conglomeration of sayings and
stories that keep the audience in the
best of humor.
Bert Swor and Joe Coffman are
leads on the end. Neither requires
Bert Swor is unques-
tionably one of the best black-faced
comedians on the stage today. He
gives the true type of southern negro.
He is really a black-faced character
comedian. He never overdoes his
work, and with his inevitable Gala
bama Bound" pleases as he did when
it brought him into the limelight as a
minstrel star. In his duologue with
AL G. Field lot of good. hard, COM
mon political sense is mixed with the
comedy. Mr.. Field just could not
Keep away any longer, and his ap-
pearance last night was the signal for
an ovation. In his subsequent sketch
Bert Swor showed that he was also
4 clever actor and an invaluable
member of the Field organization.
Joe Coffman is also most acceptable,
! clever singer and an artistic dancer.
West Avery and Billy Argall both
sustained their responsibilities and
pleased with their vocal selections.
Jack Richards once more scored the
song hit of the evening, singing "Roll,
} Beautiful World, Roll On" and
Maggie" as an encore. Ed. Hughes,
With Mother of Nine" also made a
decided imrression. The vocal
eatures this season are by Ear the
pest AL Field has had in many sea-
ions.
The olio features "Minna Ha Ha,"
! burlesque on moving pictures, and
The Land of the Midnight Sum- were
poetic in picture aud bristling with
comedy.
ONiell and Markert gave new
dea of the dancing of today.
The performance closes with scene
IT. thc Panama-Pacifc Exposition,
which was constructed for laughing
only.
It is impossible to go into detail.
hose who are familiar with the AL.
Nield show know that the audience
7as we'll entertained There will be q
matinee this afternoon and a final