Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-07
KING TATARAX AND
CORONADO AT DEN
InitiatOry Ceremony of the Knights
of Ak-Sar-Ben for the Year 1916
Replete with New Features.
AID MEN HAVE TIME OF LIVES

King Tartarax" with his red skin
warriors and Coronado the brave,
proud, and somewhat armorous
Spaniard followed by his cavaliers in
gold braid and silver helmets, met
faee-to-face at Ak-Sar-Ben Den Mon
day night
The occasion was the opening night
Of the 1916 season OF Ak-Sar-Ben.
They met. They shook hands.
They congratulated one another
They quarreled about the beautiful
"Cremo,' the betrothed 81 "Iartarax.
They pow-wowed together, and
staged the most remote history OF Ne
bi aska known 10 historians or 10 John
Lee Webster.
Eastern Ad Men Guests.
With the lights and shadows Of this
remarkable production they enter
tanned a crowd OF some 5000 knights
Of Ak-Sar-Ben and guests at the Den
II was Greater Omaha night, and
most OF those present were this years
members from Greater Omaha.
Aside from these there were many
guests, principal among which were
the score or more Of eastern adyer.
Using men who were the guests OF
Omaha during the day and night
Charley Black invited them to get on
the platform and sing Nebraska"
Was there piker among themi
No-siree. They leaped TO the plat
form without any written guarantee
that they would not be dropped into
well, and they lockstepped and sang
Nebraska" with such feryor as Ne.
braska patriotism was never before
voiced by New Workers.
Used Up, But Still There.
Yes, to be sure they were initiated
too. They got used up pretty well
but no worse than Il. v. Parrish, who
tried to pilot them through. For Par
IRISH came out with his nose peeled
thanks to the fierce machinery OF the
initiation, which Parrish tried to de.
feat by quick sidestep.
The new show this year is full Of
dash and vigor. There is enough gal
Looping and shooting, there is enough
Of ancient and historical vernaculai
and costume, and there is enough OIL
clever song and timely chorus tc
round out the whole evenings enter.
tainment just right
Bill Lawrence as Coronado is greai
in the cavalier boots. Charlie Gar
dener, rs King Tartarax" is a war,
rior Of commanding stature, and I
certain sweet tooth for stuffed golC
fish. Frank Latenser as the chef whose
duty il is to stuff these fish just tc
the kings liking is balky sort Of
chef who at times refuses 10 stuff, anc
at other times sings his way TO tht
favor Of the king.
Oscar Lieben is the philosopher
who dreams great dreams and see.
mighty visions, and good hand he
drew from the audience. Alex Reec
neatly tailored in white coat anC
trousers made an excellent white wins
that Commissioner Kugel himsel
might desire to employ.
Some Indian History.
Charles Docherty, as Logan Fon
tenelle, has a hard time with the his
torian OF the evening who is alway'
trying to keep history straight.
The finest yoke OF oxen now driver
in Nebraska fern a part OF tht
spectacle of the evening. Prairie
schooners figure, and oh, such an i'll
hammered goose waddles among tht
menagerie. .
The crowd was greatly pleased witt
the first night performance, and witt
the cold weather for stimulent, wha
an appetite this crowd had for thu
subsequent refreshments.
Speeches were cut short. Presiden
Buckingham OF the board Of gov
errors made some announcements
and John Lee Webster, president o
the State Historical society, reviewed
some early history OF Nebraska
rapidly bringing the state uut Of thu
wilds OF prairie and sand dunes TO thu
present highly productive common
wealth OF corn and alfalfa
Hustlers Are Busy.
There were 2,434 members OF Ak
Sar-Ben up to last nights count Thii
is 1874 more than il was expected til,
husting committee would get by thu
opening night. Last year there wer,
900 on the opening night.
The members OF the board OF gov
ernors are TO go to Lincoln in a body
today 10 visit the pageant at Lincoln
They are TO take night train foi
Chicago to attend the republican ma
tional convention,