The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-02-11
Packed House Giggles And
Outlaws at HOt-ShOtS on
Local People.
TONY GOCKEL MAKES
GOOD NIGGAH; is HIT
Louis Juden, Pete Bremermann
A. Nj. Tinsley, Jack Hobbs
ct al Are Scored.

cal "hits" were Sprung" horse-laughs
characterized the premiere of the Elks
Minstrel last night at the Park theater.
It was q bowling success.
The house was packed to capacity
and from the opening chorus by a
fiashily dressed gang of "niggahs" as
sisted by a princely CARRIED company
of "'white-fo'ks" to the last word Of the
barbecue, the minstrel was crammed
full of fun. More than 600 persons
saw the opening show. The minstrel
will be repeated tonight.
The Elks' Booster supplement of The
Tribune did not over-press-agentize
the show and those who brought cauli-
flower tied up in ribbons did not mus
ter courage enough to take it to the
footlights.
The minstrel was started with an
overture by the entire company OF
singers. First pranced on the stage
the darkies, Harold Stubblefield, Rob-
ert Beckman, Leon Haman, Elmer Ha-
man, Art Wielpeutz, Paul Finney,
Charles Blackledge and Norman
Gaines. A knky head, coal black
physiognomy, great rolling white-o-
eyes. broad and expansive lips; hands
as black as. his face; bright yellow
coat and pants, many colOred shirt,
black bow tie, and white shoes COM
plated the costume of each.
The Beaux ideals of melody and
sweet Southern singers were princely
arrayed in silk stockings, knee
breeches, flowing coats of the Six
teenth Century, lacy frills on shirt
fronts, be-powdered wigs of Colonial
day and brass buckled shoes. Some of
the shanks We're not used to being dis
played in silk stockings and knee
breeches, but that didn't make any diff
ference.
Chris Silver, he gnterlocutOr, CARRIED
ir much the samefashion as bis beaux
ideals took chare of tho performance.
Leon Hanan sang the first solo,
"Auntie SINNERS Chicken Dinner"
which was well received and after
Pouch Gaines had sassed the interloc-
utor with ''high art" in which he
wound up with Init" on Patrolman
George Talley, a. B Gockel sang a
ballad-"Piney Ridge"
Up to this point, two of the chairs
had been empty and Christ introduced
W. Palmer Oliver and George Boltz,
the Erd Men or Preniers. They were
resplendent in bright green costumes
and on their entry, Boltz sang 81
Guess III Soon Be Back in Dixie
Land" Both Boltz and Hannah were
recalled for encores.
The minstrel show was getting over
the stage fright of the first few mo-
ments by this time and the chorus
was sung with fervor born of hav-
ing a good time themselves. 1t was
as much fun for the minstrelmen as it
was for the folks out front.
The show was getting across and
just at this point, Tony Gockel, who, if
star performer were picked, would
carry off the honors, together with
Bob Num-, the greatest dessiminators
of minstrelsy'' took the middle of the
stage as Oliver and Boltz departed for
another engagement
Gocke!'s first song was a stem-wind-
er. He was decked out in all the
black-face paraphernalia, plus a white
silk suit of clothes. His dancing as
they Loaded up the Mandy Lee was
professional and he had to repeat the
performance four times. Each encore,
he had a new stunt ready and his min
strel versatility kept the crowd with
him from the moment he got started
till he disappeared behind the curtain.
Bob Num- IN his dissertation to Stiv-
er on Love and Natural Defense,
sprung one of the ''hits" that made an
exceptionally profound impression.
Silver had maintained that England
was going to build the longest ship in
the world.
Oats where you's wrong again."
admonished the minstrel. "De longest
ship in the world am de coteship be-
tween Jack Hobbs and Birdie Mae
Adams"
When Alvin Haas had received an
ovation on singing ballad, "When I
Leave the World Behind" Gockel
pulled in his story of a possum hunt,
"hits' that went home with the au-
dience.
In dream contest, Gockel won
possum when he dreamed that he
found Pete Bremmermann and Louis