The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-28
Hundreds of Motor Enthu slasts
Make Their Way Into Build
ing to View Machines
BEWlLDERING ARRAY
OF NEW AUTOMOBILES
Robbie Gilbert and His Synco-
pated Orchestra Make Big
Hit Decorations Are Cor
geous

Housed in bcwildering array beneath
bright lights and dazzling decorations.
the latest mechanical wonders were
viewed last night at the opening Of the
Richmond automobile Show In the
t'rays Armory by hundreds of Rich
mond's motor enthusiasts who crowded
into the seventh street building from
early in the evening until late last
might.
The opening night was a success
AuRe succsas The attendance exceeded
ali expectations. there being something
like two thousand persons present.
There was Il steady influx Of people
from o'clock In the evening until
II o'clock and before the doors closed
for the nj ht the large drili hall had
become so jammed with automobile
enthusiasts that only a few more people
could have eIbowed their way into the
arsnorv. HID there been turnstiies at
The daor jbey would probably have
grown dizzy aud fallen PROSTATE on
she ffaer, II tutns,iirs can do such
tHfa@. anyhow, there were no turn-
lileN aHG TO csc would volunteer to
stand ~ th' door and count The people
90 trey eaue Eo9S~4uen'iy. the exact
ru.ub@" cat ree. ntte9dert upon the
aff- r. tp 20, ~..cugA street armory is
ru s5fev.u itst The crowd Was
sa9t u-fs ta .-- t55t ie#st and f;us'-
fa.e -far. Nu2ts stone and ;he
r hrt~ ,ara ,.-@ with tbs disrlaY
th.3 iata. '-~l}~ ~. gle. and ev-
rs-ss. themselves as being very Well
,eHz-e
m6s .aqv uas formally opened by
tta+ ~. o"ge Ai1siie Manor Ainsue.
F." has welcomed many gatherings
- .ao r - fpr various functions since
wev roa6o chief ex 7ctt're OF our
7'p'cjN2'Jt, last sight found himself
f. position welcoming the city to
The automobile show
Much Progress Is Wade.
n his opening remarks the Mayor
sid Most II as RENE N her the au
ton,obj1e show that was held here in
the old horse show building about four
, ears ago As We looked on the beau
tlful ears of that day exhibited at the
show many OF us somewhat naturally
felt that those ears would be hard 10
Improve upon. WHOM President Nc
Kintey opened the Buffalo Fan -Amer!-
can Exposition. where he lost his life.
he used the epigram: 'Exposlttons are
the ruc-keepers OF progress. Those
OF us who are here tonight who find il
difficult to look into the future can
"
10 see the truth Of that epiaram by
comparing the cars here to he seen
with those exhibited at the former
vhow."
He said that this is indeed a billion
dollar country when It has come to
spend one billion dollars in one year
In automobiles alone. He stated that
there are IN use on the streets OF
Richmond more than twice rs many
cars Of all kinds as were manufactured
In the United States in the year 1893.
Mayor Ainslie took opportunity to
congratulate the members of the Rich
rond Automobile Dealers Association
upon the industry they have shown in
promoting the show. the good taste
they have shown in the exhibits. and
the manner in which II 10 being hand
led. He asserted that he believes they
have staged what 10 but another mile
stone in tho industry A. IL affects the
city Of Richmond.
Gilbert Makes HIT.
The biggest hit Of the evening was
made by Robbie W, Gilbert. the eccen-
trio violinist. and his syncopated or
chestra from New York city. Gilberts
sccentricities Alone were worth the
price Of admission. He plays the violin,
dances, attempts to sing once In
while, and pulls all kinds OF other
funny things to evoke laughter from
those witnessing her performance. He
Is A nut. and admits H. In fact he
is one OF the nuttiest nuts that ever
emerged from a nut factory. But
that's his business and he puts II over
IN nne style. Gilbert and his must
clans made a big hit in the Gotham
citv and from present indications he Is
going to he one Of the biggest attrac-
tons at the automobile show through
ont the week Miss Hazel Wilker's
popular songs also received many
plaudits
The dancing last night started at
1910 o'clock, but In the future 1t will
begin at 10 and last until midnight.
There will ALSO. be dancing each at
ternoon from 5 to o'clock.
The Grays' Armory has completely
lost its identity for the time being.
The lights and scolor effects are moth
ing less than remarkable. while the
aisles Of fourteen-fcot palms marking
the space of the exhibitors have served
70 transform the armory into bower.
Tn fact. II doesn't look as II 1t ever
was a drill hall. The background of
foliage and painted scenery. deftly
arranged and blended the silken can
opy overhead. and the weird. but fas-
clnatine and Irresistible Hawaiian mu-
sic, causes one to believe that he has
lost his way and strayed into one OF
those gardens OF enchantment" In
Honolulu,
Decorations Are Dassling.
when one ascends the stairs to the
drill hall. he or she. which ever the
case may be. for there were many oS