The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-12
SING WAY TO FAME
kOuns Sisters, Daughters OF
Topeka, on Vaudeville Stage.
They Play Next Week at Or
pheum in Kansas City.
TOOK new YORK BY STORM
They Came Out of West Unher-
aided and Unknown.
Started Career as Singers ON
Concert Stage.

A few months ago. two charming
songbirds unheraIded and unknown,
went to the Palace theater, New YORK
ard took the vaudeville world by
storm New York knew not whence
they came or how. The two girls
were the Kouns sisters. Nellie and
Sara. lyric soprani, well known on
the concert stage turnout the middle
west, but only a few weeks old IN
vaudeville.
It was not long before the public
was let into the facts regarding this
interesting pair OF singers. Mr.. Mar
tin Beck. managing director OF the
Orpheum circuit heard the two girls
in concert in Chicago ard Immediately
made them an offer to enter vaUde-
vile. They accepted and were given
An opening in Orpheum vaudeville
Their success was instantaneous Crit
les were warm not only in praise or
their exceptional voices. but compI-
mented them on a natural Snowman
ship" without which no artist can
succeed in vaudeville. After playing
a few of the Orpheum theaters, New
York managers who had heard of
their cleanup" in the west. appealed
for a few weeks Of their time in the
east The furore which they created
wherever they appeared in and about
New York has not yet subsidized, and,
altho they have been made most
tempting offers to enter the musical
kouns sisters have refused everything
in order to complete the Orpheum
tour which they so auspiciousIy
started
They will be featured on the bill at
the Orpheum in Kansas City the week
of January IA
The Kouns girls are natives of To-
peka, Kan. and are daughters of the
late Charles W. Kouns formerly gen
eral manager of the Santa Fe rail-
road Ever since they were tots, they
have both had the ambition Of becOul-
ing prima donnas. Sara sang in pub
lie at the age Of three Both received
their musical training in Germany.
where theJ studied chiefly under
Raoul Walter, director and first tenor
Of the Munich Royal Opera.
Offer semi Selections.
Both have high soprano voices of
an extraordinary kind and so alike
n quality that it is difficult to decide
Wh+ch one Is singing when they are not
IN view. Their offering in vaudeville
consists OF a repertoire of class: cal
and semi-eiassicaI selections which as
past performances have Indicated
were chosen with a remarkable IN
derstandins OF what two-a-day audi
ences like
Ate tn debut of the Kouns sisters
N New York. bIase New York that
c-ltlclseS he tinieSt flaw in cny first
performance, the New York Variety.
men i known as the bible of the
vaudeville profession had this to saw.
Just every SO often 4 high class
slnEtn- turn comes to vaudeville and
really makes good This is one of
them. only this one more than makes
good, II qualities for he 4dIine houors.
IN the first place, it is different
vaudeville has been getting grand
opera prima doanas from time to time.
but they come only after they have
Outtved for their greater part their
usefulness on the grand opera and
concert stage and all that they have
is q 4 me and IaureIs that they have
woE in the past. and these are usually
aus nente-. by a superfiuity of embon-
point Right here is where this act
differs from the rest The Misses
kouns appear fresh and youthful, and
their voices, both Of the coIoratura
quality, are a delight TO listen to.
There is an accompanies CHector Nc
CaTtEv1 carried with the act. but one