The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-05-24


until two days after, while we wer'
on a march. we PASSED Flossie Will
"her" sleeves rolled up and the swea
pouring from .her" face unloading
shells from motor lorry.
I AS our section passed her yelled
out: Hello. Flossie; Blighty-Whai
HopesT' Her reply made our love die
out instantly.
"Ah. 60 TO hill"
This brought quite a laugh from the
marching column directed Ut me, and
instantly made up my mind that ouI
sketch should Immediately run in op
position 10 -BlIghty-W What Hopesi"
When we returned to our billet from
the march. Curley Wallace, my the
atrical partner. came running over "a
me and said he had found a swanky
place in which to produce our show.
After tnIxing Off my equipment. md
followed by the rest Of the section,
went over to the building he had picked
out 1t was a monstrous barn with a
platform at one end which would make
an ideal stage. The section got right
on the job, and before night had that
place rugged out in appIe-pIe order.
The next day was Sunday and after
church parade we put all our time on
a dress rehearsal, aud It went fine.
Ismnde four or five large signs an
nouncing that our company would open
up that evening at the King George the
Fifth theater, on the corner Of Ammo
street and Snndbag terrace. General
admission was one-half franc. First
ten rows in orchestra one franc and
boxes two francs. BY this time our
printed programs had returned from
London. and l further announced that
on the night OF the first performance
program would be given free Of
charge to men holding tickets costing a
franc or over.
We had an orchestra Of seven men
and seven different instruments. This
orchestra was excellent. while they
were not playing.
The performance was scheduled to
start at p. m.
At 5:15 there was mob in front Of
our one entrance and II looked like O
big night. We had two boxes each nc.
commodating four people, and hose
we Immediately sold out. Then a
brilliant idea came to key CohensteIn.
Why not use the rafters overhead. call
them boxes. and charge two francs for
a seat on themi The only difficulty
was how were the men to reach these
boxes, but to key this was a mere de-
tail.
He got long ropes and tied one end
around each rnfter and then tied lot
of knots in the ropes. These ropes
would take the place Of stairways.
We figured out that the rafters
would seat about forty men and sold
hat number Of tickets accordingly.
When the ticketholders for the boxes
rot a glimpse Of the rafters and were
informed that they had to use the rope
stairway, there was a howl OF indigna-
ion. but we had their money and told
hem that II they did not like 1t they
.ould write to the management later |
Ind their money would be refunded;
tut under these conditions they would |
lot be allowed to witness the perform
Ince that night.
After a little grousIng they accepted
he situation with the promise that II
he show was rotten they certainly
would let MS know about II during the
performance.
Everything went lovely and II was
owling success. until Alkall Ike APP
cared on the scene with his revolver
oaded with blank cartridges. Behind
he bar on shelf was long line Of
ottles. AlkaIi Ike was supposed TO
tart on the left Of this line and break
II Of the bottles BY firing at them with Is
Is revolver. Behind these bottles a
iece Of painted canvas was supposed
, represent the back Of the bar, at
ach shot from Alkalrs pistol a man
ehind the scenes would hit one Of the
ottles with his entrenching tool
andle and smash II to give the I'm
ression that AIkali was q good shot,
AIlran Ike started In and aimed at
he right Of the line Of bottles instead
the left. and the poor boob behind
'e scenes started breaking the bottles
the left and then the boxhoIders !
lrnad loose; but outside Of this little
lsco the performance was huge sue. ,
50. and We decided to run It for o {
eek. IL
New troops were constantly coming
rough. and for six performances we
ID the 3. r. o. Sign suspended out !
lie. =
(To be Continued.) Q