The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-13
Performers From the Worlds
Largest Shows Were There.
From Start to Finish 1t Was
ThOrOly Enjoyed.
At Y. M. C. A. AUDITORIUM
Every Act Known to the Circus
World Had Place on Program.
The Performance Had To Be
Repeated on Following Night.

The big circus put on at the audi
torium Wednesday night, under the
auspices of the Army Y. M. C. A,
was such a decided success it was
again on Thursday night Both per-
forlnGnces drew packed houses and
there was net vacant seat at either
show. The circus is proclaimed as
the big hit ot the season and the
physical department of the Y. NJ I'M
der the direction of Coach A r. Ken
nedy, deserves much credit for the
successful entertainments.
The circus started off just like the
worlds renowned road shows and
froT the time the parade entered the
arena and Ringmaster Nathan b
Sussman appeared on the scene the
program was a great scream from the
go and held the attention to the last
act,
The talent included some of the
best obtainable from the big circuses,
whose performers are now in the
army. Men, who in civilian life drew
a fat pay envelope from such employ
| ers as Ringings, Barnum G. Bailey,
Sells-Floto. Hagenback & Wallace.
and many others of the well known
circus firms. were there to put on
exclusive acts.
Almost every act known to the cir
| Gus worlG had a place on the pro-
gram. tumbling, high bar and trapese
work, Juggling. races, rope work.
| wire walking, high dive and many
other hair-raising. stupendous and
thrilling acts.
The program was featured from
start to finish with amazing. sensa-
| tional and spectacular acts-some of
which have never before been intro
duced even in the highest class circus
performances.
One OF the thrilling acts and one
which drew big round of applause
was the juggling act by Anderson of
the base hospital detachment at Fort
Riley. Moore furnished splendid
| bill with his strong man act, which
included some of the highest class
| stuff. At the end of the performance
and as closing feature he bent with
his naked hands a number OF sixty
penny nails.
Another characteristic act was the
acrobatic and trapese stunts put on by
| Fitzpatrick of the 341 machine gun
company. After some amazing acts
of his own production he ended his
program by walking across the stage
! on the top of his head OTHER
tumblers and trapese performers
were: Simmons. Muchmore. CLANCY.
Nog1e and Hull. These acts were par
| ticularfy interesting to the soldiers,
and were highly enjoyed.
| Bumgardner drew q large hand with
his loose wire performance, and Nc
Kay was also greatly enjoyed in his
fancy rope work. The fancy and trick
riding stun, by the famous troup of
performers and the wild mule riding
| act furnished an abundance OF enter
tainment. -
! The salome dance, the hypnotism
stunt. Mutt and Jeff. the clowns,
| policemen. wild animals. Indians and
other circus features also added
greatly to the success of the program
AS a closing number and one which
was one of The most thrilling was the
| slide for life in which Mcdonald SAD
the entire length of the dig audi
torium. -
The music for the big show was
furnished Wednesday night by the 342
Field Artillery band. and on Thursday
night by the 354 band.
To all who so kindly assisted in the
| successful production of this big
| circus the Y. M. c. A. is truly CRATE
| full 1t was a wonderful display Of
circus talent and the performances
| were so thoroly enjoyed that 4 number
of requests have been received to re-
peat the show in other sections of the
| camp and in nearby cities
When the circus was planned a few
| weeks ago, it was known that some
performers of the professional class
were available. but not until the pro-
duction was put on was 1t even con-
| ceived by the most optimistic that q
production of such magnitude could