The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-25
NEWSP PERMEN'S.
MIDNIGHT SHOW
DELIGHTS CROWD
Nearly $4,000 Raised For
Red Cross at Benefit
Performance.
s. z. POLL CHEERED
FOR COOPERATION
Each and Every Act Pre-
sented By Artists Was
Well Received.

The Midnight Frolic, staged by the
newspapermen of Bridgeport last
night in the Poll theatre, was all it
was advertised to be. The strongest
bill possible was presented and every
one seemed satisfied. The theatre
was taxed to it's capacity and it is es-
timated fully $4,000 was netted
through the sale of tickets.
William Steinke, was the official
announcer and started things going
by auctioning off the baseball used
in the initial game of the Eastern
league at Newfield Park. Leigh
H. Wilson bought the ball for
$40. Collections taken by the Minute
Women Melted quite a sum to be add
ed to theg rand total while $3.50 was
cd to the grand total while $3.50 was
bill by Lynn w. Wilson, captain of
Team IL.
Each and every act from the diff
fOrent theatres who so kindly gave
their services for the occasion, to the
inewspapermen, were at their best.
despite the fact it was their fourth
show for the day, all went through
and exerted their utmost energy in
making the affair a success.
Nearly every stage employee in the
city was on hand and assisted the
workers in the Poll house in changing
the scenes. All are members of The
atrical Stage Union. 100, and the asso-
citation gave their services gratis. The
musicians who kindly took the same
attitude as the Stage employees, held
special meeting and gladly voted
to assist the newspapermen by CIV
ling their services. The orchestra was
at it's best.
The most generous giver of all to the
entertainment was S. 2. Poll, who on
three occasions during the last week
gave free of charge the use of his
theatre. The staging of the Mid
night F'rolic" caused the patronage at
the house to drop off last night, and
besides giving the use of the theatre
to thee ause he lost out on the money
end. Matt Saunders, manager of the
house, did everything in his power to
make the affair a success. His CO.
operation is greatly appreciated by
those who had charge of the affair
Tor the papermen.
Sergeant Thomas Reilly, one of
Pershing's boys from cover There"
who has been on speaking tour in
this city for couple of weeks, was
introduced to the audience and was
loudly cheered for fully five minutes
Three cheers were given by the
audience, led by William Steinke, fol-
S. q. Poll, Matt Saunders and A. Nc
Neil, Jr., for their cooperation i'll
bringing about the success of the ven
ture.
The acts that appeared included Paul
Levan and Dodge, an acrobatic team
playing at the Plaza; Harrison and
Burr, also on the Plaza program the
last half of the week; Shannon, Banks
& Company, who are at the Poll thea
tire; Louis Gordon, one Of the Pol
players at the Lyric, presented g
blackface specially; Miss Beatrice
Friedman, an eight-year-old Of
Bridgeport, billed as Little Sun.
shine; Nora Rock and Charles Drew
of the Poll theatre; Van Avery of the
team of Van and Carrie Avery of tn,
Plaza theatre; Jean Sothern, late
movie star, who is playing on thu
Plaza bill; Mine Crazy Kids" appear
ing at the Plaza the last half of thu
week; Harold Kennedy of the Lyri,
Stock company.
Seven members of the Poll Stool
company presented the last act o
Take a Chance" which was given
few weeks ago at the Lyric theatre
Those who appeared were Miss Ward;
Howard, the leading lady; Miss Edit
Spencer, Miss Carrie Lowe, Mis-
Gladys Knorr, Dudley Ayers, leading
man, Arthur Buchanan and Ainswortl
Arnold.
Frank Markley of the Plaza bill
banjoist; the Three Joys, irBdgepor
boys, and two boys were brought t
Bridgeport by Sam Taylor of tn
Kresge Company, gave several lat
hits of Waterson, Berlin and Snyder
The show closed with the skit, ''Te
Minutes in a Newspaper Office" a
presented by local newswriters. Des
pite the fact that all members wer
amateurs and rehearsals did not be
gin until few hours before the SHOW
the act went good. Many laughs wer
created and what the act was intend
ed for was accomplished.
Those who took parts in this az
were Daniel Mcnamara, city editor
Tom Wagner, telegraph editor, Wi
liam Steinke, as foreman of the CON
posing room; William Coyne, e
printers devil; Louis Reilly, Gu
Price, Ralph Lindsay and William
Becker, reporters, and Guy Hedlun
director; Mrs. Anna Burdick and Mi
Mary Dugan were members of the o