The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-05
THE "SMILEAGE BOOK
The Final Arrangements for Liberty
Theater Shows.

E. B. T. Schumacher, field director
for the military entertainment service
commission, was il Camp Funston
this week making final arrangements
for the shows to be given in the Lib
erty theater, the government amuse-
ment hall to open on the zone" this
month. Work on the theater is near
ing completion and the talent to sup
ply the circuit of the camps is prac-
tically selected and ready to start the
tour, he says.
port for the "Smileage Book plan
evolved by Marc Klaw. the veteran
theatrical man who has been placed
in charge of the difficult task of en-
PERTAINING Sammie. Schumacher out
lines the ''smileage book" plan and
the general plans for the theaters as
klaw intends to run them, in talks
with division officials by quoting
bined with his own ideas thus:
| The families and friends of the
young men in the camps are sending
them presents all the time From the
| big stores, and little ones, too, many
packages are being forwarded to the
men at the cantonments-that's where
| the idea originated that is going to
solve the problem of providing money
to put the shows on the road with ex-
| penses paid in advance.
! What better present could there be
/ than a book of coupons emitting che
soldier to a given number OF admlS-
sionS to one OF the Liberty theaters?
This idea we have worked out in prac-
teal form, and Liberty theater cou-
pom books will be placed on sale in a
few days. We have given them the
name of 'Smileage Books-so many
smiles for the boys in the camp, and
the people are to buy them with
smile, glad of the opportunity to give
pleasure to men who later Will make
such sacrifices for us on the battle
front in France.
Eight companies will be on the
road four dramatic and four -vaude-
vile. But here is the chance the boys
will proba bly, enjoy more than the
professional entertainments.
"a special effort will be made to or
ganize amateur, entertainments from
among the men themselves. There
are several reasons for doing this be-
sides filling in the gaps between
shows. One reason is important. 1t
will provide the regiments with semi
trained entertainers who will be of
much value in hours of relaxation
from the strains of battle in France.
for our plans do not contemplate sup
plying Entertainment for the troops
after they go abroad. To discover,
train and assemble local talent, Sam
Harris, George NJ. Cohen and Irving
Berling, accompanied by two profess
sional minstrel men, will soon make
tour of the environments.
1.-The shows we send out will be
worth the price of admission, ranging
from 10 cents up to 25 cents. This
blow price will be easily made to pay
u what expenses we will have, as the
. heavy expenses, such as managers,
ticket sellers, ushers, electricians.
light, heat and rent are upon the gov
, eminent. A profit is certain to ac-
crue and will be divided among the
! exchange funds of the different can
tonments."
/ Upon the wholesome lines these
theaters will be run, there is little
doubt among the men at Camp Funs-
tom but what the folk back home
will take kindly to the @snileage
books and leave a wake of smiles at
; the box office instead of money earned
at $40 a month