Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-01
ROTARY CLUB TO AID
'SMILEAGE BOOK IDEA
CONTINUED from First Page.r

nors and presidents of Rotary Clubs
from all over the country, who were
given the first acquaintance with this
vast plan by Allen Albert, past pres
ldent of the International Associa-
ton of Rotary Clubs.
Me idea, briefly, is to furnish fine,
clean, theatrical shows to every
camp of considerable size, and in
order to afford an opportunity to
show Kindness to the soldiers, tickets
will be issued called "Smileage
Books" to be on sale at every post
office and department store. So cer-
tain Is the government of the popu-
larity of this plan that $500, 900
"smileage books" are now about TO
come off the press and they will be
on sale very shortly in Harrisburg.
To Be Sold Here
A sample of one will be exhibited
tonight by President Lumb to
members of the local club. The book
resembles u mileage book and is of
two denominations. One, containing
twenty-five five-cent tickets can be
bought for 81; the other, containing
100 five-cent tickets cost So.
The Rotary people were asked by
the Secretary of War to give the
moral support and cooperation of
their influential organization to this
generous scheme and they have al
ready made such progress that four
crackerjack theatrical shows have
been assigned to this field. They are
Broadway organizations, presenting
accepted Broadway successes, Turn
to the Right; Cheating Cheaters"; ;
Here Comes the Bride; Inside the
Lines"
Other companies and many stars
are volunteering to fit themselves
into the plans of the council, fol-
lowing the beautiful example of Miss
Maude Adams and William Faver-
sham, as soon as those two leading
actors heard of the smileage pro-
ject.
Vaudeville Bills
Four vaudeville bills have been as
sembled by General Manager e. Il.
Albee, of the Keith Circuit.
Plans are now in the making to
revive the musical comedies and
light operas which the men have
liked in past years-"The Prince of
Pilsen"; "The Red Milf; THE
Chocolate Soldier; robin Hood;
and the Gilbert and Sullivan COM
positions.
Congress apportioned about $780,
600 for entertainment buildings at
the various camps but made no pro-
vision for the show. The sale of
"smileage books has been institut-
ed for the purpose of paying the ex-
penses of the professional perform
ers. These books, by a special ar
rangement, will also be good for the
moving pictures. The tickets can be
detached and if the show costs five
cents, one is pulled off; IL twenty
five cents, five coupons are clipped.
President Lumb stated that in order
to keep the citizen informed, signs
will be posted at all selling places
telling when and where a show ap-
pears. In one soldier is luckier than
another in receiving a supply of
"smileage books" everybody knows
that chap will be generous enough to
split up with a less fortunate COM
rade.
The new move is under the di-
rect managem of the Military En-
tertainment Council which will uti-
liZe the liberty theaters built by the
the Y. M. c. A. auditor
iums and where the weather permits
the tents which have been provided
by the Chautauqua associations.
What 1t Means
An Army recruited by draft in
cludes the best young men OF the
nation. The off hours of these young
men are the loneliest hours of their
camp life.
Accordingly, the council will pre-
sent at the camp theaters-
Broadway companies in the best
theatrical successes of the season.
The best musical and vaudeville
programs obtainable.
Lectures of the highest excel
lence.
Amateur performances by the men
themselves.
Ordinarily the cost of booking
such attractions would be prohibi-
tive. But the performers and man.
ayers of the United States have met
the council with such patriotic CO.
operation as to put these productions
within the reach of every soldier in
the United States. Operating ex-
pense has been reduced to bed
rock.
AS result, the money cost of
these performances will range from
ten cents to twenty-five cents a seat.
Yet many soldiers will not be able
to attend many performances even at
these prices. Thousands of them are
sending home practically all their
pay.
Hence the ''smileage books"