The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-20
OF
POLL THEATRES
ROUSE HILLSIDE
Inmates of Alsmhouse Glee
full AS Actor Folk
Entertain.
SEAT HOLDERS IN
FRONT ROW AGOG
Grateful For Ray of Sun.
shine on Stormy
Day.

Through the rain storm yesterday,
Mrs. S, 2. Poll accompanied by prac-
dcally the entire companies from the
various Poll theatres in Bridgeport,
brought sunshine to the inmates of
Hillside Home and frightened beyond
measure the fragments of life to
which they still cling.
The day will figure in the history
OF the institution as a red letter date.
For about three hours the old and in
firm became young and forgot to use
their crutches, the blind through
their wonderful sense of hearing
thought they could see a little, while
the deaf through their ability at lip
reading were delighted because every
one about them spoke Of something
else beside trouble.
From the oldest inmate who is 81,
to the youngest tot in swaddling
clothes all Joined in giving heartfelt
thanks for the kindness of Mrs. Poll.
Those among the inmates who lad
ceased to look upon their lives as
anything but a burden took new
heart and were happy in the thought
that the outer word had not for
gotten them.
The artists and guests at the enter
ta1nment were not a whit behind the
inmates in their enjoyment of the oc-
casion. All were happy at the
thought that so much enjoyment was
injected into the dull, hopeless lives
of others with so little effort. The
expressions of enjoyment flashing
upon the wrinkled and careworn faces
of the old people urged the actors and
actresses to fresh efforts so that the
entertainment provided by Mrs. Poll
and SO excellently staged under the
direction Of Matt Saunders proved to
be one of the very best ever witnessed
in Bridgeport.
Mrs Poll not alone had the artists
on the bills at the several theatres
go to Hillside, but sent along musi-
| clans and stage hands. Quarters us1-
ally occupied by the staff of the in
st1tutlon were turned into dressing
rooms pro tenn and the shout of the
call boy through the spacious corri-
dors\ of the building made one think
| that it was an honest to goodness
| opera house.
All the entertainers were taken ONT
to Hillside in limousines provided bv
Mrs. Poll, Mrs Walter B. Lashar and
Mrs. F. d. Baker, and it was with re-
luctance that they closed the program
which had given so much happiness.
Tom and Dolly Ward, from the
Plaza, Knocked them off their seats
with funny songs and piano playing.
Irving Newhoff, Of Newhoff and
Phelps, at Polls, created roars of
laughter with four songs. DetzeI and
Carroll, in 1.-THE Doctors Office from
the Plaza, went over big Harold
| Kennedy, the comedian of the Pol
Players Stock company at the Lyric,
caused bowls of laughter and had to
answer several encores when he pre-
scented some brand new laugh com
polling songs.
| Watson's Comedy Circus, principally
composed of trained dogs, was a riot
and was voted one of the most pop
ular Of the acts. Fred Weber, the
ventrfloquist, was another prime IA
vorite and his messenger boy dummy
created great curiosity. Germon and
Mack, comedians from the Plaza,
were very funny in songs and story
ISLlIl5, WIIIIo LlHG IAG6,L( uuONIIlS SIIl
act from Polls certainly started things
moving. There were six Broadway
ponies, all of whom might answer to
the name of "'Lottie Fewclose.' They
were full of pep and seemed to take
a delight in seeing how much excite
ment they could create in the front
row.
The Keep Moving Company had
a. number of stars, including Swan
Wood, the Dervish Dancer, Donald
Curry, Ethel Rosevear and Ralph
Spill.
After the entertainment the artists
and guests sat down to an elaborate
feast Among those at the banquet
! board were Mrs. S. z. Poll, Miss Julia
Poll. Mrs Walter B. Lashar, Mrs M
H. Ford, Mrs. F. D. Baker, I. Moss
and family, Mrs. Frank T. Staples, F
W. Behrens, Arthur Connor, William
Lewis, Angus P. Thorne, Martin A
Lucy, William W. Roberts, Matt Saun'
ders, Tom Pierce James Mccarthy
Harry Myers, D. Mack, William Bel
den, l.. Mittnick, f. Mayne, George
Debeau, Thomas J. Murphy, Samue
Davy, Fritz Mohr, William Constance
and Dennis Haywort.