Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-28
MINISTRIES POPULAR.

Mlnstrelsy has always been the
 iaVoflte form of theatrical anneo
 nria, l1tlle. While musical comedy has
 enjoyed seasons of prosperity fife vogue vogue. has always been of limited
 oafatlon and it has never really
 enicfoached on the position occ,i,
 ped by minstrelsy. The non7lsr ny of minstrelsy has cansed tho
 rlne Bluff lodge of Elks to make
 thell show follow this line of en-
 se[italhment although, progress in.
 mlnStrel lines snd novelty has
 brought the show of today to he
 qulte departure from the mins-
 !rei snow which came to Pine Bluff
 In the olden days.
 The visits of minstrel tro,ns
 we, were big features of amusement
 life in the early days. The como
 Ing of the minstrel show with its
 fiashy street parade, it's harmony
 slnglne with male voicec, the com- edy of the end men and the vaude-
 Eliie acts m the olio made great {
 impression upon the youngster and
 was not passed up by many of the youngsters to parents. The ap- peafance of a minstrel show in these days IS not sucE great event for the reason that profes- slonal minstrels has not kept abreast with the times and be- cause the Elks Lodge has come to put on minstrel shows which are so far superior to the travelling Or ganlzatlon that the professional en- tertalnment offered by the ordin- ary traveIlng minstrel is now rid lculed by the most knowing thea ter goers.
 A difference of opinion exists regarding the comparative ability ot the performers seen with the Eiks nlnstrels and offered by trav cling organizations. There are those that contend that the tour ing company has it all over the home talent minstrel while an eo- lally positive faction is certain that the Elks minstrel surpasses the average professional show seen in Pine Bluff. Showmen with knowl- sdge which ought to bring the right to be heard, are agreed that the 1ome-talent minstrels in cities of , this size have been brought to such a high degree of perfection I hat the touring companies, with a ,ew exceptions, have no appeal to he better class of theater-goers. 7,
 There are singers to be heard with the Elks minstrels who would lot listen to the best offer that is made to vocalists on the road ow- ng to an unwillingness to sacrifice lome life for travelling and to bus { ness interests which mean much nore in a financial way than the highest salaries paid by travelling organizations. Not only nay individual voices be found in he Elks minstrels which are su- 'erior to those heard with travel ng organizations but the number f good voices possible to offer with uch show as this far exceeds that it would be possible 0 hear only with the largest tour ng minstrel organizations.
 The comparative merits of Pine Bluff comedians and those visiting he city with the most prominent , linstrel organizations is not so asy to determine. The profess ional comedian has the advantage f experience which enables him to esort to every trick of the trade ,hile the comedian that confines is efforts to annual appearances ever completely masters the art f the professional snowman when he Pine Bluff comedian makes a it under these circumstances it is n evidence of ability which would put him into the running he determined to enter the pro- essional lists.