Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-05
FRENCH POET 0F
 1400 FATHER OF
 1919 VAUDEVILLE
First Performer, However Seems to Have Been Egyp-
 tian Snake Charmer.

ern in their desire for variegated amusements as they are today. Ac- cording to an ancient anecdote, the monkey and the jackass were the star performers during the entire voyage of the ark. And they evidently knew their business, because peace reigned supreme as long as they were afloat
 If one delves into the history of the peoples of different countries, he will uncover many foundation stone for that most popular of mod ern theatrical entertainment. vaude- vile. In Egypt, for example, long be- fore the sphinx lifted her inscrutable gaze to the oncoming traveller, the snake -charmer was quite an import ant and interesting parsonage. No doubt many a weary hour was whiled away by our Egyptian friends watch ing the charmer charm. Centuries ago the East Indian fakir mvstified the populace with his astounding wizardly and the Turkish story teller founded a craft that has gladdened the hearts of millions through our modern mon- ologists and raconteurs. Acrobatics undoubtedly owe their devolpm ent to Japan. where wrestling, in particular, has always been a source of amuse- ment: while every age and cline has seen it's court musicians. dancers and singers of songs. as well as. it's itin- erant mountebanks and harlequins. /, During the time of Alexander the Great licensed fools were retained to perform witty and th-provoking acts. And one of the "headlnors" of the theatre of 300 years ago was the clown, who talked. sang and danced, and enjoyed the distinction of being the chief comedy instrument Indeed. their license was sometimes carried so far that they would actually crack jokes with members of the audience. But the same holds good today. and even constitutes one of the features of vaudeville.
 The name vaudeville owes it ori- gin to little French village in Nor mandy called Vaudevire. There in the 18th century, lived Oliver Basselin, noet and composer of convivial songs. These songs, and the huffoonery that inevitably accompanied them. even- tually became so popular that they were introduced into the various en- tertainments of the period: and these entertainments came. in time, to be distinguished as vaudeville.
 Vaudeville in the course of it's evo- lution assumed various forms. but the old English music hall and the old museum in this country, with it's freaks and monsters and "education- al features" as additional attractions were the immediate forbears of the variety theatres that followed, and where many of our present favorites served their apprenticeship.
 l The first variety theatre in this country came into existence in New York in 1853. The entertainment, giv- en only on Saturday nights. was a most informal affair The freouenters selected chairman" who called up- on certain of his fellows known for their ability to render a piano solo, sing song. give a recitation. or oth- erwise amuse. The men, who sat about round tables after the manner of our modern cabaret. smoked lono' pipes such as our sturdy Dutch burgers used to smoke, and drank heer while the performers did their bit in an atmosphere of smoke. te
 An interesting bit of vaudeville his- tory was made when. some years lat CT, Harry Hill. wel]-known sport ing man. onened 9 variety hall with a platform for stage on the second floor of building a+ Houston and Spring streets. New York The vicin- ltv at that time was a dangerous To- calitv after rightfall. since thieves, murderers and crooks of every de- s"r'ntion infested the neighhorhood. Hllps place. however. was we'll con- ducted. for the nroprietor engaged a number of "strong arm" men as "bouncers" who would throw the au- thor of any disturbance down stairs and into the streat. The audience con- sisted of 9 motley gathering, sport 'no men. hankers. confidence men. thieves. gilded youths and pickpoc cts all touching elbows.
 The history of the rise of vaude- vile to it's present elavted nlane is of course. too extended to permit of more than touchinp the high spots here. Like every other enterprise. it needed to evolve. to find itself. and the inevitable trend hecame decidedly noticeable immedia+olv following the Civil war. The Bohemian atmos- phere. plus coarse slap-stick comedy, seemed to have lost it's charm. Aud fences began to expect a more elevat
 ino form of amusement. They wanted r'"an lo''"h in clean atmosnhere.
 Tony Pastor immorta'ized himself 'n theatrira1 history as the crusader for and original chamrion of clean amusements. And the fact that vauda- vile occ"nies tho hi"h place in the nublic esteem that it does today is due to the fact that idealists, tech nlcallv tnown as amusement business r,en. followed Toney Pastor into the field.
 Compared with the personnel of the theatre of former days. the modern artist. manager and nromoter is all most as far removed in artistic cali har. ideals and business ir+epritv as darkness is fro~' light. And between the old. dingilv-onartered evillv- conducted dives of 50 oears aoo, and the n,agnificentlv constructed, sum NtuQuSlV anpOinted porfootIxy J;no;,.