New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Bronner Uses Lights
And Chccsecloth for
Fantastic Effects

In the days before the existence of
the dreaded dragon named H. C. L..
thousand dollar gown was a sign of
great wealth and brought gasps of as
constituent and admiration from the
atergoers who beheld an actress who
was fortunate enough to be able to
wear one. But now who gives such
a mere detail even passing notice {?
What plumbers wife or longshoreman's
daughter has not at least one of these
fllmsy tineries in her wardrobe? Any
way, in a small Western town several
years ago vaudeville star appeared
wearing a thousand dollar gown and
the expected effect was produced. Then
a challenge came to the manager of
the star. At a cost not to exceed SIP
one Cleveland Bronner declared his
ability to duplicate the gown. And
he did!
A few yards of cheesecloth draped
about the figure of ballet girl and
Mr.. Bronner's contention was proven.
Much space in the local newspaper
was given over to the story of the
dressmaking achievement. The same
Cleveland Bronner is still designing
costumes, drapcries, headgear and
other theatrical necessities for fan
tastic dance creations, but not in the
same Western town. He has taken
his abilities to a wider field, and now
his pantomime "A Fantastic Concep-
ton of Twenty-four Hours" is one of
the artistic features of The Midnight
FOUNDERS" at the Century Promenade.
For several wears Mr. Bronner ap-
peared in vaudeville with an act en-
titled "Dream Fantasies" harmoni-
Gus blending of color, light, music and
the dance The Shuberts always have
their weather eye trimmed for poten
tial Broadway possibilities, and Cleve-
land Bronner was suggested for APP
pearance in legitimate production.
Cleveland Bronner is neither fancy
dancer nor a dancing Instructor, but an
artist. His mind conceives the story
of the dance, his eyes visualize the
costumes and his hands execute them.
Bronner does not believe in searching
the four corners Of the earth for fancy
materials and rare ornaments. He pre-
fers going to the corner dry goods
store and purchasing several yards of
cheesecloth, or linen, or muslin, or
whatever the requirements may be.
Every costume and piece of headgear
worn in "a Fantastic Conception of
Twenty four Hours has been designed
by and executed under the direction
of Mr.. Bronner. When the smallness
of the promenade stage and the elabo-
rateness of Mr.. Bronner's fantasy are
taken into consideration it is easier to
appreciate his ability. On stage that
is barely eighteen feet deep he pro-
duces nightly a scene that is so ar
ranged as to give the appearance of
being many square miles in area. Forty
specially trained dancers, each of whom
has been instructed by MIR. Bronner,
enact the story. Within the fifteen min
ute period in which the act takes place
Bronner himself makes no less than
ten quick changes, several Of them in
full view of the audience. One moment
he is a witch doctor, hideous in the
eXtreme-in the next he is beautiful
Prince Charming, counting the hand
OF the spirit of the morning.
Although many are under the i'm
preston that Mr.. Bronner is either of
Norwegian birth or ancestry, because
OF the fact that his principal dancer is
billed on the program as, the Nor
wegian Beauty. Mr. Bronner is an
American, having been born in Michi-
gan, just outside of Detroit He has
been on the stage since the age of
seventeen