The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1920-05-22
THE NEGRO AND CHICAGO, PAST AND
PRESENT
BY Lieut.. ]. E. Hawkins

March 81, 1906, marked an epoch
in the Pekin Theatre us this was the
date that the new theatre was opened.
The demands Of the public caused Mr..
Motifs to remodel tho Music Hall, build
Ia balcony running three sides of the
house, and big fifty foot stage. Mr.
Harry Heinz, Carpenter and Builder,
remodeled the place and according TO
the critics of the day the Pekin was
one of the eosiest little theatres in
the West The opening night was a
gala event and the beginning of an
educational period for those who as
pired for high place in the ranks of the
profession.
Joe Jordan was the orchestra Leader
and commenced to make good from the
start and it was not long before this
young composer and his "Pekin Or
chestra - was known the country over.
A berry amusing story is told about
Joe Jordan going to the Auditorium
Theatre to rehearsc some of his own
compositions that were TO be played
at the Actors Benefit of 1909. Joe
Jordan himself tells the story as fol
lows: 'sThe Pekin Stock Company Yves
on the bill TO give show for the
benefit of the Actor Fund at the An
ditorium, and not knowing that Theo-
dore Thomas's Orchestra was 10 fur
nish the music | carried n six piece
orchestration with me, but when |
reached the theatre | was confronted
with an orchestra of fifty pieces. ]
was in a ticklish position rs the music
had 70 be rehearsed by night as the
show was on for the next day; Mr..
Motifs was very much excited and was
afraid that ne could not make it. |
told him not to worry as ! would have
the stuff put over He did not see how
I could manage it as l had orchestra
|tion for six. told him that ! would
take what ! had and write the others
by night and rehearse with the Tho
mas Orchestra. Mr.. Motifs was told
THAT | could not do il as it was some
thing unheard Of. / did do it and the
Pekin Stock Company was the hit OF
the show. / lost nothing as the feat
was considered something ont Of the
ordinary and the newspaper publicity
7 got not only placed me on the map
but the Pekin as well.
Some of the many big hits put over
ut the Pekin were The Man from
" BAN -" Mayor of Dixie, Captain
Rufus, Count of Noah Count, and etc.
Lottie Grady, May White, Pearl
Brown, Anita wilkins, and Abbic Nit
chell, were some of the many female
stars, and Harrison Stewart, J. Ed.
Green, Jerry Mills, Morey, Moore, and
|others headed the list of males.
The above plays were mostly mus
ical comedies and the scores were
strictly original and products of the
work of Joe Jordan and other Pekin-
ties. Another amusing incident is con.
nected with Joe Jordan's leadership of
the orchestra and one which reflects
unto him great credit. The inithor
dropped in 70 see one of the rchearsals
and while sitting in ono of the rear
rows of seats in company with Mr..
Motifs, ! noticed that five of the best
known musical leaders were connected
with the one orchestra. | said: Bob,
you have Will Marion Cooke, Tim
Brimm, Jimmy Europe, Freeman, and
joe Jordan, all leading one orchestra.
What's the big idea. He replied, 81 II
tell you, Lieutenant, il happened like
this--I got to thinking one day about
what great opportunity This place
gave the young musical and literary