The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-03-24
ELMER TONNE IS SOME
I0PsE]Ie1|hT !


Elmer Towne 10 certainly genius
in making mob Of men sing. He
probably wouldn't like It II your COR
respondent sid he hypnotises the
singers. But he surely makes svery
man one of them feel that he Is look
ing at him ana believes he can really
sing. Lots Of singing masters can
take a soioist and make them sing as
never before; but to take thirty 1--WE
rip roaring. devil -may-care fellows and
make each one OF them believe that
he is singer and what's more sing
like singer comes pretty near the
definition of genius. Last autumn
Elmer Towne went over to Bangor at
the teachers convention, and in one
rehearsal made that monster chorus Of
a thousand school children sing as
few hearers ever heard a chorus sing
before. There's nothing more inspir-
Ing and heart bubbling than chorus
Of fresh voices. Somehow, too, mems
voices blend better than women's
voices. He made those sergeants and
corporals and buck privates in the
Military M.nstrels jump through
hoops, roll over and sit up and beg,
and before they knew 1t they. were
singing Just like singing was their
regular business. The best part Of
1t all is that he makes everyone en-
Joy 1t. He worked them all Sunday
afternoon and II night hadn't come on
Roy Pooler would be singing yet.
Keith Ryan of Augusta who was lieu
tenant in the celebrated Maine Heavies
was up Tuesday night coaching some
of the soloists, and assisting Jack Jen-
kins in stage business. He has one
of the really great tenor voices in
Maine and sings in all sorts of hot
stuff company. He gave whole song
recital last week to the members Of
the Legislature. Incidentally he Is to
sing two numbers In the Legion show
here just to add bon ton as Eddie
vigue would say. And speaking Of
Eddie Vigue, his rendering or perhaps
more properly rending of Macaroni
Joe, q side-splitting ballad of the
trenches In France. is some howl.
Sergeant Markham, ex-cook and fight
er, is his accomplice in. the deed, and
between them both poor Macaroni Joe
has q strenuous existence.
The Legion Souvenir Program prom
ises to be of unusual interest. Ten of
the largest concerns have each taken
full pages which they are devoting to
little homilies on Americanization
rather than as advertisements, and
practically every business and pro-
fessional man in town will be repre-
sented. The usual stereotyped adver-
tisement will be conspicuous by its alb
sence. There will be brief history
of Skowhegan In the World War, OF
old Co. E and Of Simon Peters Post.
Altogether the program will be worth
keeping as souvenir.
There is great rivalry among the
young ladies In the jewelled bracelet
contest. Some of the girls made very
thorough preparation by pledging peo-
pie to buy of them, and 1t is probably
not far from the mark to say that half
the people in town are pledged up.
1t books very much as though every
seat would be sold by the time the In
dependent-Reporter goes to press. The
ticket contest will be closed Saturday
night and each contestant must re-
port at p. m. at Colonel Marston's
office The awarding of the bracelet
will be made al, t,the show. April first.
Location Of seats will be auctioned
of Monday morning, March 2Sth, at 9
o'clock in front of the ticket Office in
the Opera House. Everyone will be
given an opportunity to bid for choice
of seats as long as there is anyone
who cares to pay bonus for choice.
The successful bidder will be given
their seats Immediately. For ex-
ample, suppose John Doe bids three
dollars and is the highest bidder for
first choice for two seats, he selects
Nos. and 2. A center, and the ticket
agent Immediately delivers tickets for
these two seats. When the bidding is
completed the rest of the seats will be
distributed to the ticket holders. The
music of the Military Minstrels may
not resemble the music of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra concerts, but al
least the method of handling the tick
cts will be Identical