The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-03
The LEGION SHOW
Nv
By XII.

It's a wonderful thing, the truth, if
You tell it you get in trouble, and if
you don't tell it you are apt to get in
trouble, and there you are. 1t takes
edtner brave man or a darned fool
to blunder ahead with exactly what ne
thinks on any and all occasions.
Judge for yourself just which classifi-
cation this gink should be given.
At the Grand, where the Legion
boys are staging a two-day session of
dressed up minstrelsy, there's lots of
chance for kidding. If the boys can
not stand it, they are not the same
guys that wore uniform some months
ago. At any rate, they did their best
to Kid every one in town last night
a Squawking baby has busted UP
many a show. but the heroes of the
Argonne, st. Miheil, the Battle of
Paris and Vim Blanch, faltered and fell
back time and again last night before a
barrage OF baby squawkers. 1t was
too much for them. Even Joe Nickel
for the first time in his career, was
heard to stammer and seen TO wiring
his hands in perplexity as to his next
maneuVer.
1t is not a minstrel show the boys
are staging, folks. 1t is Just another
of those revue things, which means a
minstrel show dressed up and the
tambos and bones discarded. 1t can
not be that the eX-soldiers have dis
carded the bones for good, but they
regulation First PART just like any
other minstrel show, but there are
only six of the boys who admit they
know how to wash the back of their
necks and ar willing to put black
stuff on them.
In the first part Dewey Gregg, as
sisted by Margaret Morrison, sang
Rose of = y Heart" for several en-
cores. Howard Searle, Paul McFar-
land. Dean McIlhenny, Dan Tweedy
L. 1.--%-
completing the solo part of the open
ing. assisted by a chorus that maneuv-
cred and sang with all the fervor of a
regulation minstrel gang.
The real hit of the evenings pro-
gram proved to be that staged by the
honest to gosh blackface" troupe
from Captain MacLean's Industrial
school. These boys staged the dane
ing that is necessary to- a minstrel
show, sang and ended their part with
a battle royal that brought down the
house.
It was in Nothing but Rice" an
original skit. that the service come
dams got away with their best comedy.
Ralph Holland and Martha Owen car
ried the straight parts as the man
DARN and his daughter. The chorus
was composed of Constance Reed,
Edna Peppmeyer, Virginia. Miller,
Dorothy Dana, Marion Reid, Marion
Benton, Florence Dolan, and Octavia
o Neil. Doc LandWer. producer or
the show, sang with real professional
skill, but found an apology for the
condition of his voice necessary. 1t
was in this piece that Joe Nickel
scored a reputation as a comedian.
Frank Wilson proved a good foil for
his stuff.
Paul Mcfarland appeared a, second
| time in the -iSong, Dance and Smile
number, this time accompanied by a
| bevy- of Washburn beauties numbering
Georgia Neese, Marian Moore. Mira M
Van Horn, Reba Whitehair, Forestine
Blank, Bernice Deardofff, Ruth
Hawkes.. and Lucille Heym. Robert
| Service, assisted by Bernice Hemus at
the piano, gave several violin numbers,
and the show closed with another skit,
I Circus Day in Dixie Land" introduce
| ing Mrs Joe Nickel as the circus lady
and Mrs. r. S. Morrison as Topsy on
the plantation. Legionnaires completed
| the cast for this number and added
some mighty good close harmony.
Paul Van Ness, H. E. Buchanan,
Ralph Davis. and Harry Spencer were
| the added members while the quartet
was made up of Dewey Gregg. H. E.
| Buchanan, Ralph Davis, and Harvey
! Spencer.
/ The staging of the show was elabor-
ate, more SO than the usual home tall
ent minstrel thing. and the costuming
was on the same scale. Orie lines,
commander of Capitol Post No. 1, act
| ed as interlocutor and the other har-