The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-11
WINS
TULSA AUDIENCE:
PLAY That Broke Worlds
Long Run Record Is
Big Hit Here
4 CAST ADDS TO LAURELS
Milton Mobiles in Title Role
Endears Himself to Tulsa
Theater Goers

WIN the presentation at Conven-
,i,p ball last night OF "Lightnin',"
Inbn Golden's famous New York
s,1ro success, to n house of more
man 1000, Golden, the producer
added another star TO his already
gli'tcring crown, as did Milton
Vnblcs. who played the title role,
Not only did Mobiles write deeper
into the scroll Of fame his name as
an actor. bit he found n warm spot
In the hearts of Tulsa theater goers
which will not easily leave. But
for that matter, so did the whole
Was an Instant Success.
"Lightnin'," was an instant sue
cess. In it's long career at New York
where it broke the worlds record
formanccs the play never bet with
more response than II did last night
before Tulsa audience. Originally
intended for play OF three hours,
encore after encore last night,
lengthencnd II into well over three
and a half hours. And so well did
the audience itself become part OF
the action that not a single person
left their seat until tho last min
ute OF the final scene.
Mobiles. In the part OF "Lightnin"
Eill Jones, 80 nicknamed because of
ii, si5wn5ss OF action, was an in
stant success at his first appearance
on the stage and the Tulsa audience
alternately laughed and wept with
the old eccentric soldier, who was
10 human and lovely, even In his
faults.
Entire Cast TO Fame.
Nydia Westman, as Mildred Buck
ley, Bills adopted daughter. also
portrayed her part with an ease OF
action that was wonderful. Shee,
too, endcared herself TO the hearts
Of the audience. Other members
OF the cast who richly added TO
their already glorious laurels were
Stuart Fox as John Marvin a young
lowyer. Bits friend and legal ad-
wiser. Marie Reels DE Camp as Mrs.
Jones; Frank Thorton as Raymond
Thomas. the crooked lawyer; Emory
Rlunkal az Everett Hammond.
Thomas co-schemer; Barney Gil
more as Lemuel Townsend, the dig
nified Judge and Homer Hunt az
Nevin Blodgett. the sheriff.
Plot to Play Well LAID.
Tho plot Of lii. play IL exception
ally well laid and the action moves
with just enough spirit to keep the
audGnce contented. Bits wife and
adopted daughter run hotel on the
state line between California and
Nevada. The line runs through the
lobby. And the Nevada side is filled
with women guests who are estab-
fishing a legal residence for the pur-
pose OF obtaining Reno divorces. A
scheming land company plans to get
possession of the land for song
and once In possession of 1t plan IA
huge plant But Bill learns of the
dastardly trick and refuses to sign
the deed. In burst OF anger Mrs
Jones orders her husband to leave.
He goes to an old soldiers home.
But six months later when his
friend John Garvin Is a defendant
In framed up law suit" Bill un-
expectedly appears In the courtroom
10 testify In behalf OF his friend
Here he finds his wife suing him for
divorce. As his own lawyer, Bill
displays an unusually keen and
analytical mind, wins his case. gets
back mother" and defeats the plans
Of the "schemers." The entire court
room scene is rich in humor and
pathos.
'Lightnin'" won Tulsa as no
other show has ever won 1t.
Al q. Fields Is Coming.
A. c. Sinclair, local theater man
who has been responsible for most
OF the attractions brought here this
y>ar, and under whose direction
"Lghtnin'" was brought here, will
end his 1920-2l season with the pres
tntatlon OF Al G.. Fields famous
minstrels at Convention hall on
March 20. The bookings have been
cut short this year because OF the
inadequacy of Convention hall, A
new theater has been planned, and
work Will start soon, and Sinclair
announces that next year he Will
pring high class shows to Tulsa UP
until early summer.
Other minstrel shows have come
and gone, some have flared up. IN
mlnsireldom for awhile giving
promise Of n new "star" company
but always to die down and again
rest among the mediocre, but the
f1elds show has always been ac'
corded the highest honors' II has
always been the brightest satellite
among minstrel shows, Each sea-
son the shows grow better, like old
fashioned wine. as II were, betterinl
win age. Anyway, the show thi.
year has been said by eastern anc
southern critics TO be better thar
ever Always good, IL promises Il
ee "humdinger" when it showl
here. The attraction will come her,
IteSh from its SOuthern toilr