Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-20
A REAL HIT
Scored by Legion Min
strel Boys

Local Talent in Classy Black Face
Show-Novei Opening Scene Wins
Audience - Jokes and Songs Go
Over with snap-Dancips Follows
Till Early Hour
Mirth and melody meaning jokes
that; we're every minute up to date
and this latest pronounced vocal se1ec-
lions sung by melody chorus of
splendid voices took by storm an audi
enoetr that packed City hall to the doors
at the Legion Minstrel show Wednes-
day evening. The boys IN khaki went
over the top to a victory which was
IN every way complete. staging a min
strel performance that was something
different, something larger and better
than has been seen in this vicinity
for long, long time.
The show was full Of life and snap
from curtain rise to curtain fall, with
q rapid fire of songs and jokes put
across by an all-star cast chosen from
the: local post. and the boys in olive
Grab proved themselves to be success
fulo entertainers. The crowd that was
anticipated was all there, and many
more, SO that even standing room was
at a premium.
4 scene in the trenches of France
furnished a novel setting. The sand
bags. were piled high as a. fertilization,
and that it was front line trench was
shown by a sign little distance
away announcing in big black letters
that there was the Hindenburg line.
In the foreground were seated the
khaki-clad boys ready for an evening S
entertainment. The endmen wore bur
lesque military costumes and cockade
hats ....-.
Each and every musical selection
was a decided hit. judging from the
big applause. and between these num-
hers six of the funniest and liveiiest
blackface ends put over the hot-shot
cross fire. The ends were Jerry"
Carey. HAL Towle. '"rambo" Tetu
Ben" Fletcher. ''Windy" Folsom and
Dick" Newdick. Frank E. Southland
officiated as interlocutor and kept
things moving while Keith Ryan as
.nrus ieal director proved the right man
in the right place.
The opening chorus introduced the
fQlIoying song hits from the trenches
"Good Morning, Mr.. Zip. Zip. Zip" az
Got the Blues for My Kentucky Home
and other songs. including Keep Your
Head Downs 5Allemand." sung byla male
quartet composed of C. Bryce Little,
Fred W.. Keith, Ludger j. Vermette
and Myron Haskell, and "Picardy,"
sung by Mr.. Keith.
This was followed by the song
'Margie.' given by Leo Tetu, who in
the chorus showed that there was real
meaning to his song by producing the
little home where. "Margie" resided
The horfse though small in dimen-
novelty was. very amusing.
Don't Take Away Those Blues" was
the song given by Fred w. Keith.
who is a fine singer and has played
leads. in musical comedies. 1t was in
deed catchy number that appealed
to all.
", Herbert Folsom was then called to
the footlights by the interlocutor and
song the selection, "Roekaby, Lullaby
Nanny" which was well received.
Keith Ryan, one of the city's talent
ed soloists, sang two English songs
Some. Rival Has Stolen My True
Love Away" and Absent John w.
MitchelD. in a. most effective manner,
his fine tenor voice being greatly, en-
ioyed and appreciated by the audi
ence, As an encore he sang your
Eyes Have Told Me So
=. Hal TowIe then put over the Sc
lection Il Wish That I'd Been Born
in Boaneo," in q sprightly style, fol-
lowing which Dick Newdick was an
notinced. in the song Dreamy Eyed
Baby Doll" which was accorded
warm applause.
G. Bryce Little. who never fails to
delight his audiences with his deep
bass voice, sang in his usually pleas
ing manner the solo For You Alone
and then responded to an encore with
another selection. ~
Benny" Fletcher then played a lit
tie trick upon the audience, but was
promptly forgiven because it was a
new one. He spoke o the need for
the people Of today showing the old
time spirit when the National An
them was sung. and he then said that
he was to sing the anthem. Several
people in the audience Immediately
stood up, and when the orchestra
played the opening chord every per-
son In the hall was standing. But
the song that was anticipated was
not rendered, "How Dry I AM being
a clever substitution. And the audi
ence sat down again amid great ap-
plause and laughter.
The song Nanny Avas then sung
by Mr.. Fletcher and this with the
whistling chorus eature proved an
ace.
A Speciality dance executed by John
w. Royce and William Alberts proved
a winner. 1t vas a novelty" dance
in. every sense Of the word and can
only be described as such.
Jerry Carey, who is as good. an ac-
tor as he is singer, was next intro