The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-19
"Chu Chin Chow" Plays
In Tulsa Three Days
convention Hall.

ralryland OF the ARABIAN Nlsnts
a H. disclosed to Wow In "Chu
NNt,, chow" the big oriental ex-
OnH OnHsar,nza which J.. Ray Comstock
rS Morris Gest will present AT Con-
s'ier,iop snU hall for a three days en-
ssgoment. starting Thursday night
s6Cbu chin Chow scored such
,,emerdous triumph IN NeW Aorh
,u the difficulties Of the pre-
nutrsry preparations have been
,lngottcn by tho fortunate mana
I'VE vbO imported IL. +. Ray Conn
sSaSr and Morris Gest. The show
So almost two eolid years In New
yort at the Century thcater whicn
~ nut on a paying basis for the
~, limo In its history, But the
sanble these young managers took
's"nnid have placed them on the
W., side of S2bO.0OO ~ "Chu Chin
chowin had not turned out TO be
sncb a big success.
oChu chin Chow" was brought
., America. after practically every
,r,orlrln manager had passed II by
a. zoo Cxpeneive 10 ever MAKE
money. through the perseverance
"a crergv OF Morris Gest. who in
'erested his partner, Comstock, In
,he enterprise, and secured his CO.
onsraiion. Also. Gene Buck, the
we'll known song writer. figured in
,be transaction, and so did the late
IN Herbert Tree, at whose. theater
In London--His MaJcsty's theater-
ai,bu chin Chow" has Just COM
rleted its phenomenal run OF five
years,
dop enthusiastic over "Chu Chin
CHOW which he had seen while
stacing a revue In the British capi-
,al he told Morris Cost of the
wordorful success Of -"Chu Chin
chow" Mr.. Gest secured the manu-
srrlpt from walter Jordan, tho
American agent of Oscar Asche,
wbo had produced the show IN asso-
ciation with Sir Herbert.
Many other American managers
had read "Chu Chin Chow"--and
smiled as they rejected q. Gest
read II and laid 1t aside. declaring
that the story simply doalth with
the Arabian Nights tale of All Baba
and the Forty Thieves, although IN
a new way.
at isn't the story--its the won
derful way they do IT, and the songs
and the dances and the big slave
market scene where they sell the
wild women of the desert" declared
Buck, with great enthusiasm. THE
scenery. the costumes, the music,
the manncqulns, all tho wonderful
color schemes, make this the most
original and fascinating production
Of the age"
Gest was impressed. He valued
the opinion OF shrewd theatrical OBJ
servers. but to invest such n gigantic
sum as sl5O.000 on the mere word
Of friend, seemed a "bit thick"
A few months later Gest was In
viied to luncheon by the late Sir
Herbert Tree. then visiting Amer
lea and staying at the Plaza hotel in
New York. Gest spoke OF "01u
Chin Chow" and asked Sir Herbert $
opinion Of It for American audiences.
Sir Herbert told him how Oscas :
Asche had brought the play to him
for a production at His Matesty's
heater, OF how he had hesitated to
consider the matter but finally took
achance; of how the play had taken
London by storm, and of the brilliant
future for the man who produced
"chu Chin Chow" in America.
Gest and his partner, Comstock.
ihereupon bought the play for Amer
lea, paying the biggest advance sum
III TOydltltS ever TttOIutu III lUe MS
tory OF the American stage. They
sent a special representative to Lon
don to see the play, and they i'm
ported l., Lyall Swete, the stage
manager Of the London production,
to stage the play In America.
The shipments OF "Chu Chin
Chow" In bales. crates and hampers
came safely through the submarine
zone, Not a spangle was missing wher
the curtain finally rose on the initial
performance in New York. The de-
lays In the shipments had necessi-
lated two postponemcnts of "Chu
Chin Chow" but when finally given
The complete and gigantic produc'
Ton was absolutely perfect to the
smallest detail.
The show was pronounced a spec
taeular rainbow of Joyous colors and
harmonious delights, and tho mos
beautiful spectacle seen on the stage
In America.
The notable cast that will appeal
IN "Chu Chin Chow" Includes Henry
Lat!mcr as Chu; Mss Virginia How
ell as Zahrat, the desert woman
Eugene Cowles as Abdullah. thu
steward; Don w. Ferrandou as tn
merry Ali Baba; Louis lie Vie a
kasim Baba. the miser; Adelaid
Mesmer as Alcolom, tho wife o
haslm Baba; Hattie Carmontell n
the slave buyer, and many Others
including n ballet OF 60 dancers.