davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-19

Pietro Gosheau, an acrobatic dancer
and trick performer wholly some
freak mechanism of his own walk
ed across the ceiling of the theater,
upside down like a fly. Healy and
Conan also came here with their
company, this Cohan having been
the father of the new famous George
NJ. Conan of song and stage fame.
The elder Cohan travelled with his
wife, son and daughter and did a
skit of their own known as The
Four Cohans." Healy and Cohan's
big hit however, was their PIANO
rama of Ireland" and this was indeed
variety for those days.
Equipped with a large magic Ian
tern, or projection lens. colored pic
lures of Ireland were thrown on the
screen and at the same time some
appropriate bit of entertainment was
given by the performers such as an
Irish monologue, an Irish jig or
Irish music. Mr., O'Connor remem-
bers this act distinctly and in a
reminiscent mood the other day re-
called that during the showing Of
the picture OF the beautiful lakes of
Killarney the musicians with the
troupe played THE Meeting of the
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-19

only place dedicated to vaudeville, or
variety as it was once known.
And from the early days, the days
of the wooden seats, the inferior
lighting. the barren stage effects and
the crude presentations Of old Union
hall to the present Strand, with its
brilliant lighted marquee, its attrac-
tive foyer, its brilliantly lighted audi
forum its massive stage, its comfort
able seats for $500 persons and its
high grade of vaudeville and pic
lures, is quite step. 1t is an evolu-
ton that has taken more than an
average lifetime, yet in memory of
the old timers it is a change as from
Yesterday
But do those of the present days
of ease and luxury enjoy and appre-
ciate n theater such as the Strand.
the Capitol. the Lyceum or Palace as
much as they should? Do they get
the extreme limit of enjoyment pos
sible? Do they have any better time
at the theater than did those who sat
en- the hard seats and gazed at
amateurish acts in old Union Hall?
That's the question, The old timers
enjoyed old Union hall and all that
it offered because it was new, be-
cause it was out OF the ordinary. To-
day these things are taken more as
a matter of course.
For those interested in the evolu-
ton of vaudeville during the past 100
years a brief sketch of this form of
entertainment as first shown in the
old Lafayette theater in New York
at boxes so cts. pit 25 cts" is not
without interest.
The Lafayette, records show. open
ed as a regular dramatic theater on
July 4. 1926 with The Three Hunch-
backs" and, for the first time in
America. The Dumb Girl of Cen
o." Until the advent of Mons, Vii
lalace and his "wonderful' company,
it was an exclusive dramatic house
with. of course, the embellishments
t"Ht went with the drama at that
time. Its sudden turn to vaudeville
at that early date marks the eleva-
ion of the between-acts specialties
to an individual position Of impor-
lance as an entertainment.
Further evidence OF the birth of a
new form of entertainment is to be
found in the same year in the bill
Of the Mount Pitt Circus on Grand
street. opposite Hartman street,
where one could see each evening at
seven "a great variety of equestrian
and other amuSep,entS" Including
Craftsmanship by Master Blanchard,
Messrs. Turner, Stickney and Tatnall
and Miss Blanchard and Master
I Whitaker: tight rope by Master
/ LaForest; songs and fancy dances
by Miss Cecialia; the beautiful
horse Napoleon perform the part of
domestic" There was also mem
Der of this group who performed a
Turkish dance" and scotch
! Fling" to say nothing of the fact
that the company boasted "Tippo
Sultan" an elephant. and "a whole
stud of horses"
The Mount Pitt Circus closed for
pany moved intact to the Lafayette
theater on January rs, 1927. On
February IA of that year a news
paper announcement of the New
York Theater The Bowery (now
the Chinese theater) appeared as fol-
lows:
1.-THE manager respectfully informs
the public that he has effected an
i arrangement with Mr.. Sanford, pro-
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-19
v olNlS ..
Travelling Medicine Shows

, Waters"
| Travelling Medicine Shows
But entertainment of this type was
not all that came to Union hall In
those day of the early seventies there
were the travelling medicine shows,
! now sometimes seen as part OF a
movie plot. In old Union hall there
were several Of these Indian shows.
Eventually however. Union hall
was destroyed by fire and New Brit
ain was without a public amusement
hall. At the time the First Baptist
church held its services in a little
/ wooden building which stood on the
sight OF the old Burritt school and
, in the basement of this church build
ing an old academy administered to
I the educational needs OF the children
: of tho town. This old church acad-
envy building was moved across the
street and converted into Hannas
hall.
Thus old Hannas hall came into
being on the site OF the present
! Palace theater and was owned and
operated by the father of the late
William w. Hanna who ran the hall
| in conjunction with his stone cut
/ ting business. The floor of old Han
mas hall was level and it had lit
tie gallery encircling it and it was
here that people found their enter
tainment for time.
Turner Hall Erected
A few years later however, old
Turner hall was erected on Arch
street. This building at present is in
the rear OF Arch street behind the
Odd Fellows building which sup
planted Turner hall about ten years
or so ago. And to this old Turner
hall came many OF the best attrac-
| tons which played in this country.
That seems quite boastful remark,
but a fact nevertheless as perusal
Of some Of the old programs show.
! Mrs. Scott Siddons who without a
| doubt was one of the great English
actresses Of her time played there in
| Shakespearean roles. Barlow. Will
! son, Primrose and West came there
with their MINISTRIES and the famous
| George Primrose himself opened his
| season in Turner hall one year. He
opened one hot August day in Turner
hall and among those present was
our friend O'Connor. In the follow
ing January Primrose came to the
New Britain Opera House which by
that time had been built.
Mrs. Siddons Here Twice.
In connection with Mrs. Siddons'
appearance in this city, Thomas H.
Yarroll Of Jefferson street recalls
| that this talented woman was here
| twice. He has an old program.
printed below, of her appearance in
Union hall and also recalls her APP
pearance in Turner Hall. At this
last showing, he remembers, Mrs.
| Siddons wore a long train on hel
J dress, this train being so long that
the end of 1t was in the wings Of
| the small stage.
According to the program, it was
New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-19

program was an elaborated version
of variety which had been first liz
troduced at the Lafayette in De-
cember of the previous year Thus
vaudeville took its first step for
ward attesting that the public had
received the innovation warmly.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-20
RATE OF AUTO
DEATHS IS CUT
HERE IN YEAR
Total of Motor Fatalities
Up to Dec. 3 Is 70;
"a in 1926.

Automobile accident deaths de-
creased in Indianapolis the last
year, according to United States De-
partment of Commerce figures.
While there were eighty-four
deaths in the city during the twelve
months ended Dec. 8, 1926, there
were only seventy in the year ended
Dec. 3 of this year.
During the four weeks ended Dec.
3 this year, there were eight auto
mobile accident deaths here. Six
of this number were the result of
accidents in the city. The remain
der of the accidents occurred in
nearby territory and the victims
were brought to hospitals here.
The automobile accident death
rate for the year ended Dec. was
1873 to the 100000 population. The
rate for the previous year was % to
the 100000 population.
A total OF 618 persons died In
Seventy-seven cities over the coun-
try in the month ended Dec. 3,
from auto accidents.
New York leads with eighty-five
deaths. Chicago had seventy and
Detroit sixty-three.
During the twelve months ended
then, New York had 1,072 deaths,
Chicago 1885 and Detroit 385. New
York's death rate for that period
was Is to the 100000 population,
Chicago's 1913 and Detroit's 28.9.
The highest death in the country
for the twelve months period was
that Of Camden, N. j., 46.7.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-20

dent with little regard to party
lines.
Hoover suddenly issued state
ment that he was a progressive Re-
publican. Democratic activity
stopped. His friends shifted their
activities to the Republican party.
Republicans were either totally in
different to him or openly hostile.
His bitter experience in that cam
paign taught him the value of keep
ing still. Before Coolidge announced
he did not choose to run, Hoover
was asked about his possible candi-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-20
HOOVER SILENT
AS BOOM GAINS
FOR CANDIDACY
Friends From All Sections
Mount Band Wagon
Of Secretary.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press SPECIAL Correspondent


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Silence
is paying good dividends in the case
Of Herbert Hoover and the Repub-
lican presidential nomination.
He is saying not word, yet
hardly a day passes but that some
key person in the political world is
added to his list.
Secretary of Agriculture Jardine
has added himself to the Hoover
bloc within the administration.
Ogden Mills, undersecretary of the
treasury, has begun open activity
for Hoover among New York poll
ticianS.
Many Offer Support
Florida was promised to Hoover
in q statement by William H. Mar
shall of Ft. Lauderdale, who ex-
poets to be a Republican candidate
for Congress. He said Florida would
send a solid delegation for Hoover
to the Republican convention.
Hoover has been promised the
support of r. B. Creager, national
committeeman for Texas. In Mary
land the national committeeman
and the State chairman are for
Hoover. The Colorado national
committeeman, G. G. Hamlin, has
declared for him. There are many
others in the organization who favor
him for first or second choice.
Probably the most valuable of
these is William H. Croker, ma
tional committeeman for San Fran
cisco, who may be the Hoover floor
leader at the convention.
Hoover learned the political value
OF silence only after paying dearly.
In 1920 he was being built up as a
contender for the Democratic preSi-
DENTAL nomination. Hoover's
friends gave inquiring politicians to
understand that he was an indepen-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-20

dacy and he insisted that he was
not a candidate, that he was for
Coolidge and that it would be dis
loyal for him to seek the nominal
ton.
After the choose statement"
Hoover expressed his regret, but
said nothing about his own plans.
After Coolidge eliminated himself,
Hoover refused to say a word.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-20

j Nights are cold in the desert be-
cause the dry air lets ground heat
escape much faster than does damp
air.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
U. S. FLOOD PLAN
MUST. Be READY
Congress to Decide on Mis-
SiSSippi, Says Davis.

Bg UHittd Press
CHICAGO, June 3.-The Mississip-
ri River can and must be controlled
and plans for this control must be
ready for submission at the next
session of Congress, Secretary of
WA. Dwight f. Davis told the flood
congress here today.
Secretary Davis was sent as rep
resentative of President Coolidge
and is considered his flood control
spokesman.
"Hasty action would be extremely
i'll advised" Davis said. But no
unnecessary delay will be permit
ted"
Rescue and relief machinery has
been i'm action for some time" he
said. at is the intention of the
Mississippi River commission TO
have public meetings in order to get
an expression of opinion from all in
terested parties. Any solution that
seems worth while will be tested" Z"
lie declared the subject was a ma
tional problem inasmuch as the Mis-
sissippi River drained thirty-one
States. He pointed out that all spe-
cial government commissions are at
work on flood control plans.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
June II, Lindbergh Day
Bu United Press

BIZ United Press
WASHINGTON, June 3.-Charles
Lindbergh's welcome to his home
land was planned definitely today at
President Coolidge's Cabinet meeting
and in conference with representa-
tives of local reception committee.
Saturday, June IL, will be Lindbergh
day, a White House announcement
said.
4 Arriving here in the forenoon of
June II at the navy yard, the trans
Atlantic hero will be given the Ma
tion's welcome through President
Coolidge, whose guest he will be in
his first days back on American soil.
His mother in Detroit has been re-
quested by President and Mrs. Cool
idge to join her dauntless son here
and to share the hospitality of the
Coolidges.
Sunday morning, mother and son
will go to church with Mr.. and Mrs.
Coolidge, later to Arlington, where
royalty and greatness always pay
their respects on American visits
and there lay upon the tomb Of the
Unknown Soldier a wreath.
Sunday afternoon Lindbergh will
go to Walter Reed Hospital to bring
joy to the hearts of wounded veter-
ans.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
CHAMBER TO feel
MANAGER PULSE
Will Commit Itself After
June 10 BalIoting.

eliminating a dispute between
William Fortune, civic chairman,
and J. w. Esterliue, civic committee
member, over the neutrality of the
Chamber" Chamber Of Commerce
directors today sent out ballots for q
referendum vote to feel the pulse"
of the membership on the city man
ager plan.
A letter stated that if two-thirds of
those voting favored the plan the
Chamber would go on record backing
it. Ballots must be in by June 10.
Esterline, manager leader, scored
the Chamber for failure to consider
the civic question. Fortune felt the
Chamber committee should not COM
NIT it's membership, but that 1t
should itself express its stand.
Asserting manager workers are
having no difficulty in obtaining in
terested audiences, Campaign Chair
man Frank E. Gates, declined to de-
bate the manager question with
former Mayer Charles w. Jewett.
Fred Hoke, former Community
Fund president, declared that the
manager movement is interested in
economy and efficiency of govern
ment and not directed at in
dividuals,' at the Christamore Settle
ment, Thursday night.
Charles F. Coffin, executive chair
man, announced another mass meet
ing will be held before the election
on the manager form June FL.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
RO0MER AND WATCHES
VANISH SAME TIME
Pickpocketing and HOusebreaIIing
Reported TO Police.

"I am leaving for the coast" read
a note left by Edward Steiner. room
er at the home of f. B. Morton, A.
N. Temple Ave. Morton checked up,
he told police, and declared that two
watches valued at s55 and 81 in
money also were taking a trip to the
coast.
]. B. Byrn, 1880 Fletcher Ave, ate
lunch at the Saratoga Bar, 10 S
Illinois St, and while he ate din"
picked his pocket of a billfold
and SCI.
Mrs. Charles Stout, 1924 College
Ave, reports two rings valued at
$140 taken from her home, and Rob
ert Powell, 1928 Lafayette St, said a
watch valued at $50 and s12 in cash
was taken from his residence. Po-
Ice were asked to investigate all the
thcfts.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
BIOL LSHEVISM HITTING
AT U. S., EDITOR SAYS
Country Not Safe, SearIes Tells
Exchange Club.

Bolshevism is trying desperately to
get a foothold ir America, Ellis
Searles, United Mine Workers
Journal, told the Exchange Club to-
day.
There are thousands of impress
sionable Americans who raise their
hands in horror when anyone says
that America must scotch the viper
of bolshevism and communism that
threatens it," Searles said. "A COM
munist ambassador has been planted
in Mexico to spread propaganda
throughout Latin America. The
people of America should wake up to
the danger that confronts them.
America is not one whit safer than
any other country"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
WOMAN CASHIER FACES
6-16 YEARS FOR THEFT

Kansas Crowd Cheers as Jury Re
turns Guilty Verdict.
BIZ United Press
LEAVENWORTH, Kan, June 3.
Miss Julia Murray, former assist
ant cashier, State Bank of Lansing,
Kan, today faces six to sixteen
years in prison for planning the rob-
berry and firing of the Lansing bank.
She was convicted by jury late
yesterday In a crowded court room.
There were cheers at the Verdict.
Miss Murray was charged with
planning the robbery with Frank
Sargent, already convicted, and of
hiring men to break into the vault
and destroy records, thereby con-
Dealing shortages.
She denied the charges but said
she expected the verdict.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
Hourly Temperatures


College, Hanover, N. H. He was
driving a spirited horse on country
lane when the horse got out of con-
troll and ran over 5-year-old Arthur
Cooley.
Young Darrow was grief-stricken.
He wrote the mother of the boy a
letter expressing his sorrow and the
added promise:
IF any member of the Darrow
family ever can be of any aid to any
member of the Cooley family, we will
give that aid" ilas saszgk
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03

murder. 1 know he is innocent. viii
you defend him and keep the promise
your son made?"
Darrow. probably the leading crit
ic of capital punishment, looked at
the letter and gave assurance the
promise would be kept.
81 know nothing much about the
case" Darrow said today. "The
man was convicted several months
ago. An appeal has been taken. /
viii do whatever can for Winters
to make good my sons promise"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03

The years skipped by and the
promise had been almost forgotten.
Recently the elder Darrow, now
one Of the nations commanding
figures, was speaking at his sons
alma mater. AS he finished his talk
an elderly woman approached him
and said:
Il am going to invoke promise
made TO me twenty-three years ago. .
my nephew is John C. Winters, and
he has been sentenced to die for
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
TEN TEACHERS HONORED
To Receive Gregg Scholarships for
Summer Work.

Ten teachers to receive this years
Gregg scholarships were named by
the school board today. The schol-
arships pay expenses of a summer
school course.
The teachers are: Mrs. Madge
Mccain, School A; Mrs. Bertha Cook,
School 32; Ada M. Hill, School Is;
Maude Meriwether, School %; Nellie
Peake, School 43; Blanche Powell,
School A; Veda V. Miller. School co;
Lola B. Stuart, School so; Mrs. Bes-
sic Hume, School 33; and Eli II.
Scott.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03

BIZ United Press
CHICAGO, June 3.-Clarence
Darrow, one of the outstanding GRIM
inal attorneys of the country, to-
day prepared to keep faith with a
twenty-three-year-old promise made
by his son Paul.
He will go to the defense of John
c. Winters, young Vermont noun
taineer, sentenced to death for muir
der.
The promise was made when Paul
Darrow was student at Dartmouth
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03

7RS. HARVEY is 40. Life,
I'M perhaps, has been none too
G kind.
Two years ago her husband died.
There is a son, Joseph, 16, who
works at the State Playground.
Until last winter Mrs. Harvey did
housework by the day. But last
winter she fell on the ice. A leg
broke. Five months she was in city
hospital.
On crutches she made her first
trip downtown Thursday to raise her
quivefing voice against Progress.
Hesltatingly she entered the park
board office while the board was in
session.
She stood bewildered at the side
for ten minutes. Then a bystander
pointed her out to President John
f. Minor Humbly she told him her
story, a story fraught with tragedy,
the age-old story of those who must
be swept aside that Progress may
be served.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
R0CKPORT SWEPT
One Large Building Moved Distance
of Fifty Feet.

BIZ United Press
ROCKPORT, Ind, June 3.-A tor
nado-like wind which struck here
last night terrified Rockport resi-
dents, although check-up showed
it did no great damage.
The wind lasted only few min
utes and moved one large buildig
fifty feet, overturned several smaller
buildings and tore down trees and
telephone poles.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
Tablet for School Tribute

Schools named in tribute to per-
sons shall honor those persons with
bronze tables, the school board de-
cided today in an effort to make all
tributes at the schools conform.
Erection Of tablet at School 81 in
tribute to Eleanor S. Skillen, for
whom the school is named, was ap-
proved.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
B0RER FIGHT is CLOSING
Most Possible determination Expect
ed by June Is.

Corn-borer in Indiana is expected
to be stamped out so far as possible
this year by June IS, State Ento-
mologist Frank Wallace announced
today on his return from the ooun-
ties where State force exterminations
is being carried on. The work Is
being hurried before the moths
which create the borers are astir.
Added impetus has been given the
fight by the ruling Of Judge Sol A.
Wood, Allen Circuit Court, that no
injunction can be obtained by farm
ers to restrain the State workers
operations, Wallace said.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
HURT DRIVERS BETTER
Recovery Of Three Racers Now
Probable.

The condition of Jules Ellingboe,
Norman X. Batten and Henry Koh-
lert, race drivers, at Methodist Hos
pital with injuries received at the
Speedway, Memorial day, was re-
ported as good" by hospital au-
thorities today.
All three drivers probably will re-
cover, attendants said. Ellingboe re-
ceived a crushed chest and internal
injuries; Batten, severe burns, and
Kohlert fractured skull and other
injuries.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-03
OIL PRODUCTION B0OMS
Tulsa Price Drop Also Expected for
Gasoline.
Bu United Hess 4

TULSA, Okla, June 3.-Continued
record breaking production of oil
in the Seminole field is causing
great deal of discussion in oil cir
cles here. A decided drop in price of
crude oil and a resultant drop in
gasoline prices is bound to come, it
was said, if the production continues.
The Seminole field established a new
high yesterday with 365, 500 barrels
in twenty-four hours.