New Britain herald., 1927-04-23

piece Royal Marine band Of Italy 1 provided a concert.
 | 5. R. Q. sign Christmas Night December passed with almost no productions until on Christmas night, when the "S. R. O." sign was hung out on the appearance of Alden Bass in Peaceful Valley" The same week saw the annual appear ance Of Uncle Toms Cabin" which drew it's usual crowds and earned applause particularly in the trans formation scene and the turn of the girls quartet. New Years day saw Quincy Adams Sawyer" then q new play Of which the Herald re viewer was rather dubious. The aft crnoon performance was attended by the Herald newsboys in accord ance with the annual custom.
 "The Volunteer Organist" was Of fered late in January for the beneii. O, St. Mary's church; this was just after the old edifice had been dc stroyed by fire. and all the interests in the city were combining to aid in it's reconstruction. F.. Nj. Holland returned shortly afterwards In the stage version Of Irving Batcheller's "Eben Holden" and aroused much favorable comment. Clyde Fltch's The Climbers" the success Of which was said by the Herald to be due as much to the costumer as 10 the author, brought three curtain calls after the confession in the dark during the second act. X good old mclodrama Of the west, "The F'lam- ing Arrow" showed that adults liked Nick Carter atmosphere as well as the youngsters who hid in the haylotts.
 Frank kcenan Was Here
 Frank Keenan made hundreds Of friends here when, while playing in Hon. John Grisby," he consented 10 coach the members of the cast of 8 Tabs play then In rehearsal, act ing out his version Of the different parts and lmparting much valuable information. sis Hopkins" with Rose Melville was the next Of the classics" offered by the Lyceum management but drew only a fair crowd.
 A large crowd was attracted to "The Road 10 Ruin" the principal magnet being the appearance of the eentlemanly little boxer" Terry Me Govern. who boxed several rounds with his brother Hughey at a pace which was too fast to cause suspicion Of fakery. With McGovern was Joe Humphries, the famous announcer: that was perhaps the first time his voice was heard in New Britain, where as now radio brings 1t here during every important fight.
 "The Little Minister" with Fran ces Stevens playing Maude Adams immortal part, gave much enjoy ment and was followed by motion pictures of the Oberan. ergau Passion Play" this was q favorite theme of the cinematograph at that time, another series of views deal- ing with it appearing about the same time at the Casino.
 John Drew Popular
 Nasty weather proved no, hin- drance to the throng which turned out 10 witness John Drew in "The Second in Command With this greatest Of the great appeared his daughter Louise Drew, and his nephew, Lionel Barrymore. An other of the immortals followed him, Joseph Jefferson, the one-part man, putting over that part with great success in Rip Van Winkle.' . Shore Acres" guaranteed q perfect production drew well. although it was labelled an "old timer by re- viewers.
 Hermann the magician played to an interested audience but without disclosing any new tricks for the time: his weakness on card tricks was noted. Chaunccy O!cott In Garrett O'Magh." was an unquaN- fed success, Olcott singing his fam ous My Wild Irish Rose" and an- other, "The Lass Love-" which was heraldcd as q rival of the older bal lad. The season slosed on May 2S with Leo Dirrichstein in his own farce, Are You q Mason?"
 All Of this sounds very guileless and innocent to those who are ac- customed 10 the holdcr plays of to- day, but the sports of the day had their fling at the old Opera House, which later became Keeney's and is now the Palace. Here the hurlesque companies held sway among them the Dainty Farce Burlesquers, . "The Merry Maidens." "Uncle Josh Spruccby." and "Weber's Parisian Widows" This last was q flop and drew misses from the gallery, while it's suggestive lines drew a tirade Of criticism from the reviewers.
 Perhaps many a blase theatergoor of today would welcome the return of those days for one reason. It would give him a new sensation to see a play for 75 cents or q dollar and not pay any war tax.
 Asian Patriarchs Are CHI Moy~o,.o nf tho ov-