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July 25, 1908 CUPID PLAYS HAVOC IN BAND.
Navassars' Manager Is Kept Busy Looking for New Musicians.
A band of women musicians is much harder to manage than a band of men musicians. Most men who have tried to manage one woman will see the difficulty in trying to handle sixty or seventy.
Managing the Navassar Ladies' band, which is playing at Carnival park, brings no end of trouble. Not that the women of the band are more fretful or perverse than their sisters who cook and sew in their own homes, but Cupid interferes.
Already this season the Navassar band has lost eight members through marriage. When a man musician marries he usually takes his wife with him for the honeymoon, but the women musicians can't very well travel with a husband tagging along with them, mostly because hubby must have a job somewhere. So the women leave the band when they marry.
The band manager? Why, he sighs when he hears the news, congratulates the groom and searches for another woman to take the bride's place in the organization.Labels: arts, Carnival Park, marriage, music June 27, 1908 KANSAS CITY GIRL TO SING.
Miss Pearl Warner to Be Heard at Fairmount Park.
Miss Pearl Warner has been engaged as soloist with Mr. H. O. Wheeler's American band at Fairmount park, and begins her engagement tomorrow afternoon. Miss Warner will sing twice each evening and afternoon. Miss Warner has a beautiful dramatic soprano voice. She scored a big hit in the Elks' minstrel show at the Willis Wood. Miss Warner was last season with "The belle of Mayfair," and is now considering several offers for the coming season.Labels: arts, fairmount park, music June 18, 1908 CITY IN MOVING PICTURES.
Films Will Be Exposed in the Retail Section Today.
If your wife's new directoire is finished, dress her up and parade her in the downtown district this afternoon.
That is a duty a good citizen owes Kansas City today, of all days in the year, for today the town goes on the motion picture films to be exhibited all over the world.
A special street car carrying the phenomenal machine which puts you and your smile on the films will start at 1:30 o'clock from Thirteenth street and Grand avenue. If you chance to be strolling from the postoffice about this time the face you turn toward the machine will be exhibited in Hale's Tours in amusement places in many countries.
Here is the route of the car: From the start at Thirteenth street and Grand avenue the first run will be on Grand avenue to Fifth street, west on Fifth street to Walnut street. The car will start south on Walnut street at 1:45, 2 o'clock it will run north on Main street to the city hall and at 2:30 o'clock it will run from Wyandotte and Eighth streets east to Oak street. This will end the first day's film making.
Of course this is going to be done only provided the weather is clear. Next week, probably Saturday or Sunday, the machine will be placed on an automobile and pictures made of the boulevards. When the flood waters recede pictures will be made of the manufacturing district in the West Bottoms and later interior views of the banks and other large institutions will be made.
The films are made in sections. As the Kansas City film will appear it will show Kansas City from an inbound Wabash passenger train, giving a glimpse of the intercity viaduct.
The pictures will be made and exhibited by the International Publicity Company.Labels: arts, automobiles, Fifth street, Grand avenue, Main street, Oak street, post office, streetcar, Thirteenth street, Walnut Street, Wyandotte street June 14, 1908 FINE ART WORK.
Bangs Sisters Creating Portraits of the Deceased.
The Bangs Sisters of Chicago produce portraits of departed men, women or children for friends while they wait. These wonderful artists are located in the New York apartment house, northwest corner of Twelfth street and Paseo. They have been spending a few weeks away from home on a vacation. They are making many beautiful portraits in Kansas City and do not expect to remain in Kansas City very long. Anyone wishing to see them should make arrangements to do so as soon as possible. --Adv.Labels: arts, Chicago, Paseo, Twelfth street, visitors April 25, 1908 MEYER STATUE WILL STAND ON PASEO.
SITE IS CHOSEN BETWEEN NINTH AND TENTH STREETS. 
BRONZE STATUE TO BE ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF A. R. MEYER ON THE PASEO, BETWEEN NINTH AND TENTH STREETS.
After spending almost the entire day yesterday going over the boulevards and through the parks of the city, the members of the Meyer statue committee, together with Daniel Chester French, the sculptor, late yesterday agreed upon a point on the Paseo between Ninth and Tenth streets, for the location of the bronze statue to be erected of the late A. R. Meyer, first president of the park board. The statue will be near the south end of the block and will face toward the south. The immediate surroundings for the statue will be decided upon by the park board.
This will be the first public statue to be erected in Kansas City, and will be in honor of the man to whom perhaps more credit is due for the splendid park and boulevard system for which Kansas City is now noted, than any other.
The model for the monument was sent ahead by Mr. French with the request that it not be opened until his arrival. It was first opened at 10 o'clock yesterday morning in the Commercial Club rooms, in the presence of Mr. French and the members of the statue committee. The model was unanimously accepted by the committee and, on recommendation of that body, was later accepted by the city art committees. A committee composed of E. M. Clendening, H. D. Ashley and Frank A. Faxon was named to frame a suitable inscription for the base of the monument.
The monument consists of a main structure of Knoxville marble fifteen feet in height, about seven feet in width and two feet in depth from front to back, resting on a base of the same material about ten by six feet.
The monument is surrounded by an ornamental cap, and the main stone, containing the portrait of Mr. Meyer, is supported by an ornamental stone, resting on the base proper. The portrait of Mr. Meyer will be in bronze, let into the main stone of the monument, and will show a figure seven and a half feet in height. It has been the endeavor of the sculptor to suggest Mr. Meyer as the originator of the park system, and he is represented as standing out of doors with his right hand resting on an open map, which lies upon a marble Pompeian table. The left hand holds a pair of field glasses, and a tree under which he is standing is introduced at the right.
Mr. French will remain in Kansas City until tonight. He expects to have the statue finished in about a year.Labels: arts, Commercial Club, Edwin Clendening, Frank Faxon, Ninth street, Paseo, Tenth street, visitors April 15, 1908
CARTOONIST'S FUN WITH JOE STEIBEL
SAYS HE COULDN'T MAKE HIM "LOOK PLEASANT."
"Apollo" Bergfield, the Big Copper, Also Suffers at the Hands of the Visiting Artist. 
CARTOONIST LEVI'S LIBEL OF "JOE" STEIBEL, THE POPULAR PRESS AGENT OF THE ORPHEUM THEATER, WHOSE SMILE IS PERENNIAL.
"Behold the man who never smiles, or to whom it is at least painful to smile," said Bert Levy, as he pointed out one of his drawings of Joe Steibel, the affable pres agent of the Orpheum. "I tried every way in my power to make him even look pleasant, and at last he turned on me, serious as he could be, and said, 'Levy, I can't smile; I'm a sick man.' But I know the reason why he is so doleful -- it's because he has been working too hard this season.
"Why, just look what he has been up against all year, another vaudeville house in town, a bank suspension and lastly, Judge Wallace. It's enough to take the humor out of anybody."
"In this man you see the one who has made and unade vaudeville stars and Kansas City. He doesn't care whether the actor was headliner in the last city or whether he was put in the most inconspicuous place on the bill; if his act has merit, Joe will pick him out and begin work on him at once. Honest, he is the busiest man about the Orpheum theater -- no wonder he can't smile. He hasn't had time to practice.
The other picture here with the cop as centerpiece is true to life," continued the artist. "I made a sketch of this picture while standing out in the foyer of the theater, and this is just what I saw. People look upon this genial officer of the law, Joseph Bergfeld, I believe is his name, with real fear in their faces. What there is for them to be afraid of is more than I can see, for during the three years that Joseph has watched the box office window to see that the ticket seller does not take in any bad quarters, not an arrest has been made. At least that is what Joseph himself tells me.
 THIS IS JOSEPH BERGFIELD, THE WEST NINTH STREET APOLLO, CAUGHT IN HIS FAVORITE POSE BY CARTOONIST BERT LEVY, WHO LABELED THE DRAWING "INTIMIDATION."
"It may be that the reason for this is that the benign cop is put together in such wonderful and fantastic proportion that the 'con' men prefer to risk arrest in some other quarters. Just what would be your feelings when you march up to the box office window and have to pass between it and a ferocious looking cop, slowly balancing himself first on his heels and then on his toes, his heavy club swinging behind his back in time to the musical movements of his body?"
Mr. Levy is cartoonist on the New York Morning Telegraph. In speaking of his life work he said:
"My career as an artist began when I was but 13 years old, in the rear of a dingy little pawnshop in Melbourne, Australia. It was a pawnshop which belonged to my brother-in-law. I was put in to mark the tickets which we used in the show window, an I would delight in cutting them out in heart-shaped and different designs. The letters I would form as artistically as possible. This gave me a start, and as days went on I began to sudy the faces of the men as they peered in through the show window looking at the articles for sale. Then I began to copy them, and I am afraid let my pawnshop business pass iwth little attention. Soon my brother in law caught me at the drawing and I was forthwith discharged. I was them put into school, and after much pleading with my father I was allowed to take a course in art.
"Two and a half years ago I left Australia and came to America. When I arrived in New York I was penniless. I had nothing save my portfolio of drawings and a courage which was born of centuries of persecution. Immeidately upon my arrival in that great whirlpool of hope and despair I went to the editors of the New York papers and tried to find a market for my work, but because I was poorly dressed, and I was, for my shoes were almost off my feet and my coat was in rags, and because I was a Jew, I was given no hope, no chance to show that I could draw.
"For five days I wandered about the Ghetto, hungry and in dire want. My meals were picked up at the free lunch counters, and my sleep, what little there was of it, I got any place htat I could find. Then after many efforts, I succeded in getting a trial on the New York Telegraph, and, well, I am still on their staff, and do work for many other large publications. I won out after a terrible struggle, but I think of the thousands of talented artists, geniuses, who are almost starving in New York simply because fate wills it."Labels: arts, immigrants, Judge Wallace, Ninth street, theater, vaudeville, visitors April 11, 1908 MACMILLEN WILL NOT PLAY.
Fiddler Cannot "Endure Humiliation of Arrest," He Wires.
Upon learning that Judge W. H. Wallace would order County Marshal Al Heslip to stop the concert of Frances Macmillen, violinist, at the Willis Wood theater Sunday, if it should be necessary to arrest the artist and his assistants, O. D. Woodward, manager of the theater, telegraphed the fact to Macmillen's office in New York. This reply was received last night:
"Will not play in Kansas City Sunday. Cannot endure indignity of arrest."
So, there will be no concert at the Willis Wood tomorrow. Over 600 seats have already been sold and over $200 spent in advertising. Those who have purchased tickets may have their money refunded upon applying at the ticket window.Labels: arts, County Marshal Heslip, Judge Wallace, theater February 23, 1908 PICTURES ARE FREE TODAY.
That Is, to Look Upon, At Art Ex- hibit, 909 Grand Avenue.
No admission charge will be made today at the art exhibit of the Fine Arts Institute, 909 Grand avenue, it having been decided to keep the exhibit open one more day than was first agreed upon for the purpose of throwing it open to the general public.
Yesterday was to have been the last day. It is not known yet whether a similar exhibit will be held next year. If it is found that the paid admissions have netted money enough to pay the larger part of the expenses, another exhibition will be given next year.Labels: arts, Grand avenue February 18, 1908 HISSES IN WALLACE CRUSADE.
How a Philharmonic Audience Greet- ed an Officer Getting Names.
While a most circumspect audience of about 1,000 sat in the Willis Wood theater listening to a sacred concert last night by the Philharmonic orchestra, Carl Busch leading with the baton, a deputy county marshal walked out on the stage and took the names of the musicians. Preparations had been made for the circumstance when Conductor Busch at the outset made the statement that "after the first number there will be an intermission to allow a marshal to get the names of the players." This was not understood by many at the time, owing to the way in which it was said, but by the time the deputy appeared the mystic word "Wallace" had gone round the theater and when he walked out on the stage he was roundly hissed -- but the hisses were not for the individual but for what he typified.Labels: arts, Carl Busch, Judge Wallace, theater February 9, 1908 JOHN D. PATRICK'S "BRUTALITY" SHOWN
GREAT PARIS SALON PICTURE ON VIEW SATURDAY.
Story of Local Man's Masterpiece, Rescued by J. Logan Jones in a Paris Dealer's Rooms, and Brought Home.
Kansas City will have this week the first real opportunity it has ever had to pay an adequate tribute of appreciation to one of the gifted artists of the country who is living modestly and unobtrusively in this community. This man is John D. Patrick, whose great picture, "Brutality," which hung in the Paris salon of 1888 and was exhibited in the exposition the following year, will be on public view without charge in the Jones Dry Goods Company's art gallery on Wednesday and for a week or more.
Behind the announcement of this "exhibition" lies a story of intense human interest. The picture, a huge and graphic canvas, showing a brutal cart driver beating his horse, was the cause of the organization of the first French humane society. It was painted by Mr. Patrick in Paris twenty years ago, and has remained in that city ever since, practically in pledge for the materials with which it was painted. To the generosity of J. Logan Jones is due the opportunity of seeing this great work of art, which required six months of heartbreaking work in the mere painting, and which was praised by Meissonier. It has never been exhibited in this country, and Kansas City very fittingly has the first American view of it. It is not generally known that Mr. Patrick is the first Kansas Cityan to ever receive an art medal from the French government.
The canvas is a striking one. It is 10 x 12 feet in dimensions and it tells its story at a glance. With such marvelous atmosphere that the brutal cart driver and the magnificent Norman horse seem to be carved rather than painted, Mr. Patrick has set on unfading canvas his splendid sermon on humanity. Intense realism is the keynote of the work. The treatment is dramatic in the extreme. The great horse, of a breed that descended from the mighty Norman chargers of William of Normandy and far different from our street hacks of today, is rearing back upon his haunches in the pitiful effort to escape the rain of blows of his ruffianly master, who stands, cudgel in hand, his face blazing with cruel hatred. The picture was suggested by an actual occurrence.
This is the story of the Rosedale boy, now an instructor in the Fine Arts Institute art school, who, twenty years ago, while a struggling art student in Paris, pledged his future work to an art dealer, Fornier, for the price of his paints and painted a great masterpiece that set all Paris talking and won a medal at the 1889 exposition, where the painters of the world strove for honors and only fourteen Americans won that medal. Mr. Patrick was never able to redeem the picture and for twenty years he has mourned its absence as the loss of one dead -- this dead child of his genius which he thought he would never see again. But the resurrection was brought about by Mr. Jones, who paid the forfeiture, released the painting and sent it where it belongs -- home.
It was twenty-two years ago when Mr. Patrick, who had all but finished his course and was sadly out at elbows, was walking the streets of Paris one day and came upon the spectacle of a cart driver beating his horse, which was drawing a huge load of building rocks. Mr. Patrick's blood boiled, and to make a long story short, he gave the brutal driver a dose of his own medicine.
The young man went to his attic den and determined to show Paris what a brute it was, for horse beating was a common sight in that great, cruel city. But paints and materials cost money and Patrick had none. From dealer to dealer he went, almost begging materials and pledging his work for payment. He met with rebuff after rebuff, but finally Fornier gave him what he wanted. Then followed month after month of semi-starvation. All through the winter he froze and went hungry while he toiled and toiled, painting his heart into that great lesson of mercy.
"Olive Schreiner," in one of her beautiful "dreams," tells of a painter whose "reds" were so brilliant that they were the envy and despair of his fellows, until it was found that he opened his heart and painted with his own blood. That is what Patrick did -- he dipped the brush in his own heart. At last it was done and, too poor to hire men to take his canvas to the salon, he carried it there himself and submitted it to the judgment of the master, Meissonier, and Meissonier -- Meissonier himself -- praised it it and it was hung, despite the protests of those who feared that France would be held up to the scorn of the foreigner.
"If France deserves the scorn of the foreigner, then France must take it," was Meissonier's reply.
Patrick returned to America before he received the medal at the exposition and a series of misfortunes overtook him which brought him at last to the choice of going back to his art or staying with his mother. He stayed with his mother and the picture went back to the art dealer, who has kept it in pledge ever since, until Mr. Jones rescued it a few months ago.
None of this story comes from the lips of Mr. Patrick. Reluctant and modest verifications of facts learned elsewhere is all he will say. He was not talkative yesterday as he sat before his great work in the Jones gallery. He was thinking of the dead dream come back to life, of the long years of hunger, the weary, glorious months of ecstasy and starvation, of visions and cold and great hopes and cheerless streets when he dipped his brush into his heart and painted on and on.Labels: arts, Jones Dry Goods January 24, 1908 WANTED ROOMS WITH DRAFTS.
Alaskans Were Looking for Cold, Italians for Warmth.
"Five nice cold rooms, please, with a draft in each."
The keeper of the register in the Savoy hotel dropped his pen and straightened to face ten men in double fur coats standing by the counter.
"Yes, we want cold rooms," resumed the spokesman. "We're the basketball team from Nome, Alaska. At the athletic club tonight, you know."
"All right," says the clerk, "and if the row on the top floor facing north doesn't suit, I'll have beds made up in the roof garden."
The next comers were members of the Italian grand opera company, which sings at the Willis Wood this week's end.
"It iss so cold here," said a little miss with her chin drawn down into her fur boa. "You have the very warm rooms for us, is it not?"
"Yes," said the clerk.Labels: arts, hotels, Kansas City Athletic Club, Savoy, sports, visitors January 16, 1908 HE MUST MAKE HONK MUSIC.
Task Confronting Bandmaster for the Automobile Show.
To extract music from an automobile honk was the problem set for E. W. Berry, bandmaster, by the show committee of the automobile dealers yesterday. Mr. Berry's band is to furnish the music for the motor car show in Convention Hall February 3 to 8. When he was awarded the contract yesterday it was with the express stipulation that some kind of automobile music should be played.
As this sort of music is represented by only a few compositions, it was also suggested to Mr. Berry that a chance to make himself famous was presented by the contract. If there is no automobile music, the next easiest thing is to write it. The production of an automobile show march or waltz is essential, and no doubt Mr. Berry, having seen his duty, will do it.
If you see a tall, intellectual looking man testing the horns of automobiles which stand by the curb, don't mistake him for a motorist. It may be Mr. Berry investigating the musical quality of the honk.Labels: arts, automobiles, Convention Hall, music November 17, 1907 TO CENSOR THE THEATERS
CITY MAY ADOPT A MEASURE TO PRE- VENT INDECENT PERFORMANCES.
The Question Considered at a Conference Between the Mayor, City Counselor and Alderman Young -- To Reg- ulate Picture Machines.
A definite move to prevent indecent performances at theaters and the exhibition of obscene pictures at picture machine parlors was made yesterday at a conference, attended by Mayor Beardsley, E. C. Meservey, city counselor, and Alderman C. A. Young.
Complaints have reached the mayor and the police board about some of the acts at some of the small vaudeville houses. Pictures in some of the picture machine establishments have also been the cause of complaint.
Mr. Meservey was instructed to prepare an amendment to the license ordinance. The ordinance will follow the police board's method of treating saloons for violation of the Sunday closing law. A conviction in police court will carry with it a revocation of the license. The ordinance will provide that the license for a theater or picture show shall obligate the holder to conform to provisions of the license ordinance, prohibiting immoral or obscene acts or exhibitions. When complaint is filed with the city attorney and prosecution started the police judge really becomes the censor. He passes on the evidence and when he decrees a fine it will carry with it a revocation of the license. The ordinance will be introduced by Alderman Young.Labels: arts, Mayor Beardsley, police board November 6, 1907 TO JUMP IN POOL HANDCUFFED.
Special Performance by Houdini at the Athletic Club To-Day.
Houdini, whose performance at the Orpheum consists in releasing himself from handcuffs and manacles of other kinds, will give a special exhibition at the Athletic club at 12:15 o'clock to-day. Handcuffs will be placed about his wrists and leg manacles about his ankles. He will then jump into the deepest part of the pool and attempt to release himself from the shackles under water. Houdini has performed this feat in other cities, having jumped from bridges while wearing handcuffs and manacles of other kinds.Labels: arts, Kansas City Athletic Club November 3, 1907
HOUDINI AND MARTIN LEHMAN.
The Orpheum Manager Gave the "Hand- cuff King" His Start in Vaudeville.
Harry Houdini, the feature attraction at the Orpheum theater this week, got his start in vaudeville in Kansas City. In the early days of his career Houdini was a contortionist, trapeze performer and general utility man with the Jack Hoefler Circus, and later a member of a company of barnstormers.
One of his turns was to permit himself to be tied to a chair with ropes, from which he would extricate himself. One day while playing in Chetopa, Kas., with a small traveling show, Houdini asked for volunteers to come up and tie him. A sheriff, who happened to be present with a pair of handcuffs, cried out, "If you let me come on the stage I will tie you with these so you cannot escape." Houdini had never seen a pair of handcuffs before. The idea of using them as a feature suggested itself to him and he hence took up the study of locks. He acquired several pairs of handcuffs and in a short time acquired the faculty of extricating himself from them.
He went to Chicago where he met Mr. Walters, then president of the Orpheum circuit, and importuned him to give him an engagement on the circuit.
Mr. Walters, impressed with the young man's eloquence, sent him to Kansas City with a letter of instructions to Martin Lehman, manager of the Orpheum. Instructions in the letter were to "try this Houdini, and if his act was good to book him on the circuit." On receipt of the letter Mr. Lehman coached Houdini thoroughly and put him on the bill. Houdini met with such pronounced success he was given a contract over the entire Orpheum circuit. Since that time he has traveled all over the world.Labels: arts, Chicago, circus, daredevils, theater, vaudeville October 25, 1907 MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Miss Barrymore's New Play, "Her Sister," at Willis Wood.
Clyde Fitch and Cosmo Gordon Lennox have done in "Her Sister," Miss Ethel Barrymore's latest offering, seen at the Willis Wood for the first time last night, the best work Mr. Fitch has done in years.
Acted splendidly by the most evenly balanced company seen here in a long time, headed by miss Ethel Barrymore, one of the most convincing of the present day actresses, the piece is an offering of unusual dramatic interest and was given a warm reception by a very large audience. As a vehicle for Miss Barrymore's sterling gifts, both as a light comedienne and as an actress of emotional attainments, it is the most satisfying which she has presented here in many seasons. The supporting company is so far in advance of the usual run of stellar assistance that the production is really notable in this respect and yet Miss Barrymore, like the true artist she is, does not suffer in the least.
As Eleanor Alderson, the sister who sacrifices her own hopes of happiness to save her thoughtless but innocent sister, Miss Barrymore carried off the fine second act, where she defends her sister, magnificently. No more convincingly natural bit of acting has been done here in a long time. But throughout the play every requirement, whether of the lightest comedy, the tenderest sentiment or the strongest feeling, was met with artistic assurance that was convincing in the highest degree. Miss Barrymore's vibrant voice has a peculiarly girlish quality that instead of hampering strong scenes with indications of weakness really adds to their effectiveness, while it is admirably suited to the comedy lines.
The setting of the piece is extremely tasteful. The first act occurs in the temple of Isis, the fortune teller, otherwise Eleanor, and permits Mr. Fitch to get in his inevitable touch of the picturesquely improbably. The other two acts take place in the country home of the Bickleys and are pictorially satisfying. In fact, it would be difficult to recall a more thoroughly pleasing play, one better acted or cleverer from every point of view.Labels: arts, theater September 19, 1907 "THE FALL OF FRISCO."
Campbell's Earthquake and Fire- works Spectacle Coming.
Kansas City will see something new in Campbell's earthquake and fireworks spectacle, "The Destruction of San Francisco." This production, which has never been presented here before, comes on Wednesday, the 25th, for ten nights. The exhibition will be on the circus lot at Fifteenth street and Kansas avenue. The exhibition consists of San Francisco as it was before the disaster, with 350 people on the busy streets, then the earthquake, followed by the fire, laying the city in ashes and ruins, while the people rush for the ferries in their attempt to escape from the city.
The scenic picture is 400 feet in length and is an accurate reproduction of Market street, showing, among other buildings, the city hall, the Call building and and the memorable Ferry building as they were both before and after the earthquake and fire. There are fifteen carloads of scenery and fireworks, making up this production, and counting the mechanical staff, 450 people are required in the production.
A magnificent display of fireworks fills out an evening's entertainment.Labels: amusement, arts, Fifteenth street, fireworks, Kansas avenue September 17, 1907 STILWELL'S LIBERAL OFFER.
Will Bring Boston Symphony Orches- tra to Kansas City.
The Kansas City Oratorio Society had its first rehearsal at the Conservatory of Music auditorium last night. There were sixty voices present. Before leaving for Mexico yesterday A. E. Stilwell, president of the society, announced that he had arranged to bring to Kansas City on March 8 the well-known Symphony orchestra of Boston.
The plan was viewed with such general favor that it was later decided to make an effort to increase the voices of the society from sixty to 300 in the interim, the entire chorus to sing with the orchestra. The concert will probably be given at Convention hall.
The next rehearsal will be next Monday evening at the Conservatory auditorium.Labels: Arthur Stilwell, arts, Convention Hall September 10, 1907
AN ACTOR SMOKING OPIUM.
Player Caught in a Police Raid at Sixth and Wyandotte.
When Detectives Boyle, Orford, Ravenscamp and Lewis raided an opium den at Sixth and Wyandotte streets last night they found four men smoking opium. One of them was an actor and he pleaded the necessity of appearing on the stage last night. He was released in time to fill his engagement. The other men are being held for investigation.Labels: arts, detectives, narcotics, Sixth street, Wyandotte street September 6, 1907
PANIC AT RECITAL
SOMEONE SHOUTED FIRE WHEN A
WOMAN FAINTED. RUSH FOR EXITS FOLLOWS.
COOLNESS OF PRESIDENT COWAN
RESTORED ORDER.
Audience at Conservatory of Music and Art Thrown Into an Uproar When Two Women Tumbled Down the Stairs -- Sever- al Trampled On.
Two women falling down stairs was the cause of a panic at an assistant teachers' recital at the Conservatory of Music and Art at Tenth and Oak streets last night. The commotion on the stairs, which led down from a small hallway entering into the hall where the recital was in progress, attracted the attention of those near the door. Some one suggested it was a fight. Several ushers rushed out and the remark was carried on in whispers across the room until someone, misunderstanding the original word, screamed "fire."
Miss Pearl Collins was singing Tosti's "Ninon." Her voice was drowned in the clamor that followed. In an instant almost the entire audience was on its feet and a wild scramble for the door was already started when J. A. Cowan, president of the institution, rushed upon the stage and shouted to the people to keep their seats, assuring them that there is no cause for alarm.
Several people were knocked down and would have doubtless been trampled on in another moment had not the panic been quelled when it was. While Mr. Cowan was shouting assurances from the stage the janitor of the building was attempting to quiet the people in the back of the hall.
The hall was crowded to its capacity and many people stood outside the door, making it impossible for those inside to know what was transpiring a few feet behind them. The unusual feature of the incident was that almost as soon as Mr. Cowan appeared and began to talk to the audience, the panic ceased and most of the people resumed their seats in apparent composure. The programme was then carried out.
Neither of the women -- a young girl and an elderly matron -- who caused the panic was seriously hurt. They had been sitting together during the recital and during Miss Collins' solo, the girl became ill and left the room. The other woman accompanied her and just as they reached the head of the stairs, the girl fainted. In falling she pulled her companion with her and the two started to roll down the steps toward the street door. The janitor, who was standing near, succeeded in catching the girl when she was about half way down, but the older woman rolled to the bottom, receiving several bruises and a cut across the bridge of her nose. The young woman received some minor bruises.Labels: accident, arts, Oak street, Tenth street August 26, 1907 BACK TO THE GIANTS.
MABEL HITE SENDS MIKE DONLIN EAST TO REFORM. CUT OUT OF WIFE'S SONG.
TWO VERSES MISSING FROM "I'M MARRIED NOW."
Grease Paint and Gay Costume Hide Aching Heart of Kansas City Actress -- Penitent Ball Player Is Put on Probation. 
MABEL HITE.
Pretty Kansas City Actress Who Has Put Her Husband, Mike Donlin, of the New York Giants, on Probation.
CHICAGO, Aug. 25 (Special). -- Grease paints and uncouth costume can hide a breaking heart from the laughing audience on the other side of the footlights, but when Mabel Hite yesterday afternoon sought the only refuge she had, a 4x5 dressing box -- it couldn't be called even by courtesy a room -- large tears stole down a woebegone, little face.
She wiped them off with the corner of a Turkish towel, taking a bit of the rouge with it and hoped Mike would get better.
For the pretty little Kansas City girl sent Mike Donlin, the ball player, who is her husband, down to New York, buying his ticket and giving him the price of a Russian bath, which boiled out the remnants of the various liquids that had developed four days' spree, with an assault on a cabdriver and a cell in the police station for trimmings.
Donlin has promised to cut out booze in the future and sign with the New York Giants and if he's good for the next six months he can come back -- otherwise a divorce.
WORRIED SO CAN'T SLEEP.
I can't stand it any longer," said the little comedienne -- she's a child in figure and manner. "Now you don't think it's such a dreadful thing for a woman's husband to get drunk and in the newspapers, do you? But it means so much when you love a man and he'd promised not to do it. And every time it happens it's so much worse and it worries me so I can't sleep and I have to go out before that audience and act like a fool and make them laugh, and sing my songs and dance, and my heart is breaking. For he's good to me, except when he forgets himself."
A little while before she'd been singing "For I'm Married Now," and the appreciate ones on the other side of the footlights who'd called her back six or seven times, didn't know how hard -- how extremely hard -- it was to carry a smiling face through the trying ordeal.
TWO FAMILIAR VERSES OUT.
But she'd cut out two verses, and old players who remembered them and had heard about Mike knew the reason.
I'd like to go with you to lunchin'
But I've got a hunchin
That I'd get a punchin'
And I just hate to wear a veil
For I'm married now.
That was one of the verses that was eliminated from her song in "A Knight for a Day" at Whitney's. The other was:
Tell Mike a lie
I'd best not try.
I may be fly --
But no fly gets by him.
And the villain -- he admitted he was all that and was most penitent -- was in the office of the playhouse. He had slunk past the policeman who has been on guard for the last three days, fearing a possible outbreak by the ball player and was waiting to send a message of extreme contrition -- a message that Mabel wouldn't receive in person.
CALLAHAN CHIEF PEACEMAKER.
There were plenty of peacemakers, but nothing but a six months' probation will answer for Mike. James Callahan, his friend and manager of the Logan Squares, who had straightened matters up with the police, told how the husband and wife had slept in his house, at Thirty-fifth street and Indiana avenue, last Thursday night, unknown to each other.
After the cab episode, and after Callahan had got the soused one out of a police cell, he took him home. Mabel, who lives a block away, went to Callahan's house in great trouble.
A little earlier Thursday night Donlin went to the theater and demanded to see his wife. His breath was thick and he talked loud. Jouhny Slavin took him down to the corner and argued him into a cab, and that was why the scrubwoman's part in the show that night -- Donlin's role -- was performed by an understudy.
Donlin met Mabel Hite a year and a half ago in New York, and they were married soon afterward. He never saw her act before the marriage. She was in vaudeville or something similar. Off the stage she's girlish and pretty. Donlin met her at a dinner party.Labels: arts, Indiana avenue, marriage, sports, Thirty-fifth street August 23, 1907 ITALIAN BAND TO GO ALONG.
Professor Cantanzara's Musicians to Accompany the Sieben Excursion.
Henry Sieven, wharfmaster of the port of Kansas City, and his excursion party, will set sail for St. Louis on the steamer Chester at 4 o'clock next Monday afternoon. The boat will heave anchor at the foot of Delaware street. Mr. Sieven said yesterday that he had received invitations from Lexington, Miami, Boonville, Jefferson City, Hermann, Washington and St. Charles, asking his tourists to visit their towns.
Prof. John Cananzara's Royal Italian band, which is to accompany the excursionists, serenaded the newspaper offices last night. There are twenty eight musicians in this organization and they play excellent music under the capable leadership of Prof. Cantanzara.Labels: arts, boats, Delaware street, Jefferson City, music, St Louis, Steamboat Chester August 19, 1907 FOUNT FOR ANIMALS
DEDICATORY EXERCISES FOR FIRST OF ITS KIND HERE. FLOW OF WORDS AND WATER
ANIMALS IMBIBE WHILE GIFTED ORATORS EXPOUND.
Fountain Given to Kansas City by National Humane Alliance, of New York, Begins Career of Mercy Under Fa- vorable Auspices.
During the dedication of the $1,500 granite horse and dog fountain at Fourth and Broadway yesterday afternoon, thirteen teams, nine horses in single harness and three dogs stopped, dipped their faces in the flowing water and drank deep. Frank Faxon, one of the speakers, kindly said:
"I am sorry there are no more horses and dogs present. I would like to ask them all to step up and have a drink with us."
Mr. Faxon was more generous than he thought, as he learned at the close of the exercises, when he and the other speakers and the audience rushed over to the fountain to get a drink. There are no cups on the fountain. It is strictly a place for birds, and four-footed beasts. President E. R. Weeks, of the Kansas City Humane Society, who wore a Panama hat, essayed to drink out of the rim of his headgear, mountain brook fashion, but most of the water ran down his shirt front. Mr. Faxon, Police Commissioner Elliot H. Jones, Mrs. L. O. Middleton and others looked on and declined to try to use the hat which Mr. Weeks proffered them.
The humans held a meeting around the fountain and argued the question of having cups chained there, but decided adversely.
"During a busy and hot work day," John Simmons, secretary of the Teamsters' union, said, "the teams line up from all directions awaiting their turns at the fountain. There is no chance for a man to get a drink. Besides, if there were cups, children who tried to drink might be trampled by the horses which rush to the fountain."
Nearly every department of city life was represented in the dedication exercises. E. R. Weeks was chariman, Hale H. Cook appeared for the school children, Mrs. L. O. Middleton for the T. T. U. F. M. Furgason carried a Judge Jules E. Guinotte proxy, George Hoffman spoke for the city hall, Father Dalton for the church people, Harry Walmsley apeared for the birds and Frank Faxon for "Old Dobbin."
No one had a word to say in condemnation of any bird or beast. The speakers tried to outdo each other in praise. Mr. Faxon said that a horse "was always faithful and kind," and Mr. Walmsley declared that the birds are symbols of the heavenly life." But Mr. Furgason, reading Judge Guinotte's speech, went then all one better when he quoted George Elliot as saying: "The more I associate with men, the more I like dogs."
In calling attention to the fact that the fountain dedicated yesterday was the first permanent one in the city, Mrs. Middleton recited the history of attempts made by various charities in past years to erect public drinking fountains. The most successful of these schemes was the setting in place of twelve ice water casks on downtown corners by the W. C. T. U. many years ago.
The beautiful piece of granite dedicated yesterday afternoon, which Thomas Wight, secretary of the Kansas City art commission, described as "a permanent bit of art and a forerunner of a new era in municipal life," was presented by the National Humane Alliance of New York. The purchase price came from a fund bequeathed by the late Herman Lee Ensign of New York, whose name is on a bronze plate on one side of the fountain. The Kansas City Humane Society and the city council were among those most instrumental in securing the gift for this city. The society hopes that other fountains may be erected on busy corners through gifts by local philanthropists.Labels: animals, arts, Associated Charities, Commissioner Jones, Father Dalton, fountains, Frank Faxon, Humane Society August 18, 1907 KANSAS WOMAN ROBBED.
Hutchison Girl Was on Her Way to Join a Theatrical Company.
Robbed of her purse containing all her money, and of her suitcase, the contents representing all of her other earthly possessions, aside from what she wore, Miss Pauline Nelson, 18 years old, of Hutchison, Kas., has been stranded at the Union depot since Thursday night. She was taekn to police headquarters last night by Harry Harvey, a city detective on duty at the depot, and placed in the care of the police matron. The young woman said that she had started from Hutchinson to Detroit, where she had been offered a place with a theatrical company, and while en route to Kansas City was robbed of her purse and suitcase. She said that she had no money when she came here, but she had some lunch with her, and with the aid proffered her at the depot has managed to get along. She has been sleeping at the depot.
The young woman will be held by the police until a reply to information regarding her condition can be received from Hutchinson.Labels: arts, police headquarters, police matron, Union depot, visitors August 4, 1907 PARKINA TO SING FOR CONREID.
Kansas City Girl May Get a Metro- politan Engagement.
PARIS, Aug. 3 (Special.) -- Elizabeth Parkina, whose real name is Parkinson, a Kansas City girl, is about to sing for Manager Conreid of the Metropolitan Opera house, New York.
The young diva's success at Covent Garden in London made Mr. Conreid anxious to pass judgement upon her as a possible addition to America's list of operatic attractions.Labels: arts July 30, 1907 MUSIC AT THE POOR FARM.
Union Will Give Free Weekly Concerts There in August.
The county court has made arrangements with the musicians' union of Kansas City to give one concert at the poor farm each week during the month of August. The only renumeration the musicians are to receive is the carfare. One concert has already been given at the farm which was such a successful and pleasing affair that the inmates appealed for another, and the court acquisced.
The old songs and tunes which many of them remembered in better days are rendered by the orchestra. The members of the orchestra enjoy the visits to the poor farm probably as much as the inmates, for if there ever ewas an appreciative audience the musicians found it at the farm.Labels: arts, poor farm July 24, 1907 STAGE PICTURE IS DIMMED.
Lieutenant Kennedy Gives Inquisitor Some Sound Advice.
A girl entered police headquarters last evening, and calling Lieutenant Michael J. Kennedy to one side, confidentially informed him that her mother had threatened to send her to the reform school if she went away with a summer theatrical company. She told the lieutenant that she was past 19 years old, and had contemplated becoming an actress, but her parents objected so strenuously that life at home had become unbearable since her artistic inclinations were so hampered.
She asked if a young woman past her majority could be sent to the reform school by her parents, and was apparently relieved when told by Lieutenant Kennedy that such would be impossible.
"But if I were you," continued the lieutenant, "I would not disobey my parents in this case. They know what's best for you."
With this bit of advice, the lieutenant supplimented an outline of trials and tribulations of young girls who leave good homes to enter that army upon their own resources. When this discourse was concluded, it was apparent that the lieutenant's story had had the desired effect. With tears in her eyes the girl arose, and as she started away said that though she had signed a contract with a company that was being organized in St. Joseph, declared that she would give up the project and remain at home.Labels: arts, police, reform school, St.Joseph July 9, 1907 FIRST FREE CONCERT TODAY.
The Musicians' Union Orchestra to Play at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The first of the free concerts to be given during the summer by members of the Musicians' union for the benefit of the various hospitals and charitable institutions of the city will be at 3 o'clock this afternoon at St. Joseph's hospital. The concert will be given by an orchestra of twelve men, under the leadership of W. S. Rose, vice president of the Musicians' union. Other concerts will be given as follows:
Wednesday at 7 p. m., city hospital, band of twenty-five men, led by Dr. E. M. Hiner, director of the Third Regiment band.
Thursday afternoon the twelve piece orchestra will be led in a concert at the poor farm by H. O. Wheeler, president of the union.
Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock the band will play at the Nelson Home for Old Ladies. Charles Stickney will act as director.Labels: arts, hospitals, music June 1, 1907 HOME IS FOUND FOR VENUS.
Statue Will Be Placed in Rotunda of the Grand Hotel.
The beautiful replica of Venus Genetrix, which has been resting temporarily in the park board rooms of the public library, Kansas City, Kas., waiting action of the school board regarding its disposition, will find place in the new Grand hotel, Sixth street and Minnesota avenue, Monday. After the rejection of the statue by the board, W. J. Buchan, its donor, cast about for a more appreciative donee, and finally decided on J. B. Hoober, the lessee of the hotel, for the recipient of the gift.
Hoober was delighted with the piece of art work. He said yesterday that he had long been an admirer of Venus Genetrix and had called up Mr. Buchan directly after the rejection of the statue had been made known, offering to place it in the rotunda of the hotel.
In the Grand the Venus will be mounted on a rosewood pedestal twenty-eight inches high, with the face inclined toward the stairs leading to the parlor floor rotunda from the offices. On both sides are large mirrors, so placed as to reflect its snowy whiteness into the waiting rooms, and it will be further set off by red rugs on the floor and orange tapestries hung especially as background.
There was a great deal of talk in Kansas City, Kas., yesterday concerning the action of the board in rejecting the statue. Before 9 o'clock at least 100 people had visited the park board rooms and throughout the day groups of ten or twelve were gathered around the gilded couch of the reclining goddess. The approving comments that were passed might have been sufficient to raise a blush even to that brow of stone.
In the afternoon a committee of business men, instigated my Henry McGrew, one of the trustees of the Grand hotel, who had been instrumental in getting the statue for the hotel rotunda, visited Venus. They were unanimous in declaring it artistic and not immodest.Labels: arts, hotels, Kansas City Kas, Minnesota avenue May 31, 1907
CHANCE FOR VENUS
SCHOOL BOARD WILL PASS ON QUALIFICATIONS MONDAY.
NOW KEPT IN SECLUSION
PARK BOARD MEMBER AND EN- GINEER EXPRESS VIEWS. Both Call It a Perfect Work of Art -- Mr. Buchan, the Donor, Says Cleveland Accepted a Sim- ilar Statue Without a Single Blush. THE STATUE OF VENUS GENETRIX REJECTED BY THE KANSAS CITY, KAS. SCHOOL BOARD.
The fate of the statue Venus Genetrix, now reposing in the basement of the public library in Kansas City, Kas., will in all probability be finally decreed at Monday night's meeting of the board of education. The members of the board who have been keeping this particular piece of art in seclusion ever since its presentation by Senator W. J. Buchan, will be asked to render their final decision at the next meeting. It is understood that a large number of lovers of art will attend Monday night's meeting and try to convince the board that by turning down the gift it will be depriving the library of a valuable and beautiful work of art. Leading citizens are manifesting much concern in the matter. The majority of them are in favor of giving Venus the most conspicuous location in the library building.
George Kessler, landscape architect, who has been employed to lay out a park and boulevard system in Kansas City, Kas., examined the statue at a recent meeting of the Kansas City, Kas., park board and pronounced it a most beautiful work of art.
PERFECT WORK OF ART.
J. P. Angle, a member of the park board, to whose office the statue was consigned by the park board, says that he has never gazed upon a more perfect work of art.
"While I do not put myself up as a critic in statuary," said Mr. Angle yesterday, "yet I have visited many art galleries, and from the collections of fine art I have seen I am frank to say I I do not believe I could pick a more beautiful piece of statuary than that which the school board has rejected."
Nathaniel Barnes, former postmaster, in speaking about the statue says that no one with a spark of love for the fine art could find the slightest objection to Venus. However, he suggests that if the school board is in doubt as to the propriety of accepting the gift and giving it a proper place in the library building, a commission might be appointed to determine its worth as a piece of fine art and also decide whether or not it should be exhibited in the library.
Mr. Buchan, the donor of the statue, in speaking about his gift and the subsequent action of the school board, said:
"I think the whole affair is too ridiculous to discuss. I went over to Italy, in my trip around the world, and while there did not forget my home town. I saw this beautiful statue in the original at Rome and bought the fine replica I presented to the board of education in Florence. I made a special trip to Florence to get the piece and paid $450 for it. It cost in transportation another $100.
FUNNY TO BUCHAN.
"For the life of me, I can't understand the aversion of the school board for the statue. A man who was making the trip with me got a similar one for the library at Cleveland, O., and he tells me there were no objections from growing young people there.
"The funniest thing about the deal is that the excuse of the board is that young girls and boys who see the statue may have read Ouida's book in which it is criticized. Now, I may be wrong in my judgement of immoral things, but I think a girl or boy who reads Ouida's proscribed books can not be injured much by looking on the4 excellent piece of art work she condemns."
W. E. Griffith, a member of the board, said yesterday that the statue was too nude to be placed in the rotunda of the library, if not in a collection of such pieces.
"I am not prudish," said Mr. Griffith, "but I am opposed to tempting girls and boys who have not reached the age of discretion, to make remarks and draw inferences. The statue was given to us in good faith, but it is unfit. We can not help that. We are only sorry we can not use it out of courtesy to Mr. Buchan. The statue would not be half so suggestive if there was no drapery at all."
WOMEN NOT DISPLEASED.
Attorney Edward Barker, 713 Minnesota avenue, who has taken considerable interest in the disposition of the Venus, yesterday conducted a party of women, including his wife, to the park board rooms where the statue is stored temporarily awaiting further action of the school board.
"What do you think of it?" Mr. Barker asked them.
"Oh, it is just lovely," they answered in chorus.
Afterward, all of the women said they would not be ashamed to have the Venus installed in their parlors or hallways.
"The school board is trying to out-Comstock Comstock," is the way Attorney Barker expressed his opinion of the action of that body regarding the Venus.Labels: architects, arts, George Kessler, Kansas City Kas, Minnesota avenue |
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