Our Past Is Present May 8, 2018

May 8, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            A posting of the program at the Opera House published in a 1917 edition of the Junction City Union newspaper had as it’s banner: “Big Vaudeville Road Show At The Opera House Commencing Monday Matinee, October 8^th.  The Biggest Array of Talent Ever Combined For a Vaudeville Program.”  This was a full page ad that also stated there would be 36 people involved in the program and the management wanted to let people know they “paid $1,000 for this program.”  The first half of the program consisted of “Fisher and Howard”, who were novelty entertainers; Bertha Daubigny, a California Nightingale; “Thompson and Thompson”, who would provide whirlwind and society dancing; “Stevens and Stevens” a comedy, singing and talking act and the Bijou Minstrels would perform.  The picture show was a two-real feature titled “The Love Philtre of Iky Schoenstein”, which was a story by O. Henry. 

            The second half of the program included the “Waldo Trio”, which was a comedy aerial novelty act; the Labanch Duo, which was an instrumental and vocal group; “Clark and Alder” who were singers and dancers and “Culligan’s and Hochwald’s Famous Hawaiians” in a Concert of American and Hawaiian Instrumental and Vocal Numbers. 

            Doors opened at 7:00 PM.  There was an Orchestra Concert at 7:15 and the performances began at 7:30 PM.  The tag line at the bottom of the ad was that the “Program was absolutely guaranteed. Let us have your patronage and we will show you we are trying to please.  Get The Habit – The Opera House, The People’s Theatre – Follow The Crowd.”

            And… that’s today’s story about the C.L. Hoover Opera House on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.