People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1893 — WORLD’S FAIR THEATERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WORLD’S FAIR THEATERS

Some of the Strange Stage Shows of Midway Plaisance. The Picturesque Performances of the Javanese—Trouble Over the Persian Dances Profitable Enterprises. (Special Chicago Correspondence.]

-T is a well* I known fact that | public interest i centers nearly I if not quite as I much in Mid- | way Plaisance ' as in the world’s fair proper. And this is not to be wondered at when the numerous theatrical attractions of that wonderful th o r oughfare are considered. Aside

from the myriad other spectacles these strange Jstage shows afford in them* selves sufficient inducement to the lovers of theatricals to keep the various theaters opacked almost to suffocation day and night And it is not only the theater-going portion of the populace ■who visit these performances, but those as well who are not in the habit of attending the theaters of the city. This may be accounted for by the fact that such performances were never before witnessed in this part of the world. While there are grand musical concerts. both instrumental and vocal, frequently taking place in the great halls of the fair grounds, they do not seem to detract any appreciable extent from the popularity of the Midway shows;

for the crowds that frequent the stuffy little theaters never grow smaller, and the quarters fairly pour into the ticketoffice windows, while there is at all times plenty of room at the musical concerts. There are about a dozen theaters in operation in the Plaisance. The first in order, on the right leaving the fair grounds, is that of the Javanese, in the interior of their village. Among the performers at this theater are some skillful manipulators of marionettes or puppets, which constitute an important part of their stage property. The principal features of the entertainments are the dances which are performed by the girl professionals. These dances are rendered quite interesting by the graceful movements of the shapely little women and the somewhat weird music of the queer

instruments which accompanies them. There is nothing in the slightest improper in these nances, which is more than can be said of the danc js of the Persians and Egyptians. The dancers are comely and seem possessed of a fine sense of propriety. Their costumes are picturesque and their heads, necks and arms are loaded with odd ornaments of metal and stones or glass beads. The next theater is that of the South Sea islanders on the opposite side of the Plaisance. Here the natives of the Samoan islands give their strange songs and dances all day long and far into the night, making-but brief pauses for rest and refreshment Further along, on the north side of the Plaisance, we eome to the Persian theater, which of late has figured prominently in the law courts. Several injunctions have been served upon the

proprietors by the world’s fair officials on account o£ the objectionable nature of the performances of the dancing girls at this theater. The trouble continued for some time, but must have been satisfactorily settled, as the dances are still given, though perhaps in a somewhat modified form. These dances, which have gained for the Persian theater a great deal of notoriety, are represented to be a survival of an ancient religious rite, but it is the opinion of many wv ho have seen

them that they are a vulgar exhibition intended only to cater to the depraved tastes of a certain element, and to draw the dollars from the pockets of the morbidly curious. In any event these exhibitions are drawing large crowds and the enterprising foreigners are reaping a rich harvest of American coin. Further along the Plaisance are the Turkish, Chinese and other theaters, each presenting rare attractions in their respective styles. There is also a circus, giving performances by trained animals, and several cycloramas, each

and all of which aro doing a thriving business. < There is hardly a moment of the day or evening that the Midway is not packed with people. It is a sight worth going round the world to see. Everybody seems to be good natured and happy, and although there are frequent collisions one seldom sees anything like a display of ill temper.

SIAMESE DANCERS.

JAVANESE ACTRESSES MAKING THEIR TOILET.

THE TROUBLESOME PERSIAN DANCER.