Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1901 — A Chance to See Ben Hur. [ARTICLE]

A Chance to See Ben Hur.

Klaw & Erlanger’s “Ben Hur s ’, opens the regular season of the Illinois Theatre, Chicago, on Monday evening, Beptember 2nd. This is the dramatization by William Young of General Lew Wallace’s famous novel and will be presented with the original cast, scenery and equipment. The eVent will signalize the opening of the third year of “Ben Hur.” Four cities only have • witnessed the production: New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Brooklyn. The aggregate of receipts for these two years was $915,000, representing more money and a larger aU tendance of people than has ever been gathered in a playhouse either in this country or abroad. More than four hundred people are on the stage in the principal scenes of “Ben Hur.” Two special trains will be required to transport tbs production from New York to Chicago. The first will consist entirely of sleepers and day coaches, and the second, eight 60foot baggage cars and two live stock cars with twelve horses and three camels. The stage of the Illinois is now occupied by a corps of expert machinists, under ClaudeHagen, who are employed in placing the cycloramic scenery and the intricate apparatus used in the great chariot racdplh position. These weigh upwards of forty tons and are being built on special foundations which were laid when the theatre was being constructed. The chariot race is the most thrilling bit of realism which has ever been presented on any stage. Eight horses attached to two chariots are seen running at full speed, and by m eans of an ingenious mechanical device, kept in view of the audience during the entire race. The chariot race is a physical sensation. The sixth act, however, creates the most profound impression with its tremendous appeal to the emotions. Here is represented the scene of the healing of the lepers on the Mount of Olives. Hundreds of the people are assembled to worship Him. His presence is hot shown but His immediate nearness is indicated by a peculiar white light. The scene is of extraordinary dignity and reverence. “Ben Hur’s” engagement at the Illinois is for a limited season only. Orders for seats for any of the performances of the first three weeks, accompanied by money or check, will be filled in order of their receipt.