Walter Eccles, entertainer

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WALTER ECCLES, 
Entertainer




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SEVENTEEN SUCCESSFUL SEASONS
IN LYCEUM AND CHAUTAUQUA, COVERING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY



MR. ECCLES has had two tours in Panama, having been sent there by the Canal Commission to entertain the white employees.




Most of his winter work in recent years, when not on the road, has been in and about New York City.  During the summer it is in the south and west, on the Chautauquas.  While in this section he may be engaged for either part program or full evening.




His entertainment will be made up of what are known as acting monologues, featuring humorous character songs interspersed with stories, and in addition he will review his original Burlesque Magic.




The objection is often made that it is a difficult task for one man to entertain an audience for an entire evening and we will grant that it is for an immature artist; but the successful entertainer gives years to the development of his art.  It is the same in any profession, after the preliminary training, the school of experience is the great teacher, so, with seventeen years of study and earnest endeavor, we may say that Mr. Eccles understands his business.







THE photograph on the first page of this circular, represents Mr. Eccles in the first scene of the acting monologue 
Nellie Walsh,
 which is a satirical presentation of a society reception, into which is woven a charming love story.  The end of the second scene of this piece is in pantomime, giving an opportunity for a study in expression.  This he handles in such a masterly way, that the climax of the whole monologue is here reached in a few moments of silent acting.




Because of his Scotch ancestry and the consequent ability to handle the Scottish dialect acceptably, Mr. Eccles has been remarkably successful in his impersonations of Harry Lauder, the Scotch comedian.  The cut in this page shows him in a characteristic Lauder attitude, singing 
The Same as His Faither Did Before Him.




Mr. Eccles will not present costumed impersonations unless arrangements are made in advance, and it is not advisable to include this work in the full program, because of the length of time necessary to make costume changes.



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MAN could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food; but God has given us wit, and flavor, and brightness, and laughter, and performers, to enliven the days of man's pilgrimage, and to charm his pained steps over the burning marl
.




SIDNEY SMITH






A Story of the Program


ImpersonationsComic Songs
Monologues
Dramatic Recitals
Burlesque Magic




The first object of the entertainer, after his initial bow, is to secure the attention and interest of his audience,—to get them with him, and this is best accomplished by a few short anecdotes, generally having some local or personal application.  When this interest is obtained, a longer story is used, possibly one containing considerable dramatic value and finishing with a strong climax.  Following this, because of its direct contrast, comes a character song with numerous verses, each one more ridiculous than the last; but the song only leads to a series of rapid-fire stories of a trip in a railroad train.  After the journey you are willing to settle back and appreciate some good homely advice, possibly in the form of a Sam Walter Foss Poem.  At this point the program may be considered well under way, and the offering of another song or two is advisable.  After which a tribute is paid to the great American humorist, Mark Twain, the occasion being a cutting taken from one of his best stories; then, not to lose the atmosphere Mark Twain has created, a monologue is begun, the character being a young man afflicted with the grippe and jealousy (an awful combination) who wants to get out to call on his sweetheart.  It takes about fifteen minutes to extricate him from his difficulties, and during that time he has harbored all the troubles flesh is heir to, serious to him if to no one else; but even he is happy in the end, which is as it should be, for right here perhaps is the lesson of the evening, although given in a humorous vein.  Then comes another song, a poem and some stories, all leading up to a presentation of magic, that would possibly make a real magician smile, but if so, the object is accomplished, for that is what it is given for, as it is a burlesque performance of the stock tricks of the old-time magician.  Then 
Good Night
 is said,-------------and you look at your watch.




Is it possible that we have been here an hour and a half?


Mr. Eccles' entertainments include the work of a pianist who note only plays the accompaniments for his songs, but does some special novelty numbers on the piano.

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