M. W. Cunningham

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M. W. CUNNINGHAM HUMOROUS ENTERTAINER
MASTER OF HIS PROFESSION
Cumberland, Md.

Permanent address Cedar Falls rr03 Washington St. Ja.


M. W. Cunningham: Humorous Entertainer

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Announcement
For a speaker to merit noteworthy praise in this day of various entertainments and platform attractions, he must not only give to his audience that which has upon it the stamp of excellency from a literary view point, but, in presenting character sketches and monologues, he must be able to conceal his individuality to such an extent that his auditors can see the characters without seeing the individual.  This particular characteristic, combined with naturalness and a well modulated voice, has become so noticeable in the work of Mr. Cunningham that wherever he has appeared, either as teacher or entertainer, he has won unstinted praise.  Mr. Cunningham is a graduate of King's School of Oratory, Pittsburg, Pa.  For the past two years he has been professor of oratory at New Castle, Pa.  He is filling a large number of return engagements this season.  Hear him once and you will want to hear him again.



Commendation

Johnstown, (Pa.) Democrat
—All who heard him last night were delighted and when he returns to this city a larger auditorium than the First Baptist Church will have to be secured.


Freeport, (Ill.) Journal
— The entertainment given last evening at the First Baptist Church by M. W. Cunningham was in every way a success.


Salamanca, (N. Y.)
—The large audience greatly appreciated his clean and happy selections, rendered in the most eloquent language and filled with pathos and humor. REV. K. T. JAQUAY, Pastor M. E. Church.



Braddock, (Pa.) Leader
—His power of expression is remarkable and his splendid presence coupled with a magnificent voice, assures attention from every auditor.


Grove City, (Pa.) Herald
—Although this was his first appearance before a Grove City audience, he was nevertheless well received, and his excellent executions many times brought the house down in prolonged applause.  He has the power of holding his audience from start to finish.


Youngstown, (O.) Democrat
—Held his audience spellbound by his eloquence or had it in an uproar of laughter throughout the entire evening.


Braddock, (Pa.)—His impersonations are far above the average efforts of readers.  I can cheerfully and heartily recommend him to churches or other organizations that wish to secure one who will give universal satisfaction.  His selections are pure, chaste, and highly instructive.  REV. JOHN J. LEBERMAN, Pastor St. Luke's Reformed Church.


Salamanca (N. Y.) Reporter
—The program consisted of readings from Tennyson, Riley, Dickens, and Shakespeare and other monologues.  That no one was disappointed in this, his second appearance here, was proven by his being asked for a third engagement.

Crawfordsville, (Ia.)—The audience was highly pleased and Fine was the verdict of all.  He is an artist in his line and wins his hearers by a very natural manner in which he portrays a splendid variety of characters.  He gives a rare treat of stirring pathos and clean fun.  His Christian character gives an uplifting tone to all his work. — REV. J. S. COTTON, Pastor Presbyterian Church.

Johnstown, (Pa.)—He is natural, realistic, forceful, graceful and refined.  For nearly two hours he obtained and held the riveted attention of a crowded house, and swayed the people into tears or laughter at his own free will, as he was abundantly master of the situation. — OWEN JAMES, Pastor First Baptist Church.

Mahoningtown, (Pa.)—He was well received, and the same people would be glad to hear him again.  He is a safe man. — T. W. DOUGLASS, D. D., Pastor M. E. Church.


Clarion (Pa) Republican.
—M. W. Cunningham gave a delightful entertainment in the Presbyterian Church on Monday evening.  As an impersonator Mr. Cunningham could hardly be excelled and he is able to handle a number of different parts in one selection with great skill, showing him to be a master of elocution.

Sharon, (Pa.)—The program was very entertaining and he made a hit. — Pittsburg dispatch.

New Castle, (Pa.)—The return elocutionary entertainment by Prof. Cunningham in our church last night was enjoyed very much by all present.  In his impersonation of characters he excelled. — J. ELMER CAMPBELL, Pastor Third U. P. Church.

Springfield, (Ill.)—I regard Mr. M. W. Cunningham as an artist along all lines of elocution.  In monologues he may be pronounced especially fine.

As an impersonator, and in the rendition of his humorous numbers, he has had no superior in Springfield.

Mr. Cunningham is careful in all his parts, without apparent effort, displaying a highly cultivated technique, without being too precise.  In a word, naturalness characterizes the work of Mr. Cunningham, which is the best that can be said of anyone, as it makes the true artist.—EVA MUNSON SMITH

(MRS. GEO. CLINTON SMITH)
Retired elocution teacher of twenty-five years experience;
Ex-State Superintendent Associate Medal Contest Department;
State Sup't Enforcement of Law;
Author of Women in Sacred Song.

New Castle, (Pa.)—He sympathizes (i. e. feels with) the characters he portrays — and the audience always feels with him.  It is a pleasure to me, also, to testify to the integrity, uprightness and gentlemanly qualities of Prof. Cunningham when he is not on duty. — JOHN SNAPE, Pastor First Baptist Church.


Mt. Union, (Pa.) Times.
—From the stand-point of a good, first-class entertainment, Mr. Cnnningham occupies a high place and varies his program with striking sketches of pathos, wit and humor.

Youngstown, (O.)—He was most enthusiastically received.  The people were delighted, the management of the Lecture Course happy, and Mr. Cunningham is wanted for a return date. — Sincerely W. S. JENKINS, Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church, Youngstown, O.





Crawfordsville, (Ia.) Weekly
—An impersonator of wonderful ability.  He came highly recommended and fulfilled all expectations.



More condensed

Words of praise

Christian gentleman

Universal satisfaction

Naturalness characterizes his work

Naturalness, variety and realism

Is wanted for a return date

Natural, forceful, graceful and refined

Greatly appreciated

Has had no superior in Springfield

An artist in his profession

Master of his art

Is a safe man

Management of lecture course happy

People were delighted

Enthusiastically received

Rare treat of pathos and clean fun

Splendid variety of characters

One of the best I have ever heard

No one disappointed

A bounds in pathos, wit and humor

Thoroughly reliable

Of wonderful ability

Read the inside



A FULL EVENING
Program

Reading from Tennyson
Reading from Riley
* The Obstructive Hat
A humorous monologue of three characters.
Their First Spat
A very laughable scene.
* Scene from David Copperfield
Characters: Mr. Wickfield, David Copperfield, Mis, Trotwood, Agnes Wickfield, Uriah Heep.
Courtship Under Difficulties
Determined lover is frequently interrupted by passing peddlers.
* Daisy Bulger and the Duke
Humorous dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Bulger.
Pat Connor
A very pathetic story.
* April Fools
A very laughable monologue of two characters.
* Scene from Julius Caesar
Shakespeare Characters: Brutus, Mark Antony.
* Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Pike
A monologue of five characters, humorous and having a moral.
She Didn't Want Gas
Garrulous woman tells dentist of all her friends' experience with gas.

* All characters are impersonated.




Kane, (Pa.) Leader
— His second engagement here.  He has well mastered his art.


Springfield, (Illinois) State Register
—His program was a very versatile one.  The scene from David Copperfield was a fine piece of impersonation.  The scene from Julius Caesar was given in masterly style.  Those who heard Mr. Cunningham were profuse in their expressions of pleasure and satisfaction at the evening's entertainment, and will always welcome him back to Springfield.