On This Day, 9 February 1917

Birmingham Daily Post       

Friday 9 February 1917

MATINEE FOR WOUNDED SAILORS AND SOLDIERS

BIG GATHERING AT THE EMPIRE

It is becoming a familiar sight to see motor-car after motor-car pull up outside places of amusement, and discharge their loads of soldiers and sailors broken or disabled in fighting for their country. Familiar, too, is the scene inside—the bulk of the seating accommodation occupied by men in khaki or hospital “blues”, many of them with arms in slings, some minus a lower limb, and others with broad bandages where the cap should be; rows of nurses looking, as they always do, efficient, capable, sympathetic, and attractive in their “natty” dresses and headgear; and the enthusiastic demonstrations that awake the echoes of the hall as artist after artist gives of his or her best to entertain.

That was roughly what one saw at the Empire yesterday afternoon, when from 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers and sailors and nurses enjoyed a performance arranged by the South Birmingham Joint Political War Committee, of which Mr. Laurence C. Tipper is the chairman. The programme was a long one. It lasted four hours—four hours in which Tommy and Jack forgot their aches and pains and physical disabilities in the succession of good “turns” provided by all the artists appearing this week at the Empire, and some of those at the Grand Theatre. Such entertainments possess decided therapeutical properties—properties perhaps more potent than the medicaments of the physician—and if there is one thing that does credit to the purveyors it is the obvious delight they take in ministering to the pleasure of the man who has done his bit for the Empire. Choruses were caught up quickly and rolled out lustily; applause came in volleys. Miss Marie Loftus gave her inimitable character studies; Waters and Morris, a scena,” Father and Son,” which proved a happy blend of comedy and sentiment; Mabel Mann’s contralto voice rang out full and strong; Rinaldo, clad in corduroy, coaxed some sweet tones from the violin when not engaged in trick work; Cooper Mitchell told some funny stories; and Witt and Butt did wonders with the help of a piano. Of course there were lots of others who ought to be mentioned, but it would take too long. Patter and song, gymnastics and dancing, all came in turn, and the result was, just what it was bound be, a thorough success.