OCR Text |
Show Idle Soldiers in Europe Require Entertainment and Diversion More Than Ever The close of the war does not mean that the need for theatrical entertainers entertain-ers to entertain American troops In France has ended or even diminished. On the contrary, it is greater than ever. It is obvious that many American Ameri-can soldiers will remain in Europe for a long time. With idle time on their hands, lacking the excitement and exaltation ex-altation of battle, tiiey must have clean, wholesome entertainment. So the Young Men's Christian association asso-ciation and America's Over There Theater league, which have co-operated in sending entertainment units abroad, are now expanding their efforts. ef-forts. James Forbes, the playwright, accepts applications and organizes units. "From July 30 to November 9 we sent 302 entertainers abroad," Mr. Forbes announces. "We will continue to send as many as we can until the last American soldier Is out of France. Now that the fighting is over, they need amusement and diversion more than ever, and they keep urging and urging and urging us to send more players." Hitherto the performers sent abroad have been practically all vaudeville players. There were several reasons for this. Transportation was limited, so the traveling companies had to be small and they could not carry the scenery and costumes necessary for dramatic productions. From now on, however, Mr. Forbes says the soldiers will have drama as well as vaudeville. |