Please Don't Quote Me By Caralee Aschenbrenner PART II Way down on the levee the paddle wheelers anchored on the sloping beach near the cobblestone ramp, the steam organ playing the most current rag and the much-loved polkas. The music drew passengers, prospective gamblers, travelers going West, town residents the curious. Many of those beautiful ornate boats were not just floating palaces fitted up to lure travelers or tourists, but carried immense loads of cargo, too ... Barrels of molasses, cotton, animal pelts, whiskey, potatoes and much else, coming and going at the near frontier.

Often, other than the practical and prosaic, there were the necessary luxuries (!!!) to entice those seeking an uncommon trip (comfortable) aboard the cumbersome ships of the Mississippi. There were limitless food buffets and plays and music right before the very toes of the audience packed in shoulder-to-shoulder on the faux gilded chairs.

Perhaps the trip upriver from St. Louie, Moe had as its entertainment the Greater Barlow Minstrel Show to encourage merrymaking. Like all theatrical troupes that era, everyone did double duty; musicians moved props and scenery; actors did a stage managers' job or a specialty act between scenes; make-up extras did magic; the ingenue (aging too fast!) took care of costumes. Troupes were an autonomous clan living together at all times as they did.

The excursion boat carrying the Greater Barlows had a trumpet player named Jack Brooks, that about the turn-of-the century, 1900. Coming to know Jack Brooks in later years you might guess he'd have gradually taken over some key position like stage manager because he was so able and alert.

Lately from St. Louis, he was slim, slightly built, a direct gaze and an ageless face, a sense of humor and friendliness that won over the most serious stranger. It's no wonder he'd guide a theatrical stock company the next forty-plus years although it was a tough, demanding lifestyle.

Limited, undated references do not give us a clear, detailed summary of the career of Jack Brooks and Maude Tomlinson (last week) so go easy on PDQ Me with the why, what and where of the Brooks company which evolved to become the longest running stock company under the same owner/managers in the United States. Their headquarters were in Sabula, Iowa, as were others there too.

Yes, Sabula, that quiet little town just across from Carroll County, Northwest Illinois, had the distinction of being host to a unique chapter in our area's history. What do we know today about that colorful chapter in America's past? Traveling tent shows were an enjoyable, uncommon facet of the entertainment phases of yesterday but only a small part remains to give us a hint.

Some actors, musicians, players in a theatrical troupe remained years with one company while some jumped show-to-show. In the case of Jack Brooks he left the Greater Barlow to, apparently, join Gifford-Haering, theatrics which gave both comedy and tragedy.

Its repertoire included such memorable titles as Other People's Money, The Deserter, Struck Gas, Capt. Racket, The Mortgaged Farm, with it was advertised, "polite vaudeville between acts" and the "latest pleasing music."

Just as Maude Tomlinson had taken the role of "reader" for a retired Miss Neale with the experienced performers of the Patricola concert group, she was in the correct place when the Fates were feeling about for an ingenue for the Gifford-Haering Company when their became ill. Only six more weeks were left in the season ... Most leading ladies would already under contract ... Know a quick study? ... Someone who could memorize? ... Overcome stage fright? ... Anyone local?

Of course Maude Tomlinson, the elocutionist. She wasn't "Show Biz" but she was willing to try it a time or two. That role lasted more than forty years. It goes to show ya' how Fate can step in more than once in a person's life.

The review following is undated but is early in the careers of Brooks and Tomlinson because it's Gifford and Haering in which company both were employed.

In part from the Hanover News ... "Gifford and Haering left for Stockton to play this coming week. This troupe during their week's stay here pleased the entire public, putting on drama such has never been seen in Hanover. The list of dramas was 'Man and Master, Mortgaged Farm, The Deserter, Creole's Revenge, Counterfeiters, and Prince of Liars' the company carries twelve people, ladies and gentlemen, who have great dramatic talent. James Mythen, the tenor, is without an exception the finest we have ever heard. Jack Brooks, the comedian, gave some hearty jokes that were highly enjoyed being all new and fresh. Miss Maude Tomlinson, as a singer and actress, won the praise of all the people by her sweet singing and charming, graceful acting. She is also a reader being quite noted in various towns around here ... It is hoped by the entire community that this same troupe will visit us again next season for they more than give the people their money's worth ..."

Does reference hint too that it was love at first sight for Jack with Maude? A source gives that he gave "undue notice" of that sweet little ingenue who with her mother was looking through some window as Jack was playing his trumpet ... Pleasingly, as promotions worded it. Maude and her mother were said to have been hesitant of making the acquaintance of some slick show biz ac-TOR. Jack, however, was so enamored of the small town girl that even his company's manager had to severely reprimand him time and again for constantly staring at her. But eventually he'd impressed the two women of his sincerity and won her attention.

They'd met in 1905 and in April of 1906 they married in Decorah, Iowa on tour. When the season ended they were expected to go to St. Louis to meet his family, then spend the summer in Sabula, the first of many off-seasons, preparing for the on-season. It was the beginning of a long marriage ending only with Jack's death in 1953. They also had a home in Clinton, Iowa where a son was born to the couple in 1914, Thomas. A nanny was employed for about three years to take care of him while the company, the Brooks Stock Co., was touring. As Tom grew older he became a part of the backstage jobs and on-stage extras until, as an adult, he was a handsome, 6'2" leading man. By the time of his adulthood moving pictures were the center of entertainment and tent shows were on their way out. Tom Brooks might well have been part of the improving movie industry but by 1941 he'd taken a leave of absence from the stock company to join the Merchant Marine and while in New York City he was shot and killed on the street in some tragic incident. No other details are available but he was returned to Sabula where he was buried in the sequestered town cemetery. Besides his mother and father, Tom Brooks was survived by his wife, Barbara Guy and daughter, Stephanie. Barbara urged her in-laws to continue with their business. Little Stephanie visited them during "the season;" from the home of her mother in Kansas City, Missouri.

Now, without a child to serve as family the Brooks' even more relied on the members of the company to be surrogate. Their pianist and his wife were with them for nearly twenty yearsa family. A friend of Jack's, "Ad" Aulger, disbanded his own company to serve as manager of the Brooks' Stock Co. as Jack's health began to fail.

Several others did their part also so the troupe continued on to become the longest known touring stock company in the United States under family direction.

The couple had married in 1906 and presumably were first together in the Gifford-Haering Co. In 1911, however, they borrowed $500 from Maude's mother, by then Mrs. J.B. Miller (Barney) at Sabula. From the $500 grew a positive investmenta tradition, an annual event in dozens of towns throughout the Midwest for over forty years. Everywhere the Brooks company had a reputation as good, clean entertainment; fresh and creative wherever they appeared.

Next week.

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