Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-11
CHEAP. AMUsEsIENTs.
Where the Unfashionabie Glasses Go
what Sort of Entertai nm estt the y
Dem and-HOw National Character
islics are Manifested.

Where the Unfasht tOnab1e Glasses Go
what Sort of Entertainment they
Dem and-HOw National Character
istics are Manifested.
,ars from the New York Times.l
There is vast audience which never en-
ter S the Academy, nor the French Theater,
nor Steinway Hall, nor Wallack's, nor
Niblo'S, nor the New York Theater, nor
the Olympic, nor the Bowery, nor Bar
NUNS. Which never goes to see tragedies,
nor comedies, nor spectacles, nor famous
actresses, nor famous plays. An audience
which stays at home, or walks the streets,
when thei e is no entertainment offered that
it cares to see. Which is as exclusive in its
way, as opera goers are in theirs. Think
of it! An audience which does not know
nor care for the performers that the rest of
the world call 'great:"-tO which the
names of Ristori, Jefferson, Wallack, con-
vey no impression, but which adores GER
tain names that convey no meaning to our
ears. For we may read OF johnny
Thompson" and "Bob HART" and BILLY
Quin.'' and our pulses will be actually un-
moved, while this audience thrills at their
mention. And it is an audience much
greater than the audience we know about.
There are fifty thousand people who sup
port exclusively the highest styles OF
theatrical and musical performances: there
are two hundred thousand, perhaps, who
throng minor places of amusements that
tile rest know nothing whatever of. 1t you
want to find this great auditory, you
must go to Tony Pastors in the Bowery,
or to the "Theater Comique." or to But
ler's," or the Eighth Avenue Opera
House." or to the German Turner theaters
scattered over the city, the beer gardens
and the minstrel halls. If you look at the
programme of those places which issue pro-
grammes, you will discover what the taste
ot their patrons is the leading feature of
the entertainment is variety" the next
"Brevity.n "Brevity" is not to be under
stood as describing the length of the per-
formance, but the length of the various
items that make up the nights entertain
ment. This audience would look upon any
performance terminating before IL o'clock
as a fraud ulent imposition. 1t is a late sit
ting and steady sitting audience, but it de-
mands that there shall not be too much of
any one feature. 1t is restless audience
under repetition. When it encores per-
former, it does so, not with the Intention OF
seeing his performance over again, but of
seeing him do something else. 1t may be
deemed mean audience on this account,
since it tries to get two things instead OF
one out of the players; but the players hui
NOR this weakness. When they are engaged
and paid for six songs night, they are an
nounced for two only. and cheerfully give
the other four as encores.
The performances at the variety theaters
in close imitation of standard theatrica
entertainments, always begin with al
..overture," in which che several instru
ments, like Mr.. Crummles' orchestra, exc
cute unintentional variations on popular
airs. and before every piece of music thu
leader gives the traditional tap-tap-taI
with his bow on the desk before him. Fol
the programme, there are usually two
songs by some young lady of great self
possession-a red, red rose in the LETT sid,
of he waterfall, and a great deal of Ions
gold watch-guard. These two songs ar
encored twice each, which produces fou
more, and the young lady takes the recall
business. There are also couple of Irisl
songs and jigs, and comic Dutch sol
and dance, all of which are vehementl
applauded; also Spanish dance which tn
audieuce seem to be in doubt about, and
.-Grand Ballet" by halt dozen sylphs
yawn over. The great feature of the even
ing is budget Of Comicalities," a ''Port
folio of Mirth," or some similarly entitle'
entertainment, which simply consists O
three or four comic songs by favorit
comic singer. There are also some negr
banjo solos, and the now inevitable doubl
clog dance by two blacked boys dressed i
laced breeches and wooden-soled shoes
The entire performance concludes with
s.comic scene," or a short pantomime, or
local sensational drama lasting fifteen min
utes, or a Fenian tragedy of ten minute
duration. or some such exciting prOdut
tion, strictly original.
1t will e observed that no intellectus
effort is demanded of the audience in orde
to appreciate this nights entertainment.
there be anything in the performances tina
savors of complication in dialogue or plo1
the spectators eat or sleep.
The managers know this, and the SCUM
of peanuts crushing up stairs, and the fur
tive sucking of oranges by the ladies i
the parquette, warns them TO ''cut that
Although the 'Grand Ballet" is not
great favorite with the audiences at chea
amusements, national feeling runs high
and the Irish song and dance is always
favorite. The performances in this line
too, are generally very good; and the.
must be. The manager may give mutilat
ed farce and cheap ballet to the masses
but he must give them thoroughly Iris
or German deliDeation. There is anothe
point on which popular audiences won
be deceived: the singers must possess fai
voices. They do not demand brilliancy q
execution, but they will hiss fiat notes ant
laugh at too much falsettO. Old performer
at such places who have lost their voices
but ale forced for living to try and sing