The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-27
BUSKIRK COLBERT SHOW
Cleveland Club Benefit, Under Police
Auspices, Draws Paying Crowds.
Sunday Night Theaters Inaugurated with q
Pretty Fair Minstrel Performsnce-Club
Going to Washington on the Receipts

The first annual benefit of the Cleveland
Club was given at the Empire Theater last
night, and was q success from both imam
cal and amusement point of view. The
club has advertised an excursion to Wash
ington at the time of the inauguration, and
it's prime object In last nights entertain
ment was the raising of money to help that
excursion to q success. The club will prob
ably clear about 81. 900 on it.
The curtain rose on house that filled
the lower floor seats and those of the first
gallery, and quite q number found their
way to the second one. The stage pre-.
sented q pretty picture. The first row
were in black face, aud were ranged in the
conventional semi circle, with four
bones" Dave Burdett, Dave Sowdero,
William Davis and Harry Rauh, and four
tambors. William Randall. Fred Cordell.
Gus Bernard and Ed Marine. at
either end. The interlocutor. James Fen
messy. sat in the center on q sort of
a raised dias with potted palms at either
side of him. o monarch enthroned in an up
holstered chair and dress suit. Behind
and ranged In rising tiers were prominent
members of the Cleveland Club in their
well-known uniforms and also mem bers OF
the Indianapolis Band In the black and
ceeded with plenty of vim and dash and
was by tar the best part OF the show.
There was some very good singing. and the
choruses were unusually well trained Tor
Clouds Away" who's Dat Calling" and
Sunday at Fairview Park" were received
with rapturous applause and nearly all of
the singers were compelled to respond to
encores. The first part concluded with
travesty on GilmOIe's famous band and
was laughablo.
Before the beginning of the rest Of the
programme the curtain was rung up. and
there appeared before tho fare OF the lights
the rotund form of Judge Buskirk. The
not afflicted with stage fright. and SAID his
little say with some grace. He lauded the
attempt of tho club In its efforts to 60 to
Washington in proper style. and assured
sion M Pennsylvanis avenue. He thought
that the boys that did the work ought to
have the spells, and that he was against
any favoritism that might be shown
had always believed that the fatted
calf told about In the story of the prodigal
| son was killed for the wrong person. and
| that those who went away and had good
recognized. The balance of the programme
| consisted of musical sketches, songs and
| dances and character sketches by local
| amateurs and were for the most part bet
| ter than was expected. The Sowder o
| brothers were we'll received, as were the
Misses Higgins. Hall and Glenn. who
| rendered vocal selections. Messrs. Henry
Rauh, William Davis. Gus Bernard.
| Price Henderson and Levi Portuni, of the
| Duckworth Club. Cincinnati. assisted in
| the performance. and contributed not q
little to Its euccess.
| The performance was witnessed by Super
| intendent of Police Colbert. who was
ushered into Office under the Democratic
| regime in 1891. with q flourish and herald
of reform repeated so often that even cer-
tain preachers believed IL and delivered
/ dfscourses about 1t. One of the com al n %
| In the campaign against his Republican
| predecessor was that the Park Theater had
| been allowed to open it's doors for sleig
Of-hand performances on Sunday nights.
| The News made frequent reference to this
| charge. 1t has been evident to observers
| for some time that the trend under Col.
| bert's management of police affairs
has been steadily and rapidly in
the direction Of wide. open Sunday theaters.
as wide open: in fact. as the saloon opposite
the Empire Theater was last night which
could not have escaped the notice OF
| SuDerin tendent Colbert. With the police
judge taking part IL the violation of law,
| and the superin tendent of police one of she
deadheads in the audience. there is nc
| longer pretense of reform. It has been
| suggested that q good topic for o sermon
would be, Where Are We Reformers Atp