The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-03
CLOSED DOWN THE EMPIRE
Glaciers Ca~rolinians Refused Permis-
sion TO Give Even q Free Concert,
But a Much More Objectionable Performance
at Mozart Hall Not lnterfered With-What
q Reporter Saw at the Place.

A combination of colored jubilee singers.
known as Glaciers Carolinians. was ad-
vertised TO appear ct the Empire Theater
last night to give an entertainment con-
slsting of q number of popular negro
melodies and sacred songs. A portion of
the receipts of the house were to have been
set aside for the benefit of the Alpha
Home for Aged Colored People. and it was
so stated on all of the bills circulated in
advertisement. On Saturday notice was
served on the management of the theater
that il they tried TO give the per-
formance those participating would
be arrested. and last night. when
the time arrived fer the raising of the cur
tain. there were q dozen or more policemen
in the house. Finding that the city author
tiles were opposed to the entertainment,
George Glazier, the manager of the troupe.
refused to charge any admission to those
who applied for entrance. and at 8 o'clock
the house was nearly filled. Captain Quig-
ley, who was in charge OF the officers pres
ent, absolutely refused to allow the per-
Torrance to proceed, saying that his orders
were imperative, and hat this business OF
giving Sunday performances at the
theaters had got to come TO q stop
~ once. MT. Ul8Ll6I, lLOlu tHO
the house that he would be obliged to dis
appoint them, owing to police interference:
and In q few minutes the seats were emptieu
and the house was dark. Mr.. Glazier said
afterward that he had never encountered
suoh treatment before in all OF his career.
One week ago last night his troupe sang at
the Second Baptist Church of this oity, the
Sunday before that at the Presby terrain
Church at Upton. Ind. the week before
that Mt tho prAshvf tartan ChurNh at
Lafayette. and so on. He said that
he had been urged by the secretary OF
the Y. NJ. G. a. of this city to appear az
their ball, and that negotiations were pend
ing for an appearance at the Second Pres
byterian Church of this city.
Orders to the police were issued from the
Board of Public Safety. Not long
q q benefit to raise money to
defray the expenses of the Cleve:
land Club to Washington at the time of
the Inauguration of the man for whom the
club was named was given at the Empire
Theater. 1t consisted of q full-tledged
minstrel performance, &C which all or the
topical songs of the day were sung, knock
about comedians appeared in all sorts of
grotesque performances, and the evening
was gwen over to fun aud frolic never ex-
celled In the weekday shows. At this
the police Judge of the city appeared on
the stage. and in a public speech pro-
nounoed 1t q landable enterprise. The
Board of Public Safety had nothing to say
about it. and prominent. among the specta-
tors on that occasion were the solfsame Of
ioers who stopped the performance last
night.
Since that time there have been gwen at
the Empire Theeter q number OF perform
ances which have smacked of the regular
everyday manner Of amusing theater pa
irons, but nothing has been said or done.
But the discrimination does not end there.
Last night. at Mozart Hall. was given an
entertainment the like of which probably
never was seen on q stage of one of the city
theaters. There was singing by Quartets
and duets and solos. instrumental music.
and the whole winding up with an exhi-
bition of sloight-Of-ha performances by
q couple of professionals who are wIntering
In the city. There was nothing out of the
way in the performance In itself. but In
the same room with it a bar was run.
was filled with men. women and girls.
A great many of them were old FOUNDERS.
inmates of immoral houses and of the class
known as street-walkers. and some were
those who looked as though they were new
to suoh scenes. Little attention was paid
to the performers. and, in fact, could not
be. as q continual stream of noisy people
were pouring up to the place where beer
terprise made the remark that he and his
associates would not clear expenses
unless the receipts at the bar did so.
At IL O'Clock the curtain of the
miniature stage was rung down.. the chairs
on the floor were hurriedly thrust TO one
side. and In less time than it takes to tell 1t
q full-f1edged dance was in progress. While
all of these festivities were in progress two
policemen appeared on the scene. They
shook hands around with q number of
people they knew, asked the boys if they
were having q nice time and then departed.
Before the hour of midnight had struck
half the people in the hall were moro or
less under the influence of the refresh.
ments served. and a night of h~Igh-handed
revelry had set in.
All day yesterday the gambling houses
were running in full blast. Howe's. Irons,
Rahke's and many of the lesser places
scooped in the shekels that might better
have been spent for Easter flowers at S5 o
dozen. and the saloons were thro Ged all
day. These things. perhaps. do not come
to the notice of the Board of Public Safety,
but they are 90. and yet q compshy of jnbi.
lee sin gers cannot sing y few Of the old
songs thai all people like so we'll without
fear of arrest. The Democratic dislike of
dermatlc color was advanced as the cause
of the discriminating spesm of virtue.