Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-06
The Play s the Thing

Not the man who runs the nation, the greatest show on earth, not Grover, but William, the minstrel magnate, W. s., says: ''The only bills that are occupying my mind at this time are the bills that pass in at the box office and Bill Cleveland; the congress that am most interested in IS my own congress of artists, and they are in perfect unison, because they are in fact and name ''all united.',
 Money is tight to be sure, aud that is be- cause we have been using it a little immod- erately when it was more plentiful. Hun- dreds of dramatic organizations are in the field, and the supply of melodrama, farce comedy and dress coat comedy is in excess of the demand now, as 1t was before the panic. Theatricals are dreadfully oVer- done, and, may say, uudone In many cases, and it has been in minstrelsy. There has been division among the min- strel patrons of this country for number of years, some demanding the revival of old time min strelsy aud the others ciamor- ing for the up-to. date article. With the usual determination to please the public, and realizing at all times what was de- sired, have this season consolidated my three enterprises into one gigantic massive company, giving the public an opportunity of witnessing old time and modern min- streisy at one and the same time for one and the same admission.
 One complete all white star artists, pre- senting modern minetrelsy up to date. One separate and complete all coiored company, presenting old time minstrelsy, scenes, songs, dances, etc., and Beui Houg Zoug's Arab circus. Seventy five people in all.
 Positively so big that the railroads are obliged to run an extra section of their regular trains in order to handle them. The money spent for transportation ot this company daily alones would pay all ex- penses for three ordinary minstrel shows. Two brass bands, two orchestras, two first parts and two programmes.
 They will appear sim ultaueously at each performance, at matinee and evening, to- duy at O'Brien's.
 Everybody who can possibly be on the street at noon today should not fail to come and see the largest and grandest minstrel parade ever made in this city.
 1.-THE SOUTH BEFORE THE WAR"
 Monday evening next a delightful per formance will be present ted at O'Brien's. It Is 1.-The South Before the War; The Boston Globe says Of it:
 " 'The South Before the War is the title of tue spectacular, musical comedy, the current attraction at Austin's Palace theater. There are at least seventy five people in the company. under the man agement of Wballen & Marell, and the show in it's entirety is one of the best pre- sentatioDs of life on plantation given in this city for years.
 s'The scenes aud incidents are laid in the colored quarters of a plantation during the slavery days.' While the principal char acters are assumed by white people, real ism Is secured by the aid of fifty colored ju- blee singers and dancers, several yokes of oxen and trick donkey.
 "Everywhere the show has been given enormous houses have been the rule judg- ing from yesterdays audience at the Pal ace, Boston will be no exception. Last evening many were turned away.
 '.Humor and pathos are well blended throughout the performance, aud the TO- mantle and spectacular features add addi- tonal interest and pleasure. The pretty quadroon girls are very attractive.
 "fhere will be cake walking for gold aud silver medals and a wedding cake every afternoon and evening. The entries for these competitions are open to everybody excepting the members of the company.
 "Col. Charles Smith of Mobile Is master of onjes, and absolute fairness will be shown to all contestants.'
 GRAND MUSIC.
 The greatest of all musical events that has occurred in Birmingham in many years will be the coming of the great and only band of the nation. And the fact that while in other cities S1 and Sl. 50 is being charged, our local management has seen fit to make the price 25, 50, 75 and S1, 6lOuiQ Insure tue leStluG Oi tHe CdphCity of the house at the performance next Tuesday night.
 The ga le of seats oper Monday morning at the theater box office.
 The United States Marine band, under the leadership of Professor Faucuilli, which is known as the pet of the White House and the departments of the capital city, is now making tour of the southern states by special permission of the presi- dent and secretary of the navy.
 Tha ri hon i'd nf skilled musicians, and is acknowledged to be without peer among the musical organ izations of the country. This tour Is lm- ited by the president to the south and per cation of Secretaries Carlisle, Herbert and Smith, together with numerous senators and represen tatives.
 The Marine band officiates at all the social and diplomatic functions at the White House, and especially at inaugura. tions and inaugural balls.
 Professor Fanciulli, the present director of the Marine band, Is thorough musician in every respect composer who stands without a peer, and director of high ability. He has attained the greatest amount of good results from the band, and is known as strict disciplinarian.
 This is the first southern tour since the band was organized 100 years ago, and Tuesday night next will be the only oppor- tunity offered to the music-loving people of Birmingham for many years to come to hear this famous band.
 The band IS being received everywhere | with the greatest en nthusiasnn, and never in the history of musical ventures of the south has such an ovation been rendered to any l organization as that of the Marine band. l
 Miss Carrie Roma, prima donna, is 9 | feature of the performance. She possesses | a most beautiful soprano voice, splendidly | cultivated and under perfect control. MT. Frank Thompson, cornetist; MT. Henry | Jaegeu. futist, and MT. Louis Gebicke, trom bone, are solo artists of ability, and ih l thorough keeping with the standard of the l band.
 Anything that goes out with Uncle Sam's l