Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-03-25
A. F. D. MINSTRELS.
ROusing Comedy Presented by the Alma
Fire Department.
Songs. Jokes. Everything Up to Date. and Fine
Acting Throughout

Songs. Jokes. Everything Up-to- Date and Fine
Acting Throughout.
The opera house was crowded TO its
utmost capacity Monday evening by an
audience anxious to witness the long
talked of entertainment by the Alma
Fire Department. Travelling companies
have many of them attracted good houses
this year but none have had so large an
audience as that which assembled Tues
day evening TO be entertained by burnt
cork show and by home actors in a play
written by home talent.
The first part of the program consisted
mainly of music by the Alma orchestra,
songs by members of the department
and funny jokes" by the four funny
endmen, Messrs. Jonsing, Washington,
Snowfall and Jackson, alias Messrs
Fatty, Fishbeck, Vought and Sartor, re-
spectively.
The program was begun with an over
ture by the orchestra, which was fol-
lowed by selection by the entire de-
partment, Garry Me Back TO Old Vir-
ginia. This was sung behind the
scenes and was very pleasing to the
audience, securing from the very first
their undivided attention.
While the orchestra was playing a
second overture the curtain rose, and
the rest of the overture was played as an
accompaniment TO the music of the
bones and tambos which were played
by the four endmen mentioned above
Mr.. Washington, one or the endmen,
sang Down on the Ohio and Mr.. Jon
sing sang Ma Ca line" The next was
vocal selection, BLACK Baby Mine, -
by the A. f. ID. quartet, composed OF
Messrs Vought, Fishbeck, Moore and
Fuller, after which Mr.. Peterson, alias
Archie Vought, sang Push Along
After another selection by the quartet,
composed this time of Messrs. Vought,
Fishbeck, Moore and Bro vn, Mr.. Jack
son sang the Lime Kiln Club" These
solo selections were al interspersed
with jokes and funny sayings by the
four endmen.
An overture by the orch stra was given
between the two parts of the program.
All of their Sc ections were very fine
and merit nothing but praise. Prof
Glasson's arrangement of the music
showed great skill and could not have
been better.
The first number on the second part OF
the program was an up-to date solo
Captain of the Coon Town Guards" by
Master Joe McCarty, who deserves much
credit for his excellent rendition of this
piece.
The Gun Drill by the department was
a pretty sight, the uniforms being very
becoming and the discipline almost per-
feet, showing careful training and doing
much credit to Capt. Soper.
The last on the program was the comic
sketch in three scenes, "a Trip to the
City," written by member Of the com.
pauy for this entertainment. 1t was the
interesting story of Uncle Reubens visit
at his nephew's in the city and the sub
sequent intrigues of different ones to get
all his money away. Messrs. ID. Vought
Brown, Fatty, Sartor, Fuller, Moore anc
j. Vought took the characters in thi.
play and all of them performed theil
parts well. j.. Fatty, who represented
Uncle Reuben, and j. Sartor, who tool
the part of Cinch, the colored servant
and later of the Indian cigar sign. de.
serve especial mention for the profes
sional manner of their acting.
There were other numbers by the or
chestra and A. f. d. quartet than thos,
mentioned, and in the second part g
Fishbeck sang several solos in an excel
lent manner. The whole entertainment
was satisfactory TO the audience and on,
of which the firemen may Justly be proud
The firemen in their turn are very
grateful to the citizens and business mel
OF Alma for their liberal patronage
Their new room has been neatly frescoeS
and papered, and the proceeds of thi
entertainment will be USED for the pur
chase Of carpet, fixtures, book case
| and most especially book.