The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
BLACK PATHS TrOuha1ours.

A genuine festival of mrth and melody
will be offered by Black PATHS Trouba-
dours on the occasion Of their perform
ances at the Academy next Friday NATL
nee and night. This organization has
earned the reputation of being the best
Of its kind ever organized In this coun-
try and is credited with giving per-
Torrance which embodies a blending Of
opera. comedy, burlesque and vaudeville,
embelished with magnificent costumes
and appropriate scenery and stage set
tings. There are fifty people in the com
pany, which includes Black Patti. who IS
one OF the greatest negro singers thls
generation has heard.
The first hour and a half OF the even
ing is devoted to the comedy and spectac-
ular forces, in which is introduced the
most novel and merriest skit of the times.
called "At jolly Coney Island" In this
skit life at the "Bowery" OF this famous
resort Is pictured. This affords splen-
did vehicle for the comedians and spe-
cialty performers TO dsport their diversi-
fed talents. The skit is a medley Of
bright sayings and up-to-date songs and
dances. in which the "coon songs" and
buck dances" the bicycle girl' and the
ICON man with the glass hand are
prominent features.
The vaudeville olio which follows IS
made up of varied and startling acts,
and this is followed by the sensational
operate Kaleidoscope which has made a
tremendous success wherever the com
pany has appeared. 1t is in this part of
the entertainment where the company
gives evidence of its superiority. The
operate kaleidoscope only lasts about
thirty minutes. and during that time
glorious review OF the best solo, quartette
and choral numbers Of Faust" Car
men" "Trovatore, Grand Duchess.
"Tar and Tartar. bohemian Girl
Mariana" "Luccia and Rigoletto.'
The costumes worn by the company
are said to he magnificent and costly
They were made by Herman. the great
London costumer. formerly with Sir
Henry Irving.
An interesting Member of the order of
the Full Moon is Ernest Hogan. the
composer of "All Coons Look Alike 20
Me-" Honey You Made a Hit With
Nc" and the popular arrangement Of
the old rakish essence dance. the Pas
ma-la" In spite of Hogans elastic name,
he is an unbleached negro. Hogan's
father and mother were slaves and Ernest
was born near Bowling Green. Ky. When
the ragged. forlorn days OF reedom struck
the little pickaninny, of Bowling Green
he ran away with troupe of strolling
VaCabonds who caioled him 10 dance I'm
his marvellous way. sing his odd lsping
plantation songs and act In his funny
little monkey fashion as an attraction of
their ho0tless show. He had a rough
time of il for while and knocked about
from pillar to post. many times nearly
starved in his honest persistence TO make
q way to recognition. where he felt he
rad talent He was an astonishing nero
bat and dancer; he wrote plays and va
riety sketches. farces and finally COM
posed one of the hundred and one golden
gates" melodies which he sold 10 Hallen
and Hart for $40 and upon which that
enterprising firm realized about 5000 free
OF royalties.
Hogan Is the leading comedian OF the
BLACK Patti Troubadours. Besides him
there are n dozen other funny negro COM
edlans and dancers. and the manner In
which they execute the cake walk Is said
10 be irresistibly mirth-provoking.
To Richmond audience this combna-
ton will prove novelty. In all the large
Western and Southern cities In which the
company has played the occasion has been
one Of the social amusement features.