The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-01-26
GREAT SUCCESS.
CHARITY MINSTREL PERFORMANCE
GIVEN AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
GREAT CROWD IN ATTENDANCE
Performance Proves to be One of the Finest
Ministries Ever Given in this City and
the Worthy Poor will Receive Many
Donations as q Result

thing of the past and it will go down in
history as the most successful amateur
production ever given in Kenosha.
The affair was pronounced success,
surprising even the fondest hope of its
promoters and the splendid perform
ance given by the gentlemen shows
that Kenosha has an array of musical
talent rarely found in town Of it's size.
The crowd was one of the largest
ever assembled in the opera house
Every seat was taken from the ones
down by the orchestra up to the ones
in the famous peanut gallery. All
classes of citizens were there and
everybody seemed glad to give their
little mite for the assistance OF the
worthy poor. Everybody expected to
be roasted and so far as we can learn
every one of the people were fully sat
isfed and the crowd applauded only
the more when the little jokes had
touch characteristic of the person at
whom they were aimed. The show,
the songs and the well arranged take
offs were all local and for this reason
they produced more than usual merri-
ment.
Aside from this fact the show was
one of unusual merit and rarely has so
good a performance been given in
Kenosha even by the oldest trOupes.
When the curtain was rung up at s
o'clock, the sight presented was one of
the old time minstrel type. Every
thing was black except the white collars
and the red carnations, which were
everywhere in evidence on all parts Of
stage.
The opening chorus, with which the
young black face artists greeted their
friends, was beautiful one and showed
that the boys had been excellently
trained. On the right end, presiding
over the bones, we're Sam Davis, Siegel
Conley and W. A. Field, while on the
left end, Keck Wheeler, Charles Ernst
and Cliff Garst presided over the
tambos and this sextette of end men,
with johnson Jackson, as interlocutOr,
kept up a perfect blast OF jokes during
the whole evening. No one was missed
| but every local celebrity was given
every hot shot that could be found.
The Board of Supervisors were espec-
tally favored and received some very
pointed hits on their recent actions.
During this continual firing of jokes
and gags the following vocal numbers
ere introduced:
Won't You be MY Little Girl. -. Fred Parkhill
| Everybody Have Good Time. ......C H Ernst
BY the Cottage Where was Born......
F L Ellsworth
I'm Looking For New Home Now.
Keck Wheeler
In the Shadow of the Pines. $3.50. H w Marden
| Oh, I'll Meet you Oar. ................ w Field
| Only Simple. Story ...... =. L E Kaltenbach
My Creole Sue. ........................F x Swift
Darktownis Out Tcnigh Sam Davis
All the songs were exceedingly we'll
rendered and called forth hearty
encores from the large audience.
Just before the song of Mr.. Wheeler
the entire crowd, troupe and all was
thrown into confusion by the introduce
ton of Johnson Jackson's famous billy
goat on the stage. The goat seemed
to be very much at home and the in
terlocutOr was completely taken back,
but was finally rescued from his trying
position by Mr.. Wheeler removing the
goat by force.
George Villas, one of the old Kenosha
favorites, was present and the inter.
locutOr announced that he would sing
song. Messrs. Wheeler and Davis
started out to assist the distinguished
guest, but they we're met with such a
shower of eggs that-they were forced to
retire.
The first part of the performance
ended in a grand finale and dance led
by Mr.. Davis, and in which the entire
company took part.
After short intermission a quarte.te
consisting of Messrs. Field, Wheeler,
Frost and Ellsworth, sang in beauti-
full manner negro oddity entitled,
While We Listen to the Ringing of
the Bells" They were heartily en-
Icored and sang the last measure of the
chorus A." backward".
The lobsterscope was next introduc-
ed and Joe Rhode and Miss Cantwell,
as the moving pictures amused the
audience in an enjoyable manner.
Harry Marden followed with an ad-
dress on Topics of the Day." and
while it was a rapid change from the
sublime to the ridiculous, the Kicker
man got off some good things. He
roasted everything from the Methodist
church down to the guiless newspaper
reporters in the city, and his address,
while rather long winded, was one of
the features of the evening.
Fred Stemm also made a great nit
with his topical song, ",Der Bin Dings
dot we Don't Good Explain" He was
repeatedly encored and got off several
parodies, which introduced local char