The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14

MINORS THEATER POPULAR PLACE
WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE.
eAmachoor Night" an Event Long to
he emembered-SOme of the
Choice Features.
star corresponaence OF the Journal.

AT Mlnor 3 BOWery lneater Is an event tnat
is worth going miles to see. 1t has long been
an established custom with the manage
ment Of this popular little East Side variety
theater to devote one evening, at the close
of each theatrical season, to the display of
amateur theatrical talent. The watchword
upon these gala occasions, is "Give the am
achoors a show" and Bowery theater-goers
Of all descriptions turn out to applaud or
disparage-as the case may be-the efforts
of their relatives acquaintance to shine
as stars of the mimic stage.
Saturday night was "amachoor night at
Minors. and the writer was on hand at an
early hour to share in the festivities. There
have been amateur nights in Indianapo
lis at the Empire upon the occasion of vari-
Gus Testimonial benefits" but such affairs,
boisterous as they may have been. were as
Sunday-school picnics when compared to
the evenings entertainment in the little
Bowery amusement house. The audience.
made up principally of men and boys. as
sembled early and prepared to stay late.
The theater, which is. perhaps. the ugliest
and most miserably planned playhouse
erected In modern times, was literally
packed with people long before the curtain
rose. Everybody smoked and everybody
"a persistent person who tramped up and
down the aisIes excitedly calling out, Now,
Will anybody else Presumably. his inten-
ton was to inquire If anybody else wanted
to buy song-book, but he was never per-
mitteG to get that far along. Indeed, it was
only rarely that he was allowed to say any
thing at all. 1t was by taking advantage of
every opening and by bringing into play the
most admirable stratagem that he managed
10 roar out four words at time. But four
words was the limit If he had ever sue
ceeded in making the rest of his sentence
heard above the boots and jeers of the
righteously indignant multitude there is no
telling what would have happened to him.
He seemed to be regarded by all the audi
tors present as a common enemy to be
squelched without mercy and, If need be,
completely annihilated.
When the song-book man had retired, de-
feated and forlorn. the audience settled
back in the uncomfortable seats with the
feeling that. come what may, the evening
had not been entirely wasted. And then
suddenly, without any Neutrality-suspicious.
even the customary orchestral overture
the curtain rose, disclosing barren little
stage with an upright piano on one side of
It, A short, sporty looking man stepped
forth from the wings and held up one hand
as plea for silence, for the boys in the
gallery had recognized him as the manager
Of a famous BOwery wrestler, and they
were bent upon holding a conversation with
him then and there. This man was the IAN
nouncer" for the evening. His business 1t
was to act as master of ceremonies and to
do all in his power to pacify the audience
whenever an outbreak threatened.
Ladies an gents" he began. in that pc
culiar BOwery English that is almost i'm
possible to set down on paper. yves gath
cred here dis evenin' for de poipose of givin'
de amachoors a show. Now, we don't want
no joshin'. an we don't want no insultin'
remarks made. Applaud as much as you
please. but remember dat youse gents, and
do yer best to behave like gents. De per-
former wot makes de biggest hit gets a
gold-headed cane an Will have a chance Of
gettin' professional engagement mex sea-
son with Bobby Manchester's boilesque
show. An now, wild yer kind attention. de
performance will Begin
ACTED AS SUBSTITUTE.
A young man in light ''summery' suit
of clothes came out before the audience
and took his seat at the piano. He was to
act as substitute for the regular theater or
closing OF the season, and was expected to
pound out the keyboard the accompani-
msnts to all OF the songs rendered during
the evening. He made brave start by
humping the ivory keys soundly in an in
troductory series OF ''barber-shop chords"
TO quote the remark of one of his admirers
in the audience.
DE foist performer on de bill will be
Rarn al eli Cd
the announcer. and youth of about fifteen.
with decidedly Jewish features. staggered
out TO the edge of the footlights. The boy
had one Of those agonizing. "throaty"
voices that always seem On the verge of
collapse and yet manage to continue infict-
ing misery to the bitter end. He stared
wildly upward with big brown eyes and,
urged on by courage born of desperation,
succeeded In wailing forth the interesting.
though somewhat belated information,
that
''One day he is a great big winner;
Mex day he hasn't got no dinner
It's easy come an easy co..
The audience allowed him to finish the
song and Mr.. Bernstein. greatly encour-
aged, essayed another classic negro dtty
1t would have been much better for him
Rad he left well enough alone. This time
he launched forth into the ragtime troubles
OF the coon. who wouldn't build de fire an
wouldn't carry in de wood and whose wife
finally told him in poetical language to
kiss himself goodbye" Mr.. Bernstein's
choice Of song proved to be a most unhappy
one for he had sooner attained the cli-
max Of the piece than the audience took up
the refrain with enthusiasm, changing the
words so that they would apply in an I'M
complimentary manner. to the singer him
self.
''.t amt no to reason.
Your excuse is out o. reason:
Jest kiss yourself goodbye
Sang the boys in the gallery with more
force than melody, and the unfortunate
"amachcor'' beat hasty retreat into the
wings his tormentors shouted hearty good
byes'' at him, aud some OF them requested
him In loud voices not to come back again
IL he valued his life.
Johnny Dunn will entertain you now,
ladies and gents" remarked the announcer.
''Mr Dunn will give a monologue and will
also initiate brass band" And with this
introduction a man who possessed an air Of
perfect self-assurance walked briskly To the
center OF the stage and proceeded to give
what he called 'impersonafions of John l..
Iopae Il Corhoft and loo par