The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-01-03
DOCkSTAOER NOT IN It.
FIRE DEPARTMENT MiNsTRELS
ARE THE REAL THING.
BIG CROWD MONDAY EVENING
A Large and We'll Pleased Audience
Attend the Minstrel Entertainment
Given Under Auspices Of Norfolk
Fire Department.
LFrom tuesdays Daily.l

ing were not surprised because they
saw Norfolk minstrel boys doing min
strel stunts in a clever professional
way; they were not surprised because
last spring Norfolk had another min
strel show and Norfolk has learned
that she has plenty of young men in
the city who are there with the real
minstrel goods in a black face show.
The Norfolk Fire Department min
strels, given Monday evening In the
Auditorium, were a success. A popu
lar cause, real high class minstrel
performance and Norfolk young men
in the cast, these elements combined
in the success. And the Creighton
band, in the second part Of the pro-
gram, gave a short concert of twenty
minutes which has seldom been
equalled in Norfolk by a professional
band organization.
Tickets to the number of 571 were
sold to the minstrel show, the pro-
ceeds from the ticket sale amounting
to $36350. From the souvenir pro-
gram the fire department took in $24O
in advertising. This will give the de-
partment about 5000 from which the
expenses of the minstrel show will
have to be deducted.
Norfolk has no organization of
which 1t is more proud than its volun-
teer fire department and the friends
Of the department who crowded the
Auditorium Monday evening were pre-
pared to view the show with friendly
eyes. But the minstrel boys made
good on their own account.
The Auditorium curtain assembled on
a pretty stage picture Monday even
ing, an effective stage setting for the
minstrel circle and the orchestra in
the rear. j. Sylvester DeForest, the
young actor who directed the perform
ance, was seated in the center of the
stage as interlocutor. In the circle
was the black face chorus, clad in
white sailor suits, the chorus being
composed of William Wetzel, Charles
Holloway, VIII Davis, w. Evans, Jack
Napier, Nj. Burnett, Nick Christensen,
Fred Hellerman, Charles Stoever, Har-
ry Faucet, Hans Vogt, Edward Kline,
Jack Davis and John Schelly.
The first of the fun-makers OF enter
were the end men, James Peters, Jess
Beemer, Lorin Brueggeman and H.
Wichmann. Later the principal come
dams, Charley McMindes and Bob Bal.
lantyne, made a dramatic entrance.
In musical program, interspersed
with the snappy witticisms of the
comedians, encores were received by
the following minstrel singers: Lorin
Brueggeman, William Wetzel, James
Peters, Edward Kline, II. Wichmann
Charles Holloway and Bob Ballantyne
In the second part of the program q
band concert and specially work were
features.
The Georgia quartet, made up OF
James Peters, Charles Holloway, Har
ry Faucet and Bob Ballantyne, was
well received
The Creighton band, in a short con
cert of four numbers scored one OF
the hits of the evening. A trombone
solo by Director DeForest was an espe
ci.lly effective feature. The band
was heartily applauded.
Charles McMindes gave monologue
stunt under the caption of "Ten Min
utes With Real One and Dan Patch
He made an effective entrance on q
Dan Patch of home manufacture and
Immediately launched into mono
logue talk that had several local hits
Allen Trulock won applause in his
fancy steps before the footlights.
Drum Major Chapel, an ex-shoW
man, gave a pretty exhibition of the
drum majors art.
Good Night" came with a heroic
rescue of little girl by a Norfolk
fireman from a firelit house, the cho
rus swinging into a grand march.
Part of the minstrel success is cred
tied to the staff, to w. p. McCune as
manager, to Jess Beemer as assistant
manager, to j. E. Haase as treasurer
and V. V. Light as secretary, to Lorir
Brueggeman as stage manager, EC
Brueggeman as electrician, Jess Bee
mer as stage manager and w. e. Mul
len as transportation manager, to V
A. Nenow and F. Hellerman as pres
representatives and j. S. DeForest a.
band and C.chestra leader.
Mayor c. b. Durland, Councilmel
Anton Buchholz. Henry Haase, f, B
Kaufman and S. w. Garvin ant
Chief of Police Flynn occupied DO.
at the minstrel performance, repre-
senting official Norfolk at the enter
tainment given by the city fire depart
ment.
Bio Parable Yesterday Afternoon.
A big minstrel parade with crysan
themum bedecked minstrel men, tw
bands and uniformed representative
of both the Norfolk and Creighton fir
departments, had the right of way u
and down Norfolk avenue early Nor
day afternoon, announcing to tn
crowds that lined the street the bi
minstrel program at the Auditorium
under the auspices of the fire boys il
theIevening.
Ihe parade was headed by VIII No
Cube, manager of the minstrel show
EEHg 10 wore bright silk tile of prope
Al |nstrel proportions. Most of the No
blk young men who were to take pan
the evenings entertainment wer
II Use in the line of march.
|.'Y The Norfolk band and the Creighto
. ,1t In, y,1a win Inr