The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-04-22

Last Saturday night the final
curtain was rung down at the old
Eleventh Street Opera House, Phil
adelphia, where for fifty-hve years
the merry men in blackface, satin
suits and silk hose have held forth
to the delight of hundreds of thou
sands.
This is not only the end of the
season at Dumont's. 1t is the end
of old-time minstrelsy as well.
Sad, smooth-faced old chaps who
have spent their lifetime in making
others laugh shook their heads
dolefully when the subject was
broached.
"Irs heart-breaking tc think that
the old house will be dark after
tonight" said George w. Barber,
lessee of the Eleventh Street Opera
House. Mr.. Barber has been les
see of the theater since 1876, and
through stormy weather and fair
ne has stood by the minstrel show.
A tickle public taste is responsible
for the decision to make this the f.
nal season. How we'll l can re-
member the time, years ago, when
the public could not get enough of
the minstrel show. But the taste
mas changed. We have not re-
ceived necessary support, and it is
from necessity that we darken the
old house forever"
SCHOOL FOR COMEDIANS.
A wealth of associations and
bounteous "reminiscences are har-
bored in the low structure on Elev-
enth Street, between Market and
Chestnut, where the minstrels have
held forth for more than half cen.
tury. In the estimation of discern
ing theatrical experts it is no exag-
geration to say that the minstrel
house was the greatest school in the
country for comedians. From the
ranks of the blackfaced semi-circles
have come some of the most famous
actors of the generation. Many
comedians who to-day sport before
the public obtained their first tut
ton from the ancient house on
Eleventh Street.
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
The Christies made ininstrelsy
the rage. That was in ante-bellum
days. They danced "Ji;n Grow"
and it was infectious. Iilack-f faced
fun scored. Minstrel shows sprang
up where overnight.
Cartee's, now Dumont's was
among the very first of these.
Fifty-bve years ago DR.. Wylie's
Presbyterian Church stood on the
east side of Eleventh Street between
Market and Chestnut. A little
illeyway, now known as Merchant
Street, ran along its northern side.
The congregation had outgrown
he church and the neighborhood
md so when a finer, larger build
ing was erected the old edifce was
sold. H. S. Cartee bought it and
transferred it into a theater. That
vas in 1854. 1t was known first
Is Cartee's Lyceum. The compa-
~ was called the Julian Min
trels." "Ben" Cotton and f. f.
Dixie were the first end men.
The celebrated Sam S. Sanford
vas the next manager. Then, in
1865, it came under the control of
-arncross, Dixie and Simpson and
Carncross' and Dixie's Minstrels
.,alned a national reputation.
In 1876 George w. Barber, the
present lessee, took over the reins
md continued the organization as
Sarncross and Dixie's Ministries un-
il the Fall of '7S when Dixie re-
ired. After that the name was
'hortened to Carncross Minstrels,
until in the Spring of 1896, Carn-
ross retired. Frank Dumont, who
oined the minstrels in 1876, then
'ecame associated with Mr.. Barber
n the management Of the theatre.
There are many middle aged men
Bloomsbury who will remember
hat a visit to Philadelphia was not
omplete without going to Carn-