The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-21

All the older people Of Blrmlnsnafn VIII remember the old Avondale theatre.
 The old building in later years used for church purposes stood up to few years ago near the end of the Avondale car line in the edge of the park.
 But the theatre flourished in the old days-when Birmingham was bad" Events that were too naughty to be pulled off in the city proper were carried out to the Avondale or Schultz theatre.
 Wrestling matches. pugilistic bouts and other like sports that could not be arr ranged in Birmingham were carried to Avondale.. and the old theatre was the scene of more than one old-time regula- ton hot old time.
 Birmingham was paradise of sports in the flush days of the district when the newsboys on the streets used s2O gold cer- tificates to wrap up their legs in cold weather and silver coin was used for street ballast
 With the prospect that all the money in the country was flowing in the direction of Jones valley it was held at little value. It flowed like water along the streets and bulged from the pockets of even the beg gars on the corners.
 IL was the hey-day of Birmingham. No wonder the sporting blood of the people ran high and warm.
 There are scores of men now living in Birmingham who stand well in the con- munity who look back with fond regret on those mellow days when the old Avon dale rendezvous of the sports was in its glory. They can all recall numerous oc- casions when the most sanguine thirst for sport was more than satisfied.
 One that will never be forgotten during the lifetime of the oldest nhabitant was a fake pugilistic encounter that was ar ranged and pulled off by three local ad- venturers. Two of these men are still living in Birmingham. The other is dead. The services of two fighters were en- gagged and the event properly advertised When the date for the event arrivd the dummy line to the Avondale theatre was taxed to haul the people.
 The three promoters acted as ticket seller doorkeeper and floor manager re- spectively.
 When the time arrived for the fight the participants disagreed on the terms of the contest and became engaged in a quarrel. It looked like mock quarrel. At least the spectators whose appetites had been whetted for blood looked at 1t that way and they became impatient.
 They demanded a fight or their money back and seemed to prefer the fight and showed an inclination to furnish the fight themselves.
 From A mere mist of dissatisfaction the trouble grew to a veritable storm cloud, and the three promoters found them- selves up against an unequal proposi- ton.
 They did not care for the money-that was worthless-but 1t was a question of being game.
 By parrying responsibility each man slipped away to town under cover of the confusion, although 1t is said that the last man to get away. the smallest and youngest of the bunch, came near being lynched before he had an opportunity to duck successfully.
 An, those were glorious days in Bir- mingham and many a man now living in the city would welcome their return.
 The no-smoiSe sign in the street cars is not intended for gentlemen.
 I am told that butchers in Birmingham used to give liver away to get rid of it Now 1t is kept on safety deposit
 What would you do If the girl who talks loud and fgets about on her seat in the street car were your sister? Now, I dc not promise to print your opinion.
 The whereabouts of Dr. Cook ''are" nc