The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-02-12
Splendid
Minstrel Show Given By The
Homestead Club
The Songs We're Good And
The Jokes The Best Ever

1t is to laugh to witness the 1916
minstrel production of the Old Home
stead Club, the initial performance of
which set capacity crowd rollicking
at the Grand theatre Monday evening.
III fact, joy seemed the keynote of the
entire show and rarely, if ever, have
local minstrel show attendants heard
such collection of real humor pre-.
sented by men who seemed to take
as much delight in it as the audience.
There was freshness, decidedly
appealing, about the patter Of the end
men that contrasted delightfully."- with
the jokes (?) generally used in home
talent productions. There was Wig
orous snap to the music that set ones
own feet stamping out time. There
was little touch of the classic in
the ballads-unusual and pleasing
that rendered them very effective.
There was warm, appreciative
crowd and the show went big
The timely stage setting--a mass of
American flags and bunting draped
around portraitures of George Wash
ington and Abraham Lincoln--togeth-
ler with the war song, "Tipperary,"
gave the show whirling send-off.
Immediately the fun started. End
Man Collins and End Man Woolson
We'd with each other in reciting po-
ctry concerning local celebrities and
drew a perfect scream from the house
ard paved the way for the next song.
Following this, the Baker brothers
got in action with some delicate re-
partee that proved quite sensation.
Brentlinger and George had some talk
with twist quite out of the ordinary.
Song followed song and joke follow
ed joke with accompanying applause
or laughter, as, the case was, all the
way through. Interlocutor George
Mitchell set the pace in everything
and registered heavily with one of the
prettiest bass solos heard in long
while and sung in way Of which on
ly George is master. AS an encore,
the solo was sung in sextette form.
One feature of the first part must
not pass by unnoticed. Generally the
end men in home talent effort as
sumo one position at the start of their
songs and maintain this throughout
or vary it with a few awkward steps.
The black face men of the Homestead
Club acted as If the floor were Of red
hot metal and stepped around in a
manner that made all of their songs
sure-fire hits. Again, each had a new
set of gestures for encores, so their
antics never became tiresome.
Excellent Judgment was shown in
making the olio short and snappy
Appearing last night, as the Old
Homestead Quartette, Messrs. Kelly
Cover, Turner and Mitchell sang two
old favorites, "Pale in the Amber
West" and "The Lost Chord" They
were forced to take two encores and
| more still was asked of them, but
everything was in readiness for the
concluding act of the program so they
retired.
| Hotel De Mutt" brought the even
ing to an end. In this act, the club
members we're assisted by Mr.. James
j. Powers, an old-time actor now re-
siding in the city. Bruno Thiel and
Archie Collins made tremendous hits
in the act which was greatly enjoyed
on account of the brief and lively
| manner In which 1t was run of.
George B. Kelly was director of the
minstrel show and has conscientious
ly rehearsed his men for the past
month. To him. along with Miss Hell
en- McNabb. who assumed charge OF
the music, is due much of the credit
for an exceedingly excellent produc-
tim