Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-07-27
In short, a modern city.
Amusements - 1895


The Opera House was the center
OF the amusement circle.
Every itinerant troupe that ar
rived in the isolated city was as
sured OF Capacity houses. for plays
and operas were few and far be-
tween. Even. theepoorest Of shows
was welcomed. Occasionally citi-
zens would guarantee sums and the
better class of entertainers would
make flying trips here. Their shows
were the oasises Of the desert OF
dizziness.
In between. home talent shows
would be given. parents watching
their offspring cavort on the large
stage at the Opera House, children
proud OF the opportunity.
There being no electric lights. the
large hall would be lighted by lamps
and lanterns and candles.
Aside from the "Opry House
other amusements offered the pio-
neers in Brownsville were picnics,
parties. and other forms OF enter
tainment. The picnics were not on
the beach OF the Gulf OF Mexico
that was too far off. They were
held on the banks of resacaS. on the
river. or any old place hat was
away from the maddening crowd"
Parties we're popular. with such
sure-fire games as post office, drop
the handkerchief. and guessing
games. Bank presidents, city Off
Gals and other dignitaries favored
the latter. .
The men. of course. were able to
20 on hunting and fishing trips. 1t
was a paradise for them. Hunting
for deer. turkey, geese, and small
game was sure TO result IN big
bags. Fish were abundant.
Amusements - 1880
And now we have just about every
form OF amusement available.
We have a number of excellent
picture shows, with performances
evening and night, some showing the
latest in talking pictures. Being
off the beaten path still. vaudevilleS
arc rare. and home talent shows,
usually staged by schools, civic clubs
and other organizations are still III
evidence.
We have dance halls.
We have swimming pools and q
beach easily reached over excellent
roads within an hour or so.
we have golf links and a country
club.
we have bowling alleys, billiard
tables in club rooms, n miniature
golf courses. -
We have a bay and a gulf Tor
beating and fishing.
we still have excellent hunting.
We have picnics and parties =
we always will.
Doubtless you can name other
things - things we have overlooked
BUSINESS Conditions - 1895
In this respect the gay nineties
rivals the present century IN the
Valley.
The large general stores, handling
such a variety of things. did busi-
ness that even the present day mo-
ouls can not sheer at. Millions OF
dollars annually were handled py
Brownsville firms.
This. mainly, was because Browns
Vile was practically the only large
center in the section. and ranchers
and cowboys would drive 70 town.
maybe not oftener than once each
month. sometimes less frequently
load wagons with supplies and nee
| cessities and luxuries. The purchase
made by one man would sometimes
be enough to make a 1880 merchant
have fits Of ioy and close his store
for a week Of celebrating.
After buying everything from hair
pins to horseshoe nails from one
general store. the rancher would
next take a trip TO the saloon, have
a big time. and go home.
Brownsville distributed merchan-
disc throughout the Valley as far as
Rio Grande City. and into the in
terror Of Mexico for hundreds OF
miles.
In short, business was good.
Business Conditions - 1880
] Business is coed now. regardless