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Verse and Worse-By Joe Hayes-James Alfred lt;Duke Doolittle, Crystal City fire chief, recently-dug up a relic which should interest readers throughout the Southern Tier . It is the program for the Klks Minstrels at the Corning Opera House May 7 8 1914 Were you there?Well. I was — on an Annie OakleyCertainly, the big show repre sented the combined efforts of Corningites, i, m !mirim andHornellians . .An old newspa-per clipping says. Some of the Elmira visitors were Chief oi Police Fin-nell, Myles G.Kelly, Dr Brick wedde, Frank $ ’, *Tripp. Edward Lockner, Jacob Joe Haves Reibbcl, Burt Bundy. Harry Chrystal and Harry CurtissThe Hornell delegation included James E. Schwarzenbach, Walter Sherwood. Edward Halbert. Fire Chief Joseph M He-derman. Archie Bloodsworth. James Hogan. Robert J Burn-bam. George Swingle and Billy Schu. From the Rath area came Frank B. Alley and a party.A minstrel show program, yellow and old.But filled with fond memor ies. finer than gold.It tells us a story of days that are gone.Of dreams growing dim while they still linger on Here’s hoping they linger for long in our hearts,'Til the Spirit of Minstrelsy fades and departs.Leaving one wish that will ever be bright:Make me a boy again, just for tonightDON BLACKWELL explains the meaning of synonymous. . “It’s a guy who writes a letter and won t sign his name to it ” . Heard this at John Lemire’s Tavern Tuesday night, Darling, you’re not a bit polite You keep talking while I’m in terrupting.'’ . . .AL1 HOUGH the program does not say so, the Mammoth Minstrel Show was produced and directed by Maj. Fred Smith and his wife. May . . . . Two of the featured soloists were George Banibury. who sang “Mother Machree. and Jollv Joe Moran who had a character song. ' Camp Meet in’ Band . JollyJoe also contributed his talent to the Queen City Four, the other members of which were Ed Lawrence. George Collins and William Riley.On May 8. Critic John F. Rolfe wrote. The Queen City Four present ‘Get A Car.’ It is an act composed of ail laughs and a lot of comedy. The perpetrators are Joe Moran. Ed Lawrence. George Collins and William Riley, with .Top Moran dressed in epaulets This bunch discovered Frank Tripp. Chief Finnell and Doc Brick wedde in the audience a* chaperons to Myles Kelly and thev made last night an extra feature act with thelt;ie popular fellow Elmirans as fall guys.”OTHF.R SINGERS in the min strel section of the Mammoth Minstrels were: James Hart.“My Dudeen;” Frank (Peak) Crane. Across the Mason Dixon Line;’’ Mrs Frank J. Saxton, “Wid de Moon. Moon. Moon;’’ Miss Mayme Whitenack, Isle D’Amour;” Harry Dagwell, “Pullman Porters on Parade;” Arthur P Woods, Absent;” John V Ileyniger, This Is the Life.” Mrs. Frank H. Suits. Wonderful Girl. and May Smith, “I’m Going Back to Carolina ”Up-to-the-minute 1914 dances were presented by Mrs Lewis Henry, Miss Minnie Weber, Marvin Olcott Jr. and Bradley Lindsley . A string quartet, courtesy of the Corning YMCA. included Norman D. Lattin and the Msses Harriett Pratt, Hilda Simmonds and DorothyStarred in the olio were James fDoc Moran, the great cartoonist; Joe Kelsey, smsing comedian, and Major and Mrs Smith. “The Crockery Crashers.” .I recall wondering how the Smiths could afford to bust so many dishesAFTER 1914, many of the Pullman Porters who sang with Harry Dagwell became noted en tertainers . . . The program lists the group as Tommy Evans, Francis Crane, Leon (Jack) Me Carthy. Herman Jacoby, Earl Suits, Joe Gregorious, Asa Hood, Eddie Collins and Eddie Vallely.A show without a chorus is not a show . . So, the Elks Minstrels had several . . worn en in the line were Mrs. Harry j Farmenter, Mrs Fred C .Cameron, Mrs. John H Doherty,, Mrs. Guy W. Cheney. Misses Louise Pratt. Alice Rogers, Nina Smith, Cecelia Hart and Madge Drake . . The male chorus included George Marriott. Stewart Underhill, John Phillips and Hartley Dewey With theQueen City Four assisting.
Newspaper Details
Elmira Sunday Telegram
Elmira, New York, US
Sun, Oct 18, 1959
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Teresa F.
USA 25 Mar 2025
Other Publications Near Elmira, New York
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