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History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Imperial Minstrels
1907
02 15 The Imperial Minstrels scored a decided hit at the Turner Opera House last evening, the hall being
packed to its utmost capacity and hundreds were turned away and refused tickets
of admittance of even standing room. It
is safe to say that if the performance were to be repeated tonight, as many had
hoped, the house would be packed again. It
is estimated that there was an attendance of one thousand people. Many who would show disgust at the average
so-called professionals were delighted beyond measure last evening and laughed
till their sides ached. The entire
performance . . . moved along without a hitch, every man to his post and only
two minor criticisms could have possibly been made . . . It was a home talent
production and the boys only had two weeks of active preparation . . . a
performance that was far beyond the expectations of those present, as was
evidenced by the many hearty encores and generous applause that greeted each
number and stunt on the program.
1909
Watertown Imperial
Minstrels
Watertown
Gazette, 02 19 1909
Turner
Opera House was packed to the doors last Tuesday evening to
witness the performance of the Watertown Imperial Minstrels, and the excellence
of the entertainment furnished, well deserved the magnificent audience.
From start to finish everybody was amused, and it certainly was one round of
pleasure. The hall decorations were very
artistic and added interest to the occasion. W. J. Bethke officiated as musical director and the Weber-Stube orchestra furnished the music and accompanied the
vocal numbers. John F. Berigan made a most
excellent interlocutor. The minstrels were made up as follows: Comedians—F.
P. McAdams, Lew W. Parks, Otto V. Knaak, bones ;
Gordon E. Bacon, C. A. Kohn, John J. Lietz, tambos. Vocalists—William L. Schlueter,
E. J. Hoermann, Joseph Glaus,
William F. Richards, Joseph J. Raue, Carl F. Otto,
Edward C. Wolfram, J. C. Weber, Baldwin S. Raue,
Frank G. Exner, George A. Richards, Roman M. Hahn.
The jokes and funny sayings of the above combination
were all well taken and thoroughly enjoyed by all present and the following
vocal selections were heartily applauded:
True
Blue Company
Dixie Dan John
J. Lietz
Lazy
Moon W.
F. Richards
Your Minstrel
Boy C. A. Kohn
Smiling
Star Frank
G. Exner
Common
Sense Otto
V. Knaak
When the Bell in
the Lighthouse
Rings W. L. Schlueter
I'm Glad I'm
Married F. P. McAdams
My Mother's Kiss Was
Sweetest of Them
All E. C. Wolfram
Mandy Lane L.
W. Parks
What's the
Use G.
E. Bacon
In
Watertown Company
History of Watertown, Wisconsin