San Francisco Minstrels

“Every seat in the parquet and family circle was occupied at the above named place of amusement last evening, while quite a number of persons were compelled to stand. The songs and sallies in the first part of the programme were excellent, particularly the last, where the ‘city newspapers’ were brought in. Their reading created considerable merriment, from the many local hits made. The second appearance of Mr. T.C. Bowen, in a favorite ballad, was greeted with rounds of applause. Mr. Bowen sang a very pretty sentimental ballad. His voice is clear, powerful and sweet, and many in the audience believed that the singer was a female dressed in male attire. Charley Backus kept the audience in a continual roar of laughter with his animated photographs or imitations of noted actors and actresses. Mr. Donniker’s violin solo, with variations, was also loudly applauded. The evening’s entertainment concluded with the laughable burlesque of Spectral Shades, or Phantom Illusions, which has made a decided hit.”