San Francisco Minstrels

“Nothwithstanding the sultry state of the atmosphere there was a large audience at the San Francisco Minstrels’ hall last evening, their opening night. All the old favorites were on hand. Among others, Wambold, Dwyer, Rockefeller, Templeton, Oberest, Shattuck, Rollin Howard, Johnny Queen, Billy West, Billy Emmett, W. Bernard, Billy Birch and Charley Backus. Billy Birch was as lively as that fly he used so often to sing about and what he wished he was on certain delightful occasions; and Backus was as serious as ever—so much so that whenever he opened his mouth the audience expressed their admiration in loud guffaws. A good many of the jokes that were cracked for the special benefit of those of the audience who came to laugh and not to cry were highly original, and the songs of the usual choice character, which the Franciscans alone know how so well to render. The hall has been neatly painted and redecorated, and presented quite an inviting appearance. Judging from the crowd at the performance last evening the coming season will be a profitable one for the troupe.”  

“The season at the hall of the San Francisco Minstrels has begun, and in spite of the heat, which habitually has a disastrous influence upon the good intentions of play-goers, the house has been filled since Monday evening. The quartet of artists whose united names have been before the public for years, is still in the foremost rank of the company, and Mr. Birch and Mr. Backus at either extremity of the line, and Messrs. Bernard and Wambold in the centre are pleasantly conspicuous. Their associates are Messrs. Templeton, Oberist and Dwyer, vocalists; Mr. Rollin Howard, (whose voice would not have been unwelcome in the Sistine Chapel,) and Messrs. Queen, Emmet and West, comedians and dancers. Their combined efforts are productive of excellent results. There is little real novelty in the material used, but it is more skillfully displayed than the San Francisco Minstrels even have displayed it until now. The plan of dividing the entertainment into three parts is of course adhered to, and the musical portion, the miscellany of dances and comic acts, and the closing extravaganza follow each other in the familiar order. It is to be wished that Mr. Wambold were supplied with a popular song really deserving the name, as none has been heard this season. The single ballad he interprets, however, is tuneful enough, if it is not very original in melody or in form, and the sweet and even tenor notes on which its words are borne quite deserve the nightly encore. The acting is as funny as ever, and the imitations of Mr. Rollin Howard are unusually good. The dancing of Messrs. Queen and West is remarkably eccentric. In a word, and without making fresh attempts at describing a performance the impression of which is not to be given by report, the representation is comprehensive and amusing, and so thoroughly successful already as to give birth to apprehensions of dreadful discomfort in the auditorium throughout the Winter.”