“Emerson’s Minstrels are attracting crowded houses at the Park Theatre and give a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment, Billy being assisted by a large and talented band of vocalists and comedians. The prices have been reduced to 50 cents and 25 cents and $1 for reserved seats in the orchestra.”

“It is something like sending coals to Newcastle to transport a minstrel company from the Pacific slope to the Atlantic coast with the view of amusing the citizens of the chief metropolis of America, and at the same time coining money by operation. And yet this has been attempted by a well-known California manager with Emerson’s Minstrels. The company is a strong one, and we can readily understand their attracting large audiences in San Francisco, because that city had been without minstrel entertainments for some time, and the chief performers had been well known by reputation gained in the Eastern cities, and most of them were seen there for the first time. But here the status is entirely different. During the past season we have had two excellent companies performing, but now our amusement season is over, and the people prefer open-air recreation. With the exception of Billy Emerson, the performances of the entire company were very familiar, and for the reasons cited above have not only failed to arouse any enthusiasm, but have not attracted remunerative audiences. A reduction in the prices during the past week did not help matters. The paying public continued apathetic, and the speculation must be pronounced a failure.”