Venue(s):
Tony Pastor's Opera House
Price: Children admitted at half price
Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
29 August 2012
“The Pastoral Opera House in the Bowery comes in for its share of public patronage, and is doing a good business for the managers. Besides the usual miscellaneous performances given there, the burlesque of ‘Old Dame Grimes’ was produced last week. It was well put on the stage as regards scenery, dresses and appointments, and as every number of the company was included in the cast, it was well performed. Robert Butler, the stage manager, is one of the most comic men in the business, as well as an excellent pantomime. The Old Dame Grimes, afterwards clown, is a very laughable performance. The rest of the characters are in good humor and well acted. In the variety business, Tony Pastor’s comic singing is the principal feature; he is sometimes called out from four to five times. Master Barry, who is a first-rate song and dance man, reminds us more of Dave Reed than any one else we ever saw. ‘Old Dame Grimes’ will be continued this week.”
“This house maintains its popularity, as it well deserves to do, among the theatres of the Bowery district. Without pandering to the lowest tastes, which have been so sedulously cultivated in the Bowery theatres, to the great detriment of public morals, Tony Pastor’s entertainments provide enough of fun and music and light enjoyment, suitable to the desires of the frequenters of places of amusement, without introducing those exciting dramas of the love, murder and bloodthirsty school so common on the Bowery stage and which corrupt while they amuse. People can enjoy themselves without being introduced to vice in its most seductive but not less pernicious form. A good hearty laugh is always worth the price paid for it. Such can be obtained at Tony Pastor’s Opera House any night. Although the programme varies, there is always to be found something to amuse, and often a good deal to instruct; but nothing to demoralize. In this respect Pastor’s Opera House has a decided advantage over some of the Bowery places of amusement.”
“Tony Pastor’s Opera House is a very popular addition to east side amusements, judging from the patronage so literally bestowed upon the establishment. In order to keep up with the rage for pantomimes, Tony produces one of those mirth-provoking spectacles this week. It is called ‘Old Dame Grimes, of the Good Fairy of the Harvest Home.’ It is to be hoped that it will be productive of a plentiful harvest to the manager of the Pastoral Opera House.”