Chapter Four - The Annual Firemen's Minstrel
The annual Firemen’s Minstrel was, for many years, a highlight on Sebring’s social calendar and an event to which not only the cast but also the audience looked for an evening of hilarious enjoyment.
Although the original purpose was to raise money for the promotion of the various civic activities of the Sebring Firemen, the Minstrel grew in popularity until it became almost a tradition. The format centered around the age-old minstrel, but the olio, the after part and even the jokes were always so varied and full of surprises and novelties that the audience was seldom prepared for the innovations. On the theory that "the bigger they come, the harder they fall", the black-face comedians always had some sharp jibes at local politicians, social bigwigs and merchants. In fact, it was a mark of distinction if one was made the butt of a minstrel joke - so much so that merchants often offered propositions to the committee that made up the program as the jokes would be repeated for weeks after the show.
However, all program material was meticulously screened to be certain that nothing of a suggestive or questionable nature could ever inadvertently creep in. As a result, an excellent reputation was established and talent from outside the ranks of the Firemen was always available. Among the big names of the theatre world who offered their services on the Minstrel programs were Robert Fox, Billy Taylor, Marjory Rambeau and Fred Stone. On more than one occasion, Mr. Stone made trips to Sebring, specifically to take part in the Firemen’s shows.
Superstitious folks might have questioned the wisdom of the selection of the date for the first showing which was Friday, the 13th of December 1929 but the novelty number of this program (Sam and Rastus played by Ray Morgan and Doug Estes, reading epitaphs on tombstones) went over with such public acceptance that it literally "put the show on the road" to success. Year after year, the presentations were improved and so were the box office receipts.
Those people who were in the habit of attending the Minstrel each year, still get some good old-fashioned laughs in remembering some of the gags that "went over big" but of all of the many jokes of the seventeen programs that were presented, the one that drew the most applause, was probably the simplest of all and if a vote had been taken ahead of time, it would have been given the least chance of success.
Eddie Tulk, in black face asked, "Mr. Interlocutor, can you tell me what smells worse than a goat?" Interlocutor, "No, Eddie, what does smell worse than a goat?" Eddie, "Two goats!" It was many minutes before the house became quiet enough to go on with the next gag and after several other numbers, Eddie laughed loudly and slapped his knee and said, "Two goats". The applause began again.
On the contrary, many cleverly conceived and carefully rehearsed really funnies, "fell flat on their faces" with scarcely a giggle as a reward.
In any review of the history of the Firemen’s Annual Minstrel, several names stand out as factors contributing most to the successes - some of them on practically every program from the first one in 1929 to the 17th in 1955. The most versatile of all was P. G. Gearing. In most of the performances, he was in black face but he had some part in every production - as manager, white face, premiere end, interlocutor, stage director or in charge of ticket sales. He will be remembered especially as the whipping boy in Fred Stone’s specialty number in the big show of 1931 at the Circle Theatre.
Gatchell Burton always served as "make up man" and Spencer Jones was Chief property man. Ray Morgan and Austie Heacock will always be remembered as premiere end men and ballad singers and to them usually was assigned the really hard work viz. , chairmen of the committee that organized and staged the productions.
Although several others made very good interlocutors, the finest of all and the one most frequently assigned to this position was "Mitch" Ferguson. Mrs. Marion Eyman and Mrs. Eva (Butts) Whitehouse provided the accompaniment for the singers and choruses and any successes in the musical parts can be credited to their help.
In addition to the Minstrel, the Firemen sponsored a number of other entertainment features. Because of the high regard which Mr. Rex Beach held for the Department, he arranged benefit shows in which nationally known celebrities, who were his house guests, appeared and these were not only greatly varied in nature but were also so interesting that they played to packed houses. They contributed a great deal to the cultural atmosphere of that period of Sebring history.
As an outgrowth of the Minstrel, the Firemen had, from time to time, several quartets with varying success. The first one featured "Skeet" Naylor, "Bus" Rasco, Harry Raymond and George Whitehouse and they were so good that they were in demand at other functions. Other combinations were - well, not so good.
Of one of the latter variety, Floyd Schumacher, who was secretary of the Sebring Firemen, Inc. , in 1932 wrote in his minutes "Publicity Committee reported Quartet singing at the Baptist and Christian Churches. According to the Literary Digest Poll, no applications for membership in Sebring Fire Department have been received since."