March 4, 2026
THEY HISSED NIELSEN.
Kansas City Singer Tried to Pacify
Disappointed Audience in an
El Paso Theatre.
EL PASO, TEX., MARCH 3 --(Special) Because the San Carlo opera company gave a greatly abridged performance of the "Barber of Seville" at a matinee performance here today, a riot almost ensued in the Crawford theater, the people demanding their money back or a fuller version of the opera.
Signor Campanari, advertised to appear in the title role, was not presented, and no explanation was made until after the performance, when it was admitted that he had been taken ill at Topeka and had returned to New York. The manager, Henry Russell, declared that the performance had been given just as they had given it in other cities in which they had played, but the people refused to be satisfied with this explanation. Miss Nielsen, who stood beside her manager while he was making the explanation, then volunteered to sing several songs in English if that would satisfy. Some listened, others talked and hissed during the entire time she was on the stage, while others sent an officer after the treasurer of the company, who had already departed for the depot with the proceeds of the performance. Miss Neilsen, standing on a deserted stage, without scenery of any sort, sang, "The Swanee River," "Coming Thru' the Rye" and "Annie Laurie" in an effort to appease the crowd. The curtain was then lowered and the crowd swarmed out to the box office, demanding their money back.
Joe Ullman, the New York bookmaker financing the tour of the company, was forcibly detained until he had sent for the treasurer of the company, who had already gone to the depot, and agreed to return the money.
The San Carlo opera company sang four operas in Convention hall here last week. Its Kansas City engagement, from a financial viewpoint, was a failure.
Labels: Convention Hall, entertainment, theater
