Jubilee Singers Pack Seattle's Maison Doree Theater
A touring African-American jubilee troupe drew a capacity crowd to the Maison Doree Theater, mixing music and comedy that left the house roaring.
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If the foundation walls of the Yesler-Leary building had been constructed of rubber instead of solid stone possibly a few more people could have wedged themselves into the Maison Dore Theater last night. As it was the audience were packed like sardines in a box. The cause of this rush was the first appearance of the colored Jubilee Singers. It isn't often that a person can enjoy hearing so much good music and have so many hearty laughs for so little money. Will Jones has a sweet and powerful tenor voice when he lets it out. Brown and Johnson are good bassos, and Jackson is above the average of baritones. Miss Chester sang 'Only a Pansy Blossom' in good voice and taste, and Miss Webb in selections displayed evidence of decided magical ability. The choruses by the troupe are excellent. Billy Fletcher, in 'All You Play, You Get,' was successful in banging down the house. The troupe are really meritorious, and the only trouble to be apprehended by Manager Howard is the insufficiency of room and seating capacity. The company will be here all of next week and are sure of big houses.
“It isn't often that a person can enjoy hearing so much good music and have so many hearty laughs for so little money.”
In 1883, Seattle was a young frontier town, but its stages welcomed touring African-American jubilee groups. The packed house at the Maison Doree Theater shows that music and laughter crossed racial lines—even as the era's press often demeaned Black performers. Today, Seattle's music scene continues to thrive on diverse talent and crowded venues.
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