CONCERT IN A PRISON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 13

CONCERT IN A PRISON

WEIRD “FIRST NIGHT” MINSTRELS AT SING-SING. The world’s weirdest “first night” was held in New York on December 14, when 1800 members of the public crowded into the private theatre of the famous Sing-Sing Prison to see the “ Sing-Sing Minstrels.” The cast were convicts all.

When the elite of New York society arrived in their motor cars at the prison gates for the show they were handed this list of instructions from the prison governor;—

“ Don’t display pearls, diamonds, or other jewels. Don’t tip the ushers. Don’t carry a large sum of money. Don’t bring firearms, liquor, drugs; or other contraband inside the walls.”

There was need for the warning. Sandwiched between the social stars who sat in the stalls the prison governor knew there would be ex-inmates of the SingSing cells —men who, came from sheer sentiment to hear a fellow-forger sing a Christmas carol in the old home, but who would not he above “ lifting ” a row of pearls if the debutante in the next seat appeared over-burdened with jewels. The evening was a huge success. A prisoner tripped merrily across the stage, full of innocent mirth. A well-known criminal whose last public activities were on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange exhibited all his old verve in the ranks of the dancing minstrels. A “ sing-song ” was the finale of a great show which gave Sing-Sing a new meaning.