Nearly 400 Attend Legion's Annual Minstrel Show

May 27, 1954

…………..MIDDLEBORO :- Clifton McCrillis served as interlocker during the 1954 Minstrel show

staged in the Town Hall auditorium, Thursday, May 27. Nearly 400 patrons attended the annual

event under the auspices of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64, American Legion. The well attended

performance was directed by Ernest “Pete” Lambert of Brockton.

……….. Pat McMahon, who was serving his 19th year as Chairman of the minstrel production, was

said to be quite pleased with the production and the attendance.

……….Performing as end men were Mr. Lambert, Frank Whitney, Mansfield Whitney, Dick Fickert,

Clarence Wills and Leonard Cartwright. All had end song specialties.

……….Featured among the specialty acts were the Walcott family with song and dance routines by

Bobby and Sandra, accompanied on the piano by their mother at the piano. The Walcotts have

appeared on a number of network television shows.

………A favorite of the audience were the tambourine numbers handled by a talented group of

Junior High School girls including Sallie Fickert, Arlene Hebert, Dian Bernier, Vivian

Petrowski, Marilyn Murphy, Corrine Pavao, Priscilla Colvin and Ann Reynolds.

…….The Golden Throat Quartet of Frank Whitney, Dick Brooks, Gary Iseminger and Boyd Iseminger,

Jr.; Tony and his Western Jamborees were several of the specialty acts. The Jamboree’s have

appeared on television shows in the New York area with their western-style rythyms under the

direction of Tony Silvia.

……..The Harmony Sisters duet, recently seen on the TV show “Hum and Strum” were another

featured specialty act. Specialty choruses from Yvonne Green’s dance studio were displayed.

Many High School students were included in the chorus productions. Also, Phil Nadeau and his

company of steel guitars were another highlight.

…….. "Proceeds from the show will be applied to the Post’s welfare fund to help with the

veterans’ hospital fund, Christmas fund and rehabilitation work,” said John Rockwell, who

serves as post publicist. ……………………………………………………..( Compiled by Bob Lessard Historian 2014.)