During the Tyrone Area YMCA’s annual fund drive, historical photos and stories will run periodically in The Daily Herald.
Pictured below is the program for one of the earliest shows presented in the PRR-YMCA auditorium. On December 8-9, 1914, the YMCA was the site of a minstrel show, featuring a cast of 24 and a 10-piece orchestra.
Here is what the Tyrone Herald reviewer had to say about the show following on December 10: A very appreciative crowd assembled at the YMCA auditorium Wednesday evening to witness the second production by the Tyson-Dickson Minstrel Company. The show was much better than on Tuesday evening. The overture was rounded up in better shape and was produced in a regular professional manner. The end men’s jokes were new and elicited much applause from the good sized audience. All the soloists were fine in their parts. Wednesday evening Mr. Waring sang ‘When the Angelus is Ringing’ instead of ‘Michigan.’
The cast list showed “F. M. Waring” as one of the tenors of the musicale. Was it Fred Waring who later rose to fame as the leader of the “Pennsylvanians?” He would have been 14 years old at the time.
However, research revealed “F. M. Waring” was Frank Malcolm Waring, Fred’s father.
The Tyrone Area YMCA’s annual fund drive is underway, Respond generously when contacted by a volunteer. The Tyrone YMCA – building strong kids, strong families, strong communities.
