Brick Speaks

Scott Co, Iowa USGenWeb Project
Davenport Democrat, July 20, 1924HOME EDITION

In addition to its saloons, "dumps" and sporting resorts, "Bucktown" contained a number of variety theaters. There was the Standard, the Bijou, and the Orpheon. They operated wine rooms and drinks were served throughout the performances. The "programs" as they were called oftentimes continued until the early hours of morning. At Brick's Pavilion the lights burned merrily and the "bear cat", the Cubanois glide," and other "classics" were in full swing from 8 o'clock at night until 7 o'clock in the morning. The whole east end after nightfall was one blaze of lights and the sounds of revelry, of discordant orchestras, mechanical pianos, broken-voiced sopranos, and shuffling feet floated upon the night air. For years, Brick Munro was known as the King of Bucktown. His famous pavilion, according to his own statement, oftentimes entertained as many as a thousand people on a single night. His weekly receipts it is said, never ran short of $2500 and generally exceeded this sum. To use his own words, his place was a gold mine.