Page 12
Paseo del Rio Showboat
February,  1978
\_*QSS
emorable
The "midnight kiss" was the
highlight of the New Year's Eve
Ball at the old Casino Club at
the turn of the century. As one
San Antonio woman recalls,
"Back in the days when kisses
weren't free," the lights would
flicker out at midnight, "only
for a second," so young women
could gingerly kiss their dates
at the gala affair.
*sy^.
According to a 1923 edition
of the San Antonio Light, the
New Year's Eve Ball at the
Casino was the "most exclusive" social function in San
Antonio with club members
introducing their daughters as
debutantes.
The Casino Club was formed
in 1854 by a group of about 20
German-Texans.    The    Casino
, | W'**'
.%-Uff.    ■
By GAYLE SPENCER
Association was incorporated
by the State of Texas by
legislative act on December 7,
1857.
The association was organized to promote the arts, and
its charter stated it was
organized "without regard to
religion or politics." In a 1948
article in the San Antonio
Express,     Charles      Ramsdell
The Casino
Building,
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torn down
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in  1961,
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was a
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center
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for cultural
7
and social
events in
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early
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San Antonio
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M_________J.
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referred to the association as
"perhaps the greatest force for
culture the city ever had."
The club commissioned their
own building in 1857 on
Market Street. In 1879, after
the railroad made it easier to
bring in out-of-town entertainers, the main hall was
enlarged to seat 700 people
during performances.
Family entertainment was
scheduled monthly and usually
included a theatrical production or a concert followed by a
dance. The club also sponsored
a series of full-dress operas.
FAMOUS PERFORMERS
Some of the performers who
came to the club were Jenny
Lind, Adelina Patti, Edwin
Booth and Henry Ward
Beecher. William F. Cody,
"Buffalo Bill," lectured to club
members on December 15,
1879.
Balls were held on Washington's Birthday, the Fourth of
July, Shrove Tuesday and New
Year's Eve. There was also an
annual children's masked ball
at Christmastime.
Special parties were held
throughout the year. An 1869
issue    of    the    San    Antonio
_*
ALAMO STREET
HILTON
a
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SHOPS
Express describes in detail the
Casino's celebration of the
100th anniversary of Hum-
bolt's birthday on September
14: "...the whole stage was
most elegantly and tastefully
set off, with flowering, shrubs
and plants.... After the theatrical performance the hall was
cleared and „'dancing commenced, lasting until after 2
o'clock."
Not all of the Casino's
functions were cultural, however. The Casino was mainly
an association for social
intercourse. In a 1926 book,
Pearson Newcomb credits the
manufacture of beer for the
rise of social clubs in San
Antonio.
The Casino was a daily
meeting place for its male
members. The club was
equipped with a bowling alley
and billiard tables.
Card-playing, especially a
game called "skat," and
friendly wagering was not
uncommon. In the July 13,
1872, report of the Board, the
cardplayers were reprimanded
sternly for their lack of interest
in club affairs.
At first, only German was
spoken in the club, but, as
marriages took place, the club
grew beyond its original
German membership. At its
peak, there were about 350
names on the membership
roster.