Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, January 6, 1872
ORIENTAL CAFE - HERBERT STREET
1872 - Oriental Cafe – As there has been some talk about the above place, we visited it to judge for ourselves, and found nothing to deprecate. We saw a hall at the far end of which is a stage devoted to singing and for the purpose of producing comedettas. There are numerous tables, at which the audience, who are admitted free, partake of a light summer beverage. There are waitresses attending, dressed in what is called ‘Oriental Costume’ - nothing indiscreet or what the most modest of fastidious could object to, we have no hesitation in asserting that, as our opinion has been sought as journalists, we consider the place of amusement as not at all repugnant to public morals or decency.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, January 6, 1872
1872 - Town Talk
The Oriental Cafe performances has been called licentious, libidinous, immoral etc. The Hebe’s who ask for orders, are dressed somewhat curiously, the one who served me with my lemonade was not bad looking. Her hair was neatly done up, rather over-done with gaudy flowers. Her dress was well fitting, attractive in colour and the difference from the ordinary costume was that it was a trifle shorter, liberally displaying a pretty foot. I have seen a more liberal display, not only on the stage, but off of it. There was nothing licentious in style or dialogue that I could hear. As a free born Briton, I have the right, if I think proper to enjoy lemonade and legs in preference to burlesque and breeches, without being abused and the mighty machinery of the law invoked to put down any pleasure.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, January 6, 1872
1872 - Town Talk - Oriental Café Again.
... If I pay nothing for admission, that’s no reason why the programme is immoral, I believe in free trade in public amusements and if the crowd will prefer a "free" performance of free and easy singing, and inhale bad air, all for sixpence, let them do so; and if the 13th section of the Publicans Act, or any other Act made and provided for the protection of public morality is infringed, no doubt the "Sergeant" will not forget to vindicate the majority of the law; till then, let those who visit the "Oriental" enjoy the lemonade and legs peaceably.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, January 6, 1872
I prowled into the Oriental Cafe the other evening to see this popular resort, and found it crowed, hazy, and most decorous - I mean, not in dress but man-ners. I hear the photos of the fair waitresses, in their serving costumes have been sent to the Attorney General for his opinion as to the morality of their get-up. Jolly Sir James, who everyone knows has a keen eye for beauty, was rather taken with the style and gave it as his opinion - ‘that the costume as depicted could not be reasonably deemed an infraction of any of the provisions of the ‘vag.’ After this, it is possi-ble that those who visit the Cafe will be permitted to enjoy their ‘lemonade and legs’ without let or hindrance.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 49, January 20, 1872
1872 - Oriental Café one of the partners is Arthur Lewis.
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Contempt of Court - Henry Abraham of the Oriental Cafe, was upon termination of the above case, arrested by Sgt. Keenan, for clapping his hands in Court, as a mark of approval at the discharge of Liz-zie Gordon. The prisoner who was completely non plussed at the arrest, pleaded ‘no intention of being unruly’. Dr. Belinfante, with his usual urbanity, took the case without fee. Discharged with a caution.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 51, February 3, 1872
1872 - A DISGRACEFUL ROW.
On Saturday evening last a tremendous row took place at a house of amusement, situated about half the way down Herbert-street. This place is called the Oriental Cafe, and as the proceedings carried on are unique, a brief description may interest some of your country readers. The hall is about forty feet in length by sixteen wide. As you enter, the first object is a well supplied bar, supposed to provide nothing but soft drinks. Beyond the bar are two rows of benches supplied with narrow tables, and between, a passage leading to the orchestra under the footlights, and beyond is the stage and dressing apartments. Comic songs and plays are introduced at intervals, not of a character so much to instruct as to amuse. From the opening of the performance, fascinating young women, dressed in Oriental costume, so called, are constantly passing from the seats to the bar to supply orders for drinks. But the costume is not quite so Oriental as that of the belles of the East, inasmuch as the flowing trousers are omitted and tights substituted. The skirts fall just below the knee, and thus the spectator has a fair view of the limbs of the waitresses. During the passage for drinks one of the girls had an altercation with a spectator, who immediately resented an assumed insult by a blow. No sooner had the blow been given than some person behind dealt a fierce blow upon the spectator, and one followed another until the room was in a general free fight and confusion. The lamps were knocked down, bottles and glasses were hurled promiscuously through the excited crowd. At this stage a cry of fire was raised, and a general stampede made for the street, carrying away a good portion of the front of the cafe. One stalwart man caught the fair waitress in his arms and bore her safely through the crowd. All hands appeared refreshed upon getting into the cool night air in safety. The subject is much commented upon by the goneral public, some persons thinking there will be no more Oriental Cafes at Gulgong.
1872 - Oriental Cafe
This cheap place of amusement is productive of much amusement apart form the legitimate performances indoors. During the week of one the Eastern costumed charmers appeared charged with stealing £17 from an admirer. The charge was dismissed; and so elated was one of the partners of the company at her acquittal, that he actually quitted his hands for joy in the Court. Of course their Worships could not tolerate this and being collared by the sergeant he appeared where his fair one had just left. The day after this episode, another partner appeared in court charged with larceny. Again, on Thursday, there was free fight between the legion of partners, with closed doors, which will probably finish up in the Police Court. It will thus be seen that this maiden effort to provide cheap amusement for the millions has ended in a failure to a certain extent. The joint stock compa-ny who started it, sold out at a loss, and since then the partners have changed almost daily -like the per-formance. It is probable that if the farcical outcry about the immorality of the performance had extended to the police, the Cafe would have done a more prosperous business; being left alone - it collapses.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 51, February 3, 1872
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