Robert Heiskell was an African American man who initially sued over a dispute at the Staub Theatre. Heiskell purchased a reserve seat at a higher rate and claimed he was owed a seat in the "colored" reserved section. He was ejected but contested his treatment. The show was called "The Devil's Auction" and was very popular. The left side of the balcony was designated "black" and the right was designated "white" with the middle designated as what ever "the majority" was for a particular show.