Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

“The wondrous Japs at the minstrels near the New York theatre have created almost as great a sensation as their veritable namesakes, the jugglers, at the Academy of Music. The comic business at these minstrels is certainly of a superior kind.  Mr. Leon’s burlesque, A Chip of the Old Block, is even superior to the Japs, which is saying a good deal.  The vocal part of the entertainment is also first class, particularly the music and choruses.”

“A Good Sign.—‘Standing Room Only’ has been posted at the entrance door of Kelly and Leon’s Minstrel Hall every night the past two weeks before the performance commenced.  This shows a healthy state of affairs.  Constantly on the qui vive for something that will please their patrons, the managers seize upon all the local topics of the day, and work them up at the earliest moment.  Their last burlesque on the Japs is the invention of Mr. Leon himself, and it is creditable to him, for it is the best thing of the kind done in burnt cork for a long time.  It has proved the most successful affair they have yet produced.  New features are constantly introduced in it.  Last week Nelse Seymour did the top-spinning business equal to the real Japs.  He wound a common top with string, and throwing it into the air caught it on his hand, and placing it upon the blade of a long wooden sword made it spin from the handle to the very point.  It was very well done, indeed.  The burlesque of ‘Cinderella’ is as popular as ever, and nightly causes roars of laughter.  It is now in its twenty-fifth week.”