San Francisco Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
San Francisco Minstrels Hall

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
16 May 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

08 Oct 1866, Evening
09 Oct 1866, Evening
10 Oct 1866, Evening
11 Oct 1866, Evening
12 Oct 1866, Evening
13 Oct 1866, Evening

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Foster
Text Author: Lover
Participants:  Ainsley Scott
3)
aka Darling Jennie; Farewell Jennie; Farewell Jeannie
Composer(s): Blamphin
Text Author: Blamphin
Participants:  David S. Wambold
7)
aka Imitations of famous actors; Imitations of popular actors; Limitations of great actors; Parlor theatricals
10)
aka Nerves original; Nervés
Composer(s): Gordon
Text Author: Brian
11)
aka Greasy black cook; Screaming black cook, The; Screaming black crook; Little crooks
Participants:  African ballet troupe

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 08 October 1866, 5.

“Messrs. Birch, Wambold, Bernard and Backus, finding their ample hall, No. 585 Broadway, crowded each evening with audiences in most excellent humor, have made very little change in their programme for the week. After repeating many amusing excellences they will give the new burlesque of The Black Cook, introducing the African ballet troupe.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 08 October 1866, 7.
3)
Review: New York Herald, 10 October 1866.

“The entertainment at No. 585 Broadway, was attended last night by a full and very enthusiastic audience. The proprietors seem to be so sure of public patronage, that they have this week made little, if any, change in their programme. The character of the performance at this favorite place of amusement is of such a kind as to be very difficult to criticize; those who night after night fill the hall go with the expectation of seeing a succession of burlesque scenes, and they do not go away disappointed, for they are favored with some of the broadest, and most farcical extravaganzas, which it is possible to put upon the stage. The first part, which consists of musical selections, is very fairly given, the pathetic ballads, ‘There’s no such girl as mine,’ and ‘Darling Jennie,’ sung respectively by M. Ainsley Scott and Mr. D.S. Wambold were good, and received with unmistakable signs of approval. The witticisms of Messrs. Backus and Birth kept the audience convulsed; but the oldness of some of the jests, and the peculiarly indistinct and rapid enunciation of Charles Backus did not tend to improve this part of the entertainment. The dancing of Messrs. J. Cooper and W. Fields also received a fair share of applause. The entertainment concluded with The Black Cook, a burlesque which deserves the name as much as anything which has yet been brought before the public, and which exhibited the colored ballet in undress almost as complete as that affected by the white skinned corps at a Broadway establishment.”  

4)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 13 October 1866, 216.
5)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 13 October 1866, 7.
6)
Review: New York Clipper, 20 October 1866, 222.

“Crowded houses continue to listen to the witticisms and sentimentalisms of the San Francisco Minstrels. Among the most pleasing acts offered during the past week was that of the ‘Hilton Head Institute,’ with Bernard as the teacher, Backus as the dunce, and the rest of the corps as scholars. When school opened, the calling for A.T. Stewart, C. Vanderbilt, Horace Greely, the Mayor of Philadelphia, and many other popular persons, created roars of laughter. Messrs. Cooper and Fields did three acts, ‘Susan’s Sunday Out,’ ‘Clog Dance,’ and ‘The Nerves,’ very nicely. These young men are ambitious in their business, and strive hard to please. The burlesque of ‘The Black Cook’ is as popular as ever. Lew Brimmer, banjoist, joins the Frisco boys this week.”