Irving Hall

Event Information

Venue(s):
Irving Hall

Price: $.50; $1 reserved

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
13 June 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

22 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM
23 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM
24 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM
25 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM
26 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM
27 Oct 1866, 1:00 PM
27 Oct 1866, 8:00 PM

Program Details

The performance on Friday, October 26 is a farewell benefit for the Pauls. This was their last week in New York.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Text Author: Paul
3)
aka French sneezing song
Composer(s): Russel
Participants:  Mrs. Howard Paul
4)
Composer(s): Walker
Text Author: Walker
Participants:  Howard Paul
5)
aka Star spangled banned
Composer(s): Smith
Text Author: Key
Participants:  Mrs. Howard Paul
6)
aka Bould soger boy; Bowl'd sojer boy
Composer(s): Lover
Text Author: Lover
Participants:  Mrs. Howard Paul
7)
aka MacGregors' gathering
Composer(s): Lee
Text Author: Scott
Participants:  Mrs. Howard Paul
8)
Composer(s): Massett
Text Author: Moore
Participants:  Mrs. Howard Paul
9)
Composer(s): Pastor
Text Author: Pastor
Participants:  Howard Paul

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Herald, 21 October 1866, 5.

“Fresh novelties are announced for next week; among others Mrs. Paul will sing ‘The Star Spangled Banner,’ a song in which she is said to be very great.”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 21 October 1866, 7.

“Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul’s Last Week in New York.”

3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 22 October 1866, 4.

“Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul enter the last week of their exceedingly entertaining appearances in New York at Irving Hall, this evening. Mr. Howard Paul will personate Napoleon the Third, Mrs. Howard Paul will sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ the ‘Bould Sojer Boy,’ and, in her representation of Mr. Sims Reeves, will introduce the fine Scotch song the ‘MacGregor’s Gathering,’ and the ballad, ‘Sunset.’ Friday, 26th of October, is set apart for the farewell benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul.”

4)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 23 October 1866, 7.
5)
Review: New York Herald, 24 October 1866, 7.

“There was no diminution last evening in the large assemblages which have nightly witnessed the entertainments of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul since their first appearance in this city. The popularity of these artists arises from the fact, not that they are [illeg.] in their acting nor that they possess vocal talent of the highest order, but more especially from the novelty of their performances. These consist in a mélange of wit and [illeg.], in which the humorous effect is heightened by the many ludicrous incidents which Mr. and Mrs. Paul introduce, and the sentiment is more fully brought out by their identifying themselves thoroughly with the characters which they personate, so that the feeling of an expression is more fully and vividly developed by the vigor and life which their acting lends to it. And this is why they are popular and must continue so. They succeed in thoroughly interesting an audience, and in engaging its attention and holding it unabated throughout by a combination of what is natural with what is artistic in a manner which has rarely been attained. The entertainment was essentially the same as that of the preceding evening, opening with the domestic scene of ‘Ripples on the Lake,’ in which Mrs. Paul displays no little skill in acting, and that naturally and almost without a trace of affectation. The ‘sneezing song,’ in imitation of the French Therese, followed, and was rendered in so admirable a manner that Mrs. Paul was called out a second time. The representation of Old Roger Whitelock, in the song of ‘George the Third,’ by Mr. Paul, was somewhat strained and overdone, yet it was heartily applauded. The singing of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ by Mrs. Paul, in costume, was of course enthusiastically received, being twice encored. The imitation of a London swell by Mr. Paul, in the character of Rattleton Cheek, was well calculated to provoke merriment, and as such was successful. By far the crowning feature of the entertainment was Mrs. Paul’s imitation of Sims Reeves in the songs ‘Macgregor’s Gathering’ and ‘Sunset.’ In these she displayed a voice of much flexibility and considerable compass, while her ‘make up’ here, as throughout the performance, was really excellent.” 

6)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 October 1866, 7.
7)
Announcement: New-York Times, 26 October 1866, 4.
8)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 27 October 1866, 230.

“Mr. and Mrs. Paul’s entertainment in this city will probably close this week. They have not met with success here, as the style of performance they offer is not popular in this country. We believe that they go to the Arch, Philadelphia, next.”

9)
Review: New York Herald, 27 October 1866, 4.

“These clever and popular artistes gave their concluding evening entertainment last night in Irving Hall. The evening having been set apart for their benefit, the hall was well filled with a fashionable and appreciative audience. ‘Ripples on the Lake’ was the first thing on the programme, the second part being composed of variations of the same kind as have been presented by Mr. and Mrs. Paul since their debut in New York. Mrs. Paul, having recovered from the severe cold under which she has for some time been suffering, rendered her songs with more than usual power, and received from the audience the compliment of a recall after every song. The ‘Sneezing Song’ and the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ both of which are songs that require powers of no small order, were rendered by Mrs. Paul in such a style as to establish her reputation as a singer of extraordinary power. Mr. Paul was equally successful as ‘his better half’ his ‘When George the Third Was King,’ and ‘Man About Town,’ receiving from the audience unmistakable signs of approval. As these clever people are about to close their performances in New York, it is but fair to congratulate them on the success with which they have met in the city. Notwithstanding the peculiar novelty of the entertainment, and the doubts which were indulged in as to the possibility of their being able to gain an audience in Irving Hall, these artistes have by their superior and popular powers gained a support from the general public, which cannot fail to have proven at one and the same time both the cleverness of the performers and the appreciative powers of the New York public.” 

10)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 27 October 1866, 7.
11)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 27 October 1866.
12)
Review: New York Clipper, 03 November 1866, 238.

“Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul, after a discouraging season at Irving Hall, brought their performances to a close on Oct. 27th.  It is to be regretted that they were not successful; but their slow style of entertainments is not calculated to please the fast people of America, and as they failed to draw in New York it is not likely that they will do any better elsewhere.”