Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

“Messrs. Kelly and Leon’s Minstrel Company will perform in some very amusing acts, at their popular hall, No. 720 Broadway. They appear this evening in new burlesques, named Lady Orderly’s Secret, Scenes of Olden Times, The Two Swells, Pat Malloy’s Jig and Little Barefoot. Other good things are also announced.”

“The attendance at the performance given by this popular troupe of minstrels last evening was large, appreciative and respectable. A new programme throughout was presented which contained many novelties, nearly all of which were in no small degree entertaining and amusing. The troupe is composed of some of the best members of the profession, a proof of whose merit is the growing popularity which they enjoy. The name of Christy alone is sufficient guarantee that the bones are handled by no inferior professional. The other end was occupied by Johnny Allen—himself a host—so that between the two the audience were kept in continual and hearty good humor. But not alone in keeping up the ends are these two artists deserving of commendation; they are both good comedians, and took part in some of the best and most enthusiastically applauded pieces of the evening, such as ‘Scenes of Olden Times,’ ‘Dodging for a Wife,’ and others. The comic songs of ‘The Man with a Wooden Leg,’ was very happily rendered by Johnny Allen, whose dancing in accompaniment to the song ‘She Looks so Sweet’ was inimitable. Speaking of dancing there are none better in their respective lines than Leon and Dick Sands, the former being a dangerous rival to the most prominent heroines of the ballet, while the latter, in clogs, is simply unapproachable. Leon’s singing in the burlesque operetta of ‘Domestic Bliss’ was one of the best and most laughable features of the entertainment. The boy brothers Guy display a proficiency for mere children that is truly remarkable. One thing might easily be obviated, the habit which prevails among certain of the troupe, of spoiling a good thing by laughing at it. If they will leave the audience to do this—and the audience will answer for themselves—their entertainments leave little to be desired.”