American Theatre: Charley White Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Butler's American Theatre [444 Bdway--before 3/66]

Proprietor / Lessee:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Conductor(s):
Fred Van Olker

Ballet Director / Choreographer:
Paul Brilliant

Price: $.25

Event Type:
Minstrel, Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
29 January 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

30 Oct 1862, Evening

Program Details



La Thorne, stage manager

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Text Author: White
Participants:  Charley White
3)
Text Author: White
Participants:  Charley White
4)
Text Author: White
Participants:  Charley White
5)
aka It was down in Carolina
Participants:  Pony Smith
6)
aka Going to fight mit Sigel; Fights mit Sigel
Composer(s): Schnapps
Participants:  Hubert W. Egan

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 25 October 1862, 223.
“A complimentary benefit is in preparation, we understand, for the indefatigable Charley White, to come off at 444 Broadway, under the auspices of R.W. Butler and the regular company. Of course Charley is ‘ready for the draft,’ and so are his numerous friends in the profession. As for the public, we feel confident it will not forget Charley White. This is a somewhat unusual thing in the minstrel profession, and a jolly good time may be expected.”
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 October 1862, 7.
3)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 27 October 1862, 7.
“Charley White’s Great Testimonial Tendered Him by the Management Will Take Place On This coming Thursday night, the 30th.”
4)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 28 October 1862, 7.
5)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 29 October 1862, 7.
6)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 October 1862, 7.
7)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 01 November 1862.
“Charley White’s Complimentary Testimonial, and last week of his engagement. . . . Tendered him by the management as a Complimentary Mark of Respect and Esteem. The tickets for this occasion are accompanied with a fine Steel Engraving of the Beneficiarie, in Cartes de Visite style.”
8)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 01 November 1862.
“[O]n Thursday evening, Oct. 30, a benefit is to be given to Mr. Charles [sic] White, one of New York’s fixtures, and an able performer in his peculiar line of business. A big bill is offered for the occasion, embracing singing, dancing, Ethiopian eccentricities, etc.”
9)
Review: New York Clipper, 08 November 1862, 239.

Testimonial was for “one of the originators of the burnt cork biz, that favorite contraband delineator, Charley White. . . . [H]ad the house been enlarged to twice its dimensions for this night only, all could have got seats and enjoyed the show – as it was, half had to go it standing.  There were no volunteers, only the regular company, which has to be of the first ability to make both ends meet without the aid of ‘lo necs’[sic] and short skirts. The pieces in which Charley appeared … all, we believe, his own productions. . . . The fellers are headed by the ever fresh Tony Pastor, high-cockalorum of comic singers; he is most too hard, though, on somebody in that album song – draw it mild, Tony, for two of ‘em happened in that very night – a fact. . . . Pony Smith’s about as popular as anybody in ‘Hop lite loo’ and songs of that ilk; Whiting, though not much of a singer, is the nattiest laugher around; Eagan is perfectly awful on tactics in … making up for a rather monotonous voice; and generally speaking, all are much above the average. . . . In fact, the whole show went off as Charley’s best friends could have wished.  He was called upon for a speech, and saluted with ‘three-times-three,’ the last as unanimous as the first.  That’s the right way to do it.”