Tony Pastor’s Opera House

Leased by a new company of minstrels for the summer season.

“This theatre was opened last night by a respectable troupe of negro minstrels, who made their debut before a crowded house. Messrs. Emerson, Allan, and Manning who have already made their several successes in their profession, are the principal actors. They make admirable darkeys, sing good songs, dance well, and successfully delineate the entire negro character. Mr. Allen, ‘The Lively Boy,’ frisked about like a young kid; Messrs Kelly and Holly danced with the ease and grace of practiced performers; Master Eddie, a mere child handled his clafs in excellent style, while ‘Anderson the Lizzard,’ took off an illusionist to the immense gratification of the audience. The whole performance was worthy of Broadway minstrel halls, and excelled many of the latter by the absence of indelicate jokes. The house must continue to be well patronized while it remains under the present management, and has a programme as varied and entertainment as that of last evening.”

“Emerson, Allen and Manning’s Minstrels opened in this city, at Tony Pastor’s Opera House, on June 29th. They appeared to a good house, but business was only fair the balance of the week, owing to the heat. There are twelve performers in the first part, with Johnny Allen on the tambourine end and Billy Manning as bones. Johnny Allen has made song and dance a specialty, in which he is very good, particularly as ‘Nicodemus Johnson,’ but he is not funny nor original enough for a successful ‘ender.’ Although his songs and gags are about as fresh as those of any other performer on the end, yet he fails to infuse in them sufficient wit to make him a funny comedian. Mr. Manning is said to have made a greater hit in Cincinnati than any comedian seen there for some time, consequently we expected to see and hear something fresh and original, which we did not do. On the contrary, his style is of the stereotyped order and his gags are all very old. Perhaps Mr. Manning is like several others we know of in the profession, who, although very quiet in their style, gradually grow in favor with his audiences, as was the case in Cincinnati. At any rate he is not a comedian that would please at first.  The quartet is good, as is the instrumental music. Dr. J. Hanmer has a powerful and well modulated bass voice, as has E. S. Rosenthal. The former sang ‘Dublin Bay’ and the latter ‘Kiss Me Mother Ere I Die’ in such a pleasing manner as to receive a hearty encore.  Kelly and Holly are clever representatives in a song and dance, while the dancing of Emerson appeared to please every one, judging by the amount of applause bestowed. His eccentric song and dance of the ‘Ticket of Leave’ is not only new, but takes well, and Billy does it up in good style. He also did a song and dance, which was encored three times. This week Emerson and Manning take the ends, and Allen lays off. Johnny Wild, a favorite on the east side, and a versatile comedian, commences with this party; also, Myron Lewis, impersonator of female characters.”