Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
Kelly and Leon's Minstrels Hall (720 Broadway)

Price: $.50 Parquet and balcony; $.75 Reserved seats in the parquet and balcony; $1 Orchestra chairs

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
30 December 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

14 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
15 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
16 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
17 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
18 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM
19 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Notice—this is the only house that plays the burlesque of Jimmy Offenbach’s Barbe Bleue.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels;  J. H. [minstrel voc.] Surridge;  [unidentified minstrel] Myers
2)
Tame cats
Text Author: Leon
Participants:  Francis Leon
3)
Barber Blu, [burlesque]
Participants:  J. H. [minstrel voc.] Surridge;  [unidentified minstrel] Myers;  Francis Leon (role: Boulotte)

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 14 December 1868.
2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 14 December 1868, 4.

Kelly and Leon’s continue with “Tame Cats” and will add tonight scenes from the burlesque of “Barber-Blu.”  Several new artists are announced.

3)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 19 December 1868, 294, 3d col., middle.
4)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 19 December 1868, 295.
5)
Review: New York Herald, 20 December 1868, 7.

To quote the language of the playbill the past week has been a regular ‘banquet of novelties’ at this house. ‘Barber Blu’ and ‘Leon’s Tame Cats’ have furnished food for laughter to thousands, and there is every probability that many thousands more will crack their sides over the comicalities of those pieces before they are withdrawn in favor of other novelties. There was quite a full house last night, and the audience only restrained its laughter to applaud enthusiastically.”

6)
Review: New York Clipper, 26 December 1868, 302, 3d col., middle.

“J. H. Surridge appeared in the first part and sang ‘Driven from Home’ in a pleasing manner.  Dick Carroll appeared on the tambourine end, and his song of ‘That Gal o’ Mine’ received an encore.  Mr. Meyers also put in a first appearance, and played a solo on a harmonica.”