San Francisco Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
San Francisco Minstrels Hall

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
28 June 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

27 Dec 1869, Evening
28 Dec 1869, Evening
29 Dec 1869, Evening
30 Dec 1869, Evening
31 Dec 1869, Evening
01 Jan 1870, Evening

Program Details

The Cart-off giant must have been connected to the “Cardiff Giant,” an “excavated” petrified man on display at Apollo Hall throughout December 1869. Although the giant was later uncovered as a hoax, he was extremely popular in New York at the time and excessively advertised with daily multiple cards in several newspapers.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  San Francisco Minstrels;  Billy Birch [minstrel];  David S. Wambold
2)
Hash
3)
Fat men's ball, The
Participants:  Billy Birch [minstrel]
4)
Cart-off giant

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 December 1869, 2.
2)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 26 December 1869, 7.
3)
Announcement: New York Herald, 27 December 1869, 5.
4)
Review: New York Sun, 30 December 1869, 1.

“The Fat Men’s Ball Every Night. On Monday night the Hon. William Birch, of the San Francisco Minstrels, brought out a burlesque on the Fat Men’s ball, which was received with immense applause. The receipts during the rainy night of Monday exceeded those of any four nights of the week before. The burlesque is probably the most amusing ever brought out by the Hon. Mr. Birch.”

5)
Review: New York Clipper, 08 January 1870, 318.

“On New Year's evening the hall was densely crowded, and the MInstrels gave a good entertainment. Mr. Wambold was suffering from a sore throat and did not sing the ballad announced in the programme. Business keeps very good with this troupe.”