Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

Event Information

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

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
26 April 2022

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

02 May 1870, Evening
03 May 1870, Evening
04 May 1870, Evening
05 May 1870, Evening
06 May 1870, Evening
07 May 1870, Evening

Program Details

Friday (05/06/70) evening to benefit Sam S. Purdy. The burlesque featured a boys’ choir comprised of sopranos “secured from several of the leading city choirs.”

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Boys' Choir, unidentified;  Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels;  Sam S. [Ethiopian comedian] Purdy
2)
Bell L. N., La!, [burlesque]
aka Belle L. N.
Text Author: Leon

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 01 May 1870, 1.

“34 star performers in La Belle L. N.”

2)
Announcement: New York Herald, 02 May 1870, 7.

Brief.

3)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 07 May 1870, 38.

“S. S. Purdy, the well known comedian, a great favorite and a most excellent performer, takes a benefit at Kelly & Leon’s Minstrel Hall on the 6th inst. Give him a good house.”

4)
Review: New York Clipper, 14 May 1870, 46.

“S. S. Purdy had a good house for his benefit on the 6th inst. at Kelly & Leon’s Minstrel Hall, not withstanding the rain. He had quite a number of tickets out, which realized him a goodly sum.”

5)
Review: New York Clipper, 14 May 1870, 46.

On La Belle L. N. “…As a burlesque, it is one of their best, of the Offenbachian school. It has been cleverly written and is replete with local hits…A great feature was made of the choruses, as quite a number of boys, with soprano voices, were secured from several of the leading city choirs, whose singing lent great aid to the successful production of this burlesque.”