Colonel T. Allston Brown Complimentary Benefit

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Price: $1; $.50; no reserved seats

Event Type:
Minstrel

Performance Forces:
Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
13 August 2022

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

31 May 1870, Afternoon

Program Details

“In the afternoon all the Minstrel Bands of this city and Brooklyn in one mammoth performance.” Additional performance in the evening; see separate event entry.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Hooley's Minstrels (Brooklyn);  Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels;  Bryants' Minstrels;  Buckley's Serenaders;  San Francisco Minstrels;  John [Ethiopian comedian] Mulligan;  C. R. [minstrel singer] Clinton;  George Swayne Buckley;  James Gaynor;  Ed. [vocalist] Banker;  Charles Henry [minstrel tenor];  William P. Grier [minstrel];  Little [minstrel] Mac;  John F. Oberist;  James H. [minstrel song and dance] Cooper;  Master Barney;  William [minstrel song and dance] Fields;  Johnny [Ethiopian comedian] Queen;  Dave [minstrel] Reed;  G. W. Rockefeller;  [minstrel singer] Eugene;  Joseph [minstrel tenor] Brindisi;  Dan Bryant;  James G. [minstrel baritone] Russell;  Cool White [minstrel]
2)
"Wake! O wake!"
Composer(s): Luther
3)
Comic song
aka Comic ditty
Participants:  James Gaynor
4)
"Little footsteps"
Composer(s): Barney
Text Author: Leavitt
Participants:  C. R. [minstrel singer] Clinton
5)
"Come like a beautiful dream"
Composer(s): Danks
Text Author: Cooper [comp-lyricist]
Participants:  Charles Henry [minstrel tenor]
6)
School in an uproar
7)
INTERMISSION
8)
Act of all acts; or, Musical moments
Participants:  George Swayne Buckley
9)
Haunted wig maker, The
10)
Walk around

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 15 May 1870, 4.

“…The afternoon entertainment will consist of the most comprehensive minstrel representations ever given in this country…”

2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 19 May 1870, 9.
3)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 21 May 1870, 54.

“Col. T. A. Brown’s connection with this paper will cease on and after Monday, May 30th, as he intends to enter the dramatic agency business, at No. 643 Broadway, on the 1st of June…In view of his retirement from journalism, a number of gentlemen have tendered him a testimonial…” Generic announcement for the benefit follows.

4)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 May 1870, 12.
5)
Announcement: New York Herald, 27 May 1870, 4.

Brief. The benefit “will be a stupendous affair. Over one hundred volunteers will appear.”

6)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 28 May 1870, 62.
7)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 29 May 1870, 9.

Program. In Act of all acts, Buckley “performs on twelve different instruments, introducing songs and dances and all the different features belonging to minstrelsy…” Lists instruments. “A magnificent chromo lithograph of Lotta will be presented to every lady visiting the afternoon and evening performance, as a farewell Lotta souvenir.”

8)
Announcement: New York Herald, 30 May 1870, 5.
9)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 30 May 1870, 12.

Instructions for where and when performers should report for rehearsals on 05/30/70.

10)
Announcement: New-York Times, 30 May 1870, 4.
11)
Announcement: New York Post, 30 May 1870, 2.
12)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 31 May 1870, 9.

Multiple cards; full cast list.

13)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 31 May 1870, 5.
14)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 02 June 1870, 4.

No mention of music.

15)
Review: New York Clipper, 11 June 1870, 78.

Long review. “…The afternoon performance, although attractive, embracing as it did a minstrel organization composed of so many bright stars of the dusky horizon, was not so well attended as might have been expected…”