Newcomb and Arlington’s Minstrels

Reopening night; lists members of the company.

“Fresh jokes and a variety of mirth-provoking matter delighted a large audience at Newcomb & Arlington’s reopening at their Opera-House last evening. The troupe comes back reorganized and enlarged, preserving at its head the inimitable Arlington. Decidedly the best thing on the opening programme is a burlesque Woman Suffrage speech by Arlington, abounding in capital hits, and forming an admirable travestie on the stereotyped strong-minded productions. The entertainment comprises amusing impersonations, an original and laughable rendition of ‘Carry the News to Mary,’ by Walter Bray, comic scenes and songs, and closes with a pleasant sketch called ‘Bibbs and the Bibbses.’”   

“Newcomb & Arlington’s Minstrels opened the season at their Opera House on Twenty-eighth street last evening appearing to a large and appreciative audience. Wm. Arlington as Sambo and Walter Bray as Bones created an infinite fund of amusement, and were each rapturously encored in their comic songs. The same compliment was paid to Henry Percy, who possesses a voice of singular purity and sweetness. Andy McKee is well known as one of the best song and dance men on the stage, and his performance of last evening did not belie his reputation. The entire programme was intuitively carried out to the letter, and will be repeated every evening during the week.”

“The Twenty-eighth-street Opera-house was opened to the public on Monday evening. The occasion was marked by a crowded auditorium and by an excellent entertainment. The mirth and music of a minstrel performance never lose their power of attractiveness and pleasure-giving, and that supplied by Messrs. Newcomb & Arlington’s company is full of the much-prized qualities. We do not know that a recapitulation of the fanciful titles given to the acts making up the representation would enlighten the reader as to their interest. We shall, we think, be explicit enough when we note that the night’s work is divided into two portions, the first filled by instrumental and vocal music, and the second by a miscellany of droll scenes, speeches, banjo tunes and dances. A capital company is clustered about Messrs. Newcomb & Arlington, and when we mention the names of Messrs. Percy, Surridge, Walter Bray, and Sam Price we are satisfied we eloquently commend the up-town opera-house to the favors of the admirers of modern minstrelsy.” 

Beginning of second season; includes a list of company members.

“A brilliant and numerous audience greeted the return of Newcomb & Arlington’s Minstrels to their hall, in Twenty eighth street, on Sept. 4^th, when their fall and winter season was duly commenced. The troupe has been considerably strengthened and several new features introduced, among which were a comic dissertation on the female suffrage movement, by W. Arlington, Lon A. Myers in novel musical performances, and James Edward in protean impersonations, all of which met with favor from the audience. The first part was fresh, and the vocalism was excellent.”