Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
Lina Edwin's Theatre

Manager / Director:
C. P. [manager] Kendall

Conductor(s):
F. [conductor] Zulig

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
3 September 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

25 Sep 1871, Evening
26 Sep 1871, Evening
27 Sep 1871, Evening
28 Sep 1871, Evening
29 Sep 1871, Evening
30 Sep 1871, Evening
30 Sep 1871, 2:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels;  Tyroler Familie Hofer;  Francis Leon;  Sam S. [Ethiopian comedian] Purdy
2)
Dime novel, A, [burlesque]
Text Author: Kelly
3)
Rose de Saint-Flour, La, [burlesque]

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 24 September 1871, 8.
2)
Review: New York Clipper, 07 October 1871, 214.

“Kelly and Leon’s Minstrel season at Lina Edwin’s Theatre was closed on Saturday evening, Sept. 30th. It has been by no means a success, and the attendance during the past week was quite limited. Kelly, Leon and S. S. Purdy have been engaged to play at San Francisco, Cal., for six weeks, and a majority of the balance of the company go to Lima, Peru. Among the many causes which tended to diminish the patronage at this theatre during the minstrel season the impoliteness of ushers in the auditorium was conspicuous, many reports of which have reached our ears, and on more than one occasion has it come under our personal observation. Patrons of public amusements have a right to look for civil and polite treatment, and do not expect to find their seats occupied when they present their coupons therefor, and be subjected to the annoyance of the delay while the occupants are being removed, which not only interrupts the performance if the curtain be up, but attracts unpleasantly the attention of the entire audience. The ushers are clearly responsible for this, as it is their duty to see that no one enters that portion of the auditorium for which seats are sold by coupon tickets, neither should they allow persons to occupy other seats than those designated upon the coupons of their tickets.”