San Francisco Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
San Francisco Minstrels Hall

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
19 September 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

06 Feb 1871, Evening
07 Feb 1871, Evening
08 Feb 1871, Evening
09 Feb 1871, Evening
10 Feb 1871, Evening
11 Feb 1871, Evening
11 Feb 1871, 2:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  San Francisco Minstrels;  Rollin Howard;  Billy Birch [minstrel];  David S. Wambold;  William H. [minstrel] Bernard;  Charley Backus;  Billy [Ethiopian comedian] Emmett;  John F. Oberist;  Johnny [Ethiopian comedian] Queen;  Billy West
2)
"God bless the Little Church around the Corner"
Composer(s): Wambold
Text Author: Cooper [comp-lyricist]
Participants:  David S. Wambold
3)
"Ain't I pretty?"
Composer(s): Howard
Text Author: Chase
Participants:  Rollin Howard
4)
Othello and Macbeth
Participants:  Billy Birch [minstrel];  Charley Backus
5)
Brigands, Les, [burlesque]

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 05 February 1871, 2.
2)
Review: New York Herald, 11 February 1871, 6.

“The burlesque on the opera of ‘Les Brigands’ at this house monopolizes the principal part of the bill. It is one of the cleverest and most laughable performances that ever the minstrel boards witnessed. Rollin Howard is the brigand’s fair daughter, Wambold the blood-thirsty bandit, and Billy Birch and Charley Backus two comical carbineers. The last two are very funny, and in make up and drill are immense. ‘The Little Church Round the Corner’ is Wambold’s newest ballad.”

3)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 18 February 1871, 366.

“The average attendance was fair.”

4)
Article: New York Clipper, 18 February 1871, 366.
“Has the taste for negro minstrelsy diminished, or is the apparent public apathy to be attributed to a lack of novelty and freshness in the entertainments presented? For, certainly, the business is not what it was in past years, nor is the public interest the same. We have two troupes in this city, containing some of the best talent in the profession, yet they fail to secure a large patronage. What is the cause of this falling off?”