San Francisco Minstrels
Event Information
Venue(s):
San Francisco Opera House
Event Type:
Minstrel
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
28 August 2025
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
12 Apr 1875, Evening13 Apr 1875, Evening
14 Apr 1875, Evening
15 Apr 1875, Evening
16 Apr 1875, Evening
17 Apr 1875, Evening
17 Apr 1875, 2:00 PM
Performers and/or Works Performed
Citations
“Among the novel features of the programme interpreted by the San Francisco Minstrels this week is a very laughable burletta, called ‘School.’ Of course a piece of this sort would not be timely if there were not a ‘spelling match’ introduced during its process, and last night Messrs. Birch, Backus, and their coadjutors kept the audience in a continuous roar by some achievements such as dictionary-makers and phonetic inventers never dreamed of. The old division of the minstrel entertainment is religiously maintained, and the second part of the performance, which includes a number of miscellaneous acts, is preceded by several agreeable songs, of which the sentimentality is relieved by some effective comic ditties.”
“This jolly and musical band of sable brothers added to their interesting bill a new and excessively comical sketch called ‘School,’ in which the main feature of interest was a spelling match. Into this contest of genius the company entered in force, and the execution they did on Webster and Worcester was something to create astonishment. During the evening song and joke kept the large audience in merry humor, and when the time came to disperse there was scarcely any one who would not have wished the spelling match to continue far into the night. The performance was thoroughly enjoyable.”