Barnum's American Museum

“Sanford’s Minstrels will probably visit us during the summer, and give a series of entertainments.”

“Last Week of General Tom Thumb. . . . The Manager has the satisfaction of announcing an engagement with Sanford’s Ethiopian Opera Troupe, The best company of Negro Minstrels, Delineators, and Comic Operatic Performers in the country.  It is composed of the best talents of Two Entire Companies, the best singers, dancers and comic operatic artists to be found in America or the world.”

 “Barnum’s dramatic season has closed, but Sanford’s minstrel company of Philadelphia will occupy the theatre twice each day.”

"Positively Last Day of General Tom Thumb.”

“Sanford’s Opera Troupe, who made their first appearance on the 6th, after an absence of nine years, will get their full share of the public approbation.  The troupe possess talent much above the average, and the two end men, S.S. Sanford and F. Myers, are real ‘artists,’ as Johnny Lyng would express it.  Whether in Irish, Dutch, or Negro burlesques, Sanford, Myers, and Haven can’t be beat—they are a sort of Ethiopian trinity.  The duett, ‘Larboard Watch,’ by Messrs. Williams and Hall, was indeed, excellent; but the gentleman who sang ‘Vive la America’ put on a ‘leetle’ too many motions, and not very expressive ones either.  E.J. Turner’s ‘No One to Love’ seemed to strike home, given as it was with so much feeling.  The remaining members of this widely known and popular minstrel band all proved themselves stars in their different characters; and as for Samivel [sic] [recte Samuel] S. Sanford—he’s a comet of the first order.”

“The dwarfs have positively closed their little performances at the Museum, after a season of uninterrupted farewell appearances.  They played themselves out on the 11th inst., previous to their departure for—Connecticut.  They are a little crowd, but big gags as performers, for their vocal abilities are of a very poor order, indeed, and their various acts on the stage below mediocrity.”