Bryants’ Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
Mechanic's Hall

Price: $.25

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
28 March 2011

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

07 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM
08 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM
09 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM
10 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM
11 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM
12 Mar 1864, 7:45 PM

Program Details



Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Bryants' Minstrels;  John H. Sivori;  Dan Bryant;  Tommy Gettings;  Rollin Howard;  James Garatagua;  Daniel Decatur Emmett;  William L. [minstrel] Hobbs;  Neil Bryant;  Nelse Seymour;  G. A. Conners;  George S. Fowler [minstrel];  James Morrison;  J. W. [minstrel] Hilton;  Frank [minstrel] Leslie;  Little [minstrel] Mac;  Dave [minstrel] Reed
2)
Taming a butterfly, [minstrel parody]
Participants:  Dan Bryant (role: Rapheal Moco);  Nelse Seymour (role: Giovanni Du, M.D.);  Dave [minstrel] Reed (role: Simon, his valet)
3)
Challenge dance
4)
Tin-pan-onion
aka Tin panonion; Tin-pan-on-ion; Tinpanonion; Tin pan onion; Tin Pano-ni-on; Tin-pan-o-ni-on
5)
"Sally, come up"
aka Sally come up
6)
Stocks up
aka Stocks up and stocks down
7)
Donnybrook reel
8)
"Black Brigade, The," [plantation song and dance]
aka Black Brigade, De; Black brigade horse cavalry
Composer(s): Emmett
Text Author: Emmett
9)
Essence of Little Mac
aka Mac's essence; Little Mac's essence of Old Virginia
10)
Exempt Shakers
aka Exempt Shaking Quakers; Exempt Shakers from Lebanon Town; Lebanon Shakers, The ; Shaking Quakers
11)
Jumbo Jum's College
aka Jumbo Jim's college

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 07 March 1864.

2)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 12 March 1864, 379.

“Will they tax whiskey on hand, or not?  That’s the all important question just now; it is of greater moment it appears, than the ‘nigger,’ and he, we all know, is hard to beat.  Senators and Representatives have discussed the question in a spirited manner, and drank many a gallon of the liquid in trying to arrive at some sort of compromise.  If the matter is not soon settled, there will be no whiskey left on hand to tax; then what?  Instead of bothering your head about the ‘fire water,’ as the Indians appropriately call it, suppose you look in at Bryants, and see how harmoniously all matters of public interest are discussed there.  It’s a treat to see ‘the boys’ enjoy their own fun, and laugh at their own jokes, which they do in most uncompromising manner.  Postscript.—Go early, if you want to get a seat.”

3)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 12 March 1864, 384.
Lists performers.
4)
Review: New York Clipper, 19 March 1864, 387.
“While English opera is meeting with favor at Niblo’s, and Italian making money for Max at the Academy, it is pleasing to note that the African Opera is lively and attractive at Bryants; and of the three classes, the nigger is far more enduring as well as amusing. . . . Barring the squeezing one gets at Bryants, the ‘boys’ make a great deal of fun for a feller, and enable us to have a boisterous laugh at very little expense.  ‘Taming a Butterfly’ is the latest novelty at this house; it is brief, but funny.”