Christy’s Minstrels

Event Information

Venue(s):
Fox's Old Bowery Theatre (until 1/67)

Manager / Director:
J. W. Raynor [minstrel]

Event Type:
Minstrel

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
2 January 2013

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

10 Jul 1865, Evening
11 Jul 1865, Evening
12 Jul 1865, Evening
13 Jul 1865, Evening
14 Jul 1865, Evening
15 Jul 1865, Evening
15 Jul 1865, 2:00 PM

Program Details

J. H. Surridge – stage manager

The group is referred to as the Raynor-Christy Minstrels in the New York Clipper.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Christy's Minstrels;  Japanese [minstrel] Tommy;  George N. Christy;  J. H. [minstrel voc.] Surridge;  J. W. Raynor [minstrel]
2)
"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! The prisoner's hope"
aka Prisoner's hope; Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching
Composer(s): Root
Text Author: Root
Participants:  J. H. [minstrel voc.] Surridge
3)
Black vs. white

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 10 July 1865, 7.

“The original and only Christy’s Minstrels and Brass Band.”

2)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 15 July 1865, 110.
3)
Advertisement: New York Clipper, 15 July 1865, 111.
4)
Review: New York Clipper, 22 July 1865, 118.

     “The Raynor-Christy Minstrels commenced a summer season at the Old Bowery on the 10th inst.  The house was very crowded, and throughout the week, the attendance was good, in fact, excellent for a minstrel band.  The company is by no means a first class one.  Mr. J. W. Raynor, the proprietor and interlocutor, is decidedly the best performer in the corps.  He is possessed of a very musical voice, and is one of the best ballad singers that puts on burnt cork.  Messrs. J. H. Surridge, C. Church, and G. Wrightman also sing ballads, but they are not very brilliant.  The singing of the ‘Prisoner’s Hope,’ by Surridge, was the lamest attempt we ever heard.  The quartet is by no means well balanced, and the instrumental music is very weak.  George Christy and Harry Talbot are on the end.  George is the same old sixpence, and all his business is as old as yonder hills.  Talbot is clever with the tambourine, but his business and gags are as worn out as Joe Miller himself.  The first part of the entertainment was the best, the olio business being not even fair to middling.  This week there is an entire change in the programme.  A matinee was given on the 15th to a large house, and another will be given on the 22d.”