Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to dateRice, Edw. Le Roy (Edward Le Roy)
History
Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to date
Rice, Edw. Le Roy (Edward Le Roy)
Actors -- United States; Minstrel shows
EDWIN P. CHRISTY was best known as a ballad singer, although he played
the banjo acceptably and played parts in his entertainments; he made a
specialty of singing Stephen C. Foster’s songs.
He returned from California early in 1855, and never appeared again
professionally; nor did he ever play in England, although his name is a
household word there yet even to this day.
Edwin P. Christy was born in Philadelphia, November 28, 1815; he died
(suicide) in New York City, May 21, 1862.
GEORGE N. CHRISTY (Harrington), is conceded to have been one of the
greatest performers that ever graced the minstrel stage; he was
versatile by all the term applies; had he deemed to use his talents
otherwise, his name might have been enrolled as one of America’s great
actors.
His career began at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1839; although he had not yet
entered his teens, he was rated a fine jig dancer.
He was associated with E. P. Christy a few years before the latter
organized his minstrel company.
George Christy was with Christy’s Minstrels in New York from February
15, 1847, until October 29, 1853, during which period he played every
conceivable part; male and female equally well; he was a great endman
and as a bone player ranked with the best.
Owing to a misunderstanding, he left E. P. Christy on October 29, 1853,
and two days later he joined forces with Henry Wood at 444 Broadway,
where as Wood and Christy’s Minstrels they held forth many years.
During the 50’s Wood and Christy took the house vacated by E. P.
Christy, put a show in there and ran both establishments for several
months; Billy Birch and Christy played on the ends in their respective
houses, after which each would go to the other theatre and contribute
to the rest of the entertainment.
December 2, 1854, “444” was destroyed by fire, and the company after a
brief tour, resumed at “472.” “444” was rebuilt and reopened October 1,
1855.
Subsequently the company opened at Wood’s Marble Palace, 561-563
Broadway, which was especially built for them, October 31, 1857; the
other houses were then closed.
Christy withdrew from Wood on May 1, 1858, and went to California,
opening at San Francisco under the management of Tom Maguire, June
7; the company was known as Christy’s Minstrels; they remained in
California several months; subsequently Christy and R. M. Hooley formed
a partnership and returned to New York, opening at 444 Broadway, May
23, 1859. Christy had previously signed an agreement with Henry Wood
not to appear within 100 miles of New York for a period of eighteen
months, commencing May 1, 1858.
When George Christy attempted to perform, he was enjoined from doing so
by Wood; Christy then took the road until the time limit had expired,
opening at Niblo’s Saloon, November 7, 1859; he played here about one
year, and subsequently moved opposite to 585 Broadway.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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