TOM MAGUIRE never got the credit due him for placing minstrelsy in California on the high plane it once enjoyed. Mr. Maguire went to San Francisco in 1849, and a year later built the Jenny Lind Theatre there. It was Maguire who brought George Christy and Company to California in 1858, and it was Maguire a dozen years or so later that paved the way for the success that later came to Billy Emerson, with whom Maguire was associated until the late 70’s. And when Emerson made his first trip to Australia about 1873, Maguire’s Minstrels flourished on in San Francisco. Yes, the great coast metropolis owes much to Tom Maguire. Mr. Maguire died in New York, January 20, 1896; aged 72 years. DR. JOHN P. ORDWAY was one of the earliest prominent managers engaged in permanent minstrelsy in one particular city. He was the founder of the Aeolians, a famous minstrel organization who gave their first performance in Harmony Hall, Boston, Mass., December 16, 1849, and played in that city until September, 1859. December 12, same year, he appeared with Anderson’s Minstrels for a few nights only; this was his last professional appearance. Dr. Ordway was a skilled musician, and the composer of many popular ballads. While with his company he usually played the piano in the first part and invariably in white-face. After retiring from the stage, he practiced medicine for several years, and in 1868 was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. He was the founder of the Massachusetts Anglers (now Fish and Game) Association. Dr. John P. Ordway was born in Salem, Mass., in 1824; he died in Boston, Mass., April 27, 1880. WILLIAM H. SMITH, the well-known manager, went to California in 1850, and in 1856 opened the Varieties Theatre in San Francisco. In 1860 he organized the California Minstrels and took them to South America, Australia and Europe. In 1865 he was associated in the management of Cotton and Murphy’s Minstrels, frequently acting as interlocutor. In 1880 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and at various times was manager of the Comique, Peoples and Standard Theatres there. On September 24, 1866, Mr. Smith married Clara Sages in San Francisco. William H. Smith was born in Norwich, Conn., August 10, 1824; he died in St. Louis, Mo., December 1, 1901. “BIJE” (Amidon L.) THAYER was one of the pioneers of minstrelsy; his operations were confined to Boston and contiguous territory chiefly. Thayer’s Minstrels and Thayer and Newcomb’s Minstrels existed from the middle 40’s to the early 50’s. To Mr. Thayer belongs the credit of being the first to establish a _permanent_ minstrel company in Boston, although the Buckleys had preceded him in giving entertainments there. “Bije” Thayer died in Boston, Mass., February 20, 1864; aged 41 years. BARNEY WILLIAMS (Bernard O’Flaherty), who was one of America’s greatest legitimate Irish comedians, in his _very_ early days was equally prominent as a burnt-cork performer.