Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-17
EARLY MINSTRELSY.
GEORGE CHRISTY, ONE OF THE ORlGI-
MAJORS OF THE SHOW.

MAJORS OF THE SHOW.
interesting Scrapbook Left by the Cele-
brated Burnt Cork Artist-A Friend Of
Edwin Forrest and q Talented Comedian.
Negro Minstrelsy In Great Britain.
Mrs. Edwina Forrest Fair, daugh-
ter of the famous George Christy, who
established negro minstrelsy in New
York in 1847, chatted with me the 9TH
er day very entertainingly regarding her
fathers career. She gave me his old
scrapbook to refer to and several excel
lent photographs and some old fashioned
engravings.
1t seems so long since the days Of the
Christy minstrels that rather expected
to see an older looking woman than
George Christy's IS daughter appears to be.
She is an enthusiast over her fathers
memory She has another sister living,
and also brother. George Harrington,
who, instead of perpetuating the family
trademark, has been known chiefly
through his ''beefsteak dinners" at the
old Morgue club
my father, known in private life as
George N Harrington, was a young
man when he died, said Mrs. Fair.
He was only 40. He had fine consti-
tuition, it was thought, but he wore his
heart on his sleeve and put year into
every day. Being jovial, hearty and
generous with every one, even his most
humble employee, he was persistently
sought by we'll known persons, and his
nature could not resist the compliment
he felt their companionship to be.
Zone of his very particular friends
was Edwin Forrest. A few days before
Twas born my father declared he would
name his child for him. Whist II it's a
girl?' asked my mother. Then wo'll
call her Edwina. replied my father. so
you see was named beforehand.
other friend Of his, my brother tell
was Theodore Thomas, who used
black up and do 'nigger business.
"And why not? Didn't Edwin Booth
try it? 1t was a pity that my father did
not live to make a great name as an
actor in white, for he was considered a
remarkable low comedian. In burlesque
he used to sustain from ono to half a
dozen characters in piece and exhibit
wonderful versatility. He made great
hit with his Topsy in burletta on
Uncle Tom Cabin. He had a singu-
larly sweet singing voice, and as a
dancer he had few equals. He was also
a contortionist and seemed blessed with
every physical possibility.
ST was 18 years old when last saw
) him, and that's most impressionable
age for a girl. think Billy Birch copied
few Of his characteristics, and George
Thatcher has given some good imita-
tions of him, but they and such other
men as Schoolcraft and Sweatnam are
different in general style. ~
Although l think it is generally un-
derstood that the Christy minstrels were
the originators of that sort of entertain
ment. individual negro delineation was
done as far back as 1899, at the Federal
Street theater, in Boston.
The first idea Of minstrelsy in its
present shape, or before Mr.. Haverly in.
troduced his ''Mastodons, came forth
in the spring of 1841, for one night
only, at the Chatham theater. The COM
pany was called the Virginia min
strels" and was made up by Dan EN-
met, Frank Brewer, Billy Whitlock
and Dick Pelham. The entertainment
met with astonishing success. 1t was
repeated subsequently at the Bowery
amphitheater and at the Park. Fearing
quick opposition here, the company,
with G. B. Woodbridge at its head,
went to England.
In London it performed for six weeks
at the Adelphi in connection with Pro-
fessor Anderson, then known as "the
wizard of the north" A misunderstand-
ing arising, second company was or
ganized by Pelham and Whitlock in
connection with Joe Sweeney, and it
travelled through Ireland and Scotland
with success.
Another company, called the Ring
and Parker minstrels from Boston, ="
now came along, and while in Liverpool
one of the members introduced the char
acter Lucy Long, which became imme-
diately popular.
simultaneously minstrel companies
were being organized in nearly all the
American cities, and on the return home
of these two organizations they not only
found plenty of rivalry, but much i'm
provement ON their plan.
Now followed in notable favor the
Kentucky minstrels," the Congo
melodists" and Buckley g serenaders. :"
Then was organized the famous Chris
ty's, consisting Of Z. P. Christy, George
N. Christy, L. Durand and T. Vaughn.
George, who afterward became the
leader and was tho joyous spirit of the
show, had previously appeared at the
old Eagle Street theater, il Buffalo, in
1889, and in 1912 the company started
on its existence in the same city in a
hall on Water street. George Christy
was ''bones" and Lansing Durand was
''tambo." 1t is asserted that George
was the original Lucy Long. the first
to do the "wench business. He also
made hit as Cachuoa.
The first appearance of the company
in New York was at the Palma Opera
House, in Chambers street. After vari-
ous visits to other localities 1t finally
settled at 472 Broadway, in 1S47, where
it remained II years. George finally
Withdrew from the care of his foster IA
ther, E. P. Christy, and with Harry
Wood opened another hall at 444 Broad
way, and year later the original party
went to California. and George became
master of the situation.
After several years of great success
Messrs. Wood and Christy opened the
Fifth Avenue Opera House, in Twenty
fourth street. Christy's last appearance
on the stage was with Hooley's min
strels, in Brooklyn, on May 2, 1867, He
died on May - at his home and was
buried from Trinity chapel three days
later. His body is in Cypress Hills ceme.
tery. New York Herald.