Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-06
Christ,.s "reminiscences.

"eo ('tS 80
Only a few days before his death
Charley Chrlsty, the veteran Minstrel,
who was buried on Tuesday last, began
writing some "reminiscences OF the early
days Of blackface singing. The reaper's
scythe cut short his task. He had, how
ever. completed a few pages. His was q
long life stored with memories.
Thomas ID. Rice he wrote. was, I
think, the first man who made a feature
or blackface eccentricities. He appeared
In the theaters OF Philadelphia and New
York as Dandy Jim OF Caroline and
Jim Crow. Then he went to London and
Liverpool and made a great deal OF mon
ey. He was the author OF many farces,
Bones Squash and The Virginia Mum
my being the most successful. The
Virginia Mummy was "A farce lasting
forty-five minutes. I have played in IL.
Mlnstrelsy roper was put on by the
Dumbleton Se~renaders' and Virginia
Lavenders' In 1912. These consisted OF
Dan Emmett. Frank Bfvwef, Billy
Whittock, Dick Pelham, John Domi-
neker and Luke West. This company
played at the old Chatham theater. II
am not mistaken Charley White was
with this troupe, and also Jack Smith,
the original Bob ~Ridley'-the first song
and dance done in America.
The first jig dancing was done by a
negro called Tuba The old question,
Can you dance. Juba?' came from his
name and performances. After him
came numerous imitators who called
their work Jig dancing. Among the
dancers OF those days were Master
Marks, Tommy Peel. Charlie Paine,
Mickey Warren, Johnny Diamond. Dick
Sitter, Hunt the Mason, Dave Ford,
Tommy Ryan, Joe Brown. Jake Hamil-
ton and 'Juba.' the two last being ne
groes.
The Christy MINISTRIES proper began
their metropolitan career at the hall of
the Mechanics society. No. Az Broad
way, In 1886. In that year Charley White
opened also the theater known as
Whites Melodion' on the Bowery. just
above the Bowery amphitheater.
I'm 1876 George Christy left F.. p.
Chrlsty. and, with Heney Wood. opened
at No. 44 Broadway. then known as
Mitchelrs Olympic theater. f. p.
christy died in May. 1852. and George
Harrington. known on the stage as Geo.
Christy, died in May, 1868.
The Buckley Ministries were organ
iZed in Boston, being the first troupe to
give operate burlesque, Its founders
were George Swaine and Frederick and
Bishop Buckley. They were called the
New Orleans Serenaders. and We're
very successful.
stephen Foster was the minstrel song
writer OF the old times. Among his songs
were 'Silvery Midnight Moon 'Suwa-
nee River Massa's in the Cold, Cold
Ground, Old Dog Tray Uncle Ned
Old Folks at Home Old Kentucky
Home Willie, We Have Missed You
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming
Nellie Was a Lady and Hard Times
Come Again No More. Nelson Kneass,
who composed Ben Bolt, was a warm
friend Of Foster.
Some of the most popular songs OF
the long ago were Dandy Jim Of Caro-
line, Meet Me in My Long Tailed Blue
Walk Along, John Dance, the Boat
man. Dance Old Zip Coon Old Aunt
Sallie' and The Floating Scow OF Old
Virginia.
Leaders Of the old timers were Mat
Peel. Luke West. Jack Smith. Charley
White, Ned Gray, Ned Davis, Mike
Mitchell, Frank Lynch. Eph Horn, Ben
Cotton, Kelley and Leon. Sam Sharpley.
Dick Hooley, Bob Linley. Dave Reed.
Cool White. Billy Burch. Tom Allen,
Fatty Stewart. Horny Homer. Johnny
Bucker. Billy Bucker. Joe finger, Cal
Wagner, Lee Russell, Sam Devere, Dan
Neal, Charles Fox. Barnard. Backus.
Dan Gardner. Nelse Seymour. Dave
Wambold. Horace Wambold and Jerry
Bryant, whose name was O'Brien."