Dan Bryant (Daniel Webster O’Brien). The profound esteem in which this black-face comedian was held can be told in no better way than in citing the fact that within three weeks of the date of his death, the entire theatrical profession in New York City gave no less than eleven testimonial benefits in as many different theatres in the Metropolis on the afternoon of April 29, 1875; for Dan Bryant’s hand was ever in his pocket for those less fortunate than himself, and no one ever appealed to him in vain; he was a lovely character, was Dan Bryant—and yet his grave remains unmarked; so it is said.
His first appearance was in New York City in 1845 at Vauxhall Garden, at his brother Jerry’s benefit; he was with various companies until 1848, when he joined Losee’s Minstrels; subsequently he was with the Sable Harmonists, and in 1850 he joined Charley White’s company in New York, remaining a year.
Next he appeared with Wood and Fellowe’s Minstrels in New York, and when Mr. Fellowe withdrew, he continued with Henry Wood’s Minstrels, same city; he was with them as late as July, 1852.
Later he joined Campbell’s Minstrels, and in the Summer of 1856, he managed Bryant’s “Campbell’s” Minstrels; in September, same year, he made a pronounced hit in Philadelphia, and on February 23, 1857, Bryant’s Minstrels gave their first performance in New York City, at Mechanic’s Hall; their last appearance there was June 2, 1866.
August 10, 1867, Dan Bryant and his Minstrels sailed for California; they played in San Francisco under the management of Tom Maguire; they remained away until May 18, 1868, when they opened at the Tammany Building (present Olympic Theatre), New York City; Bryant’s Minstrels next home was on 23rd Street, above 6th Avenue; they opened there November 23, 1870, and continued until Dan Bryant’s death.
While Dan Bryant’s name and fame will go down to posterity as a minstrel, yet he was recognized as a fine Irish comedian. At a benefit performance for William R. Floyd in New York, July 2, 1863, Mr. Bryant gave a performance of Handy Andy in the play of that name, the equal of which had not been seen in some time, and during the Summer seasons for several years played in various Irish dramas with success; in May, 1865, he sailed for Europe, and in Dublin, Ireland, and Liverpool, England, he gave several performances of Celtic characters.
Although a good general performer, Dan Bryant’s chief fame rests in his “Essence of Old Virginny” dance; it is not claimed that he originated it, but it is universally conceded that he excelled all others in it’s execution; he likewise gained prominence in the famous “Shoo Fly” song and dance with Dave Reed.
It has been shown that Dan Bryant was an actor in white-face, but that he equally was an actor behind his mask of cork, I submit the following from Harper’s Magazine, written a few years before the lamented minstrel’s death. * * *
“Edwin Forrest was never weary of seeing Dan Bryant play the part of the hungry negro in “Old Times, Rocks,” and the verdict of the great player was that there was not a finer bit of tragic acting to be seen in America at that time than Dan in this broadly funny bit. Who that remembers the performance need be told how tears were constantly checking laughter in this little scene of the black man’s suffering through hunger, and how one’s sympathies were irresistibly wrung by the pathos of the minstrel’s voice when, on being questioned as to when he had eaten a square meal, he answered, humbly ‘I had a peanut last week.’ It was side-splitting—it was heartbreaking.”
Mr. Bryant married Miss Ellen Fitzgibbons of St. Louis, Mo., in that city, July 29, 1860.