Tom McNally was one of the premier “leaders” and violinists of minstrelsy.
In 1859 he was at Burtis’ Varieties in Brooklyn, N. Y.; the following year he joined Cool White’s Broadway Minstrels.
In 1861 he was with George Christy’s company, and the same year was also with William Christy’s and Fox and Sharpley’s Minstrels.
October 28, 1861, he was with Hooley’s Minstrels at their first performance in New York. Mr. McNally was with Hooley also when the latter went to Brooklyn, N. Y., opening in September, 1862; he continued with Hooley several seasons.
Early in 1866 he was with Wood’s Minstrels, and on October 21, that year, he sailed for Europe with the American Minstrels; they opened in London, December 5, 1866.
Subsequently Mr. McNally returned to the United States, and at various times was associated with several prominent minstrel organizations.
Tom McNally was born in Albany, N. Y.; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 25, 1872; age 35 years.
J. H. Haverly (Christopher Haverly) began his theatrical career in 1864 in Toledo, O., where he purchased a variety theatre, and conducted until December, 1866.
There are many to-day who think that the great showman, who was the first to place minstrelsy on a gigantic scale, began as a minstrel manager with Cal. Wagner in 1870. Such is far from being the truth.
The first performance of Haverly’s Minstrels was given at Adrian, Mich., August 1, 1864; the season terminated at Ypsilanti, Mich., on the 25th of August, same year.