On October 8, 1864, Cool Burgess and Haverly’s Minstrels were inaugurated at Toronto, Canada, and November 1, it was again Haverly’s Minstrels; it remained as such until December 27, following, when Charles Mallory, who had a minstrel company, formed an alliance with Mr. Haverly, and on the above date at Titusville, Pa., Haverly and Mallory’s Combination Minstrels gave their first performance.
In 1866 Haverly and (Dick) Sands’ Minstrels toured for several weeks, and the following year Mr. Haverly assumed the management of Billy Arlington’s Minstrels. Haverly’s Minstrels were again organized, and at Peoria, Ill., November 11, 1868, gave their initial performance; the season closed in the Summer of 1869.
In the Fall of 1870, he assumed the management of Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels, and continued with them for three years, after which, in November, 1873, at Kansas City, Mo., Haverly’s Minstrels began in earnest. Not satisfied with one minstrel company, he purchased an interest from Tom Maguire in Emerson’s Minstrels in October, 1875; secured the New Orleans Minstrels in 1876, and Callender’s Colored Minstrels in 1878. In the meantime he purchased the Adelphi Theatre in Chicago, in 1876; the first of the very many he ultimately owned or controlled.
October 21, 1878, he organized his famous Mastodons in Chicago; they opened in London, England, July 30, 1880, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where they played seventeen weeks.
In May, 1884, they returned to London, and made a tour of the Provinces, where the final performance was given in Glasgow, Scotland, late in February, 1885.
Haverly’s Minstrels continued for several years after that; the last company in which Mr. Haverly was directly interested began a season in the Summer of 1898. His last amusement venture began in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 11, 1901, where for a brief period he conducted a small museum.
“Jack” Haverly was a fine man and a lovable character; none did more for minstrelsy than he, and some of the greatest names in theatricals were once associated with him.
He was twice married; his wives being the Duval (Hechinger) Sisters, well-known vocalists.
Mrs. Sara Haverly died at Toledo, O., March 1, 1867; subsequently he married Eliza Duval, who died in New York, July 4, 1910.
| R. M. HOOLEY | CHAS. A. MORRIS |
| AL. G. FIELD | GEO. R. GUY |
| D. C. LA RUE | HARRY ROBINSON |