Mr. Buckley was leader at Harrington’s Museum in Boston in 1840.
In 1843 he organized the Congo Melodists in Boston, and gave their first performance at the Tremont Theatre; in October they were playing the Tabernacle, the present site of the Howard Athenaeum. Their first New York appearance was in 1845; the following year they went to England, where they remained about two years. For family reasons each of the four Buckleys adopted different names on this trip, and retained them for a time after their return to the United States in 1848; James Buckley was known as James Burke.
Their metropolitan reappearance was made at the Society Library Rooms, corner Broadway and Leonard Street; they played here as early as January 3, 1849.
The Buckleys were the first recognized company from the East to visit California, which they did in 1852; they played in tents at $3 per ticket. In June, 1853, they made their third New York appearance at the Chinese Assembly Room, 539 Broadway, which they leased and made into a minstrel hall; they remained three years. August 25, 1856, they opened at 585 Broadway; their last performance there was January 9, 1858; subsequently they played a brief engagement at 444 Broadway, commencing two days later.
In May, 1858, they began a brief engagement at the Ordway Hall in Boston, and in November, same year, they began a short season at Allston Hall on Tremont Street; subsequently returning to New York at 585 Broadway, opening July 11, 1859.
On March 21, 1860, they sailed again for England, where they met with pronounced success; in this engagement they played under their own names.
As a matter of actual fact, their success was so great, that rival managers became jealous, and succeeded in digging up an old law which prevented an opera other than the Royal Opera from being given; as the Buckley’s success depended on the production of these operas, which they produced on a lavish scale, they were compelled to return to America, which they did in 1861. After playing several engagements, they returned to Boston and opened at Allston Hall, October 13, 1862. December 22, same year, they began an engagement at the Palace of Music, New York (the present site of the Fourteenth Street Theatre), and June 15, 1863, they again visited Boston, appearing at the new hall, corner Chauncey and Summer Streets, remaining until April 9, 1866.
The retirement of James Buckley and the deaths of R. Bishop and Fred Buckley, left only G. Swayne Buckley, who reorganized the company and toured with intermittent success and failure until about 1876, when the Buckley’s Serenaders passed into oblivion.
Such is the history of this famous family whose talents and versatility are beyond comprehension to the present generation.
They were the first company to produce burlesque opera, which they did on a scale of magnificence never since duplicated.