The following year they were with Haverly; in 1875 Kelly and Leon’s Company took the road, under the management of Surridge and Melville.
In the Spring of 1876 their company opened at Bryant’s old minstrel hall in New York, where they continued several months.
December 10, 1877, with their company, they began their third engagement in San Francisco, and on February 2, 1878, they sailed for Australia, where about two years after their arrival their long partnership was dissolved. For a time each headed their own company in the Antipodes. Leon later returned to the United States; Mr. Kelly remained in Australia until his death.
Prior to 1860 Edwin Kelly was a balladist with Ordway’s Aeolians in Boston. In May, 1858, “Master” Leon joined Wood’s Minstrels in New York; the year following he was with Campbell’s Minstrels.
Shortly after Leon’s return to America, he joined Haverly’s Minstrels; he severed his association with that company in February, 1883. He then formed an alliance with Frank Cushman, and in April began an engagement with Barlow, Wilson’s Minstrels.
September 3, 1883, he opened with Birch’s San Francisco Minstrels in New York. Leon and Cushman sailed for Australia about January 1, 1886; they played several months in Melbourne; shortly after their return to the United States they separated, August, 1887.
“Leon” began an engagement with Emerson’s Minstrels January 19, 1889.
Since then Mr. Leon has been identified in minstrel, vaudeville and concert work, until his retirement about eight years ago.
Edwin Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1835; he died in Adelaide, Australia, December 24, 1898.
“Leon” (Patrick Francis Glassey) was born in New York City, November 21, about 1840.