Mr. Buckley married Fanny Brown, the actress, January 29, 1857.
Fred Buckley was born in Bolton, England, October 12, 1833; he died in Boston, Mass., September 12, 1864.
CHRISTY’S MINSTRELS
were originated and first organized by Edwin P. Christy, and after that gentleman retired from the profession, a few years later, part of his old company organized and went to Europe, giving their first performance there August 3, 1857; they were called the “Christy” Minstrels. From this company several others sprung, and for a great many years all minstrel organizations in England were called “Christy’s.”
E. P. Christy had a “card” on his program for many years, stating that his was the first minstrel company organized, the date given as 1842. In support of this at one time gave a statement of receipts covering a period of six months in 1842, and up to January 1, 1848.
It is a noteworthy fact that Mr. Christy’s “card” did not appear until after Wood’s, likewise Campbell’s—two permanent minstrel organizations like his own in New York City, had prospered and made their presence felt.
As has been stated elsewhere, black-face performers there were a-plenty long before the original four gave their first joint performance; they played chiefly in circuses and dance houses, and it was in one of the latter that Mrs. Harrington, mother of George Christy, and subsequent wife of E. P. Christy, kept, where these performances were given, and were very common occurrences at that time, and this was the only basis that Mr. Christy had of ante-dating the original company. There is no doubt that after the intelligence reached Buffalo of the success of Pelham, Whitlock, Emmett and Brower, that Mr. Christy, like scores of others, formed a company and called them Christy’s Minstrels; the date of this interesting event has never been made public, if indeed it was ever recorded. The first record of the company that the author has been able to find was in Albany, N. Y., May, 1844. On Sunday, August 17, 1845, R. M. Hooley is said to have led the orchestra for them at the Assembly Room in Buffalo, N. Y.
Their first metropolitan appearance was at Palmo’s Opera House, April 27, 1846; they subsequently played at the Society Library Rooms and later at the Alhambra, all in the same city.
But it was at Mechanics Hall, 472 Broadway, New York, that the name of Christy’s Minstrels became famous; they opened there on February 15, 1847, and remained until July 15, 1854. On September 20, 1854, the company sailed for California; they played a few weeks at Pratt’s Hall in San Francisco, but were not overly successful.
Such is the story of E. P. Christy’s Minstrels; the original company consisted of E. P. Christy, George Christy, Tom Vaughn and Lansing Durand; the careers of most of these performers, also their portraits, will be found elsewhere.