It was the withdrawal of George Christy from E. P. Christy’s Company that caused their dissolution.
Edwin P. Christy was best known as a ballad singer, although he played the banjo acceptably and played parts in his entertainments; he made a specialty of singing Stephen C. Foster’s songs.
He returned from California early in 1855, and never appeared again professionally; nor did he ever play in England, although his name is a household word there yet even to this day.
Edwin P. Christy was born in Philadelphia, November 28, 1815; he died (suicide) in New York City, May 21, 1862.
George N. Christy (Harrington), is conceded to have been one of the greatest performers that ever graced the minstrel stage; he was versatile by all the term applies; had he deemed to use his talents otherwise, his name might have been enrolled as one of America’s great actors.
His career began at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1839; although he had not yet entered his teens, he was rated a fine jig dancer.
He was associated with E. P. Christy a few years before the latter organized his minstrel company.
George Christy was with Christy’s Minstrels in New York from February 15, 1847, until October 29, 1853, during which period he played every conceivable part; male and female equally well; he was a great endman and as a bone player ranked with the best.
Owing to a misunderstanding, he left E. P. Christy on October 29, 1853, and two days later he joined forces with Henry Wood at 444 Broadway, where as Wood and Christy’s Minstrels they held forth many years.
During the 50’s Wood and Christy took the house vacated by E. P. Christy, put a show in there and ran both establishments for several months; Billy Birch and Christy played on the ends in their respective houses, after which each would go to the other theatre and contribute to the rest of the entertainment.