December 2, 1854, “444” was destroyed by fire, and the company after a brief tour, resumed at “472.” “444” was rebuilt and reopened October 1, 1855.
Subsequently the company opened at Wood’s Marble Palace, 561-563 Broadway, which was especially built for them, October 31, 1857; the other houses were then closed.
Christy withdrew from Wood on May 1, 1858, and went to California, opening at San Francisco under the management of Tom Maguire, June 7; the company was known as Christy’s Minstrels; they remained in California several months; subsequently Christy and R. M. Hooley formed a partnership and returned to New York, opening at 444 Broadway, May 23, 1859. Christy had previously signed an agreement with Henry Wood not to appear within 100 miles of New York for a period of eighteen months, commencing May 1, 1858.
When George Christy attempted to perform, he was enjoined from doing so by Wood; Christy then took the road until the time limit had expired, opening at Niblo’s Saloon, November 7, 1859; he played here about one year, and subsequently moved opposite to 585 Broadway.
In 1864 he was with J. W. Raynor’s Company; and on September 4, 1865, he began an engagement with Hooley in Brooklyn; a year later he opened with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels at 720 Broadway; this was the initial performance of the latter company in the metropolis.
January 16, 1867, with G. W. H. Griffin, he organized Griffin and Christy’s Minstrels, opening at the Fifth Avenue Theatre (late Madison Square Theatre); they closed June 27, went on tour and reappeared in New York, July 29, at Union Hall, Fifth Avenue and Twenty-third Street; they closed on September 23 and went traveling.
His last appearance was with Hooley’s Minstrels, May 2, 1868, in Brooklyn, N. Y.
George Christy was born in Palmyra, N. Y., November 6, 1827; he died in New York City, May 12, 1868.
THE VIRGINIA SERENADERS, 1843.