“Pony” Moore (George Washington Moore). This unique character in minstrelsy, up to the time of his death, enjoyed the double distinction of being the oldest living minstrel, as well as having attained greater longevity than any other known black-face performer.
There have been many versions of the veteran’s interesting career. Mr. Moore in a letter to the author, dated December 3, 1908, says his first appearance was in New York with Welch and Delevan at the old Broadway Circus in negro opera, playing in black-face, in 1844.
In a series of articles commencing August 1, 1909, in Lloyd’s Weekly News (London, England), Mr. Moore stated that he must have been about twenty-one when he first blacked his face, and speaks of Frank Brower, who was in the same company with him as having got the idea of making the first set of “bones” then known.
This would make the date 1841, and as the incident concerning Brower actually did occur while with Roger’s Circus, during the week of July 4, that year, the date of his first appearance in black-face may be safely stated to have been in 1841. Previous to this, however, he had been associated in many capacities with various circuses, but chiefly as a driver; it had been said that he handled as many as forty horses at one time, and in that way received the sobriquet of “Pony,” which clung to him all his life.
It was in 1844 that his first prominent engagement as a black-face performer, however, occurred.
Mr. Moore further stated that “he joined Haworth and Horton’s Opera Troupe, September 13, 1854, and the year following organized Hunter, Hedden and Moore’s Troupe.”
It is a fact that J. Hunter and William Hedden, the one a comedian and the other a fine dancer, were with Raynor’s “Christy” Minstrels as late as May 1, 1856, as likewise was “Pony” Moore. The Raynor Company returned to New York and opened there on February 2, 1857, playing about a month, after which they took a tour previous to their departure for England; Mr. Moore left the company at the conclusion of the New York engagement, and at once joined Matt. Peel’s Minstrels; he continued with this company until in the Summer of 1858, they played an engagement in New York. A short time later Matt. Peel left the organization which subsequently was known as Sniffen’s Campbell’s Minstrels.
Mr. Moore continued with this troupe until February 12, 1859, on which date he left to rejoin Matt. Peel’s company, continuing with the latter until his (Peel’s) death, May 4, 1859; after which he became a member of Burtis’ Varieties in Brooklyn, N. Y.
One month later Earl Pierce died in London, England. Pierce had been a great favorite in the British Metropolis, and J. W. Raynor sent for W. W. Newcomb, the well-known comedian, to take the place of the deceased.