About 1851 he organized his own company, and took same to Europe, where he played Paris, Boulogne, Brussels and other Continental cities. During the 50’s he was associated in the management of Maguire’s Minstrels in California, and in 1858 was proprietor with Maguire of George Christy’s Minstrels in San Francisco.
Returning to New York in 1859, he soon separated from Christy, and on February 6, 1860, in co-partnership with Sher. Campbell and G. W. H. Griffin, organized Hooley and Campbell’s Minstrels; this company disbanded in July, 1861, and the following year Mr. Hooley opened his famous minstrel hall in Brooklyn, where he continued for several years.
During the above period Hooley had a company in Philadelphia at the old Seventh Street Theatre, from September 7 to October 17, 1868.
October 19, 1868, he opened another minstrel show in Brooklyn, at the Odeon, the present site of the Novelty Theatre.
The home of the original Hooley Company was destroyed by fire May 12, 1865, and that same month the energetic manager opened at 201 Bowery, New York, the present site of the People’s Theatre. January 2, 1871, Mr. Hooley opened Bryan Hall, the present Grand Opera House in Chicago, and remained several months.
The big fire of October, 1871, having destroyed his theatre, Mr. Hooley thereupon built what is now known as Power’s Theatre, Chicago, which he opened with his company in 1872, and flourished about three years, when he returned to his old love in Brooklyn, and began an engagement in 1875.
In the Spring of 1876 in conjunction with Billy Rice, he formed Rice and Hooley’s Minstrels for a road tour; December, 1876, they opened at Hooley’s old Opera House in Brooklyn for a limited engagement. Mr. Hooley again went to Chicago, and on March 1, 1880, opened with a minstrel company at the Novelty Theatre.
In September, 1882 he associated with Rice; and Billy Rice and Hooley’s Minstrels opened in Joliet, Ill., but disbanded after a few months.
Mr. Hooley married Miss Rosina Cramer of New York, in San Francisco, about 1856, after a brief but romantic courtship.
R. M. Hooley was born in Ballina, Ireland, April 13, 1822; he died in Chicago, Ill., September 8, 1893.