Early Years
In 1846 they first performed in Polmer's Opera House in New York City. From March 1847, they ran for a seven-year stint at New York City's Mechanics' Hall (until July 1854).
After performing at a benefit performance for Stephen Foster in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 25, 1847, the group specialized in performances of Foster's works. Foster sold his song, Old Folks at Home, to Christy for his exclusive use. The troupe's commercial success was phenomenal: Christy paid Foster $15,000 for the exclusive rights to the song.
Besides Christy himself, the troupe originally included Christy's stepson George Christy, often considered the greatest blackface comic of the era. By September 1855 however both George and Edwin Christy had retired from the group; although the company continued, still calling themselves 'Christy's Minstrels', until Edwin P. Christy took out an injunction to prevent them. Christy was emotionally affected by the American Civil War, and committed suicide in 1862.
Read more about this topic: Christy's Minstrels
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