| Edwin Pearce Christy |
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Information AboutEdwin Pearce Christy |
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BACKGROUND Christy was born in Philadelphia, PA . He began his career as a Minstrel in Buffalo, NY and toured upstate New York from 1843 to 1845 . The group took the name of its founder and became known as the Christy's Minstrels . In April 1846 Christy and his band of six performers began performing in New York City at Palmo's Opera House . The group performed at Mechanics Hall from February 15 , 1847 to July 15 , 1854 . After performing at a benefit performance for Stephen Foster in Cincinnati, OH 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. Christy retired as a performer in 1855 but continued as a manager. He operated a chain of theaters called Christy's Opera Houses in several cities. The name of the original group, Christy's Minstrels, was licensed for use by a new organization and became synonymous with the performance tradition of blackface minstrelsy. Fearful of financial reverses due to the upheaval of the American Civil War , Christy committed Suicide in New York on May 21 , 1862 . REFERENCES
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