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Bryant's Minstrels was a , Jerry Bryant on Tambourine and Bones , and Neil Bryant on Accordion and Flutina . Another five members rounded out the roster. All of the minstrels danced and acted in comedy segments, which were often Improvised . Bryant's Minstrels first performed on 23 February 1857 at Mechanics' Hall on Broadway . The Bryants each brought with them the acts and songs they had learned and perfected while playing in other troupes. These older, proven pieces created a nostalgic format of primarily Plantation -themed material that seemed to ignore contemporary discussion over Abolition . Songs on the bill included Stephen Foster's "Gentle Annie" and the Christy Minstrels' "See, Sir, See" and "Down in Alabama". The Bryants proved a hit with audiences and critics alike. One reviewer wrote that "it is gratifying to find that we have yet among us those who will not suffer the original type of negro eccentricity to die out altogether. The connecting link . . . are {Link without Title} the Bryant's Minstrels . . . and it is therefore to be hoped for that they will continue as they have begun, and stick to the 'old style' entertainment."26 December 1857 ''Clipper''. Quoted in Mahar 38. Over the next few months, they became one of New York's more popular acts. '' The Clipper '' wrote on 20 June that "The different bands of Minstrels, in this city, have experienced a wonderful falling off in patronage since the advent among us of the 'Bryants.'"20 June 1857 and 15 August 1857 ''Clipper''. Quoted in Nathan 227. Another review spoke of "a combination of comical talent . . . never before witnessed in Ethiopian Minstrelsy . . . ."12 September 1857 ''Clipper''. Quoted in Nathan 227. Even a nationwide economic downturn in 1858 did not hurt their revenues. The Mechanics' Hall remained their primary venue until May 1866. Over the troupe's life, members came and went. In October or November 1858, Dan Emmett joined as primary Songwriter for what would prove the most prolific period of his career. He also performed Fiddle , banjo, drum, fife, and vocals. The song " Dixie ", usually attributed to him, was first performed on stage by the Bryants during an 1859 concert. The final act of most minstrel shows of the time were blackface Burlesque s of mainstream theater, but "Dixie" and songs like it prompted an industry-wide revival of Plantation -related material. Emmett's songs proliferated among rival companies. Emmett's influence also helped mature the Walkaround from a simple dance to a complete song-and-dance routine. In the 1860s, Bryant's Minstrels populated their shows with pro- Union songs such as "One Country and One Flag" and "Raw Recruits". Jerry Bryant died in 1861, and Emmett left the troupe in July 1866, although he occasionally composed music for the Bryant's even after his departure. The late 1860s and 1870s saw minstrel production grow increasingly elaborate and expensive and troupe sizes enlarge. Bryant's Minstrels stuck with their traditional formula, and their poularity waned as a result. Adding the African American dwarf Thomas Dilward to their ranks in the late 1860s (under the Stage Name "Japanese Tommy") did little to stem the tide. The Bryants finally left the Mechanics' Hall and played more widely in the 1870s. Notes References
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