SAM KEENAN

A member of Charles B. Hicks' celebrated Georgia Minstrels during its 1877 tour of Australia,

African-American comedian Sam Keenan remained in the country after the troupe disbanded and

went on to establish himself as one of the local industry's most popular and influential minstrel

performers of the 1880s and 1890s. During this period he was also at times closely associated with

ex-Georgia Minstrels endmen Johnny Matlock and Alf Moynham. The peak of Keenan's

Australian career was undoubtedly his seven years as a senior member of Hiscocks' Federal

Minstrels, the most popular Australian-based minstrel troupe of the era. He died unexpectedly in

Brisbane in 1895.

Endowed with a mouth that one of the Bulletin's critics described as "the most striking feature of the show" (29 Aug.

1885, 9), African-American minstrel comedian Sam Keenan was regarded as a highly skilled endman, albeit as a

comedian rather than as a singer. His considerable reputation is supported by Harry Clay who, in a 1914 Theatre

magazine interview, said that Keenan, W. Horace Bent, Beaumont Read, and Alf Moynham formed the greatest-ever

combination of minstrel comics to appear together on the Australian stage (Sept. 1914, 25). Keenan first arrived in

Australia in 1877 with Charles B. Hicks. He was later associated with leading Australian-based minstrel troupes or

firms run by the likes of Frank Smith, Frank M. Clark, W. Horace Bent, the Cogill Bros, Billy Speed, Charles Hugo,

and Frank York and George A. Jones.

Sam Keenan (centre) with Charles B. Hicks' Georgia Minstrels Courtesy of David and Tracy Rae

1877-1882

Although little is yet known of Sam Keenan's life or career prior to coming to Australia, apart from being born in New

York, it is certain that as one of Charles B. Hicks's Original Georgia Minstrels, he would have previously established

his credentials in the United States. The troupe's arrival in Australia was significant not only because of the high

calibre of its performers but also because it was the first fully Negro minstrel troupe to visit the region. One of the

members of the troupe was comedian Johnny Matlock. As with Keenan he remained in Australia after the demise of

the Georgia Minstrels and went on to cement his reputation among the upper level of Australian-based performers.

Keenan worked with Matlock in several companies during the early 1880s. The first was a troupe jointly run Hicks

and R.B. Lewis. Billed as Lewis and Hicks' Uncle Tom's Cabin Company and Jubilee Singers (1880), both troupes

featured an "all-star dramatic company," and presented such productions as The Slave's Revenge and Pom; Or, Before

the War. When Hicks and Lewis parted ways, Keenan remained with the latter showman who continued touring with

essentially the same operations, albeit with slightly different names and a few changes in personnel.

Keenan's next known engagement was at the Queen's Theatre (Syd) with Lewis's Georgia Jubilee Singers and the

Queen's Star Dramatic Co. The Sydney shows, which by then included Johnny Gilmore, Lachlan McGowan and Harry

Leston (but not Johnny Matlock), involved essentially the same repertoire as the Lewis and Hicks seasons. In these

Keenan and Gilmore played minor roles, but which nevertheless featured coon songs and dances. Following the

completion of the Sydney engagement Lewis took his "double" company to Tasmania, where they opened for a short

season in Launceston in late August. They then spent almost four weeks at Hobart's Theatre Royal.

Mercury (Hobart) 30 July (1877), 3.

Although the Lewis company's movements between 28 September and

11 October (at which time it reinforced Alice Johns' season for a few

nights) have not yet been established, advertising in the Hobart

Mercury indicates that Keenan and Gilmore briefly set up a dance

school at the Theatre Royal. In this respect the pair advertised their

expertise as teachers of "Golden Shoe, Sand Jig, Irish Jig, Big Shoe,

Song and Dance, and all Branches of Professional Dancing… fitting

Pupils for the Stage in that line" (HM: 5 Oct. 1880, 3). The joint

production of the US sensation drama Across the Continent with the

Alice Johns company (Theatre Royal), was well-suited to Keenan, who

managed to snare the Mercury's attention, "Sam Keenan, writes its

theatre critics, "sustains the part of a negro dancer with a large amount

of success, provoking roars of laughter with his ludicrous acrobatic

evolutions (HM: 12 Oct. 1880, 2). When Johns took her company to

Launceston a few nights later Keenan and Gilmore travelled with it,

appearing in both Across the Continent and The Two Orphans.

In March the following year Keenan accepted a brief engagement with

Billy Sweatnam's Minstrels at the Opera House, Sydney. Two of the

feature artists in the company were W. Horace Bent and Beaumont

Reade, with whom Keenan would work for many years as key members

of Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels. Ten days after the Sweatnam season

ended (5 Apr.) he joined Johnny Gilmore and Johnny Matlock in R. B.

Lewis's Mastodon Coloured Minstrels. The company produced a string

of popular burlesques during its time together, including H.M.S. Pun-

No-Fear, a spoof on Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. Advertised

as an opera travesty and written especially for the Mastodon's

Minstrels, it was actually given the okay by J. C. Williamson, who held

Minstrels, it was actually given the okay by J. C. Williamson, who held the Australian rights to Gilbert and Sullivan

works (Opera House, Syd; 21 May 1881). The Mastodons undertook a regional tour beginning early June, with known

towns being Maitland and Singleton. By November he was back in Sydney, with his next recorded engagement being

a concert for visiting Fire Brigades at the Opera House. Put on by lessee W. J. Wilson, the concert was jointly staged

by members of the Mastodon Minstrels and Apollo Club. A few weeks later he was engaged by Wilson to revive his

popular role as "Young Jim" in The Slave's Revenge, staged at the Opera House

In March 1882 Keenan joined Bent and Bachelder's Anglo-American

Minstrels, playing an initial season under W. J. Wilson's management.

When Bent left the troupe mid-year, Bachelder continued to tour the

troupe under his own name. Keenan stayed with him until early the

following year, in the meantime forming a highly popular partnership

with fellow-African American comedian, Alf Moynham.

Sydney Morning Herald 23 Nov. (1881), 2.

Portland Guardian 20 Jan. (1883), 3.

1883 - 1889

In 1883 Keenan and W. Horace Bent were invited to become founding members of Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels.

Keenan's association with that troupe between 1883 and 1889 saw him establish his reputation as one of the most

influential and popular endmen to work the Australian minstrel stage during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

When Alf Moynham joined the reoupe in early 1884 the pair reformed their act, going on to establishing an even

stronger on-stage rapport. In reporting Keenan's death to the New Zealand public in 1895 the Otago Witness records

that Keenan (described as "the coffee-coloured son of Senegambia") and Moynham used to do a clever girard act. "At

the Sydney Alhambra in October 1887," the writer notes, the pair "gave a good imitation of 'Southern Life,' in which

they introduced the 'Aged darkies,' 'schoolboy and girl,' and 'The Darktown swells" (25 Apr. 1895, 37). Although

Keenan temporarily left the Federal Minstrels in 1887 to take up a touring engagement with Charles Hugo's Buffalo

Minstrels, he continued his association with Hiscocks' the following year when invited to join Hiscocks and

Friedman's New English Speciality Company.

[For further details relating to Sam Keenan's career between 1883 and 1889 see the entry for

Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels]

Sydney Morning Herald 17 Dec. (1887), 2.

Sydney Morning Herald 18 Mar. (1882), 2.

Sometime after Hiscocks and Friedman ended their two-week season at Sydney's New Opera House in mid-December

1888, Keenan put together his own touring company. The line-up included Harry Sullivan, Fanny Saroni, and Harry

Cremar. Although only two towns have been identified to date, these being West Maitland and Morpeth, it is likely

that the company played a number of other regional centres and possibly Sydney metropolitan shows during the first

three months of 1889. The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River Advertiser records that while the company was not

large in number it was "able to present a programme which was pleasing to the audience, if appreciation may be

gauged by the laughter which the contributions of the performers evoked." The reviewer went on to note that Keenan,

"an old Maitland favourite was as popular as ever" and that "his jokes and eccentricities amused the house" (9 Mar.

1889, 4).

1890-1895

Keenan made his re-appearance in Sydney on 18 March 1889 at Frank Smith's Alhambra Music Hall, and remained

there on an almost constant basis through until early September 1890. Among his fellow performers during this

engagement were Charles Fanning, Johnny Cowan, Johnny Matlock, Perry Ryan, Lorrie St George, the Leslie Bros,

and Delohery, Craydon and Holland. He found much popularity with the song and dance act billed as Keenan and

Evans, and with Charles Fanning staged a number of original sketches and farces - including "Matrimonial Joys" and

"The Rush in Baths" (Apr. 1890).

Immediately after concluding his Alhambra engagement, Keenan departed for Melbourne with Johnny Matlock. The

two comedians joined the Gaiety Burlesque Company on 9 September. The Gaiety Theatre bill at that time also

included the Slade Murray Combination. 1891 saw Keenan based in the Victorian capital for much of the year, a

period of time which included appearances with a number of different managers and companies. He was engaged, for

example, in at least two dramatic productions - The Octoroon (as Uncle Pete) and The Ticket of Leave Man - both

produced by the Metropolitan Professional Dramatic Company. As a variety entertainer and minstrel endman he also

appeared with companies managed by the Leslie Brothers, J. J. Cameron (American Minstrels), Frank Musgrove

(Musgrove's Gaiety, Variety and Comedy Co), Harold Ashton (Federal Minstrels) and F. M. Clark (Follies Co).

Several of these engagements were played briefly in Tasmania, South Australia and in regional Victoria. For much of

the year, too, he and Alf Moynham reprised their on stage partnership. In December Moynham turned to management

himself, securing a regular Tuesday night booking at the Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy with his own troupe - the American

Minstrels. Among the high profile artists engaged over the coming months were Keenan, Harry Edwards and Charles

Pope and Irving Sayles.

After ending his association with the American Minstrels in early 1892

Keenan went on to play with a number of troupes around Melbourne and

Adelaide. These included F.M. Clark (Melb/Adel), Pope and Sayles

(Melb), and Slade Murray (Adel). His fellow artists with Pope and Sayles

included John Fuller (Snr), Billy Speed, Fanny Saroni and Harry Carroll;

while Clark's Silk Stockings' company featured Speed, Carroll and

Fuller, along with Priscilla Verne, the Leslie Brothers and Johnny

Gilmore. Following the Silk Stockings Adelaide season most of the

company remained at the venue (Garner's Room) as members of Slade

Murray's Gaiety combination. In late June Keenan joined nine other

artists for a tour of Western Australia billed as Bella Sutherland's Vital

and Electric Sparks Variety Company. The troupe's line-up comprised

the Leslie Brothers, Little Fred Leslie (aka Little Freddie), Austin Power,

Denis Keenan (pianist/music director),1 Blanche Reeves, and the twin

Anderson Sisters (WA: 20 June (1892), 4.2

Sutherland appears to have concluded her association with the troupe

after it played several towns outside of the Perth metropolitan area in late

July. The remaining members returned to the city for a benefit to the

Leslie Bros on 2 August. No further reports of the company's where-

abouts have yet been found until it returned to Fremantle for a one night

show on the 20th

under the management of Denis Keenan. He

subsequently took them on a short tour of nearby townships (DNP: 5

Sept. 1892, 3). It is unclear what name the company used at this time as

advertisements simply refer to it as "the only variety company in Western Australia" (WA: 19 Aug. 1892, 1). A report

in the Inquirer and Commercial News does suggest, however, that it may have been known as the Leslie-Keenan

Combination. Keenan was back in Perth again by 8 September, having agreed to appear in the Fremantle Dramatic

and Musical Club's production of The Octoroon.3 The troupe is believed to have undertaken another regional tour

before returning to Fremantle for a two-night season in early October. Keenan's last known shows in the state were

special guest appearances at a pre-nuptial banquet (Federal Hotel), an indoor footrace (Oddfellows Hall, Fremantle)

and a complimentary benefit given to the entire company at St George's Hall, Perth (11 Nov.). The West Australian

1 It is unclear if Denis and Sam Keenan were related or if they both shared the same surname by coincidence.

2 The West Australian preview records that Priscilla Verne was a member of the troupe. No further references to her have been

found, however, and it is therefore believed that she did not tour with the company. 3 Keenan replaced the actor, Mr Shore, who was temporarily unavailable. Several members of the Leslie-Keenan troupe also participated in a

plantation scene. Interestingly the Leslie Brothers and the Anderson Sisters had appeared in the earlier Fremantle production of The

Octoroon (26 Aug.)

Argus 13 Feb. (1892), 16.

indicates in its 3 October issue, however, that the Leslie-Keenan Combination planned to play the southern towns

prior to returning to the Eastern states via Perth (4).4

Keenan's first known stage appearance in 1893 was at a farewell benefit given to Alf Holland on 3 March. Held at

Melbourne's St George's Hall (then under the lease of the Cogill brothers), the line-up was a who's who of variety stars

from that period, with some of the names being John Fuller, Billy Speed, Ida Tauchert and the Leslie brothers. Two

months later he performed at another benefit, this time for the widow of his former stage partner and fellow member

of the Federal Minstrels, Alf Moynham. After playing brief engagements with Billy Speed's World's Gaiety Company

(July) and the People's Concerts (Aug.), Keenan returned to Sydney. He made his first appearance, after a long

absence from that city, at the Alhambra Music Hall on 10 August and remained there until 2 September. He then

sailed by steamer for Brisbane, opening at the Gaiety Theatre a little over a week later. In noting his arrival in the city,

the Brisbane Courier recorded:

Mr Sam Keenan, who arrived in Brisbane by the Barcoo yesterday afternoon, will make his first appearance with

the Empire Minstrels this evening. Mr Keenan has not appeared in Brisbane for over four years, the last occasion

being with Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels, when he became a great favourite (16 Sept. 1893, 5).

Keenan continued his association with the Gaiety through until 15 December, at which Percy St John made some

significant changes to the personnel. The Courier's theatre critic made special mention of the popular endman in its

review of the new program, writing: "The comical figure of Sam Keenan, which had grown so familiar to the patrons

of the company during the past three or four months was decidedly missed (18 Dec. 1893, 5).

Between the end of his Gaiety Theatre Prior and his three months engagement with the Lawton and Leslie's All

Nations Company (Theatre Royal, Bris) beginning late February 1894, Keenan's only known performances were for

the Queensland Scottish Association's Burns Anniversary and his own complimentary benefit. The latter event,

advertised as being held on Friday 9 February, was inexplicably postponed at the last moment for the following

Monday.

Brisbane Courier 5 Feb. (1894), 2.

Keenan joined Alf Lawton and the Leslie Bros' All Nations Company at the start of the company's second week at the

Theatre Royal (24 Feb.). In addition to Lawton and the Leslies, the original line-up included a number of well-known

artists, notably Clara Spencer, Master Fred Leslie, Florrie Forde, Harry Clay, Arthur Farley and Lillie Rowley. Keenan

remained with the company up until the close of the season on 26 May, and over the next few months made irregular

appearances at benefits (including Slade Murray's) and dramatic production such as Uncle Tom's Cabin. Produced by

Lyle's Dramatic Company, Keenan's engagement also involved him supervising all the original plantation songs,

jubilees and dances (BC: 20 Aug. 1894, 5). Advertising following the opening night show records that the comedian

was accorded "a most flattering and genuine reception." In the same Brisbane Courier issue the paper's theatre critic

wrote: "Among the many other characters who figured in the piece was Mr Sam Keenan. [He] is always funny and

revelled in his part of Sambo last evening" (BC: 21 Aug. 1894, 5).The closing night of the Lyle season saw the

company produce The Octoroon as a benefit performance for Keenan. He again played the part of Uncle Pete.

A few days after the Lyle season ended, Keenan returned to Sydney briefly, appearing alongside Charlie Fanning and

Georgie Devoe in Harry Barrington's Burlesque and Variety Company (School of Arts). He was back in Brisbane by

the 18th, however, taking part in a benefit for Pearl Akerman at Centennial Hall. Keenan's name has next been

identified in connection with a complimentary concert put on for W. McFarlane in early December by the Queensland

Scottish Association (Theatre Royal). Ten days later he made his debut with York and Jones' Empire Minstrels at the

Gaiety Theatre, appearing alongside such artists as George A. Jones, Frank York, John Tudor and Jake Friedman, and

Franks and Williams. The engagement also saw him cast as Demonicus in the Christmas pantomime, Little Red Riding

Hood (26 Dec.)

4 No details of these engagements have yet been located.

On 5 January 1895 Keenan and the other members of the company appeared in a second seasonal pantomime, Lance

Lenton's Dick Whittington. Although the role he played is currently unknown, the Brisbane Courier theatre critic

records that he "contributed a grotesque plantation dance, and in response to a vigorous demand gave a Highland fling,

which was equally ludicrous" (7 Jan. 1895, 5). The company departed Brisbane on 22 January for a tour of the

Queensland north. Little is known about the extent of the tour, apart from a season in Rockhampton beginning 26

February. Although touring as the Empire Pantomime Company, advertising records its repertoire comprised a

combination of pantomimes (Little Red Riding Hood and Dick Whittington) and the comedies (Minnie Ha Ha and

Muldoon's Picnic). The company also presented Grand Sacred and Classical Concerts on Sundays.

Sam Keenan died of pulmonary phthisis (tuberculosis) and exhaustion in Brisbane Hospital on 2 April 1895, less than a month after returning from North Queensland. He was buried at Toowong cemetery. According to his obituary in the

Otago Witness he had been working for several years as a barman in a Brisbane hotel, which may explain how he

made his living during the periods his name doesn't register in relation to theatrical enterprises. Keenan was survived

by his Australian wife, Marian (nee Collier) and three children, George, Ernest and Bessie. One writer once said of

Keenan, "He was a natural comedian, always worth double his salary" (OW: 2 May 1895, 37).

SEE ALSO

• Georgia Minstrels (2) • Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels • J. R. (Johnny) Matlock

• Vital and Electric Spark Co • Lawton & Leslies' All Nations Co • Alf Moynham

Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 9 Mar. (1889), 2.

ADDITIONAL QUOTATIONS

• In the [second] part Charles Bornai and Sam Keenan appeared as tumbler and clown, the former doing some

clever things, while Keenan, who seems to have developed a new talent as clown, evoked unusual merriment

(SMH: 30 July 1889, 5).

• Sam Keenan was as full of mirth as ever, and was instrumental, with the aid of Messrs. Cottier, Evans, Delohery,

Shipp, and J. Cottier in keeping the audience in a state of laughter the whole evening (SMH: 15 Oct. 1889, 8).

• The comicalities of Johnny Cowan, J. Evans, Alf. Lawton and Sam Keenan were productive of much mirth. In the

second part of the entertainment Messrs. Keenan and Evans were seen to advantage in their plantation song and

dances (SMH: 21 Jan. 1890, 8).

• Sam Keenan and Alf Moynham - two popular Melbourne artists - were on the ends, and kept the fun going

splendidly, neither brining up any stale jokes, but both introducing really witty and clever sayings ("Notes and

Events" CH: 14 Aug. 1891, 2).

http://ozvta.com/troupes-a-f/http://ozvta.com/troupes-g-l/http://ozvta.com/practitioners-m/http://ozvta.com/troupes-s-z/http://ozvta.com/troupes-m-r/http://ozvta.com/practitioners-m/

• A local negro minstrel company has been formed at Allynbrook, and an entertainment will be given shortly in aid

of St Mary's Church Building Fund. It is hoped that their efforts will be crowned with success. They are practising

assiduously, and if report speaks true Alf. Moynham and Sam Keenan would not be qualified to hold place

amongst them (MMHR: 9 June 1892, 6).

• [Leslie Brothers and Sam Keenan benefit]: To the theatre goers of the eastern colonies, the name Sam Keenan is a

household word and it is not too much to expect that his old admirers will not only come, but rouse up their

friends to assist by their presence in giving a bumper house to so popular a performer (WA: 9 Nov. 1892, 4).

• Mr Sam Keenan so cleverly rendered the very humorous song "Our Farmyard" that he had to repeat the song

three times, and subsequently delighted his audience with several other equally amusing pieces (BC: 26 Jan.

1894, 6).

• [The Octoroon]: Mr Sam Keenan's long stage experience of negro parts stood him in good stead in the character

of old Uncle Pete, which he played with his usual confidence and ability (BC: 27 Aug. 1894, 6).

•

HISTORICAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS

1. The Australian Town and Country Journal describes Keenan's US Minstrels as a "dramatic company" (16 Mar.

1889, 15).

2. The 13 April 1889 edition of the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser records that a local

amateur minstrel troupe presented "an amusing farce, arranged by Mr Sam Keenan," at the West Maitland School

of Arts on 10 April (4).

3. In early September 1893 a series of advertisements and public

announcements were published in the Hobart Mercury publicising

Priddy's Electric Marvels season at the Theatre Royal beginning 18

September. Among the artists reportedly appearing with the company

were "well-known minstrel kings" Sam Keenan and W. Horace Bent (7

Sept. 1893, 2). As the chronology below indicates, however, Keenan

opened at the Gaiety Theatre, Brisbane, on 17 September. It is unclear

how his name came to be linked to the Electric Marvels.

3. Several contemporary reports indicate that the Sam Keenan (aka Sam

Keenan Jnr) who appeared on the variety stage in Australia after 1895

was his son. As noted above, however, neither of Keenan's two boys

were called Sam. It is possible that the performer in question was

George, who took his father's stage name (a not uncommon practice in

those days), but this is yet to be confirmed. The following dates are

those known to have been played by Sam Keenan Jnr.

1905: TED HOLLAND (Th Royal, Bris; 22 Apr.)

1910: HARRY CLAY (Royal Standard, Syd; 5 Feb.)

1913: JOHN L. GOODMAN'S STAR VAUDEVILLE & MINSTREL Co (Keenan & Lewis - Alhambra Th,

Syd; ca. May)

Mercury (Hobart) 13 Sept. (1893), 1.

"Australian Stage Gossip." OW: 2 May (1895), 37.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18950502.2.223&e=-------10--1----2--

4. Research undertaken by Tracy (a descendent of Sam Keenan through his son George) and

David Rae has uncovered information relating to Keenan's other son Ernest (born 1878).

Between 1896 and 1902 he was convicted of numerous minor offences in Victoria and New

South Wales, with the charges including larceny, stealing, insulting behaviour and fare evasion.

ENGAGEMENTS CHRONOLOGY

1877: R. J. DE LIAS (Th Royal, Hobart; 30 July - 4 Aug. > Georgia Minstrels) • (St Geo's Hall, Melb; 10 Sept. * >

Georgia Minstrels) • (Queen's Th, Syd; 22-31 Dec. > Georgia Minstrels)

1878: R. J. DE LIAS (Queen's Th, Syd; 1 Jan. > Georgia Minstrels) • (Princess's Th, Melb; 1 June > Georgia Minstrels)

1879: C. B. HICKS (NZ tour; > Georgia Minstrels, See Richard Waterhouse (1986) page 31) • (Th Royal, Hobart; ca. Apr. -

May * > Georgia Minstrels) • (Apollo Th, Melb; ca. May/June* > Georgia Minstrels)

1880: R.B. LEWIS & C. B. HICKS (A of M, Adel; 12 Jan. - 7 Feb. > Uncle Tom's Cabin Co and Jubilee Singers) •

(People's Th, Melb; 8-28 May > Uncle Tom's Cabin Co and Jubilee Singers) • (n/e (Th Royal, Melb; 11 June > R. B.

Lewis benefit) ► R. B. LEWIS – Bus Mngr, Liddy (Queen's Th, Syd; 31 July - * > Lewis' Georgia Jubilee Singers and

Queen's Star Dramatic Co) ► R. B. LEWIS & H. RICHARDSON (Mechanics' Institute, Launceston; 27 Aug. - * >

Lewis' Pomp Star Combination and Jubilee Singers) • (Th Royal, Hobart 2-24 Sept. > Lewis' Pomp Star Combination and

Jubilee Singers) ► ALICE JOHNS (Th Royal, Hobart; 11 Oct. - * > Alice Johns Co and Lewis' Pomp Star Combination

and Jubilee Singer) • (Oddfellows Hall, Launceston; 25-27 Oct. - * > Alice Johns Co)

1881: W.P. SWEATNAM (Lses, L. M. Bayless and John Solomon Gaiety Th, Syd; 19 Mar. - 5 Apr. > Sweatnam's

Minstrels) ► R. B. LEWIS (Op House, Syd; 16 Apr. - 30 May > Mastodon Coloured Minstrels) • (Victoria Th,

Maitland, NSW; 4 June - * > Mastodon Coloured Minstrels) • (Mechanics Hall, Singleton; 8 June > Mastodon

Coloured Minstrels) ► W.J. WILSON (Op House, Syd; 9 Nov. > Apollo Club and Mastodon Minstrels concert for the Fire

Brigade) • (Op House, Syd; 23 Nov. - * > The Slaves Revenge)

1882: FRANK SMITH (Sir Joseph Banks Pavilion, Botany; 1 Jan., 26 Jan.) ► W.J. WILSON (Op House, Syd; 4

Mar.* > Bent & Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) ► BENT & BACHELDER (St Geo's Hall, Melb; 8

Apr. - ca. May * > Bent & Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) • (A of M, Adel; 13 May - 2 June > Bent &

Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) ► R. G.BACHELDER (Mechanics Hall, Camperdown, Vic; 31

Aug. - * > Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) • (Mechanics Institute, Launceston; 12 Sept. - * >

Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) • (Hobart TH; 18-28 Sept. > Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) •

(Mechanics Institute, Launceston; 9 Oct. - * > Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels) • (Lse, Hiscocks and

Allison > Vic Hall, Melb; 13 Nov. – 31 Dec. > Bachelder's Anglo-American Christy's Minstrels)

1883: R. G.BACHELDER (Lse, Hiscocks and Allison > Vic Hall, Melb; 1 Jan. - *) • (Masonic Hall, Portland, Vic; 20,

23 Jan.) • (Mechanics Institute, Launceston; 10-16 Feb.) • (Rechabite Hall, Benalla, Vic; 12-14 Mar.) •

(Vic Th, Maitland; 29 May- 2 June) • (Albert Hall, Bris; 4 Aug. - *) • (Th Royal, Rockhampton; 27 Aug. - 1

Sept.) • (S of A, Charters Towers; 8-14 Sept.) • (Th Royal, Rockhampton; 3-10 Oct. > return visit) • (Th Royal,

Bris; 29 Oct. - 10 Nov. > return visit) • (Th Royal, Grafton; 24-31 Dec.) NB 1: Unless otherwise noted all engagements for 1883 are Bachelders Anglo-American Christy Minstrels. NB 2: Unless otherwise noted all engagements between 1884 and 1888 are for Hiscocks Federal Minstrels.

1884: R. G.BACHELDER (Th Royal, Grafton; 1 Jan. > Bachelders Anglo-American Christy Minstrels) ► F. E.

HISCOCKS (Vic Hall, Melb; 16 Feb. - *) • (Lse. Charles Macmahon > Th Royal, Hobart; 17 Mar. - *) • (A of M,

Syd; 5 Apr. - 18 Oct.) • (Vic Hall, Melb; 1 Nov. - *) • (A of M, Syd; 20-31 Dec.)

1885: F. E. HISCOCKS (A of M, Syd; 1 Jan. - 25 July) • (Newcastle; 27 July – 8 Aug.) • (Victoria Th, West

Maitland; 10 Aug - *) • (A of M, Syd; 17 Aug. – 25 Oct.) • (Parramatta; 26 Oct) • (Goulburn; 27-28 Oct.) •

(Albury; 30 Oct.) • (Vic Hall, Melb; 31 Oct. - 7 Dec.) • (Bathurst; ca. 15 Dec. *) • (Victoria Th,

Parramatta; 21 Dec.) • (S of A, Burwood; 22 Dec.) • (Petersham TH; 23 Dec.) • (A of M, Syd; 24-31 Dec).

1886: F. E. HISCOCKS (A of M, Syd; 2 Jan. - 7 May) • (A of M, Bris; 10-31 May) • (A of M, Syd; 5 June - 2 Oct.)

• (Vic Th, Newcastle; 4-9 Oct.) • (Goulburn; 11-12 Oct.) • (Albury; 14-15 Oct.) • (St Geo's Hall, Melb; 16

Oct. - 25 Nov.) • (A of M, Adel; 29 Nov. - 10 Dec.) • (A of M, Syd; 20-31 Dec).

1887: F. E. HISCOCKS (A of M, Syd; 1-29 Jan.) • CHARLES HUGO (Lse. F. E. Hiscocks > A of M, Syd; 29 Jan. >

Hugo's Buffalo Minstrels) ► FOURTH ANNUAL IMPS MATINEE (Op House, Syd; 11 Aug. > Keenan only)

1888: F. E. HISCOCKS (A of M, Syd; 21 Jan.*) • (Gaiety Th, Bris; 21 Apr.*) • (Vic Th, Newc; 9 Apr.) • (A of M,

Syd; 14 July) ► HISCOCKS & FRIEDMAN (New Op House, Syd; 1-15 Dec.* > New English and Specialty Co)

Ernest Keenan Police photo

Courtesy of David and Tracy Rae

1889: SAM KEENAN (Adelphi Th, West Maitland; 7 Mar. - * >

Keenan's US Minstrels) • (S of A, Morpeth; 13 Mar. > Keenan's US

Minstrels) ► FRANK SMITH (Alhambra MH, Syd; 18 Mar. -

31 Dec.)

1890: FRANK SMITH (Alhambra MH, Syd; 1 Jan. - 5 Sept.) ►

J. S. SMITH (Gaiety Th, Melb; 9 Sept. - * > Gaiety Burlesque

Co and Slade Murray's Combination)

1891: METROPOLITAN PROFESSIONAL DRAMATIC Co

(Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy, Melb; 4 Feb. - * > The Octoroon,

as Uncle Pete) LESLIE BROS (Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy, Melb;

12 Feb. - *) ► Mr DONEGAN (Queensliff, Vic; 23-24 Mar. >

Donegan's Minstrel Burlesque and Comedy Co) ► METROPOLITAN

PROFESSIONAL DRAMATIC Co (Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy,

Melb; 25 Mar. - * > The Ticket of Leave Man) ► J. J. CAMERON

(Garner's Rooms, Adel; 30 Mar. - * > American Minstrels) ►

FRANK MUSGROVE (Royal Hall, Footscray, Melb; 25 May

- * > Musgrove's Gaiety, Variety and Comedy Co) ► HAROLD

ASHTON (Public Hall, Colac, Vic; 13 Aug. - * > Ashton's

Federal Minstrel) • (Mechanics' Institute, Horsham, Vic; 8 Sept. -

* > Ashton's Federal Minstrel) ► F. M. CLARK (A of M,

Launceston; 5 Dec. - * > F. M. Clark's Far-Fame Folly Co) • (Th

Royal, Hobart; 14-18 Dec. > F. M. Clark's Folly Co) ► n/e

(Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy, Melb; 22, 29 Dec. - * > American

Minstrels, Tuesday evenings only)

1892: n/e (Exhibition Hall, Fitzroy, Melb; 5 Jan. - * > American Minstrels

- Tuesday evenings only) ► F. M. CLARK (Keenan & Duriah > St

Geo's Hall, Melb; ca. Feb. * > Silk Stockings Co) ► POPE &

SAYLES (St Geo Hall, Melb; 21 Mar. - * > The World's Varieties) ► F. M. CLARK (Garner's Rooms, Adel; 2-

22 Apr. > Silk Stockings Co) ► SLADE MURRAY (Garner's Rooms, Adel; 23 Apr. - 21 May > Gaiety

Combination) ► W. T. SMYTH (Gawler Institute, Gawler, SA; 4 June > Fred Thomas show) ► BELLA

SUTHERLAND (Albany; 22 June - * > Vital Spark Co) • (Oddfellows Hall, Fremantle; 2-10 July > Vital Spark

Co) • (St Geo's Hall, Perth; 11-17 July > Vital Spark Co) • (Oddfellows Hall, Fremantle; 18 July > Vital Spark

Co) • (Western Australian regional tour; 22 - ca. 28 July) ► WESTERN LIEDERTAFEL (Oddfellows Hall,

Fremantle; 2 Aug. > Company benefit) ► DENIS KEENAN (Oddfellows Hall, Fremantle; 20 Aug. > "The

Only Variety Company in Western Australia") • Western Australian regional tour; ca. Aug. - Sept. *) ►

FREMANTLE DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL CLUB (St George's Hall, Fremantle; 8 Sept. - * > The

Octoroon) ► DENIS KEENAN (Western Australian regional tour; ca. Sept. *) (Town Hall, Fremantle; 1, 3

Oct. > Leslie-Kennan Combination) • (St Geo's Hall, Perth; 8, 10-11 Oct. > Leslie-Kennan Combination) ► n/e

(Federal Hotel, Perth; 13 Oct. > pre-nuptial banquet given to Cr. T. H. Marshall) ► (Oddfellow's Hall, Fremantle; 22

Oct. > "Go As You Please" 2 hour indoor foot race - entertainment by Sam and Denis Keenan) ► n/e (St Geo's Hall, Perth;

11 Nov. > Complimentary benefit to Keenan and the Leslie Bros) NB 1: The West Australian tour initially also included seasons in Beverley, York, Northam and Newcastle (now Toodyay).

NB 2: Following the Perth/Fremantle seasons in July, the troupe returned to Newcastle (22 July) • Northam (23, 25 July) •

York (26- ca. 28 July *)

NB 3: Although no reports of the Leslie-Keenan troupe whereabouts have been found for the period 3-19 August it is

feasible that it undertook another regional tour.

1893: COGILL BROS (St Geo's Hall, Melb; 3 Mar; > Alf Holland benefit) ► n/e (Exhibition Building, Fitzroy; 5 May

> benefit to Mrs Alf Moynham) ► W. H. SPEED (Royal Princess Th, Bendigo; 26 June - 2 July > Speed's Gaiety Co) •

(Gaiety Th, Melb; 15 July > World's Gaiety Co - re-appearance) ► PEOPLE'S CONCERTS (Temp Hall, Melb; 5

Aug. - * > re-appearance) ► DC&H (Alhambra MH, Syd; 12 Aug. - 2 Sept. > "re-appearance after a long absence from

Sydney") ► PERCY ST JOHN (Gaiety Th, Bris; 17 Sept. - 18 Dec. > Empire Minstrels)

1894: QUEENSLAND SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION (Kent Building, Bris; 25 Jan. > Burns Anniversary concert) ►

LAWTON & LESLIE (Lessee Edmonstone Markwell > Th Royal, Bris; 24 Feb. - 26 May > Lawton and Leslies' All

Nations Co) ► LESLIE BROS (Toowoomba; 28 May - 1 June > Leslie Bros Minstrel, Musical, Comedy and Specialty

Co) ► QUEENSLAND SCOTTISH VOLUNTEEERS CLUB (Club Rooms, Adelaide St, Bris; 31 May) ► n/e

(Gaiety Th, Bris; 2 June > Slade Murray benefit) LESLIE BROS • (Warwick; 5 June - * > Leslie Bros Minstrel,

Musical, Comedy and Specialty Co) ► LYLE'S DRAMATIC Co (Opera House, Bris; 20-25 Aug. - * > Uncle Tom's

Cabin, final performance was the 25 Aug. matinee) • (Opera House, Bris; 25 Aug. > Octoroon, also benefit for Keenan) ►

HARRY BARRINGTON (S of A, Syd; 1 Sept. - *) ► n/e (Centennial Hall, Bris; 18 Sept. > Pearl Akerman

benefit) ► QUEENSLAND SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION (Th Royal, Bris; 5 Dec. > W. McFarlane benefit) ►

YORK & JONES (Gaiety Th, Bris; 15-31 Dec. > Empire Minstrels)

Sydney Morning Herald 10 Mar. (1888), 2.

NB 1: Alf Lawton made his last appearance in Brisbane on 21 April. The company afterwards became known simply as the All Nations Co, and later as the Leslie Brothers Musical, Comedy and Specialty Co.

NB 2: It is unclear if Keenan travelled to Toowoomba with the All Nations' Company or remained in Brisbane. The Warwick

Argus records that the company played for a week in Toowoomba prior to its season in Warwick. As noted above,

however, he was one of several performers in a concert for the Queensland Scottish Volunteers Club (Sat. 31 May) and

also appeared on the bill for Slade Murray's benefit (Mon. 2 June) .

1895: YORK & JONES (Gaiety Th, Bris; 1-21 Jan. > Empire Minstrels) • (North Queensland tour; ca. Jan. - Mar.* >

Empire Pantomime Co) NB: North Queensland tour incl. Rockhampton (Th Royal; 26 Feb. - 4 Mar.)

FURTHER REFERENCE

"Australian Stage Gossip." OW: 25 Apr. (1895), 37.

"Australian Stage Gossip." OW: 2 May (1895), 37.

"Death of Sam Keenan." BC: 4 Apr. (1895), 4.

Djubal, Clay. "Keenan, Sam." AustLit (2007).

Editorial. BC: 5 Apr. (1895), 4.

"Late Sam Keenan: Touching Scene at the Cemetery, The." DNP: 24 Apr. (1895), 2. [see also: ICN: 26 Apr. 1895, 8]

"Local News." MMHR: 9 Mar. (1889), 4.

"Shipping Intelligence: Arrivals." BC: 16 Sept. (1893), 5

Waterhouse, Richard. "Antipodean Odyssey: Charles B. Hicks and the New Georgia Minstrels in Australia 1877-

1880. Journal of the Royal Historical Society 72 (June 1986), 19-39.

See also:

BC: 29 Apr. (1905), 2 • 2 July (1894), 6 • 18 Aug. (1894), 5.

DNP: 5 Sept. (1892), 3 • 3 Oct. (1892), 2.

OW: 2 May (1895), 37.

NM: 11 Sept. (1883), 2.

WA: 20 Aug. (1892), 1 • 3 Oct. (1892), 4.

Thanks to David and Tracy Rae and family for additional information.

Last updated: 14/04/2013 Expanded and updated from the 2006 AustLit entry

NB: The URL for this PDF will change each time it is updated. If you wish to cite or link to this record please use the following:

Australian Variety Theatre Archive • http://ozvta.com/practitioners-k/

Launceston Examiner 30 Nov. (1891), 3.

Brisbane Courier 4 Apr. (1895), 4.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18950425.2.143http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW18950502.2.223&e=-------10--1----2--http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/534244http://austlit.edu.au/run?ex=ShowAgent&agentId=A9%5bphttp://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3599892http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/78359270http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18968946http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/107000