ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF ...

the figure, once “folded up preparatory to being stowed away in her box, never says a
word about the hardship of her life or the impossibility of living on her salary.” 64 This
initial success led to financially rewarding tours that prospered well into the summer of
1874, throughout the U. S.
Having encountered no objections to his ostentatious self-promotion (ostentatious
since he was promising an “authentic” Christy Minstel show that was both a counterfeit
performed by marionettes and a freely adapted version of the Christy standard), Bullock
continued to advertise his performances with similar zeal. When the company played in
Maryland at the Baltimore Institute, the local paper carried a notice promising the
Original Christy Minstrels. 65 In the beginning of 1874, an issue of Harrisburg’s Daily
Patriot promised the Original Christy Minstrels. 66 In April 1874, the Pittsburgh Gazette
offered its praise: “To see the ‘Manikans’ go through all the eccentric maneuvers of a
minstrel troupe, sing, dance, play and talk glibly, is certainly a novelty--and better still, to
hear the fresh hearty laughter of the juveniles, is of itself entertainment.” 67 Nearing the
end of its American tour, the Royal Marionette notice for a showing at Platt’s Hall in San
Francisco still proclaimed that they offered the originals. 68
This might be merely an advertising technique, and not indicative of any attempt
to bypass current trends and return to any “original” minstrel format. E. P. Christy had
64 Ibid, 165. Quotation from The Daily Graphic (15 September 1873).
65
J. E. McDonough, “J. E. McDonough will inaugurate a short season on Tuesday,” The
Baltimore Sun (2 February 1874).
66
William John Bullock, “Odd Fellows Hall. We are Coming. Who? Why?” The Daily Patriot
(14 February 1874).
67 “Review: Academy of Music,” The Pittsburgh Gazette (14 April 1874): p. 4, col. 3.
68 William John Bullock, “Platt’s Hall.” San Francisco Bulletin (2 July 1874).
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