An original American musical: Cortland, NY 1876

 

A novel find. A playbill for the production of 'a new fairy opera' in Cortland, NY. 

I had never heard of the piece, though American scholars probably have. Anyway, I thought I should investigate a tad...

A performance by amateurs? But, look, there's the tenor Frank Roraback in the lead role. In a couple of years Rorabeck would be a serial Ralph Rackstraw on the touring circuits. Ah, I see he was 'of Syracuse'  at this stage ... 

The authors? John Albro was a middle-aged commission agent/commercial traveller, originally of New Jersey, but now living in Syracuse.

Composer [Thomas] Harry Hinton (b Birmingham UK 4 January 1836; d Syracuse 1900) was a local muso of all work. His vast obituary in the local press related: 

"In the death of Professor Hinton Syracuse loses one of its oldest and best known musicians and choir directors. He possessed a wide circle of acquaintances throughout Central New York, and the news of his death was received with profound sorrow throughout the city and community. As an organist and musical director Professor Hinton long occupied a prominent position in this profession and his many contributions to light opera gave much pleasure and delight to his friends. The most meritorious of his muscial productions, and one in which he took the most delight, was the operetta Christmas, which was frequently presented in local circles and elsewhere. For many years Professor Hinton conducted a conservatory of music in this city which had a wide reputation throughout Central New York. In this school of music many men and women received their musical training.

Professor Hinton long held a pre-eminent position as an organist. For about twelve years he presided at the keyboard of the organ in the old St. Pauls church, and for eighteen years was organist in the First Presbyterian church. At various times he was organist at the Central Baptist church, Fourth Presbyterian church, First Ward Presbyterian church, St. Marks Episcopal church, and elsewhere.

For a number of years, and up to the time of his sudden death, Mr. Hinton was leader of the orchestra of the Wieting opera house, and no one was better known and more deservedly popular with the theater-going public. Of late years, in addition to his duties as leader of the orchestra of the Wieting opera house, he has had a large class of pupils ..."

Christmas, said to have been his chef d'oeuvre, was apparently performed locally a number of times and I'm fairly sure this was not the first. You see, Harry and his wife Olive Louisa née Burton had three children: Laura, Willie H and Florence. See the names of the child characters in the cast list? Laura, Willie and Flora. And, yes, they were played by young children: Carrie Halbert of Cortlandville (1868-1956) (whose mother was in the choir) was 8 years old at this time.
But mother died in 1872. And little Flora in 1874 ... and by this time Harry was re-married with another infant child .. but we still have Mother and Flora in the cast. Seems a little, well ... gruesome? But who knows?

Anyway, I think we have a basically local amateur production of an original piece, with a large cast of small children ... headed by two adults, and backed by a small adult chorus ... and a good time was had by all.