Minstrels

The Mohawk Minstrels

Two brothers, William and James Francis, who worked for the music publisher Chappell's had an urge to perform as minstrels and started the Mohawks in the evenings. After a while they came to the conclusion that they could not work both night and day so in 1873 resigned from the day job.

They started performing in the Berners Hall adjoining the Agricultural Hall, Islington. The place was quite small holding between 900 to 1,000 people. It was not long before it was established as a rendezvous for good, clean entertainment in which sentiment and laughter blended.

One of their sources of talent was Harry Hunter's Manhattan Minstrels and giving up the unequal struggle of trying to run a troupe and ward off the Mohawks, amongst others, on March 9th, 1874 Harry Hunter joined the Mohawks in the "bones" corner, becoming an overnight success with a specially written song "Johnny will you come home now".

The Mohawks flourished with a sell-out every night and early queues for Saturday. Late in 1876 this popularity allowed them to move to St. Mary's Hall, not far from Berners Hall and still joining part of the Agricultural Hall.

The new hall had a seating capacity of about 3,000. The fertile song-writing talent of Harry Hunter continued to flourish.

The Francis brothers returned to publishing as a part time occupation. They published their own song books, for each new concert, rather like a programme.

The Francis brothers and Harry Hunter had for long held an ambition to be in the West End. In 1900 they had an opportunity. Hearing that Moore and Burgess were waning in popularity, they made a bid  for the goodwill of the troupe and the lease of St.James' Hall.

The Mohawks abandoned their old stamping ground at Islington, moved to Piccadilly and with the pick from both troupes re-christened it "The Mohawk, Moore & Burgess Minstrels".

They continued to run in public favour, and soon began to discover a surprising amount of talent amongst its members. From this party came the genius of Little Thomas, George D'Albert, Johnny Danvers (uncle to Dan Leno), Johnny Schofield, one of the best comedy singers and female impersonators that ever trod the stage, and Tom Birchmore, the famous Stump Orator.

Eventually, as most entertainments of a particular time, Minstrelsy became 'old hat'. With the more varied and sparkling entertainment offered by the Music Halls, now grown a little more refined, and called Variety, the growth of suburban houses with a weekly change of programme, the more sedate offerings of the Minstrel show appeared at a disadvantage.

In the quickening urgency of the new times, the ponderous, slow humour of Mr. Interlocutor and Mr. Bones had become outmoded.

When a syndicate was formed to build the Piccadilly Hotel and made a tempting offer for the lease of St. James' Hall, the "Mohawks" came to an honourable conclusion.

From The Illustrated Victorian Song Book,
The Memories Linger On
and John Abbot's story of Francis Day and Hunter.