Newly-discovered evidence appears to show that John Hill Maccann made at least one performing tour to the United States. Issues of the Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle from 1841 to 1902 have been digitized and indexed by the Brooklyn Public Library, and these newspapers record that Maccann performed in Brooklyn for two engagements during the winter of of 1890–1891.

Professor Maccann is described as appearing at Hyde and Behman's Variety Theater in Adams Street, Brooklyn, first during the week of 16 November 1890, and then again about ten weeks later during the week of 01 February 1891. This timing strongly suggests that the two appearances close to New York City might have been near the beginning and near the end of an American tour.

It would be interesting for anyone with access to archives of newspapers from other large North American cities to look at theatrical listings during that same period (November 1890 through February 1891) to see where else Maccann appeared in North America, on the circuit of variety theaters, vaudeville, and music halls—which extended into Canada as well as the United States. Further notices will be gratefully received and added to this page.

So far, the clippings from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle which indicate a North American tour by Maccann are backed up only by a notice in the New York Times for 27 January 1891. All the extracts located in both newspapers are reproduced below. For the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, an entire newspaper page is provided for context (in PDF format); the entire newspapers for every date can be found (also in PDF format) on the web at The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online. The New York Times has put its archives on the web at New York Times Article Archive 1851-1995.

Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, Sunday, 16 Nov, 1890, page 13, column 1

“ HYDE AND BEHMAN'S THEATER.
Harry Williams’ company, that will be seen this week, includes the Byrne Brothers in their Hanlon like tricks and feats of agility; Goffre, magician; Palles and Cusick, Irish; Mac Cann, concertina player; Dagmar, singer; the Smiths, comedians; Napier and Marzello, acrobats; Byrnes and Helene in a sketch; James W. Thompson, wild man from Borneo; Fish and Richmond, comedians; Kitty Smith, dancer; the Roths, singers, and Matthew, juggler. ”

Posted 01 June 2003

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Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, Friday, 21 Nov, 1890, page 3, column 9

“ HYDE AND BEHMAN'S. THIS WEEK.
Matinees—Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Harry W. Williams’ own company, (from his Academy of Music, Pittsburg, Pa.), including the 3 Brothers Byrne; Goire Palles and Cusick, Maccann, Alexandra Dagmar, Larry and Lizzie Smith, Napier and Marzello, Byrne and Hellene, J. W. Thompson, Fish and Richmond, Kitty Smith, Matthew and others, of equal reputation and celebrity in the vaudevilles. Box office open daily from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. ”

Posted 01 June 2003

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Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, Sunday, 01 Feb, 1891, page 13, column 1

“ HYDE AND BEHMAN'S THEATER,
The performance promised for this week will include the specialties of Parson Davies' boxers and wrestlers, James Corbett, John Donaldson, Evan Lewis and Thomas McInerney; Harry Kernell, monologist; George H. Wood, “the somewhat different comedian;” the four Adonis in their medley; John E. Drew, singer; the Carles in grotesque dances; McCann, concertina player; the Coulson sisters in song and dance; Leonzo, juggler; Harry La Rose, juggler, and R. M. Carroll in his ‘Mortar and Bricks.’ ”

Posted 01 June 2003

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Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, Tuesday, 03 Feb, 1891, page 4, column 7

“ HYDE AND BEHMAN'S THEATER.
Athleticism is the thing of prime interest at this house during the present week. The men who pound each other and wrestle are doing it because they like it and because they evidently hope for wealth and fame, and their performances yesterday were approved in a manner that apprised people in the street of what was going on. The artists are Evan Lewis, Thomas McInerney, James J. Corbett and John Donaldson. Preceding their display is juggling by Leonzo, concertina playing by Mr. McCann, floor welting by R. M. Carroll, rope skipping by the Coulson sisters, monologue by John E. Drew, playing on curious instruments by the two Carles, a medley by the Adonis four, fun by George H. Wood, “the somewhat different comedian”; globe walking by Harry La Roso and songs, dances and remarks by the popular Harry Kernell. ”

Posted 01 June 2003

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Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle, Sunday, 08 Feb, 1891, page 13, column 2

“ MacCann, the concertina soloist at Hyde and Behman's theater last week, played at three other houses every night. That is the English fashion. ”

Posted 01 June 2003

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New York Times, Tuesday, 27 Jan, 1891, page 4, "Amusements"

“ Prof. MacCann ... really brings out music from a series of concertinas ... ”

Posted 22 December 2003

 

Contents

• Professor Maccann’s North American Tour (1890–1891)
• Brooklyn Eagle, 16 Nov 1890
• Brooklyn Eagle, 21 Nov 1890
• Brooklyn Eagle, 01 Feb 1890
• Brooklyn Eagle, 03 Feb 1890
• Brooklyn Eagle, 08 Feb 1890
• New York Times, 27 Jan 1891

Links to related documents

• Other articles
  by Robert Gaskins