Barney Fagan
Encyclopedia
Barney Fagan was a 19th-century American performer, director, choreographer, and composer
. He is recognized as being a progenitor of both music and dance genres, and is often referred to as the "Father of Tap Dance
."
at the famous Howard Athenaeum
in 1860, as the Cabin Boy in The Pilot of Brest. He remained at this theatre several seasons until 1865 when he played his first minstrel engagement with the Morris Brothers in Boston.
In 1870, Fagan went to Saint John, New Brunswick
, Canada, and appeared with Pete Lee's Minstrels. In 1873 he joined Buckley's Serenaders
in Boston, and took a fellow dancer, Joe Parks, as a partner. During the period 1873-1876, Fagan and Parks, known as the American Lads, played variety engagements. In 1876 he did the famous Heifer dance with Richard Golden in Evangeline. Mr. Fagan next joined John Fenton in a dancing duet, and continued with him until 1878, when he formed a partnership with Lizzie Mulvey, which lasted one season. Fagan's specialty at that time was "clog dancing" -- which was a dance performed while wearing wooden-soled shoes, a very popular form of stage entertainment in the late 19th century.
Beginning in 1879, Mr. Fagan allied himself with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West's Minstrels, and continued with them until the company's dissolution in June, 1882. During the three years with Barlow and Wilson, he was general producer and performed as a soloist. Possibly Mr. Fagan's greatest achievement was in organizing and producing Willis Sweatnam, Billy Rice
and Fagan's Minstrels, which gave their first performance at Albany, New York
, July 25, 1887. This troupe was allegedly the largest minstrel
company to travel America's entertainment circuit in the 19th century, featuring 105 performers on parade with 88 in the regular company.
In the following years, Fagan performed with various companies, including Thatcher, Primrose and West; Barlow, Wilson and Rankin's; and Cleveland's Minstrels, where Fagan performed opposite to Luke Schoolcraft
.
Outside of minstrelsy, Fagan appeared in whiteface
in such plays as Paradise Alley, and, in 1890, appeared in High Roller, a production of his own company. At this time, Fagan's work drew praise for notable marches, including "West Point Cadets", the "Phantom Guards" and "The Dance of the Popinjays". During this same period, he was general producer for Corinne for several seasons.
As a song writer he was no less prominent, penning: "Everybody Takes Their Hat Off to Me", and, as mentioned earlier, "My Gal is A High Born Lady". His plays were popular, too: The Land of Fancy and The Game of Love. Starting in 1895, Fagan performed regularly with Herietta Byron, of the Byron Sisters.
In the opinion of Sigmund Spaeth
, Fagan's compositions were important in the development of ragtime
. In his book A History of Popular Music in America (1948), Spaeth said:
He was highly revered by the end of his career. On August 31, 1919, a testimonial dinner was given in his honor in Manhattan, attracting the theatrical luminaries of that era, including Irving Berlin
.
Barney Fagan died on his 87th birthday, January 12, 1937, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is recognized as being a progenitor of both music and dance genres, and is often referred to as the "Father of Tap Dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
."
Career
Barney Fagan was born as Bernard J. Fagan in Boston, Massachusetts. He made his first professional appearance in his native city of BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
at the famous Howard Athenaeum
Howard Athenaeum
The Howard Athenæum in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the most famous theaters in Boston history. Founded in 1845, it remained an institution of culture and learning for most of its years, finally closing in 1953.- History :...
in 1860, as the Cabin Boy in The Pilot of Brest. He remained at this theatre several seasons until 1865 when he played his first minstrel engagement with the Morris Brothers in Boston.
In 1870, Fagan went to Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, Canada, and appeared with Pete Lee's Minstrels. In 1873 he joined Buckley's Serenaders
Buckley's Serenaders
Buckley's Serenaders was an American blackface minstrel troupe, headed by James Buckley. They were an influential troupe in the United States; while they toured England from 1846 to 1848, their absence allowed Edwin Christy's troupe to gain popularity and influence the development of the minstrel...
in Boston, and took a fellow dancer, Joe Parks, as a partner. During the period 1873-1876, Fagan and Parks, known as the American Lads, played variety engagements. In 1876 he did the famous Heifer dance with Richard Golden in Evangeline. Mr. Fagan next joined John Fenton in a dancing duet, and continued with him until 1878, when he formed a partnership with Lizzie Mulvey, which lasted one season. Fagan's specialty at that time was "clog dancing" -- which was a dance performed while wearing wooden-soled shoes, a very popular form of stage entertainment in the late 19th century.
Beginning in 1879, Mr. Fagan allied himself with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West's Minstrels, and continued with them until the company's dissolution in June, 1882. During the three years with Barlow and Wilson, he was general producer and performed as a soloist. Possibly Mr. Fagan's greatest achievement was in organizing and producing Willis Sweatnam, Billy Rice
Billy Rice
Billy Rice was a football player who played for Australia in their ill-fated 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.-References:...
and Fagan's Minstrels, which gave their first performance at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, July 25, 1887. This troupe was allegedly the largest minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
company to travel America's entertainment circuit in the 19th century, featuring 105 performers on parade with 88 in the regular company.
In the following years, Fagan performed with various companies, including Thatcher, Primrose and West; Barlow, Wilson and Rankin's; and Cleveland's Minstrels, where Fagan performed opposite to Luke Schoolcraft
Luke Schoolcraft
Luke Schoolcraft was an American minstrel music composer and performer. He appeared in numerous minstrel shows throughout the North after the American Civil War.-Early life:...
.
Outside of minstrelsy, Fagan appeared in whiteface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
in such plays as Paradise Alley, and, in 1890, appeared in High Roller, a production of his own company. At this time, Fagan's work drew praise for notable marches, including "West Point Cadets", the "Phantom Guards" and "The Dance of the Popinjays". During this same period, he was general producer for Corinne for several seasons.
As a song writer he was no less prominent, penning: "Everybody Takes Their Hat Off to Me", and, as mentioned earlier, "My Gal is A High Born Lady". His plays were popular, too: The Land of Fancy and The Game of Love. Starting in 1895, Fagan performed regularly with Herietta Byron, of the Byron Sisters.
In the opinion of Sigmund Spaeth
Sigmund Spaeth
Sigmund Gottfried Spaeth was a musicologist who traced the sources and origins of popular songs to their folk and classical roots...
, Fagan's compositions were important in the development of ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
. In his book A History of Popular Music in America (1948), Spaeth said:
He was highly revered by the end of his career. On August 31, 1919, a testimonial dinner was given in his honor in Manhattan, attracting the theatrical luminaries of that era, including Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
.
Barney Fagan died on his 87th birthday, January 12, 1937, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York.
Chronology of theatrical productions/compositions
| Productions | Genre | Contribution by Barney Fagan | Dates of Productions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Haired Hare Long-Haired Hare Long-Haired Hare is a 1948 Warner Brothers Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released in 1949, directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. In addition to including the homophones "hair" and "hare", the title is also a pun on "longhairs", a characterization of classical music lovers... |
Soundtrack for Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most... Cartoon |
Song: My Gal Is a High-Born Lady | Released June 25, 1949 |
| In Old Sacramento | Soundtrack for Hollywood Film | Song: My Gal Is a High-Born Lady | Released May 31, 1946 |
| Kings Row Kings Row Kings Row is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and Ronald Reagan that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century, beset by social pressure, dark secrets, and the challenges and tragedies one must face as a result of these... |
Soundtrack for Hollywood Film | Song: My Gal Is a High-Born Lady | Released April 18, 1942 |
| The March of Time | Hollywood Film | Acted as: Played Himself; Old Timer Sequence | 1930 - Aborted Film Project; Never Released |
| Broadway to Hollywood Broadway to Hollywood (1933 film) Broadway to Hollywood is a film directed by Willard Mack, produced by Harry Rapf, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film features many of MGM's stars of the time, including Frank Morgan, Alice Brady, Madge Evans, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, and Jackie Cooper... |
Hollywood Film | Acted as: Vaudeville Vaudeville Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill... act -Archival Footage |
Released September 15, 1933 |
| Sidewalks of New York Sidewalks of New York Sidewalks of New York may refer to:*Sidewalks of New York , a movie starring Buster Keaton in 1931*Sidewalks of New York , a movie written and directed by Edward Burns in 2001... |
Original, Musical, Comedy | Acted as: Old Timer | Oct 3, 1927 - Jan 7, 1928 |
| The Jazz Singer The Jazz Singer The Jazz Singer may refer to:* The Jazz Singer , a 1925 Broadway play* The Jazz Singer , a film version of the play, and the first feature-length motion picture with talking sequences... |
Original, Play, Comedy, Drama | Acted as: Eddie Carter | Sep 14, 1925 - Jun 1926 |
| Ziegfeld Follies Ziegfeld Follies The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.... of 1911 |
Original, Musical, Revue | Additional music by Barney Fagan | Jun 26, 1911 - Sep 2, 1911 |
| The Man from China | Original, Musical, Comedy | Directed by Barney Fagan | May 2, 1904 - Jun 4, 1904 |
| By the Sad Sea Waves By the Sad Sea Waves By the Sad Sea Waves is a 1917 short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.-Cast:* Harold Lloyd* Snub Pollard* Bebe Daniels* Frank Alexander - Bather* William Blaisdell* Sammy Brooks* Rudolph Bylek* Billy Fay - * Florence Gibson... |
Original, Musical, Comedy, Vaudeville | Staged by Barney Fagan; songs by Fagan | Feb 28, 1899 - Apr 8, 1899 |
| The Passing Show The Passing Show The Passing Show was a musical revue in three acts, billed as a "topical extravaganza", with a book and lyrics by Sydney Rosenfeld and music by Ludwig Engländer and various other composers. It featured spoofs of theatrical productions of the past season. The show was presented in 1894 by George... |
Original, Musical, Extravaganza, Revue | Choreographed by Barney Fagan | May 12, 1894 - Nov 1894 |