Figure 1.--The younger McGibeny boys wear velvet suis with Fauntleroy trim. A colorized lithographic version show that the suits were burgundy and not black with matching burgundy long stockings. The younger two boy have not yet had their hair cut, but not only slightly curled. Promotional literature described "... a full band, a full orchestra and chorus ...." Click on he image to see a colorized version of a portrait taken a few years earlier. Notice that the portrait looks like the suits are we black. And we cannot be sure about the coor accuracy of the lithograph or that the bys are wearing the samne ss.

The McGibenys were a family musical and sketch entertainment group active during he 1870s-90s. Not all of he children were present when they began appearing on stage (about 1876). And the children were largely grown up (1890s). They were based in Portland, Oregon, but by the 1870s the expanding American rail system allowed them to perform all over the country. (Until the Trans-Continetal ailroad was completed (1869), it took monhs to get from Oregon to the rest of the country.) A promotional cabinet card dating to the late-1880s shows the family sitting in a parlor with musical instruments displayed on the floor. The family included the parents Mr. and Mrs. J. B. McGibeny and their 12 children, including an infant: Alice McGibeny, Fred McGibeny, Dockie McGibeny, Hugh McGibeny, Leo McGibeny, James McGibeny, Frank McGibeny, Grace McGibeny, Carl McGibeny, Victor McGibeny, Florence McGibeny, and Viola McGibeny. The younger boys wear velvet suis with Fauntleroy trim figure 1). A colorized version show that the suits were burgundy and not black with matching burgundy long stockings. The younger two boy have not yet had their hair cut, but not only slightly curled. Promotional literature described "... a full band, a full orchestra and chorus, and their programme is so different than all others, that it has attracted thousands and been praise everywhere, and consists of Gems of Music, in Coronet Solos and Duets, Band a Orchestral Selections, Coral Solos, Glees, Choruses and Laughable Sketches that cannot be described, but must be seen to be appreciated. The promotional material also assured the public that the skits were "... chaste and in every respect proper, artistic, scholarly, and highly entertaining, frequently pathetic, and always decorous." Which meant family-suitable entertainment. At the time theater had a somewhat risque reputation.

Created: 7:50 PM 12/3/2024
Last updated: 8:04 PM 12/5/2024