This black and white print contains thirteen labeled, oval bust portraits of ten men and three women, which surround a larger, three-quarter length portrait of two young men. The seated man on the left depicts Harry Miner; the man standing on the right is vaudeville performer Pat Rooney. The words “Harry Miner Manager” are printed below the bust portraits. All except Miner were variety entertainers, who performed at Miner’s Bowery Theater and belonged to Pat Rooney's Combination, a traveling variety/vaudeville/burlesque troupe. At the bottom of the poster are remnants of a datebill indicating the location of the performance was the Opera House, though not enough remains to determine whether a specific location and date had been included.
Henry Clay “Harry” Miner (1842-1900) was the proprietor and manager of Miner’s Bowery Theater when Pat Rooney performed there beginning circa 1878. Miner was a Civil War pharmacist, policeman, volunteer fireman, and businessman. He partnered with Rooney in the late 1870's and 1880's but mostly concentrated on developing a chain of theaters. He also produced a theater publication and owned a lithography company that specialized in theater posters. His Miner's Bowery Theater was home to amateur night and introduced "The Hook", a cane used to yank unpopular acts off the stage. He also became a U.S. Congressman from New York 1895-1897.
Pat Rooney known as Sr, the elder, and Pat Rooney I (ca 1844-1892) was a performer/dancer/song writer. He was an Irish immigrant, who became a patriarch of a vaudeville family that included his five children: son Patrick Rooney, II (1880-1962), daughters Kate, Mattie (Matilda), Julia, Josie, and his grandson Patrick Rooney III (1909-1979). His wife, Josie Granger (1853-1934), is depicted on the print in the portrait below the vignette of Rooney and Miner. She was a dancer and mother to the dynasty of performers. Patrick Rooney, Sr. began his song and dance career in the New York Bowery. He approached Harry Miner, owner/manager of Miner’s Bowery Theater, convincing him to give him a chance to perform. He was so popular that he became Miner’s partner for several years. He later took his show on the road, performing in workman's clothes, doing clog dancing, and singing comic songs. His son Patrick Rooney, Jr. began performing in a brother-sister act at age ten and later joined with his wife, Marion Bent (1880-1940) to become one of America's most popular vaudeville teams. He was especially well-known for a song and clog dance called "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady," which he performed with his hands in his pockets. Later in life he appeared in musical comedies and revues, including the original Broadway production of <i>Guys and Dolls</i> in 1950. His son Patrick Rooney III sometimes performed with him and also did solo acts.
Fannie Peake Delano (1850-1935) was born Annie May Sutter, adopted by the bell ringing family of William H. Peake, and married to Jeppe (Jephtha III) Delano (1845-1925). She was a singer and he was a character actor, both were comedians and variety performers.
Mollie Wilson was billed as a petite, lyrical, serio-comic star.
Billie Carter (1834-1912) was a banjo minstrel/ blackface performer. He was known as the "King of the Banjo Players," a member of the Louisiana Minstrels in the mid 1860's, and played at various times with Hooley's Minstrels, Harrigan and Hart, and Tony Pastor's Company
S.G. Beasley and William Wood were musicians who performed as "King Music Makers," each mastering numerous instruments.
Harry Morris and Frank Fields were billed as German Burlesque Comedians.
T. G. Ducrow and Joe C. Lamont performed as Happy Hottentots, Jungle Abborigines, and various comedic skits.
Lithographer Henry Atwell Thomas (1834-1904), an artist and portrait painter especially well known for his theatrical portraits. His New York firm was called H. A. Thomas Lith. Studio until 1887, when it became H. A. Thomas & Wylie Lithographic (sometimes cited as Lithography or Lithographing) Company
