Benjamin Maginley Starring as Tom Blossom
(Rothwell Family Photo Collection)
The Shaksperian Jester
Birth 1832 11 18 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Parents Unknown
Marriage to Ada E. (maiden name unknown)
Divorce 1860 01 07 from Ada E. (Baltimore County Court)
Marriage 1864 06 04 to Equestrienne Mary (Marie) Carroll
Children 1864 11 05 Mary Josephine Maginley, Memphis TN
Children Unknown, died in infancy Nola Eugenia Maginley
Children 1874 01 b. – 1874 03 14 d. Viola Alberta Maginley 2 mos.
Death 1888 06 03 in Westchester Sq. Bronx, New York
Burial 1888 St. Peter’s Church Westchester Sq. Bronx, NY
Names “Ben Maginley”– “Benj. Maginley” –“B.R. Maginley” ____________________________________________________________
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Biography of Ben Maginley on Olympians of The Sawdust Circle:
MAGINLEY, BEN. (November 18, 1832-June 3, 1888) Clown. Born in Philadephia of well-to-do parents. Left home at age 17 to join a stock company at Dr. Simpson’s Pittsburgh Theatre under the management of John Foster; later, followed Foster to Cleveland. Then moved on to Cincinnati and Baltimore theatres, the latter at the Front Street, 1856. During this period, performed in most of the major dramas of his time. At the start of the war, was stage manager and low comedian for proprietor George Rayfield of the New Memphis Theatre company, Memphis, TN. Took a farewell benefit on July 28, 1863, where, according to the Memphis Daily Bulletin, “pit, boxes, and gallery were jammed, and the lobbies were overflowing by those who had to stand.” Maginley was a popular figure with the Memphis locals. It has been written that an unsuccessful investment in an arenic venture forced his entry into the circus business. Just what that was is unclear. He may have put money into the erection of an indoor amphitheatre, for advertising of his circus admission prices implies such a structure—boxes, 75¢; family circle, 50¢; and colored gallery, 50¢. This could have been the building that opened in March of the following year for dramatic performances under the title of Olympic Amphitheatre for lessees Benjamin, Cony & Co. Maginley’s Great Circus opened on August 8, 1863. Oliver Bell had been employed to break horses for the establishment, and, within the short span of 10 days, succeeded in making ring stock out of them. Maginley, a robust, hearty man of some 240 pounds, entered the ring as clown for the first time on August 17 of that year. There is no information as to how long the circus continued in Memphis, the advertising in the Daily Bulletin having ended by August 13. Additionally, there is nothing to suggest that the company performed in any other city. In fact, Maginley may have remained within shouting distance, because he reappeared on March 14, 1864, at the New Memphis Theatre for the benefit of R. Arnold, and on the same day opened a 2-week engagement at the Olympic Amphitheatre where he performed the comic role of Timothy Toodles in Toodles. [Charles H. Day: “Ben is a jolly soul and it is worth the price of admission to hear him laugh.”] Maginley & VanVleck’s Cosmopolitan Circus opened in St. Louis, November 7, 1863. Maginley married Marie Carroll (“Marie Elise”), equestrienne adopted daughter of 2-horse rider Barney Carroll, 1864. A daughter, Viola, died March 14, 1874, at only 2 months old. Mrs. Maginley died of consumption the same year. (See Marie Carroll) Proprietor and clown, Ben Maginley’s Monitor Circus; subsequently, contracting agent and clown, George W. DeHaven’s, traveling in the South, 1865-66 (by fall the concern had been purchased by Andrew Haight and became Haight & Chambers’ United Circus); teamed with Barney Carroll in a circus venture, Maginley, Carroll & Co., 1867-68; Bailey & Co., 1870; equestrian director and clown, J. E. Warner & Co., 1871-72; manager, Great Eastern, 1873; manager and co-proprietor, John O’Brien and G. R. Spalding, Maginley & Co., 1874; co-proprietor and manager, Melville, Maginley & Cooke, 1875; equestrian director, Howes’ Great London, 1876; equestrian director, P. T. Barnum’s, 1877. After retiring from the ring, spent several years on the stage as a character actor, performing with Lester Wallack in Rosedale, with McKee Rankin in The Danites, etc. In 1878, began starring in Deacon Cranket and A Square Man, working in those plays under the management of J. M. Hill, 1881-83; was the original Tom Blossom in May Blossom, 1884; this was followed by 2 seasons of Inshavogue. Died of heart trouble at home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Buckle (sic), Westchester, NY.
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Biography of Benjamin Rush Maginley on Circus History.Org
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1980’s Biography of Benjamin Rush Maginley by our cousin Ronnie Glenn Collins
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Ben Maginley on Internet Broadway Database: IBDB
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