Timeline and Press Clippings
1832 11 18 Born in Pennsylvania. Parents unknown but allegedly “well to do”. Obituary in an Alta, CA paper states he was born in Marysville, PA. Other citations reference Philadelphia. Birth certificate has not been located.
1849 Left home at 17 to join Dr. Simpson’s Pittsburgh Theater under the management of John Foster (Rumor of a fight with family and leaving town)
1853 Theatrical Debut “Evadne” Ben Maginley as Ludovic at Old Chestnut Street Theater Philadelphia, PA Age 21.
1853 2nd Low Comedian of “Napoleon” John Fosters Theater Cleveland Ohio (Followed John Foster to Cleveland)
1853 The Cleveland Theater “The School for Scandal”
1855 10 15 “Still Waters Run Deep” Benj. Maginley as Gimlet at National Theater in Cincinnati Third US production. (History of NY Stage page 332)
1856-1878 People’s Theater Cincinnati Ohio
1856 Front Street Theater, Baltimore according to Circus History
1856 Founder with others of National Dramatic Association, with Frank Lawlor and Coleman Pope
1859-1860 Lived and worked in Cleveland, Ohio
1861-1864 Stage Manager and low comedian -New Memphis Theater Co. Memphis Tenn for proprietor George Rayfield (see Memphis Daily Bulletin)
1861-1863 Stage Manager and actor in Milwaukee at The Academy of Music.
1861 04 03 The Daily Milwaukee News The Academy of Music
1861 07 02 The Daily Milwaukee News The Academy of Music
1861 07 18 The Daily Milwaukee News Complimentary Benefit for B.R. Maginley at The Academy of Music
1861 07 19 The Daily Milwaukee News The Academy of Music
1861 08 25 The Daily Milwaukee News The Academy of Music
1861 11 18 The Daily Milwaukee News The Academy of Music
1861 Fair & Thompson’s Minstrels New York Times Ben Maginley’s Professional Vicissitude s (1888 06 04)
1862 New York City debut Tony in “The French Spy”
1863 Ben Maginley NY Clipper Mentions – 1863-64, 1867-68, 1873-74
1863 Olympic Theater lease for “Benjamin, Cony & Co” possibly failed and sent him into Circus Business
1863 07 Maginley’s Great Cosmopolitan Circus
1863 08 11 Key Pages here* from “Enroute to The Great Eastern Circus” by William Slout
1863 08 17 Entered the Circus Business as a Clown on Aug 17 “A Decided Hit” (NY Times)
1863 11 07 “Maginley & Van Vleck’s Cosmopolitan Circus” opened in St. Louis (Olympians of the Sawdust Circle)
1864 03 14 New Memphis Theater for R. Arnold
1864 03 14 Week engagement at Olympic Amphitheater 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.”]
1864 01 03 (Age 31) Married Marie Carroll, nee Marie Elise & Mlle. Marie, adopted daughter of circus man & bare-back rider Barney Carroll. “The wedding was a sensation in circus circles, it being regarded as a runaway match, although the bride was in her 20th year.” (1888 06 04 NYTimes)
1864 04 23 New York Clipper “Ben Maginley has returned to Memphis with his circus company, comprising M’lle Marie (Mrs. Ben)”
1864 05 19 Maginley, Bell & Co. Monitor Circus Centralia Sentinel Illinois with Oliver Bell
1864 11 05 Birth of daughter, Mary Josephine Maginley in Memphis Tenn, with Mary Carroll Maginley
1864 + Ben Maginley mentions in NY Clipper
1865-1866 Circus ownership “Ben Maginley’s Monitor Circus” Proprietor and Clown. Traveled in the South
1865 Sold circus to Andrew Haight to become “Haight & Chambers United Circus”
1865 10 12 “Hamlet” Washington Square Theater Farewell for Edwin Adams Ben Maginley as Manager & First Gravediggger
1866 07 10 Haight and Chambers Colossal Circus and Equescutheatron!
1867 Book of Songs issued of favorite songs “A Collection of Favorite Songs as Sung By Ben Maginley, the Clown and Jester of Great Consolidation” (See also 1870)
1867 03 23 Semi-Weekly Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI) Maginley, Carroll & Co.
1867 05 08 Sparta Eagle (WI) Great Consolidation Circus!
1867 06 13 Cedar Valley Times Marie Carroll & Ben Maginley
1867 07 31 Daily OHIO Statesman Columbus, Ohio Maginley and Carroll Circus Announcement
1867 10 09 Ben Maginley in Brownsville
1867 10 18 Nashville Union & Dispatch Nashville TN Maginley Carroll Circus Advert Ben Maginley, Manager
1867 Circusnews.com-Circus_Songsters
1867 Circus Songster located in San Antonio TX
1867 Ben Maginley Song books Brown.edu
1867 ” A collection of Songs as sung by Ben Maginley” circusnews.com Circus Songster
1867-1868 Teamed with father-in-law Barney Carroll– “Maginley, Carroll & Co.”
1868 Left Circus Business for the stage (but it didn’t stick)
1868 12 07 “Lottery of Life” Mr. Ben Maginley In this great dramatic satire upon the vices, follies, and sensations of the present times with Mr. John Brougham. Mr. J.B. Studley.
1868 05 22 Kansas Daily Tribune, Lawrence, Maginley & Carroll Page 2
1868 06 Maginley & Carroll take show to Kansas
1868 06 02 Maginley’ Great Legitimate Circus in Lawrence, KS
1868 11 06 Petersburg Index (VA) Maginley & Carrolls suspends Operations
1869 Ben Maginley is Ringmaster “Bailey’s Circus”, gave up stage after 1 season
1869 Early attempt with others to set up London Alhambra in Tamany Hall
1870 Equestrian Manager/Director George F. Bailey’s Circus commenced in Danbury, CT Bailey & Co.
1870 Published by Turkey Bros Printers NY Ben Maginley’s Clown Song Book (Original located at Brown University) possibly aka “Another songster, entitled “A Collection of Favorite Songs as Sung by Ben Maginley, the clown and jester of the Great Consolidation,” also contained advertisements of a score of patent medicine companies, and was 64 pages in size, with words of 40 to 60 songs included.
1870 Songster Ben Maginley Favorite Songs Great Consolidation
1870 02 14 to 1870 04 16 Hamlet (Musical, Burlesque, Original) at 72 performances at Olympic Theatre Ben Maginley on Internet Broadway Database IBDB
1870 02 14 T.C. de Leon’s “Hamlet (a burlesque)” Ben Maginley as Claudius at Mrs. John Wood’s Olympic Theater (A History of the NY Stage p162)
1870 12 12 – 1871 04 08 “The Black Crook” (Musical, Extravaganza, Spectacle, Revival) at 122 performances at Niblo’s Garden: Ben Maginley on Internet Broadway Database: IBDB
1871-1872 “J. E. Warner & Co.”
1872 11 30 to 1873 03 29 “Leo and Lotus” played the original Grand Hereditary Muddle in a newly renovated/post fire Niblo’s Garden (History of NY Stage p 213)
1872 Officially quit circusing (but it didn’t last)
1872 Comedian at Stephen Friske’s Fifth Avenue Theater
1873 01 26 Times Picayune NOLA Page 10
1873 Ben Maginley is Manager, “Great Eastern” Circus
1873 10 18 NY Clipper Great Western Circus under Manager Ben Maginley
1873 11 08 NY Clipper Great Western Circus at Foot of Houston Street in New York City, Ben Maginley manager
1874 “Maginley & Co. with John O’Brien and G.R. Spalding, “Maginley Circus and Managerie” often the clown “Maginley and Carroll’s Circus” and “Maginley Royal Circus”
1874-75 Maginley was co-proprietor with John O`Brien and Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding of Melville, Maginley & Cooke’s Continental Circus and Thespian Company.
1874 01 17 NY Clipper Ben Maginley & Co.’s
1874 01 Mary Carroll gives birth to a daughter– Viola Alberta Maginley
1874 01 31 Ben Maginley & Co.’s Circus, Museum, Menagerie and Trained Animals is the be the title of the show owned by Ben Maginley, Dr. Spaulding and John O’Brien, which will be put on the road during the tenting season of 1874
1874 02 28 NY Clipper Prince Sadi d’Jalma, “Man of Mystery,” is engaged for the coming season with Ben Maginley & Co.’s circus and menagerie.
1874 04 04 NY Clipper- Maginley & Co. have purchased, during the past week, a golden leopard, a tapir, and a collection of monkeys, birds….
1874 04 18 NY Clipper Maginley & Co.’s Circus, Museum, Menagerie and Trained Animals
1874 03 14 Daughter Viola Alberta Maginley dies in infancy at 2 months
1874 06 10 Newport Daily News Maginley & Co.’s Circus, Museum, Menagerie and Trained Animals
1874 06 13 NY Clipper Ben Maginley & Co.’s Circus in Boston
1874 06 16 Boston Post Maginley & Co.’s Museum, Circus, Menagerie and Trained Animals
1874 08 18 Ben Maginley’s wife, Equestrienne M’lle Mary Carroll Maginley, dies at 29 in Westchester, NY (1844-1874)
1874 10 21 Times Picayune Mark Smith Obit Page 8
1874 11 07 NY Clipper Ben Maginley & Co.’s Circus Closed for Season
1874 Ben Maginley Circus History
1874 NY Clipper Exerpts
1875 08 14 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal
1875 08 21 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal Advert
1875 08 21 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal Article
1875 08 21 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal
1875 08 21 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal Article
1875 08 21 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal Advert
1875 08 14 Melville Maginley & Cook Rockland County Journal
1875 “Melville, Maginley & Cooke’s Continental Circus and Thespian Company”. Co-Proprietor and manager with John O’Brien and Dr. Gilbert R. Spalding.
1876 Barnum’s Circus –Equestrian Director
1876 “Howes’ Great London” — Equestrian Director
1876 c Circus Advisor to “Bailey Circus” promoter Circus Owner
1876 “Maginley and Co. Circus”
1876 02 05 NY Clipper Ben Maginley’s circus property for sale
1876 02 20 “Julius Ceasar” New York Herald, QUADRUPLE SHEET Ben Maginley as Junius Brutus. First stage appearance in 2 years.
1876 03 18 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Maginley in “Julius Caeser” at Hooley’s Page 1
1876 07 16 Brunswick newspaper circus: The Carroll Family
1876 08 19 The Leavenworth Times Howe’s Circus
1877 “Rosedale” in support of Lester Wallack Ben Maginley as Bunbury at The Grand Opera House
1877 PT Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth Ben Maginley, Equestrian Director; Barney and Mary Carroll
1877 Rockland County Journal 1877 Rockland County Journal
1877 07 11 Rockland County Journal
1877 07 11 Rockland County Journal Full Page
1878 01 28 “The Dead Secret” Benjamin Maginley as Cottereau at Fifth Ave Theater (History of NY Stage p 20)
1878 02 14 “Champagne & Oysters” NY Times Maginley Park Theater Full Page 5
1878 02 14 “Champagne & Oysters” NY Times Maginley Park Theater Page 5
1878 03 24 “Champagne & Oysters” Brooklyn Daily Eagle Full Page 1
1878 03 24 “Champagne & Oysters” Brooklyn Daily Eagle clip p 1
1878 04 08 & 04 09 “Champagne & Oysters” by J.W. Shannon Ben Maginley at The Park Theater (Hist of NY Stage p 197)
1878 04 24 “The Big Bonanza” Ben Maginley as Jonathan Cadwallader at The Park Theater (Hist of NY Stage p 197)
1878 04 24 New York NY Tribune benefit inc. Ben Maginley
1878 04 25 “Slasher and Crasher” Ben Maginley in benefit for W.W. Tillotson (Hist of NY Stage p 198)
1878 08 22 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Funeral for Montague Page 4
1878 08 31 “An Open Verdict” Inter Ocean Chicago, IL p 6 Standard Theater NY
1878 11 19 “Rosedale” in support of Lester Wallack Ben Maginley as Bunbury 2 week run at The Grand Opera House (A History of the NY Stage p 616)
1878 12 05 “Almost a Life” as Phillipe at Wallack’s Theater Benefit for John Gilbert ’s 50th Year on Stage,***(“Famous Actors of Today” – Junius Booth, Ben Maginley, John Brougham, Lester Wallack, Agnes Booth, and Dion Boucicault
1878 12 30 “The Shaughraun” in cast supporting Dion Boucicault as Conn for a 3 week run at The Grand Opera House. (A History of the NY Stage p 618)
1878 “Deacon Cranket” under J.M. Hill (Deacon Crankett was written especially for him by John Habberton)
1878 (Deacon Tour, assuming Benj. Maginley)
1879 Fifth Ave Theater Stephen Fiske lawsuit
1879 02 12 “Mexico” The Times Philadelphia Grand Opera House p 3
1879 04 04 Cincinnati Enquirer The Circus Business Now p 2
1879 04 08 “What Became of Circus Men?” Marion Star Ohio p 1
1879 04 10 “What Became of Circus Men?” Elyria Republican Ohio p 5
1879 05 20 Cincinnati Enquirer clip Prominent People at our Hostelries p 7
1879 05 21 Cincinnati Enquirer Grand Opera House
1879 05 22 Indiana Progress (Pennsylvania) Sawdust magnates p 14
1879 05 22 Cincinnati Enquirer Grand opera House
1879 08 18 “As You Like It” Benjamin Maginley as Touchstone at Haverly’s Theater (History Of NY Stage p 476)
1879 11 03 “The Danites” Times Picayune p 2
1879 12 09 “The Danites” Evening Star DC p4
1879 Olympic Theater –Hamlet (closed to work for George F. Bailey) (find source)
1879 Lyceum at Touchstone
1879-1880 “The Danites” as The Judge in on the road
unknown date w. McKee Rankin in “The Danites”
1880 09 26 “Deacon Crankett” (NY Times)
1880 10 12 “Deacon Crankett” from NY Public Library
1880 02 “The Danites” Chicago
1880 02 29 “The Danites” as The Judge Chicago Daily Tribune p 10
1880 08 22 Rochester NY Democrat Chronicle 1886 – 2488
1880-1881 Participating in the experiments of Marion D’Avoy
1881 The Bald Headed Club or The Shining Light
1881 New York NY Dramatic Mirror
1881 Jan- Dec 1882
1881 Brooklyn NY Daily Union Argus
1881 04 03 Walnut Street Theater Philadelphia
1881 05 0 Ben Maginley
1881 11 01 & 02 Cincinnati
1881 11 07 “Deacon Crankett” starring Ben Maginley (History of the NY Stage 1732- Vol 2)
1881 11 08 New Chestnut St. Opera House
1881 11 27 “Deacon Crankett” starring Benjamin Maginley at Windsor Theater (History of NY Stage p 362)
1882 “The Square Man” (throughout US) J M Hill (same manager) as Deacon Crankett) (Fulton History.com NY Mirror)
1882 03 27 Opening of Star Theater NYC (NY Times)
1882 03 26 “Vice Versa” written by and starring Dion Boucicault. Ben Magnley as John Hyde at The Star Theatre (A History of NY Stage p 303)
1882 04 12 “The Shaughraun” written by and starring Dion Boucicault Ben Maginley as Father Dolan Actor’s Equity Benefit at The Star Theatre (A History of NY Stage p 304)
1882 04 19 “The Amadan” written by and starring Dion Boucicault Ben Maginley as Dr. Foherty at The Star Theatre (A History of NY Stage p 304)
1882 05 15 “The Square Man” at Grand Opera House Elm Place Brooklyn. One week w/2 great comedians Ben Maginley and KD Lamb
1882 05 17 Amusements
1882 Dec-Dec 1884
1883 “Esmeralda” Madison Square Theater Company as Elbert Rogers at Madison Square Theater
1883 01 New York NY Spirit Of Times
1883 Jan-Dec
1883 10 22 “Esmeralda” as Elbert Rogers Madison Sq. Theater cast in New Orleans Playbill
1883 10 22 “Esmeralda” Academy of Music Theater in New Orleans Madison Square Theater Company (program @ Tulane Univ. Kuntz Collection) 6 nights
1884 Summer “Esmeralda” Benjamin Maginley as Old Man Rogers (NY Dramatic Mirror )
1884 ” Esmeralda” as Elbert Rogers Ben Maginley (Collier’s The American Stage)
1884 The drama, painting, poetry, and song: embracing a complete history of the stage; an exhaustive treatise on pictorial art; a choice collection of favorite poems, and the popular songs of all nations.(Collier’s)
1884 04 05 “May Blossom” starring Benjamin Maginley as Tom Blossom at The Windsor Theater (History of NY Stage p 366)
1884 04 12 Opening Night “May Blossom” by David Belasco at Madison Square Garden Theater Benjamin Maginley stars as Tom Blossom with Georgie Cayvan (History of NY Stage p 420)
1884 07 21 “May Blossom” by David Belasco, starring Ben Maginley as Tom Blossom at Madison Square Theater. 100th Performance (History of NY Stage p 366)
1884 08 24 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley on NY Stage (NY Times )
1884 09 09 “May Blossom” by David Belasco, starring Ben Maginley as Tom Blossom at Madison Square Theater. 150th Performance (History of NY Stage p 366)
1884 09 27 “May Blossom” Closing night at Madison Square Theater Episode (History of NY Stage p 366)
1884 09 28 “May Blossom” in NY Ends 6-month NY Run Georgia Cayvan, Joseph Wheeler, JN Long, Ben Maginley (Amusements NY Times)
1884 10 06 “May Blossom” starring Benjamin Maginley as Tom Blossom in Philadelphia (NY Times)
1884 10 25 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley as Uncle Bartlett at Windsor Theater (History of NY Stage p 366)
1884 11 24 “May Blossom” Madison Square Theater Company at Academy of Music, New Orleans (program @ Tulane Univ. Kuntz Collection)
1885 02 12 Ben Maginley NY Times purchases play
1885 02 12 Ben Maginley purchases Play “Sweet Innisfal” NY Times
1885 03 13 “Julius Ceasar” A Benefit for Gustaves Levick and Even Plumpton Ben Maginley as First Citizen at The Star Theater (History of NY Stage p 311)
1885 03 23 “May Blossom” Benj. Maginley Madison Square Theater Traveling Co. at Grand Opera House (History of NY Stage p 628)
1885 04 12 “May Blossom” opens at Madison Square Theater
1885 04 26 “May Blossom” Maginley (Daily Alta California Vol 38) “Amusements”
1885 05 03 “May Blossom, Or Between Two Loves” Baldwin Theater (Daily Alta California)
1885 11 30 Maginley NEWS NJ TR TI
1885 12 14 “May Blossom, Or Between Two Loves” Globe Republic Springfield, Ohio
1885 12 14 “May Blossom” Grand Opera Globe Republic Springfield Ohio
1885 12 15 “May Blossom” Springfield Ohio
1885 12 16 “May Blossom” Springfield Ohio, Glove Republic
1885 12 17 “May Blossom” Grand Opera House Springfield Ohio
1885 12 17 “May Blossom” Springfield Globe Republic
1885 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley in Circus History
1885 c. “Inshavogue” as Brian Maguire (2 Seasons)
1886 07 01 Topeka Daily Capital p 3
1886 08 11 Topeka Daily Capital p4
1886 10 21
1886 10 21 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley switches roles from his long identified role Tom Blossom to Uncle Bartlett (NY Times)
1886 10 26 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley NY Times
1886 12 11 “May Blossom” The Times, Richmond VA p 4
1886-1888 New York NY Dramatic Mirror
1886 Dec-Dec 1888
1887 -1888 Maginley’s name appears 16 times in New York Clipper
1887 “May Blossom” as Tom Blossom (History of NY Stage p 366)
1887 Syracuse NY Daily Standard
1887 Newspaper Buffalo NY Morning Express
1887 History of NY Stage p.366 Maginley
1887 Fitchburg MA 1887 1888 Season Inshavogue
1887 01 03 “May Blossom” Harris’ Bijou Theater (The Evening Star)
1887 01 03 “May Blossom” Harris’ Bijou Theater
1887 01 03 “May Blossom” Harris’ Bijou Theater
1887 01 05 “May Blossom” The Evening Star DC May Blossom
1887 01 05 “May Blossom” Harris’ Bijou Theater DC May Blossom
1887 01 07 “May Blossom” The Evening Star Washington DC May Blossom
1887 01 07 “May Blossom” Harris’ Bijou Theater May Blossom
1887 02 01 “May Blossom” Ben Maginley May Blossom
1887 02 07 “May Blossom” in Harlem Ben Maginley (NY Times)
1887 03 28 “May Blossom”Reading Times PA May Blossom Page 4
1887 04 16 NY Mirror
1887 04 16 Maginley NY Mirror
1887 09 91 “May Blossom” & Maginley in The Life of David Belasco
1887 12 14 The Fitchburg Sentinel Fitchburg Massachusetts
1887 12 31 “Inshavogue” Times Picayune p4
1888 In discussion to head an Uncle Tom’s Cabin company of novel scope
1888 01 03 “Inshavogue” Times Picayune p 5
1888 01 26 Springfield Ledger p 4
1888 02 03 “Inshavogue” KS City Star p 2
1888 03 06 Inter-Ocean (Chi, Ill) p 4
1888 03 06 Inter-Ocean General Mentions p 4
1888 04 06 Ottowa Journal “Personal” Clip p 1
1888 04 06 Ottowa Journal hotel Guests Clip p 1
1888 04 07 “Inshavogue” Ottowa Journal Full p 6
1888 04 07 “Inshavogue” Ottowa Journal clip p 6
1888 05 20 “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with Ben Maginley (NY Times Notes of the Week)
1888 05 27 “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Times-Picayune p 12
1888 06 03 Dies of heart trouble Westchester, Bronx NY, at home of his granddaughter and her husband, Frank and Josephine Maginley Buckel. Buried in family plot at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Westchester Sq. Bronx, NY.
1888 06 02 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Death Notice Page 6
1888 06 03 Ben Maginley NY Times obit
1888 06 03 Death Benj. R. Maginley Freemason Manhattan No. 184
1888 06 04 Ben Maginley Death
1888 06 04 New York Times Benjamin Rush Maginley Obituary Page 2
1888 06 04 Ben Maginley’s Professional Vicissitudes (NY Times)
1888 06 04 NY Times Maginley Clip Page
1888 06 04 NY Times Maginley Clip Page 2
1888 06 06 Ben Maginley’s funeral
1888 06 10 Ben Maginley Death Notice Daily Alta
Benjamin Maginley
Birth of Benjamin Rush Maginley
Born in Pennsylvania. Parents unknown but allegedly “well to do”. Obituary in an Alta, CA paper states he was born in Marysville, PA. Other citations reference Philadelphia. Birth certificate has not been located.
Marriage of Marie Carroll (20 years old) to Benjamin Rush Maginley (31 years old)
Birth of Mary Josephine Maginley, daughter of Benjamin & Marie Maginley
1864 11 05 With wife Marie Carroll, birth of only known surviving daughter, named Mary Josephine Maginley, in Memphis Tennessee.
Death of Mary Carroll Maginley
1874 08 18 Wife of Benjamin Maginley died of consumption at her residence in Westchester, New York, age 29, five months after giving birth to a daughter (who also died in infancy). Buried in family plot at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at Westchester Square in what is now The Bronx, New York City.
Death of Benjamin Rush Maginley
Dies of heart trouble Westchester, New York, at home of his granddaughter and her husband, Frank and Josephine (Maginley) Buckel. Buried in family plot at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Westchester Square, Bronx, New York. 1888 06 03 Ben Maginley NY Times obituary
Death of Mary Josephine Maginley Buckel
Death of Mary Josephine Maginley Buckel on April 18, 1939 at 6:20 am, in The Country Hospital, Shanghai, China, while visiting daughter Frances Adams. She was the only surviving daughter of Benjamin Rush Maginley and Mary Carroll.