Al G. Field

Alfred Griffin (or Griffith) Hatfield (November 7, 1848 or 1850 – April 3, 1921) was a performer and minstrel show producer as Al G. Field and sometimes Al G. Fields.[1]

Al G. Field
Hatfield in 1904
Born
Alfred Griffin Hatfield

(1848-11-07)November 7, 1848
Leesburg, Virginia, US
DiedApril 3, 1921(1921-04-03) (aged 72)
Columbus, Ohio, US
Burial placeGreen Lawn Cemetery

Biography

He was born in Leesburg, Virginia near Morgantown, West Virginia on November 7, 1848 or 1850, as Alfred Griffin Hatfield or Alfred Griffith Hatfield.[1][2] He had a brother Joseph E. Hatfield.[3][4]

Poster

Beginning in 1875 he performed with the Sells Brothers Circus that was based out of Columbus, Ohio.[5] In 1884 he organized the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in Peru, Indiana. He managed them until September 9, 1886.[1] He launched his own namesake minstrel show the same year. His autobiography Watch Yourself Go By was published in 1912.[6] He changed his name and established his own company in 1886. He eventually retreated to a farm and bred animals.[5]

He died on April 3, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio from Bright's Disease.[2] He was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. His last will and testament arranged for his minstrel show to be bequeathed to his brother, Joseph E. Hatfield, and to Edward Conard, a relative. His estate was valued at $150,000 (equivalent to $2,461,007 in 2022) and he requested that the minstrel show continue to be operated.[3]

Many printed advertisements for his shows remain in existence, including at the Library of Congress. Some include his image.[7]

Performers

Shows
  • Darkest America, first staged in 1896[11]

References
  1. Edward Le Roy Rice (1911). "Al G. Field". Monarchs of Minstrelsy. p. 214. ISBN 9785871153987.
  2. "Al G. Field Dead. Pioneer Minstrel Dies at His Home in Columbus, Ohio, at 72 Years". The New York Times. April 4, 1921. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  3. "Al Field Bequeaths Show. Will Requests Brother and Relative to Continue Minstrel Troupe". The New York Times. April 9, 1921. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  4. William L. Slout. "Al G. Field". Olympians of the Sawdust Circle. Archived from the original on 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  5. "Once-famous minstrel settled here". ThisWeek Community News.
  6. FIELD, AL G. (February 12, 1912). "WATCH YOURSELF GO BY" – via Google Books.
  7. Company, Courier (February 12, 1905). "Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels the show you know". www.loc.gov.
  8. "Bert Swor, 65, Dies. Old-Time Minstrel". The New York Times. December 1, 1943. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  9. "Billy Church; Member Al G. Fields's Minstrel Company Dies in Columbus". The New York Times. December 27, 1942. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  10. "The Times 22 Oct 1936, page Page 8". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  11. Bernard L Peterson JR (25 October 1993). A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works by, About, or Involving African Americans: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works by, About, or Involving African Americans. Abc-Clio. ISBN 9780313064548.

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