The Mallory Brothers

Frank and Edward Mallory were an outstanding novelty instrumental music, singing and dancing team, active on the minstrel and vaudeville stage, from the 1880s to the early 1900s. Their act included hand bells, saxophones and other brass instruments. Famed for their ability to imitate an entire brass band, they were considered one of the top vaudeville acts. As each brother married, he included his wife in the act and changed the name of the group accordingly. When Edward married Maizie Brooks (a harpist and singer), the name of the group changed to The Mallory Bros. & Brooks. When Frank married Grace Halliday (pianist, violinist, singer and dancer), the group's name changed to the Mallory Bros. Brooks and Halliday.

Both Frank and Edward began their careers with Billy Kersands' Genuine Colored Minstrels (1885-1889), of which Frank was the end man and drum major of Kersands Minstrel Band. The two brothers next toured for a 20-week season with Richards & Pringle's Minstrel Show. The brothers next joined The Creole Show (1894-1896) as featured instrumentalists, in which they were praised for "their mandolin songs and dances and musical melange." Edward's wife, Maizie, was also in the chorus of this show.

As the Mallory Bros. & Brooks, the three toured with The Octoroons show (1895-1897); next they joined Williams & Walker's Senegambian Carnival (1898), during which Frank's wife, Grace, also became a part of their act. Now calling themselves the Mallory Bros., Brooks & Halliday, they toured in Williams & Walker's A Lucky Coon show (1898-1899), of which Frank was also stage manager and played the title role, after which the four Mallory's toured in Williams & Walker's The Policy Players (1899-1900).

After leaving Williams & Walker's company, the Mallory Brothers and their wives joined the King Rastus show (1900-1902), then were a featured act with the Fenberg Stock Co. (a white company), from 1902 -1904. And finally took their novelty musical act on tour of the Orpheum Circuit (a chain of white owned vaudeville and movie theatres) until Grace's (Frank's wife), death in 1906, after which the three remaining members of the group retired from the stage, making their home in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Freeman, (Aug. 28, 1909): Upon leaving the stage the Mallory Brothers, have made good use of money earned. They now possess some of the best property owned by colored people in Florida. They have eight rental houses in the city and one large two-story brick building in the business part of town, worth not less than $8,000. All of their property is well situated, and is always occupied by paying tenants. Since they left the stage they have been engaged in the broker business, and they run a first and second-hand mercantile establishment. They are constantly in demand also to furnish music for entertainment for whites and colored, as they keep an orchestra of eight persons constantly on hand. Maizie Brooks (Mrs. Ed Mallory), has permanent engagement with the leading (white) theater in Jacksonville.

Sources: Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theatre People (1816-1960) by Bernard L. Peterson; The Freeman Newspaper (August 1909)