author
Al. G. (Alfred Griffith) Field
1848–1921
A leading figure in 19th- and early 20th-century American minstrelsy, Al G. Field built a celebrated touring show and later recorded his career in the memoir Watch Yourself Go By. His story offers a vivid look at the spectacle, ambition, and contradictions of American popular entertainment.
1 Audiobook
Watch yourself go by
by Al. G. (Alfred Griffith) Field
About the author
Born near Leesburg, Virginia, on November 7, 1848—or possibly in 1850—Al G. Field was the stage name of Alfred Griffin Hatfield, also recorded as Alfred Griffith Hatfield or Alfred Griffith Field. He began performing with the Sells Brothers Circus in 1875 and helped organize the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1884.
In 1886, he launched his own namesake minstrel company, which became one of the better-known touring productions of its era. He later moved to a farm, where he bred animals, while continuing to oversee his entertainment interests. His autobiography, Watch Yourself Go By, was published in 1912.
Field died in Columbus, Ohio, on April 3, 1921, and was buried at Green Lawn Cemetery. His will directed that his minstrel show continue under the management of his brother Joseph E. Hatfield and relative Edward Conard.