Brigade de Shoe Blacks

Following up on Joel Hooks' earlier photo and comment, here's an E. & H.T. Anthony stereoview (from my collection) entitled "The Brigade de Shoe Black, City Hall Park." This famous image was made in New York City around 1860 and shows, not just the young shoe blacks, but also a wall of playbills for Wood's Minstrels, Tom Thumb, and other popular performers of the time.