Chapter XVI: Introduction (16)

A few seasons ago during the Summer months he appeared in New York on the New Amsterdam Roof in white-face as Texas Dan; subsequently as Dandy Dan on another roof; he scored a success on each roof with each “Dan.”

Mr. Leonard’s prominence is due to the fact that he sings a song different from any other living performer; a sort of a crooning lullaby, that goes direct to the hearts of his audience; and the ladies say he dances divinely.

Certain it is that this undoubtedly clever artist possesses that mysterious, indefinable attribute what we call magnetism, and possesses it to a large degree.

Late in July, 1909, he headed Eddie Leonard’s Minstrels; also early in August--same year.

Mr. Leonard, also in 1909, headed for the matrimonial altar; Miss Mabel Russell, daughter of the late W. J. Russell, of the old team of Le Clair and Russell, was his happy choice.

Eddie Leonard was born in Richmond, Va., October 18, 1875.

FRANK MORRELL, the “California Boy,” made his first appearance as a boy soprano with Cleveland’s Minstrels in 1890 at Los Angeles, Cal.; this was followed by an engagement with Sells Bros. Circus, with whom he went to Australia.

Returning to his native heath he next appeared at the Bella Union Theatre in San Francisco, subsequently playing, an engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels in the same municipality; the latter being the high-brow term for the word city.

Later, Mr. Morrell appeared with success with several burlesque and farcical attractions, and at various times was of the vaudeville teams of Morrell and Evans, and Morrell and Deely.

After a five-year tour of England and Africa, he returned to the United States, and in 1906 formed one of the original members of “That Quartette,” and continued with them until 1908, when, Cohan and Harris seeking for the best vocal talent obtainable, cabled to Mr. Morrell, who was in England, an offer that he just simply couldn’t refuse. His success with this organization is a matter of theatrical history.

In 1909 this clever young man made one of the most astonishing moves ever recorded; it was no more nor no less than making the jump from ballad singer to singing comedian, doing a black-face monologue that has given him already an eminent position in his new field of endeavor.

Frank Morrell was born in San Diego, Cal., October 10, 1875.

DANA H. CLAUDIUS, the well-known young banjoist, is now of the team of Claudius and Scarlet, but it was not always thus, for away back in the days of 1900, and until the month of February, 1902, Claudius and one Edmond Gilmore Corbin were members of the Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels, doing their classic act in black-face; after the last named date they worked in white-face. See James H. Decker for particulars.

CHARLEY FOX

CHARLEY HOWARD

CHARLEY PETTENGILL

CHARLEY REYNOLDS

CHARLEY SUTTON

CHARLEY REED

THEY WERE THE “CHEERFUL CHARLEYS” OF MINSTRELSY.]

Dana H. Claudius was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., June 1, 1875; and has been “hopping” ever since.

“MINSTREL” BILLY CLARK (Wm. E. Clark) began his professional career in a theatre, and has been around theatres ever since; and this is how it happened.

He entered his thirteenth year and the Powers’ Opera House in his home city at the same time, at the latter place he was usher; he ushered so well that he was promoted--he became scenic artist at the Grand--in Grand Rapids; this is not a joke.

At eighteen he made his first appearance in black-face with a local minstrel show; subsequently he played character parts, and did a monologue in white-face.

His first minstrel show was the Crawford Bros.; in 1895 he joined the Hi Henry Minstrels and continued with them for five years; then came Billy Clark’s Minstrels, followed by the season of 1902-03 with Wm. H. West’s (Ricaby’s) Minstrels.

In 1903 he made his initial bow with Al. G. Field’s Minstrels, remaining until 1905, when he became a vaudevillian for two years; he rejoined Field’s in 1907 and remained two years.

“Minstrel” Billy Clark was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., March 15, 1875.

TRIXIE FRIGANZA, the popular young _comedienne_, celebrated the author’s birthday August 24, 1908, by blacking up and doing an end with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels at the New York Theatre in New York City; she sang “I’m Glad I’m Married”--mind you, she only sang it.

BEVERLY SITGREAVES showed her versatility at the New Theatre, New York, just previous to the new year in a new character which everyone knew would be a clever portrayal; and it was.

She played the negro “mammy” in “The Nigger,” December 6, 1909.

HARRY A. ELLIS (Ralph A. Grande), who was one of the singing duo of Ellis and McKenna, also a member of “The Quartette,” made his first professional appearance at Rahway, N. J., March 12, 1900, with the Heywood Comedy Company, in the play of “Mamma’s Pet.” It is the author’s impression that Mr. Ellis played the title role. “Mamma’s Pet” never had a metropolitan run; in fact, no run at all--but let bygones be bygones.

April 28, same year, he joined Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels at their inaugural performance under canvas; this was at Newport News, Va., and Mr. Ellis sang “The Blue and the Gray,” and what’s better sang it so good that he was engaged for the regular season of the company a few months later, being the only vocalist of the “tenters” so honored. The tent season lasted about seven weeks.

He continued with Primrose and Dockstader’s until the dissolution of that company in 1903; the same year he became a member of Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, and remained four years. Eight years of minstrelsy in black-face. Mr. Ellis has a robust tenor voice of high quality. He is again with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, 1910.

Harry A. Ellis was born at Potenza, Italy, February 20, 1876.

HERMAN MARION (Etzer) joined Billy Pearl, doing a black-face act in Lowell, Mass., in April, 1899; and subsequently appeared with La Pearl’s Circus; Vogel and Deming’s Minstrels; Primrose and Dockstader’s; Gus. Sun’s; Haverly’s (Nankeville’s), and Washburn’s Minstrels.

He continued with Pearl until the latter’s death; subsequently joining Geo. Cunningham, one of the original “Brutal Brothers,” and as Cunningham and Marion have met with success in a white-face acrobatic act.

Herman Marion was born in Paterson, N. J., December 17, 1876.

CECIL SPOONER.--This dainty, effervescent and charming bit of femininity, who has won enviable honors as America’s leading soubrette, and whose popularity in Brooklyn, N. Y., and other places, including Centreville, Iowa, seems to know no bounds, gave a delightful performance of Topsy in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” at the Bijou Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., commencing April 9, 1906.

JIMMY DEVLIN entered the minstrel profession as a boy, and few were better esteemed.

He was a clever dancer, but was best known for his baton swinging.

We worked with Johnny Whalen for a time, and subsequently with Doc. Quigley.

He was associated with Primrose and West’s; Al. G. Field’s and Wm. H. West’s Minstrels.

Jimmy Devlin died at Pittsfield, Mass., July 31, 1901; age 24 years.

EMIL SUBERS, the “Georgia Sunflower,” whose rich Southern dialect has delighted thousands, began life as a ballad singer in an amateur minstrel show in Macon, Ga., in 1897, after which for three seasons he was a member of the well-known repertoire company of Peruchini-Beldini.

A couple of weeks with Harry Ward’s Minstrels in 1900, and then he joined Al. G. Field’s Company same year. In 1902 he became a member of Quinlan and Wall’s Minstrels, remaining two seasons.

On Christmas Day, 1904, he joined Geo. Primrose’s Minstrels in Springfield, Mass., and continued with them until 1907.

Mr. Subers subsequently entered vaudeville, and in 1909 formed an alliance with those clever black-face entertainers, Coakley and McBride.

Emil Subers was born in Sparta, Ga., January 7, 1877.

ARTIE HALL, in private life Mrs. Robert Fulgora, gives one of the most faithful portrayals of the Tennessee and Georgia negro ever seen on the vaudeville stage. Commencing March 18, 1901, Miss Hall gave a series of splendid performances of Topsy in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” at the Academy of Music in New York City.

* * * * *

JAMES GORMAN, one of the most prolific producers in the annals of minstrelsy, was the first to write a burlesque on the “Mikado” when that opera had such a vogue here many years ago. Mr. Gorman showed it with Haverly’s Minstrels in San Francisco in 1885. “The Princess of Madagascar,” one of the most pretentious offerings ever shown with a black-face organization, also emanated from the fertile brain of Mr. Gorman; and there were others.

* * * * *

JOSEPH GORTON, Jr., was the son of the prominent manager of that name, and a musician and composer of extraordinary ability; no less than three operas, as well as several songs, have come from his prolific pen.

He had been several years with Gorton’s Minstrels, and for about ten seasons he did a musical act with Sam Lee, as Gorton and Lee.

Jos. Gorton, Jr., was born in Friendship, N. Y., May 30, 1877; he died there December 10, 1908.

HARRY W. SMITH, the pleasing young bass vocalist and interlocutor, has a brief, but none the less meritorious professional career.

It began in 1904, doing concert work; subsequently he was with Richard Carle’s and other musical extravaganzas. July 31, 1909, he became a member of Eddie Leonard’s Minstrels at their initial performance in Union Hill, N. J. In the Summer of 1910 Mr. Smith and Fred P. Russell launched Russell and Smith’s Tabloid Minstrels on the vaudeville sea, Mr. Smith acting as interlocutor, the duties of which he performs admirably.

Harry W. Smith was born in Albia, Ia., November 3, 1878.

GEO. M. COHAN. It will not surprise many to know that this famous young author-actor-manager-producer, etc., ever appeared in black-face; the year is said to be 1891, when he played Banty Bob in his father’s production of “The Molly Maguires”; nor must it be overlooked that he was co-proprietor and part producer of Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels, the first performance of which was at the Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City, N. J., July 27, 1908.

George M. Cohan was born in Providence, R. I., July 4, 1878.

STANLEY FORDE, whose ponderous bass voice has been heard to such excellent advantage in the “Geisha”; the “Talk of New York”; “The Man Who Owns Broadway,” and other popular successes, joined Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels at the Victoria Theatre, New York City, about March 1, 1902; singing a ballad in black-face. He finished the season with that organization, and the following one he toured with George Primrose’s Minstrels. Then Mr. Forde said, “Never Again”; but that’s what they all say.

Mr. Forde was born at Buffalo, N. Y., February 9, 1878.

FRANK LEIGHTON began his career as a black-face performer with a medicine show, June 1, 1897, at London, O.; joined Burt Sheppard’s Minstrels March 1, 1898, remaining until company disbanded at Waterloo, Wis., April 10, same year. With this company he formed a partnership with Ed. Elliott, doing a talking and dancing act; the partnership was dissolved January 15, 1899; Mr. Leighton shortly after became a member of the Vogel and Deming Minstrels, joining his brother Bert, with whom he has since been associated.

Frank Leighton was born April 14, 1880, near Cowden, Ill.

LUKE SCHOOLCRAFT

GEO. H. COES

(SCHOOLCRAFT & COES.)

JAS. M. TIERNEY

TIM. CRONIN

(TIERNEY & CRONIN.)

HARRY HOGAN

GUS. HOGAN

(HOGAN BROS.)]

BERT LEIGHTON joined Barlow Bros. Minstrels (Ward, Coburn and Baldwin, owners), August 21, 1899, doing a black-face singing and dancing act with Walter Wilson, closing June 2, 1900. Leighton and Wilson opened with Vogel and Deming’s Minstrels, August 27, 1900; this partnership was dissolved later in the season owing to the ill health of Mr. Wilson. Mr. Leighton was joined by his brother Frank at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., December 8, 1900.

Bert Leighton was born in Altamont, Ill., December 29, 1878.

LEIGHTON and LEIGHTON’s first appearance as a team was at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., December 8, 1900, remaining the season. Other engagements were Vogel’s Minstrels; Pan-American Minstrels. September 15, 1902, they made their first appearance in white-face at the Howard in Boston. April, 1903, they joined Quinlan and Wall’s Minstrels. Considerable time was given to vaudeville before they made their appearance with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, July 23, 1904, ending May 8, 1905. July 14, 1905, they began their second season with this company, terminating their engagement November 17, same year, since which time they have been playing the best houses in vaudeville; their present offering “A One Night Stand in Minstrelsy” is a gem of its kind.

The Messrs. Leighton in addition to being exceptionally clever dancers, are authors of several songs that are recognized successes, among them are--“There’s A Dark Man Coming With A Bundle”; “Eb’ry Dollar Carries Trubbles Ob Its Own”; “The Message of the Old Church Bell”; “Ain’t Dat A Shame”; “Casey Jones” and others.

JOE LEIGHTON (Le Strange), better known as “Rags,” made his first appearance with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, at Harrisburg, Pa., October 31, 1904, remaining until November 23, 1906; shortly after this he joined the Leighton Brothers, the alliance being known as the Three Leightons: he has been with them ever since, except for a brief period in the early part of the season of 1908, when he was with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels.

Mr. Leighton is an eccentric dancer of uncommon ability.

Joe Leighton was born in New York City, October 7, 1887.

BILLY BEARD. This really clever performer who styles himself “The Party from the South,” actually is from that interesting part of the country which has produced so many capable burnt-corkers.

His story is best told in his own language, and here it is--“Trouped with Hypnotists, Magicians and sundry other “one night organizations” including a season in repertoire at 10-20 and 30; the above includes several journeys on foot and on top of box-cars.”

Mr. Beard has an engaging personality which brought him engagements with Ricaby’s “West’s” Minstrels; Nankeville’s “Haverly’s” Minstrels, George Primrose’s Minstrels and Ted Faust’s Minstrels. As a monologist and comedian he ranks with the best performers of his time, which began in 1902; at present he is in vaudeville.

Billy Beard was born in Columbia, S. C., September 1, 1879.

WILL PHILBRICK made his first and only appearance in minstrelsy as a member of Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels at the Victoria Theatre, New York City, in the Spring of 1902; he sat on the end, sang “The Fortune Telling Man”; did “some” dance and made every one clap their hands awfully loud.

But I’m a trifle ahead of my story. His first appearance was selling peanuts in Barnum’s Circus in 1893; he came near being arrested for running a shell game. After that he became a real actor with “A Trip to Chinatown”; in this company he first appeared in black-face, doing a specialty with Eleanor Falk.

Mr. Philbrick played in other Hoyt productions, and “starred” for five years in “The Beauty Doctor.”

Likewise was he prominently identified with “Panhandle Pete”; Grace Cameron Opera Company, and “Foxy Grandpa.”

In vaudeville he was of the team of Philbrick and Cardownie, also with Joe. Hart’s “Bathing Girls.”

Will Philbrick was born in Boston, Mass., October 16, 1879.

JOHNNY DOVE excels as a dancer, but whatever he does he does well; now for the rest.

Mr. Dove’s first stage appearance was with the original Bootblack Quartette, in 1896; the following year with James Corrigan he did a black-face act, which qualified him to become a member of Hi Henry’s Minstrels, where he remained six years. Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels was the next big show, and though Mr. Dove was surrounded by a galaxy of stars, his own light was none the less resplendent. His next engagement was a white-face affair with the Imperial Burlesquers, where he met with unqualified success; his own act “The Dancing Burglar”; it has a story, and here it is----