Chapter V: Introduction (5)

May 26, 1860, James Budworth, Frank Budworth (his son, who afterwards developed into one of the best Chinese impersonators) and his brother, W. S. Budworth, appeared with Wood’s Minstrels, at the same time.

One year prior to this, he was the principal comedian with George Christy’s Minstrels in New York, Christy had been enjoined from appearing.

In 1862 he was with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels; September, 1864, found him with Hooley’s, in Brooklyn, N. Y.

Monday, August 27, 1866, with his brother William, he opened the 5th Avenue Theatre (until recently, when it was demolished, known as the Madison Square Theatre), New York City; they remained several months.

Mr. Budworth was with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels in the Summer of 1869, and in September, 1872, he became a member of Frank Moran’s Minstrels in Philadelphia; he was likewise with several of the other prominent companies of his time. He also played the title role in “Pomp” and star roles in other plays.

Mr. Budworth was best known for his imitations of actors, in which he had no peer.

As a banjoist he gained renown, and played with equal proficiency the Japanese and Chinese fiddle.

As a Dutch comedian he was great; his John Schmidt in “The Persecuted Dutchman” at the Park Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1865, received lavish praise from press and public.

James Budworth was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1831; he died in New York City, March 15, 1875.

DICK BERTHELON, an old-time black-face performer, appeared mostly in variety houses for many years; he was good in the old-time “nigger” acts, and was proficient as a manipulator of the bones and tambourine.

He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 25, 1891; age 60 years.

BILLY BOYD was a capable minstrel performer of the old school; he was with Hunt and Company’s Minstrels in 1855, and was very well-known in Philadelphia, where he was born in 1831; he died in New York, April 21, 1869.

R. M. CARROLL, or “Dick” as he is better known, or “Master Marks” as he was originally known to the profession, probably has the greatest number of years of theatrical service of any one in minstrelsy.

Mr. Carroll is best remembered as a dancer, and he was one of the world’s greatest; but in his early career he was a splendid wench performer; he was the third one to do “Lucy Long”; a great feature of old-time minstrelsy.

Mr. Carroll’s first public appearance was at Tinkham Hall on Grand Street, New York City; the occasion was the benefit of an elderly Irish lady, long since departed--this was in 1837. For many years he danced at balls and parties. About 1845 he first appeared professionally at the Bowery Amphitheatre, New York City, in a circus, and shortly after this at the Bowery Theatre he blacked up for the first time with “Daddy” Rice, playing in “Bone Squash.”

The year following he played his initial minstrel engagement with Charley White’s Company, also in New York; he remained with White several seasons.

In 1854 he was with Buckley’s Serenaders in New York; in 1858 with Sniffen’s Campbell’s Minstrels, likewise in the metropolis.

February 14, 1859, he made his first appearance as a member of Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge’s Minstrels in Boston, where he became a great favorite, remaining about three years.

In his long career Mr. Carroll played with many prominent minstrel organizations, notably Kelly and Leon’s; at Hooley’s, at the latter’s theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y., with little Dick, his son, he began an engagement there March 14, 1870.

Subsequently with Dick, Jr., and Dick’s brothers, Edwin and Bennie, they played for several years in the principal variety theatres of the country.

JOHN QUEEN

MRS. ARTHUR L. GUY
In Select Company

JAS. CUMMINGS

JOHN PEASLEY

JAS.--SANFORD AND WILSON--CHAS.
(_Portraits Reversed._)

WM. HENRY RICE]

In September, 1878, he opened Carroll’s Comique, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and several weeks later, with his sons, began an engagement with Cotton and Wagner’s Minstrels. It may be interesting to know that Mr. Carroll, and the late J. K. (Fritz) Emmett, had a minstrel show once; Carroll and Emmett’s Minstrels opened at De Bar’s Opera House, St. Louis, Mo., June 1, 1868.

R. M. Carroll and John Queen (afterwards Queen and West), were the first to do a double clog dance, about 1862. Mr. Carroll likewise originated the famous song “Me Father Sold Charcoal.”

His sons, Bennie and Edwin, died in New York City, September 18, 1877, and at Denver, Colo., March 5, 1905, respectively.

Mr. Carroll played the variety houses for several years with his well known dancing specialty “Mortar and Bricks.”

R. M. Carroll was born in New York City April 10, 1832.

W. L. HOBBS, the well known minstrel “leader” was associated with Frank Moran’s Minstrels in Philadelphia in 1872; he was also with Carncross and Dixey’s Company in the same city, and for several seasons was connected with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York.

W. L. Hobbs died in Philadelphia, July 12, 1874; age 45 years.

BOB HALL, who had been connected with many minstrel companies during his long career, and who had also been with Harrigan and Hart, died in Baltimore, Md., June 29, 1882; age 50 years.

ANDREW WYATT, an old-time minstrel leader, who was with Sanford’s Minstrels in Philadelphia as early as 1856, and for eight years prior to his death with Whitmore and Clark’s Minstrels, died in Salem, Mass., August 5, 1874; age 41 years.

A. M. HERNANDEZ was famous as a pantomimist and acrobat; but it was as a guitarist and vocalist he was best known; he was capable of playing practically every known instrument.

In 1852 he was with Hayworth and Horton’s variety show doing a knife throwing act. The following year he was with Parrow’s Minstrels and subsequently with Matt. Peel’s and Sniffen’s Campbell’s Minstrels.

Mr. Hernandez was born in Havana, Cuba; he died in Montevideo, Uruguay, S. A., October 25, 1874.

J. B. STUDLEY, the famous old legitimate actor, played, “Pomp, or Cudijos Cave” in New York, April 11, 1864, and in the same city played Uncle Tom, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, October 20, 1879.

Mr. Studley was born in Boston, Mass., October 8, 1832; he died in New York, August 6, 1910.

JOHN S. COX, the old-time minstrel leader of Simmons and Slocum’s in Philadelphia, and other well known companies, died in August, 1902; age 70 years.

JOHN P. SMITH, familiarly known as “Cully” Smith, began his professional career as a member of old Joe Sweeney’s Company in 1845; he was then Master Smith.

In 1850 he was with the “Old Dominion” Minstrels, playing the bones, under the name of “John P. Weston”; subsequently he was with Parrow’s Minstrels, and Smith and Hernandez Minstrels. Later he was identified with the Buckley’s, and George Christy’s Minstrels in an executive capacity, and of recent years was associated in a like manner with several prominent legitimate attractions.

John P. Smith was born in Richmond, Va., August 3, 1832; he died in New York City, November 12, 1897.

* * * * *

SWAYNE BUCKLEY, ROLIN HOWARD, EDWIN HOLMES, BILLY HART and G. W. H. GRIFFIN, all died within thirty days in 1879.

* * * * *

MRS. J. T. HUNTLEY was the grand-daughter of the late Colonel Jacob Deems, a prominent figure of old Baltimore.

She became the wife of the famous Matt. Peel just one year before the latter’s death; subsequently she married J. T. Huntley, another old-time minstrel.

After Matt. Peel’s demise, Mrs. Peel, a few months later re-organized the company, and as Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels, she conducted its affairs successfully for several seasons.

As Mrs. Peel she also had the additional distinction of being the first woman that ever sold tickets for a minstrel show; this was more than fifty years ago, when the companies played in halls, and carried their own treasurers.

Mrs. Huntley is living, active, and is happy in the thought that she is earning her own livelihood.

Mrs. J. T. Huntley was born in Baltimore, Md., August 4, 1832.

BOB HART (James M. Sutherland) famous as a stump speaker, made his professional debut at “444” Broadway, New York, in 1859; prior to this he had been a Methodist minister.

In 1863 with Lew Simmons he was proprietor of Hart and Simmons’ Minstrels; he was also prominently identified with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York; Bryant’s, in the same city; Emerson and Manning’s in Chicago, and subsequently, in 1871, with Manning’s Minstrels, also in Chicago.

His last appearance in minstrelsy was with Dan Bryant’s company in 1875. In 1878 he again took up evangelical work and continued at it until his death.

Bob Hart was born in New York State, February 9, 1832; he died (suicide) in New York City, April 6, 1888.

JOHN SIVORI (Wheeler) who was one of the original Bryant’s Minstrels of February 23, 1857, in New York City, and was for several years associated with them; gave up the profession many years ago, and is said to have become a doctor or dentist.

He was reported dead about ten years back.

JOHN B. DONNIKER was one of the oldest as well as the best “leaders” in minstrelsy.

He was associated with many of the famous organizations, including some of his own. In 1854 he was “leader” with Ordway’s Aeolians in Boston; subsequently he went to California, and while there was one of the proprietors of Birch (Billy) and Donniker’s Minstrels, 1859.

In 1861 he was with “Eugene” and Unsworth, proprietor of Unsworth’s Minstrels. In 1862 he had a half interest in Arlington (Billy) and Donniker’s Minstrels; and in 1865 he was associated with Burgess (“Cool”), Prendergast (Tom), Hughes (Archie) and Donniker’s Minstrels.

He was with Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge, in Boston, and with Bryant’s, and Wood and Christy’s in New York; likewise for several seasons was he intermittently with the famous San Francisco Minstrels, also in New York.

In the late 70’s he was engaged as leader at the London Theatre, New York City, remaining a few seasons.

Of late years, having lost the use of his arm, he took pupils, giving lessons on the violin.

John B. Donniker died at Penn Yan, N. Y., July 17, 1902; age 69 years.

TONY PASTOR (Antonio Pastorius), during his long career as manager in New York City, occupied three different theatres, each of which had previously been used by a permanent minstrel company.

Mr. Pastor’s early days, about 1846-47, were spent as a minstrel.

Tony Pastor was born in New York, May 28, 1832; he died at Elmhurst, L. I., N. Y., August 26, 1908.

“HANK” (Azro) WHITE, a famous old-time minstrel, had been in the profession about forty years; twenty-five of which were spent with Whitmore and Clark’s Minstrels.

He died in Windsor, Vt., February 14, 1900; age 68 years.

WALTER BIRCH (Smith), was a well-known tenor vocalist with Christy’s Minstrels in 1862 and 1865; in 1863 he was with Horn and Newcomb’s Minstrels. He was likewise associated with several operatic companies.

He died in Jersey City, N. J., January 29, 1880; age 47 years.

JOHNNY PELL (Gavin), a prominent young comedian, spent the best part of his professional career in Boston. His first appearance was with Charley White’s company in New York in the early 50’s.

In 1854 he went to Boston, and became a member of Ordway’s Aeolians, remaining until 1857, when in conjunction with Lon and Billy Morris and J. T. Huntley, they organized a company bearing their names; about two years later it was known as Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge’s Minstrels, and as such continued until the demise of Mr. Pell.

Two days prior to his death, he married Miss Moore, of Boston.

Johnny Pell died in Boston, Mass., January 24, 1866; age 33 years. He was born in New York.

GEO. M. CLARK entered the field of minstrelsy about 1860; subsequently with his partner he organized Whitmore and Clark’s Minstrels, and traveled successfully for many years.

He was born in 1833, and died in Felchville, Vt., June 6, 1885.

BYRON CHRISTY

HUGHEY DOUGHERTY

JAMES UNSWORTH

HARRY PELL

FRANK MORAN

BOB. HART

BILLY RICHARDSON

FRANK BELL

LEW BENEDICT

ORATORS OF THE OLD DAYS.]

CHARLES PETRIE was one of the old time banjoists, and one of the first to open a variety theatre in Chicago.

He was associated with the minstrel companies of Arlington, Kelly, Leon and Donniker, Lew Benedict’s and others.

He was born in Lockport, N. Y., in 1833; he died in Dallas, Texas, November 12, 1881.

J. E. GREEN was known as “Mocking Bird Green,” from the fact that he was so long identified with singing of the song of that name, and whistling imitations of same. He entered the profession about 1856, as a member of the minstrel firm of Shorey, Carle, Duprez and Green; subsequently it became Duprez and Green’s Minstrels, and continued until 1865 under that trade-mark, when he sold his interest to Lew Benedict. He subsequently had several companies of his own and was associated in another with “Hop Light Loo” Charley Gardner.

At the time of his death he was musical director with Archie White’s “Duprez and Benedict’s” Minstrels.

J. E. Green was born in Portsmouth, N. H., April 9, 1833; he died in New York, November 30, 1886.

BILLY WRAY, the father of Mrs. John Wild, was one of the most versatile of performers; as an end man and stump speaker he excelled; he was likewise a clever magician.

With his wife (Louise Payne) and daughter, Ada, already referred to, he traveled in 1862, giving an entire performance by themselves.

Billy Wray was born in New York, July 25, 1833; he was lost in the wreck of the Steamer “Evening Star” between New York and New Orleans, October 3, 1866.

E. FREEMAN DIXEY--his was a household word in Philadelphia, where practically his whole professional career, and the major portion of his life was spent.

His first engagement was in Boston, at the age of eighteen; subsequently he went to Philadelphia, and opened there at Cartee’s Lyceum, the present site of the 11th Street Opera House, with the Julien Serenaders, December 4, 1854.

On April 23, 1855, the house was opened as Sanford’s Opera House, by Sam Sanford, and Mr. Dixey was a member of the company, and continued with Sanford until the latter drew away from its management, April 14, 1862, when Mr. Dixey and Mr. Carncross opened it under the name of Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels; Robert Simpson was the financial man. The firm of Carncross and Dixey continued until June 17, 1871; Mr. Carncross retiring on that date.

October 2, 1871, Mr. Dixey in conjunction with Frank Moran opened the house as Moran and Dixey’s Minstrels. The second season commenced August 26, 1872, and on September 24, Mr. Dixey retired from the firm. September 1, 1873, again saw Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels installed; they continued until March 16, 1878; after a supplemental tour that terminated May 11, 1878, Mr. Dixey retired to private life.

Mr. Dixey was one of minstrelsy’s greatest bone players, and in his earlier days he excelled in the delineation of wench characters.

He was a student of the negro, as well as a student in private life; a gifted, intellectual, cultured gentleman was Edward Freeman Dixey.

E. Freeman Dixey was born in Marblehead, Mass., July 29, 1833; he died in Philadelphia, March 2, 1904.

MAX IRWIN was a well-known comedian, stump orator and general performer.

In 1858 and 1859 he was a member of Matt. Peel’s Minstrels.

In the latter year he also played variety engagements with “Young America” (E. Richardson). May 16, 1859, he married Gussie Lamoreux, the well-known dancer, in Philadelphia.

Mr. Irwin who was at one time known as P. Maxey, was born in Cincinnati, O.; he died in Adelaide, Aus., August 9, 1864; age 33 years.

ADD. WEAVER (Addison Weaver), was one of the real old-time minstrel comedians.

It is said he entered the profession in 1845. In 1858 he was with the Metropolitan Minstrels; in 1861 with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels, and in 1863, in conjunction with Charley Morris, was proprietor of the Morris Minstrels. In the 60’s, and for several years, he did sketches with Master Barney; subsequently he had many pupils who were known as Master Add. Weaver; one of these was Fred Hallen.

In the fall of 1876 he succeeded Lew Dockstader in the management of the Adelphi, formerly Newton’s Varieties, in Hartford, Conn.

Add. Weaver was a good end man, and was noted for his stump speeches. The writer’s last recollection of the veteran minstrel was with “The House With Green Blinds,” at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, about September, 1893; he appeared in the initial production in a black-face part, but only played one or two performances, when he was succeeded by the author, Scott Marble.

On July 22, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Abigail F. Harris, in New York City.

Add. Weaver was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, about 1833; he died in Staten Island, N. Y., February 2, 1903.

JOHNNY DE ANGELIS was one of the early black-face performers in California. He was well-known as a good general comedian in San Francisco, where he played many years.

He was the father of Jeff DeAngelis, the present light opera star.

Johnny De Angelis was born in Philadelphia, about 1833; he died in San Francisco, Cal., December 25, 1877.

DAN BRYANT (Daniel Webster O’Brien). The profound esteem in which this black-face comedian was held can be told in no better way than in citing the fact that within three weeks of the date of his death, the entire theatrical profession in New York City gave no less than eleven testimonial benefits in as many different theatres in the Metropolis on the afternoon of April 29, 1875; for Dan Bryant’s hand was ever in his pocket for those less fortunate than himself, and no one ever appealed to him in vain; he was a lovely character, was Dan Bryant--and yet his grave remains unmarked; so it is said.

His first appearance was in New York City in 1845 at Vauxhall Garden, at his brother Jerry’s benefit; he was with various companies until 1848, when he joined Losee’s Minstrels; subsequently he was with the Sable Harmonists, and in 1850 he joined Charley White’s company in New York, remaining a year.

Next he appeared with Wood and Fellowe’s Minstrels in New York, and when Mr. Fellowe withdrew, he continued with Henry Wood’s Minstrels, same city; he was with them as late as July, 1852.

Later he joined Campbell’s Minstrels, and in the Summer of 1856, he managed Bryant’s “Campbell’s” Minstrels; in September, same year, he made a pronounced hit in Philadelphia, and on February 23, 1857, Bryant’s Minstrels gave their first performance in New York City, at Mechanic’s Hall; their last appearance there was June 2, 1866.

August 10, 1867, Dan Bryant and his Minstrels sailed for California; they played in San Francisco under the management of Tom Maguire; they remained away until May 18, 1868, when they opened at the Tammany Building (present Olympic Theatre), New York City; Bryant’s Minstrels next home was on 23rd Street, above 6th Avenue; they opened there November 23, 1870, and continued until Dan Bryant’s death.

While Dan Bryant’s name and fame will go down to posterity as a minstrel, yet he was recognized as a fine Irish comedian. At a benefit performance for William R. Floyd in New York, July 2, 1863, Mr. Bryant gave a performance of Handy Andy in the play of that name, the equal of which had not been seen in some time, and during the Summer seasons for several years played in various Irish dramas with success; in May, 1865, he sailed for Europe, and in Dublin, Ireland, and Liverpool, England, he gave several performances of Celtic characters.

Although a good general performer, Dan Bryant’s chief fame rests in his “Essence of Old Virginny” dance; it is not claimed that he originated it, but it is universally conceded that he excelled all others in it’s execution; he likewise gained prominence in the famous “Shoo Fly” song and dance with Dave Reed.

It has been shown that Dan Bryant was an actor in _white-face_, but that he equally was an actor behind his mask of cork, I submit the following from _Harper’s Magazine_, written a few years before the lamented minstrel’s death. * * *

“Edwin Forrest was never weary of seeing Dan Bryant play the part of
the hungry negro in “Old Times, Rocks,” and the verdict of the great
player was that there was not a finer bit of tragic acting to be seen
in America at that time than Dan in this broadly funny bit. Who that
remembers the performance need be told how tears were constantly
checking laughter in this little scene of the black man’s suffering
through hunger, and how one’s sympathies were irresistibly wrung by
the pathos of the minstrel’s voice when, on being questioned as to
when he had eaten a square meal, he answered, humbly ‘I had a peanut
last week.’ It was side-splitting--it was heartbreaking.”

Mr. Bryant married Miss Ellen Fitzgibbons of St. Louis, Mo., in that city, July 29, 1860.

Dan Bryant was born in Troy, N. Y., May 9, 1833; he died in New York City, April 10, 1875.

BEN. COTTON

TOM. WATERS

BARRY MAXWELL

HARRY G. RICHMOND

CHAS. M. ERNEST

NEIL. ROGERS

STUDIES IN BLACK AND WHITE.]

JOHN HART, jolly “fat” John Hart, as he was universally known, first appeared professionally in 1854 as a member of Eisenbeice’s Minstrels; the company stranded in Syracuse, N. Y., and that was the end of Eisenbeice.

Some time later he was stock comedian at Trimble’s Varieties in Pittsburg, Pa.

His first New York appearance was at Josh Hart’s Comique in 1869. In 1871, Hart, Ryman and Barney’s Minstrels were organized.

Mr. Hart also was with Haverly; Kelly and Leon; Morris Bros., and other first-class minstrel companies.

In 1888 he was the original Hiram Pepper in the “Two Sisters” Company.

In September, 1887, he was one of the organizers of (Wm. Henry) Rice, Hart and (Add) Ryman’s Minstrels.

He toured with the “Two Johns” for three years.

John Hart was screamingly funny in the old-time nigger acts he used to do with Arthur Moreland at various times.

He also played an engagement with Augustin Daly in the play of the “Royal Middy.”

John Hart was born in Monongahela City, Pa., July 10, 1833; he died in New York City, June 4, 1904.

J. G. H. SHOREY was one of the early minstrel proprietors and comedians.

The first record of Mr. Shorey’s career as a black-face performer was in his father’s barn at the age of nine years; pins were the admission fee, and it is said that no one ever complained of being stuck. A few years later he joined a dramatic company, and later a circus; after that came Shorey’s Southern Minstrels.

In the middle 50’s he formed an alliance with Duprez, Carle and Green, playing for a few seasons under the firm name. In later years he was identified with several prominent organizations in an executive capacity, as well as playing the variety theatres.

Mr. Shorey is reputed to have been the proprietor of the first Dime Museum ever opened in Boston.

J. G. H. Shorey was born in Great Falls, N. H., April 10, 1833; he died in Lynn, Mass., May 23, 1886.

CHARLES F. SHATTUCK was one of the oldest and most noted of minstrel bassos. He was the author of the song, “One Hundred Fathoms Deep,” and had made many beautiful minstrel arrangements.

He had been associated with such well-known minstrel organizations as Newcomb’s; Buckley’s; Simmons and Slocum’s; Geo. Wilson’s and numerous others. Mr. Shattuck died in New York, November 29, 1905; age 69 years.

NED DAVIS was an old-time comedian; it was his company, known as the Olio Minstrels, that were the first to perform on the steamer “Banjo,” giving their first performance at Lawrenceburg, Miss., October, 1855. Mr. Davis traveled with his minstrel company for many years, also appearing with other companies at times, notably Campbell’s Minstrels in New York, with whom he opened July 6, 1863.

He died at Mott Haven (New York City) June 29, 1872; age 48 years.

EDWIN BOOTH, the great American tragedian, in 1850, at the court-house in his native town, gave an entertainment in which he blackened his face and sang negro songs, accompanied by the banjo and bones. This was one year after his dramatic debut in Boston.

Edwin Booth was born in Belair, Md., November 13, 1833; he died in New York City, June 7, 1893.

TOM LESLIE, once prominent as a bass singer with Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge’s Minstrels in Boston, was the father of Eddie and Joe Leslie; the former, well known as a mimetic comedian, and the latter long associated with Cohan and Harris’ attractions.

Mr. Leslie was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, December 29, 1833; he died in Boston, Mass., June 6, 1899.

CHARLEY LEWIS, an old-time comedian who was with William Christy’s Minstrels in 1860, and who married Miss O’Keefe, of Portage City, Wis., at Milwaukee, July 20, 1861; died at Portage Lake, Wis., November 28, 1864; age 31 years.

JOHN H. DULEY was a well-known comedian half a century ago; his “Old Bob Ridley” is said to have compared favorably with the best performances of that favorite old-time act.

He had been with Hooley and Campbell’s Minstrels in New York in 1861, and went to England with Rumsey and Newcomb’s Company that same year.

July 10, 1859, he married Mrs. Mattie Robinson, an actress.

John H. Duley was born in Philadelphia, Pa., 1834; he died in London, England, May 31, 1864.

FRANK HUSSEY was a well-known comedian and versatile performer.

His operations were chiefly confined to California and foreign countries.

His first appearance was with a minstrel company known as the “Sable Brothers,” in 1848. There is practically no country on the globe that Hussey has not appeared in.

He was born in Nantucket, Mass., October 26, 1834; he was last heard of as a member of Leslie’s Anglo-American Minstrels in Africa, July 30, 1883.

BILLY CHAMBERS, an old-time banjoist and comedian, was with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels, in 1865, and played his last engagement, about 1870, with Sam Sanford; he died in Philadelphia, September 7, 1879; age 45 years.

HARRY ROBINSON (Bishop), famous in minstrelsy as the “Man With the Silver Horns,” came to the United States about 1861, and subsequently appeared with George Wood’s Minstrels as a cornetist; later he was with Cal. Wagner’s Company.

About 1870 he organized Harry Robinson’s Minstrels, and toured for several seasons. He was an excellent musician, and was married three times.

Mr. Robinson was born in England; he died (suicide) at Bloomington, Ill., May 5, 1889; age 55 years.

CHARLES L. CHURCH was a prominent balladist of the 60’s and 70’s.

For many years he was actively associated with Sharpley’s, and Morris Bros. Minstrels.

A son of the same name is also a well-known vocalist.

He was born in England, and died in Cambridge, Mass., June 4, 1910; age 76 years.

JAMES WAMBOLD was a brother of Dave Wambold, and achieved prominence as a banjoist. His first appearance was in his native city with a local minstrel troupe in the early 50’s.

Subsequently he played on the “Floating Palace”; Backus’ Minstrels, and Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels, in 1861.

Mr. Wambold was an expert whistler and gave imitations of birds and animals, accompanied by the banjo. He played many engagements with circuses, and it was while with one of these in the Spring of 1875 that he received injuries that compelled his retirement from the profession.

James F. Wambold was born in Newark, N. J., March 4, 1834; he died there June 15, 1901.

JOHN L. CARNCROSS, famous for his long association at the old Eleventh Street Opera House in Philadelphia, was one of the greatest singers in minstrelsy; his voice, a pure tenor, is yet recalled by many of the old residents of the Quaker City. Originally he appeared at the various concert halls in his native city as “Billy” Warren.

On January 4, 1858, he made his first appearance with Sanford’s Minstrels at the latter’s theatre in Philadelphia. Mr. Carncross continued there until the Spring of 1860, when the season having closed, with Sam Sharpley he organized Carncross and Sharpley’s Minstrels in the same city at the Continental Theatre, which was on the present site of the Casino Theatre, and gave their first performance August 22, 1860; after playing a few weeks they left there and reappeared October 1.

April 14, 1862, Mr. Carncross and E. F. Dixey opened there under the firm name of Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels, and continued as such until April 18, 1871, when the regular season closed; this was followed by a supplemental tour, which terminated on June 17, on which date Mr. Carncross retired from the firm, and entered the mercantile business.

Mr. Dixey subsequently also retired from the company, but on September 1, 1873, Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels again opened.

Dixey retired permanently in 1878, and Mr. Carncross continued there until January 25, 1896, as Carncross’ Minstrels, on which date he finally retired to private life at his residence in the city of his birth.

John L. Carncross was born in Philadelphia, about 1834.

R. JEAN BUCKLEY (Alexander W. Moody), one of the good old-timers, made his first appearance at the old Marshall Theatre, Richmond, Va., in October, 1847, as a ballad singer. The following year he joined Joe Sweeney’s Minstrels, and at that time he was not only the youngest living banjo player, but one of the very few living players.

Mr. Buckley was many years stage manager at the Odeon Theatre, Baltimore, Md., and for twenty-two years he was associated with Tim Morris, though he also worked with some of the best comedians in the country.

J. W. RAYNOR

JERRY BRYANT

CAMPBELL’S MINSTRELS (1848)

The original company was organized in June, 1847. Jerry Bryant and J. W. Raynor were two of the original company. The other photos represent minstrel scenes of that day.]

While Mr. Buckley was probably best known in minstrelsy, he also traveled extensively with several prominent dramatic and circus organizations. He is a skilled general musician, but was well known for his performances on the banjo and guitar; as an interlocutor and “straight” man, he ranked high.

Mr. Buckley retired from active theatricals in 1907, after sixty years of active theatrical life; truly a remarkable record.

R. Jean Buckley was born in Williamsburg, Va., November 24, 1834.

BILLY CARTER was not the father of the banjo, but he adopted it at an early age, and has had it in his possession ever since.

Mr. Carter first appeared in New Orleans as a performer, in the early 60’s; he did black and white-face business at three dollars per evening, which wasn’t bad for a raw amateur. In 1865 your Uncle Bill sat in the middle and played the banjo with the Louisiana Serenaders; this was his first minstrel troupe, and “Codfish Aristocracy” was the soul-inspiring ballad that stirred his auditors.

After the affair in which he sang about the “Finny 400,” he joined the Great Western Opera Bouffe Company; this sounded good enough for a four years engagement, but the truth of the matter is, it flopped in Lynchburg, Va., in _nearly_ four years less than that time; subsequently Mr. Carter and dear departed Luke Schoolcraft (who was a member of the company) arrived in Philadelphia in somewhat distressed financial circumstances; fortunately our banjo comique had a relative in the Quaker City; an _uncle_, I believe, and hunting him up, he took a violin and showed it to him. * * * With this 85 cents they arrived in New York (Mr. Great Western had considerately purchased transportation to the metropolis), and shortly after, he secured an engagement at Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, where he met with instant success.

His next important minstrel engagement was with Simmons and Slocum in Philadelphia, where he opened February 16, 1874. In 1878 he joined Haverly’s Minstrels in Chicago; two years later he engaged with the latter’s Mastodons for the London invasion, but William was a bad sailor, and at the last minute renigged. Subsequently he appeared with Thatcher, Primrose and West’s and with Barlow, Wilson & Company’s Minstrels.

Mr. Carter was several years with Harrigan and Hart’s Company in New York; with this company he originated the famous “Skidmore Guards,” that had such a vogue for a long time. He has played all the principal _variety_ houses, and most of the prominent vaudeville theatres. Will somebody please notice this nice distinction?

Billy Carter was born at Parish St. Bernard, La., December 16, 1834.

FRED ABBOTT, a well-known and clever female impersonator, associated for several seasons with Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, Chicago, and the road tours; died in Boston, Mass., May 28, 1871; age 37 years.

TIM. MORRIS, an old-time performer who achieved recognition for his delineation of the plantation “darky,” was with many minstrel troupes prior to his death in Providence, R. I., March 6, 1880. He was about 46 years of age.

“FATTY” STEWART (J. S. Crossy), famed for many years as one of the original “Two Johns,” made his first professional appearance in New York in 1848 as a comic singer.

About two years later he was a member of the Sable Harmonists. In 1854 he launched Stewart’s Minstrels; and in 1873 he played an engagement with Sam Hague’s Minstrels in Liverpool, England. Mr. Stewart was the author of many black face sketches, all of which have had considerable vogue. He also built or managed several theatres, notably in St. Louis, Providence and Philadelphia. Mr. Stewart died in St. Louis, Mo., May 23, 1905; age 71 years.

JOHN PAUL CROCKER was one of the proprietors of Moore, Crocker, Ritter and Hamilton’s Minstrels, who gave their first performance at Chester, England, November 14, 1864.

Mr. Crocker was a good comedian and well liked personally; he continued as a partner of the organization up to the time of his death.

John Paul Crocker was born in the United States; he died in London, England, December 17, 1869; age 35 years.

AYNSLEY COOKE, who was well and favorably known in operatic circles, was a prominent singer with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York City in 1861.

He was born in London, England; he died in Liverpool, England, February 16, 1894; age 60 years.

FRANK WELLS (Bernard Mundy) was a well-known and capable female impersonator.

He was for a long time with Morris and Wilson’s Minstrels in St. Louis, also with Charley Morris and Add Weaver’s Company, in 1863; later he was with LaRue’s Minstrels.

He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 25, 1874; age 39 years.

D. C. LARUE, a well-known minstrel manager, who had his own companies in the 60’s, and during the same period was associated in minstrel ventures with J. B. Donniker, Tom Prendergast, Archie Hughes and Cool Burgess, died in Charleston, S. C., March 15, 1875; age about 40 years.

“HANK” GOODMAN, the old-time comedian, was a member of Gorton’s New Orleans Minstrels for many years.

In 1887 he retired, and later assumed the management of Goodman’s Opera House in Friendship, N. Y., continuing there until his death, which occurred in that city May 14, 1908.

NELSE SEYMOUR (Thos. Nelson Sanderson), made his first appearance in his native city as a clown in a circus. His initial black-face appearance was in the same city in 1861 as a member of Kunkel’s “Nightingales,” a prominent minstrel organization, with whom he remained the season.

The following year he joined Bryant’s Minstrels in New York; January 26 following he opened with Wood’s Minstrels, same city. He rejoined Bryant’s in 1863, and continued with them until the Fall of 1866, when he became a member of Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels, also in New York; he remained until May, 1868.

That same month he again joined Bryant’s, and a few weeks later went to England, where he opened with Moore and Crocker’s Minstrels. November 23, 1870, found him back to Bryant’s, where he continued until his death.

Mr. Seymour was exceedingly tall, and correspondingly slender, and in the various acts in which he worked with Dan Bryant he was very funny. He was equally at home, sitting on the end or in the middle on the first part.

Nelse Seymour was born in Baltimore, Md., June 5, 1835; he died in New York, February 2, 1875.

MATT THOMPSON, a good general performer and “Essence” dancer, who was with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in 1861; died in New Orleans, La., August 21, 1867; age 32 years.

M. T. SKIFF was a well-known and prominent manager of minstrel companies. He organized a company bearing his name September 26, 1863, at Alexandria, Va. In November the following year, with Low Gaylord, he formed Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels, and as such traveled for several seasons.

Mr. Skiff formed a partnership with Eph. Horn and Walter Bray in August, 1869, and gave minstrel performances for a brief period. In 1871 Mr. Skiff called his company the “Albinos.” He later deserted the minstrel field, and for several years traveled in an executive capacity with legitimate attractions.

M. T. Skiff was born in New Bedford, Mass.; he died in Baltimore, Md., June 13, 1890; age 55 years.

THE FAMOUSLY FUNNY LEE DINNER, as told by the late W. J. Florence to _Seen and Heard_; Philadelphia:

“Philip Lee,” said he, “was the husband of the beautiful and gifted
Adelaide Neilson, since whose death we have never seen a Juliet upon
the stage to equal her. Lee was the son of an English clergyman, and
in demeanor and apparel was a gentleman. He accompanied his wife to
this country, not as her business manager, but simply as her husband.
He was a harmless, pleasant, gentlemanly fellow, with but little
knowledge of American ways. It is not true, as has frequently been
stated, that he knew so little of this country that he expected to
see buffaloes plunging down Broadway and Indians tomahawking people
in Central Park, New York, nor was his astonishment at the absence
of such surprising adventures the inspiring cause of the joke of
which he was made the victim. Its inception was in this way: At
the time Lee was in New York City, in the Fall of 1877, he was a
patron of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where I was also staying, as I had
been for years, and Mr. Sothern was quartered at the Gramercy Park
Hotel. One night the three of us met at the Lotos Club, which was
then far down town, and, as we were about leaving there, Sothern and
myself, desiring to pay the Englishman some attention, invited him to
accompany us to the old chop house kept by George Brown, and there
have a bite and sup before going to bed. We walked up Fifth Avenue
together, and, as we were opposite the Glenham Hotel, our attention
was attracted by a disturbance across the way, evidently caused by a
brawl between a policeman and some jovial young blades. Lee, who was
very curious about everything he saw, exclaimed, ‘Bless me! what’s
that?’ Mr. Sothern replied in the most nonchalant manner, as he
continued walking on, ‘Oh, only another dead man.’

BOB. SLAVIN

ED. H. BANKER

“HAPPY” CAL WAGNER

BURT. HAVERLY

SAM. HAGUE

EUGENE STRATTON
(1878)

JOHNNY SHAY

M. T. SKIFF

JOHN W. THOMPSON

A GROUP OF GENUINES.]

“‘Another dead man!’ gasped Lee; ‘Lord bless me, what do you mean?’

“‘Oh, that’s nothing,’ exclaimed Sothern, with a wave of his hand;
‘I stumble across them every night on my way home. They are killing
men around here all the time. I trip over them, but pay no attention
to them, but keep right on my way home. I don’t care to be summoned
as a witness before the Coroner every day of my life.’ ‘Bless me!’
exclaimed Lee; ‘what a remarkable country!’

* * * * *

“We finally reached Brown’s, and, having secured a table, we ordered
chops and ale. Sothern and myself had not prearranged any joke upon
our guest, but he had given me a wink, which I knew meant mischief,
and I was ready to play second to any part he proposed performing.
While we were eating, Sothern suddenly reached over and placed his
fork in one of my chops, attempting to remove it to his plate. I
prevented this by the insertion of my own fork, and then said, in
calm but determined tones, ‘Ned, I don’t like that,’ to which Lord
Dundreary responded, but not in the feeble tones of that stuttering
stage nobleman, ‘Mr. Florence, I don’t care whether you like it or
not; I want that chop!’

“With that I sprang upon him with uplifted knife and grabbed my
dearly beloved friend by the throat, and he seized me in a similar
way, while he apparently made desperate efforts to cut my jugular
vein. In the melee which ensued the table was upset, and chops, ale,
dishes, knives, forks and all the other appurtenances descended upon
poor Lee in a shower. Brown, the proprietor of the establishment, who
knew us both intimately, rushed forward and separated us, and at his
solicitation, he thinking we were entirely in earnest, we finally
shook hands and renewed our vows of eternal friendship upon one
another’s bosoms.

* * * * *

“That was the inception of the famous Lee dinner hoax. Sothern
came to me afterward and said he desired to give the Englishman a
dinner at the Gramercy Park Hotel, in order to introduce him to the
customs of the great American people, and said that the only part
he desired me to take in it was to be sure that Lee should be on
hand at the appointed hour, which was noon of the following Sunday.
To this I agreed. I knew, of course, that some sort of a joke was
to be perpetrated upon Miss Neilson’s husband, but I pledge my word
that I was not fully let into the secret, and was not advised of
the programme. At the designated time I escorted Lee to the banquet
room, which was on the first floor in the rear of the hotel office. I
found out afterward that by special arrangement with Mr. Judson, the
proprietor, the doors and windows had been well padded and covered
so that no noise within could reach beyond them. The apartment was
lighted with wax candles. Those assembled were John McCullough,
Harry Montague, J. S. Polk, Charles Gaylor, all of whom had achieved
fame upon the stage; Dan Bryant and Nelson Seymour, the most famous
negro minstrels of their day; Commodore Dickinson, of the New York
Yacht Club; George Brown, of the chop house, which bore his name; a
gentleman named Cooper and, of course, Sothern, Lee and myself. None
other than these was present.

* * * * *

“The oysters had been disposed of,” continued Florence, “and the soup
had just been placed on the table, when Charley Gaylor arose, and, in
very impressive tones, spoke about as follows: ‘Gentlemen, I think
this is a most auspicious occasion to bring about peace between two
men who, while strangers, were once devoted friends. I do not think
that rancor could exist in any heart at a gathering of this kind. To
be sure, it may ill become me to act the part of a peacemaker, for,
while it is true I have shed human blood, that my right hand has been
red with, the gore of another, it must also be borne in mind that
I was triumphantly acquitted of the offense, and that a jury of my
peers said that I had acted only in self-defense.’

DAN BRYANT
AND
NELSE SEYMOUR.]

“You can readily imagine that this took the breath out of my friend
Lee, who had been seated upon my left. He whispered to me, ‘What has
he done? Did he kill anyone?’ I looked at him warningly, and put a
finger on my lips as I whispered back, ‘Sh-h-h! It was nothing; only
his mother!’ I heard him mutter, ‘My God!’ as he shrunk in his chair,
and then he leaned toward me and whispered, ‘Of whom is he speaking?’
As I didn’t know myself, I couldn’t well tell him, but I warned him
off by saying, ‘You will learn it all in a moment. His words might
apply to any two men about the board, because every fellow here has
killed his man.’

* * * * *

“Just then Gaylor threw light upon the subject by saying, as he
pointed with one hand to that clever negro minstrel, Dan Bryant, and
the other toward that equally famous delineator of cork humor, Nelse
Seymour, ‘Of course, gentlemen, it is hardly necessary for me to say
that I refer to America’s most famous poet, William Cullen Bryant,
and that equally distinguished gentleman, M. Seymour, the son of the
talented ex-Governor of the State of New York, Horatio Seymour, and I
now request that these two gentlemen shake hands across the table and
let the bloody feud which has existed between them end here!’

“I had scarcely time to give an affirmative reply to Lee’s whispered
inquiry. ‘Is that really William Cullen Bryant?’ when there ensued
the most remarkable scene which I ever witnessed in my life. I
cannot, even after many years have elapsed, think of it without the
tears of laughter coming to my eyes. Seymour was a man over six feet
in height, and with legs the length of which were absurdly out of
proportion to the rest of his body. He appeared to be split up almost
to his neck. One of his most famous feats upon the minstrel stage
was to suddenly throw one of his feet about a man’s neck and draw
the other fellow toward him. Upon this occasion Bryant, in obedience
to Gaylor’s summons, had reached forth his right hand, when Seymour
suddenly threw that dreadful right leg of his across the table,
caught his friend and fellow-minstrel by the back of the neck, drew
him toward him and hit him squarely between the eyes. In another
instant both men were on top of the table amid the soup dishes, and
were snarling and biting and tearing at one another like a pair of
bulldogs. Cooper and Dickinson, who were not in the secret, became so
alarmed that they got under the table, while I could only hold Lee in
his chair by main force. In the midst of the contest the table upset
and the poor Englishman was almost drowned in soup. While Bryant
and Seymour were making a mockery of struggling beneath the debris,
Seymour, by wetting his fingers of one hand, secured a quantity
of blacking from one of his shoes, and with this gave himself the
semblance of a black eye. When some appearance of order had been
obtained a truce was patched up between the combatants, and, after
Seymour’s blackened eye had been bandaged, they were induced to shake
hands, whereupon the other members of the company, who were in the
secret, exclaimed admiringly, ‘Once a gentleman, always a gentleman!’
and declared that ‘a true American gentleman can always be told by
his willingness to settle a little difference amicably.’

“Lee whispered to me in tremulous indignation, ‘This is most
shameful!’ to which I replied, ‘I don’t see how you say that. There
was no one killed.’ Thereupon he amended his remark by saying, ‘At
least, it was most unfortunate. I am dreadfully sorry it occurred.’

MATT. WHEELER

DAVE WILSON

WILL COX

CLARK GIBBS

HARRY W. SMITH

WILL LAVAKE

“Wheeler & Wilson,” “Will Cox & Gibbs,” and some “Singers”; nearly all “Domestics.” Try to play this on the machine.]

* * * * *

“The table was got in shape again, and things moved along smoothly
and pleasantly for some time, until Polk and Sothern became engaged
in apparently a very angry and excited dispute about the merits of
the North and South, in the midst of which Mr. Sothern suddenly arose
to his feet, and, drawing a revolver, fired it directly over Polk’s
head. Immediately a scene of the wildest excitement ensued. In less
than twenty minutes twenty shots from revolvers had been fired across
the table. Polk, Gaylor, McCullough, Montague, Seymour, Bryant and
Sothern were not only firing blank cartridges from revolvers, but
were brandishing huge knives over one another’s heads. Dickinson,
Cooper and Brown had by this time discovered the affair was a joke
and simply added to the tumult. The terror of the Englishman was
almost pitiable. He begged to be allowed to go, but his friends were
so thoroughly in love with him that they would not let him depart.
There was upon the table at this particular juncture a large dish of
asparagus, covered with drawn butter, and most of the combatants, who
were crawling across the table to carve one another’s hearts out,
managed to get their hands into this mess, and, while thus besmeared,
they could take turns in jumping around to where I was holding Lee
in place, and, bringing their palms down upon his shoulders, would
beg of him to be seated and assured him that the difficulty was
simply a trifling one, and that they would regret it to their dying
day should he leave them. So frequent were these expressions of
hospitality that Lee was smeared from head to foot with drawn butter.
I shall never forget the spectacle that the lamented John McCullough
presented on that occasion. Having fired his revolver, he drew a long
Roman sword from his boot, and, with a swirl, cut off the neck of a
champagne bottle as if he were decapitating a foe, and then waving
it threateningly over the heads of Lee and myself, he exclaimed,
‘Why does not the gallant Florence stand by his friends? Where is
his revolver to-night? I have traveled with him through the West,
and then he never went without his arsenal and scarcely a day passed
without his killing a man.’

* * * * *

“In the midst of the fracas, Seymour, who had temporarily
disappeared, appeared in the doorway attired in a white hat and
apron, which he had procured from the hotel chef, and announced that
the landlord declared that the entire party must vacate the room. He
had not finished his speech when everything on the table, including
even the large, heavy dishes, was hurled at him, and it is really
a wonder that he escaped the shower unhurt. By this time everyone
in the room, and especially the Englishman, was a lamentable sight
to behold. Each one was smeared and crushed and tumbled and torn
from head to foot. Lee could stand it no longer. He got on his feet
finally and managed to say that while he had heard such scenes as he
had witnessed were enacted in the purlieus of the great cities of
America, he was astounded and disappointed to find that they were
the custom among gentlemen, and further said that he would have to
leave to keep a dinner engagement. It was 4 o’clock. I escorted him
to the street and put him in a carriage to conceal his dilapidated
condition. When we came to settle for this little joke, we found that
our bill was $600. The item for breakage alone amounted to $80.”

Men will sometimes become boys again; and very silly boys.

* * * * *

Note.--Mr. Florence was in error in giving the date of the foregoing as the Fall of 1877. Dan Bryant died in the Spring of 1875.--Author.

CHARLES MELVILLE was of late years best known as a manager and agent, but in his earlier days achieved considerable fame as a balladist in minstrelsy.

As early as May 1, 1856, he was with Raynor’s “Christy” Minstrels, and in November, same year, he was a member of Turner’s Southern Serenaders.

The following year he was with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in the Summer; in November, 1860, Charles Melville’s Minstrels were on tour.

October 14, 1861, he began a brief engagement with Fox and Sharpley’s Minstrels in New York.

In an executive capacity he was associated among others with Col. T. Allston Browne and Shook and Palmer.

In February, 1894, Mr. Melville occupied the position as ticket taker at the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia, at the opening of that theatre in a revival of old stock plays by George Learock.

Charles Melville died in Newark, N. J., July 10, 1901; age about 65 years.

LEW. MEYERS (Buhmeir), is a name that is practically unknown to minstrel lovers of to-day; yet to him belongs the credit of being the original “musical moke,” long familiar to variety and minstrel _habitues_. His first performance of the act was given in Newark, N. J., during the season of 1852-53.

He was likewise the first to perform the harmonica on the stage. He went to Europe in 1866 with Hussey, Sweney and Felton’s Minstrels. His last appearance was at Los Angeles, Cal., January 27, 1874, where he gave an entire evening’s entertainment of one and a half hours’ duration, during which he performed on twenty-six different instruments; and on one occasion four at one time.

Lew Meyers was born in Minden, Prussia; he died in Pottsville, Pa., July 11, 1875; age 40 years.