Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to date

by Edw. Le Roy Rice

NEIL. O’BRIEN

has long ranked with the great comedians that have tended to make minstrelsy famous.

Mr. O’Brien portrays an eccentric negro of the South, a real flesh and blood darky, not an exaggerated caricature; and therein lies his success.

Indeed his depiction of the colored man is so realistic, so artistic and so natural, that in the cities wherein they are so largely represented, during the performances in which Mr. O’Brien was a contributing factor, they would invariably argue among themselves as to whom among their number the counterfeit darky of the stage was most like; it’s Henry White, one would say, while another was equally positive Mr. O’Brien was imitating Jim Jackson, both of these gentlemen named being members of their “set.”

NEIL O’BRIEN.

Mr. O’Brien first appeared theatrically in 1889 with the “Student Minstrels” in Binghamton, N. Y., and nearby cities; he sat on an “end.” He later was one of the team of O’Brien and Bell; they dissolved partnership in 1891, and the musical act of Bogert and O’Brien was formed in March that year, and they continued as partners for ten years.

Mr. O’Brien was with Haverly’s Minstrels in Chicago in 1892, and remained one year; in 1898 he was again with Haverly on the last tour made by the famous manager.

Seasons of 1896-97-98 he was with Al. G. Field’s Minstrels. He joined Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels in 1899, and continued with them until the dissolution of the organization in 1903.

That same year he cast his fortunes with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, with whom he remained until the Spring of 1910. At the present time Mr. O’Brien is appearing in vaudeville with marked success in an elaborate black-face act called “Fighting the Flames;” as a raw fireman who has bought his way into the department, Mr. O’Brien is excruciatingly funny.

Neil O’Brien was born in Port Dickinson, N. Y., July 16, 1868, and enjoys the distinction of having received one of the largest salaries of any minstrel performer.

J. A. Coburn, proprietor and manager of the Coburn Greater Minstrels, has achieved considerable fame as a cornetist; to say that Mr. Coburn has blown his own horn since he was ten years old, is no reflection upon him whatever.

Before starting on his minstrel career, he was cornetist with the Elgin, Ill., National Watch Company Military Band, and others. His first professional appearance was of the musical team of Trewetz and Coburn, in 1886. Subsequently in 1890 he joined Louis Baldwin in a comedy act, and continued with the latter until his (Baldwin’s) death.

Mr. Coburn’s first minstrel engagement was with the W. S. Cleveland Company, in 1893.

Five years later he was owner and manager of the original Barlow Bros. Minstrels; subsequently known as the Great Barlow Minstrels.

Mr. Coburn rehearses and directs his own show, and has the distinction of being one of the best known men in the minstrel business.

A fine home at Daytona, Fla., is a tribute that speaks volumes for his twenty-four years in the profession.

J. A. Coburn was born in Boston, Mass., March 12, 1868.

Of Corse Payton blacked up. As a matter of cold fact, his first professional appearance was made at a county fair less than a million miles from Centreville, Iowa; Mr. Payton was the end man in a minstrel show there. Later he was with a repertoire company that acted “Uncle Tom’s Cabin;” and the report is that he played every character in the play including Eva; he only got cold feet when they insisted on his playing the “cake of ice.”

Now to be serious—the king of 10, 20, 30 played Wool, a black-face part in the “Hidden Hand” at Payton’s Lee Avenue Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., commencing November 4, 1901.

Corse Payton was born in Centreville, Iowa, December 18, 1867; and Centreville has never been sorry.

Eddie Horan, the well-known dancer and producer, made his first professional appearance with Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Minstrels in 1885; subsequently appearing with the following prominent minstrel companies—Hi. Henry, three seasons; Al. G. Fields, five seasons, and two years with Wm. H. West’s Company. With the exception of the first mentioned company, he was general producer for the others.

Ten years with three such organizations is a record of which Mr. Horan may justly feel proud.

Subsequently he appeared successfully with several well-known dramatic companies; after which he returned to minstrelsy with The George Primrose Co.

Mr. Horan has played vaudeville for the past few seasons.

Eddie Horan was born in Hartford, Conn.—after Lew Dockstader.

Wm. H. Hallett is well and favorably known as an interlocutor in present day minstrelsy.

His first engagement with a minstrel organization was with the Wm. H. West Company in 1896.

Subsequently he joined the Primrose and Dockstader Company, remaining three seasons, after which he identified himself with Lew Dockstader for the same period.

Mr. Hallett then forsook cork for grease paint, and for two years was with Charley Grapewin in “The Awakening of Mr. Pipp;” at the end of that period (Mr. Hallett, not Mr. Pipp) felt uneasy, and no one seemed surprised, when at the opening of the season of 1908, our rotund interlocutor was found in his accustomed place with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, where he remained two years.

He is now in vaudeville with Neil O’Brien.

Before his minstrel engagements Mr. Hallett was with the “Gay Debutante;” “Sis Hopkins;” and the “Daughter of Cuba.” In none of these plays did he assume the title-role.

Wm. H. Hallett was born in San Francisco, Cal., October 13, 1868.

Ned Monroe (Edwin James Pyle). Amusement seekers lost one of the very best black-face comedians of a generation when Ned Monroe forsook burnt-cork for grease paint; for one doesn’t have to be a modern Methusaleh to remember the act of Monroe and Mack.

Mr. Monroe’s first partner, amateurly speaking, was Sam Gillespie, of Philadelphia.

In the Fall of 1888 with Kellar Mack he formed a partnership, and they made their first appearance in Baltimore, as Monroe and Mack, at a joint salary of $40.00; the term “joint” does not necessarily apply to the place they played in.

Altogether the act was one of the pronounced successes of vaudeville during the decade or so they continued as partners.

After the dissolution, Mr. Monroe had various partners under the team name of Monroe and Mack. He also appeared successfully in farce, notably the “Prodigal Father,” “Johnny on the Spot,” “A Hot Old Time.”

In 1897 with Jerry Hart, he starred in the “Gay Matinee Girl.”

WILL H. MORTON	SAM. GARDNER	W. H. BROCKWAY
G. W. H. GRIFFIN	WM. H. WEST	J. R. KEMBLE
E. M. KAYNE	E. N. SLOCUM	SAM. WELLS
“MEN OF THE MIDDLE”; ALL PASSED AWAY.

Mr. Monroe married Fern Melrose, an actress, about 1896.

On the last day of January, 1901, he took to wife Miss Nellie Lawrence, a well-known legitimate actress, with whom he has been associated professionally practically ever since.

Ned Monroe was born in Philadelphia, January 2, 1868.

John H. King is such an excellent “rough wench” performer that his abilities as a good all-round comedian are sometimes lost sight of.

Mr. King’s first theatrical engagement was with the J. G. Stutt’s Repertoire Company; they traveled in a coach—by easy “stages”; this was in 1887, and would you believe it? Mr. King played character old men.

After this he doubled with Harry McDonald, and they played vaudeville for three years, doing a black-face specialty; then came a season with Bert Swor, under the team name of Swor and King. Mr. King afterwards joined Walter McMahon, and continued with him several years; subsequently his partner was Tim Barrett, but the team name of McMahon and King continued to be used; likewise when Frank Hammond and Mr. King were with Wm. H. West’s Minstrels in 1899. With the West (Ricaby) Minstrels he did a specialty with Fred Huber.

His last partner to date was Earl Benham; and this was “some” act. Mr. King at various times has been associated with the following well-known minstrel organizations—Haverly’s, Primrose and West’s, Hi Henry’s, Frank Cushman’s, Billy Emerson’s, Billy Rice’s, Harry Davis’, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Cohan and Harris’. Besides Mr. King there is a queen, and two lovely young princesses.

John H. King was born in Atlanta, Ga., March 30, 1868.

Maude Raymond, the vivacious comedienne, who is always charming in everything she plays, was none the less so as Topsy in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” at the Academy of Music, New York, commencing March 4, 1901. When she said, “Golly, I’se so wicked,” no one believed it.

Paul Quinn began his professional career as one of the team of Quinn and Welch, doing a black-face act with Georgie Melnotte’s Female Minstrels; subsequent minstrel engagements were with Barlow Bros.; Gorman Bros., and Primrose and West. In 1891 he became a member of the Big Four, playing the principal vaudeville time, and engagements with Cleveland’s, also Dockstader’s Minstrels, also Tony Pastor’s road show. Season of 1895-96 Kennedy and Quinn played Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia. In 1896 Mr. Quinn appeared for the first time in white-face.

Commencing in 1897 and for five years thereafter, Thomas and Quinn in “McFadden’s Flats,” and Halliday and Quinn in “Happy Hooligan” were under the Gus Hill banner.

In 1903 Mr. Quinn wrote and starred in “The Funny Mr. Dooley,” with Charles H. Smith and the late Frank D. Bryan, this alliance lasted three years.

He joined hands with Joe Mitchell in 1906, and as Quinn and Mitchell, they are now playing vaudeville.

Paul Quinn was born in Lowell, Mass., June 29, 1868.

Gus Sun, the present head of the big vaudeville circuit that bears his name, began his professional career as a co-proprietor of the famous Sun Bros. Circus, with which he was identified for several years. Later he organized the Gus Sun Minstrels, and was identified with it until the company closed in 1904.

On October 1, that year, Mr. Sun opened in Springfield, Ohio, the first family theatre in that section of the country. July 1, 1907, ground was broken for the new Sun Theatre in Springfield, and on November 24, same year, it was formally opened to the public.

During his active stage career Mr. Sun was recognized as a juggler of unusual ability.

January 16, 1897, Mr. Sun was married to Miss Nellie Alfredo, of Youngstown, Ohio; three children, Louise, Nina and Gus, Jr., blessed their union.

Gus. Sun was born at Toledo, Ohio, October 7, 1868.

Raymond Hitchcock, whose unique personality in musical comedy has made him a popular favorite for several seasons past, took the place of George Evans with the Cohan and Harris Minstrels, February 12, 1909, at Auburn, N. Y., during Mr. Evans’ severe illness, and finished out the season with the company. That was not the first time Mr. Hitchcock ever blacked up; away back in—but never mind.

Eddie Bogert, who joined hands with Neil O’Brien in a black-face musical act in March, 1891, was, prior to that of the team of Bogert and Henchett.

Mr. Bogert retired from the profession about ten years ago, and is now engaged in business in Binghamton, N. Y.

Tim McMahon (Barrett) was a barber in Philadelphia about fifteen years ago or so. While there he “scraped” an acquaintance with John King. The result—McMahon and King, McMahon and Chapelle, McMahon’s “Watermelon Girls” and McMahon’s “Pullman Parlor Maids.”

How’d you like to be McMahon?

Nat Wills, famous for his tramp impersonations in vaudeville, Detroit and other municipalities, gamboled (notice the spelling) at the “Lambs” Minstrel show at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, May 31, 1909. His make-up was a dark black.

James H. Manning, of the once popular Silver Bells Quartette, of Baker Jones, Manning and Davis, with that great black-face act consisting of two males and two “wenches,” played all the first-class variety houses and were with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels in New York, the greater time of their existence from 1886 to 1889.

The feature of this act was the wearing of a set of bells around the waists of each, and during the song and dance they played these to the air of Barney Fagan’s “Wedding Bells”; and it may be truthfully stated that a prettier song and dance “four” act has never been seen.

James H. Manning was born in Albany, N. Y., July 27, 1869.

E. W. Chipman (front name Everett) made his first professional appearance with George H. Irving’s California Minstrels in November, 1884; Mr. Chipman was the bass singer, not the base singer of the company.

After this came the Whitmore and Clark’s Minstrels and Hennessy Bros. Minstrels; then a painfully brief season with Chipman, Goss and Hyam’s Minstrels; but why dwell further?

Mr. Chipman recovered, and joined Barlow Bros. Minstrels and remained with them as interlocutor for five years; he also sang.

Subsequently he played engagements with George Arlington’s; Deming, Sweet and DeCourcey’s “A Stranger” Company; two seasons with Cleveland’s; Gus. Sun’s, three seasons; Wm. H. West’s, and Ed. Bartlett’s California Minstrels.

It was while with the latter organization that Mr. Chipman conceived the dark design of becoming a burlesque manager; this was in Nyack, N. Y., December, 1898.

In 1905 he was manager of the Colonial Theatre, Lawrence, Mass.; likewise did he manage for Rice and Barton’s Burlesque Company, two seasons; same period for T. W. Dinkin’s “Innocent Maids” Company; Ginger Girls and other girly girly companies.

Altogether Mr. Chipman was twenty-one years in minstrelsy; nineteen of which he sat in the middle.

E. W. Chipman was born in Lynn, Mass., March 13, 1869.

Fulton Bros., the “Two Dromios of Minstrelsy,” so called because of their similarity in general make up on the stage.

Their careers began in the early 80’s as stars of their own organization, the Fulton Bros. Minstrels, playing in the South, the tour was under the direction of their father.

They subsequently in conjunction with Edwin Warren formed the “Orion Trio” and produced with much success in vaudeville the Fulton Bros. trick-house act called “A Hot Chase.”

The brothers first important minstrel engagement was with Lester and Allen’s Minstrels in 1885; afterwards they were prominently identified with such high-class organizations as Thatcher, Primrose and West’s; Haverly-Cleveland Company and George Wilson’s. With the latter company they worked with Hi Tom Ward; the alliance was known as Fulton Bros, and Hi. Tom Ward.

With George Wilson’s Minstrels they put on the big song and dance numbers.

A few years ago the brothers separated for business reasons, William going into vaudeville, and James, possessing executive abilities equal to his terpsichorean talents, accepted the managerial position with the Golden Crook burlesque company five years ago, and has been with it ever since.

James C. Fulton was born in New Orleans, La., December 17, 1869.

Wm. T. Fulton was born in Pass Christian, Miss., October 12, 1871.

Keller Mack (Wm. S. Keller) formed a partnership with Ned Monroe in the Fall of 1888, doing a black-face act at the Baltimore Museum, Baltimore, Md.; as Monroe and Mack they played together until 1896; giving one of the very best black-face acts ever seen in vaudeville.

Mr. Mack’s playing of the “straight” in the act ranked with the best.

After the dissolution, Mr. Mack played for three seasons in “Town Topics,” doing comedy character parts in white-face; then a season as Finnegan, in “Finnegan’s Ball,” after which he rejoined Monroe, and the team duplicated their former successes, playing Koster and Bial’s in New York City for thirteen consecutive weeks; the partnership finally ceased a year later in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Mack again returned to farce, and played a white-face character part in “A Hot Old Time,” and Jonah, in “A Brass Monkey”; this was followed by two seasons in vaudeville with Tom Dempsey, under the name of Dempsey, Mack and Company.

MORT. EMERSON	WILLIS CLARK
(EMERSON & CLARK.)
BILL. DALY	TOM. DALY
(DALY BROS.)
(The above four were known as the original King High Kickers.)
FRANK DU RELL	ED. DU RELL
(DU RELL TWIN BROTHERS.)

Following this, Mr. Mack played the leading comedy part in “A Stranger in New York” and in “A Trip to Chinatown” he played Ben Gay.

After this Mr. Mack returned to black-face, doing principal end with Quinlan’s Minstrels; when this company disbanded, he joined hands with Dan Quinlan, playing as Quinlan and Mack until 1910.

Beyond a doubt Keller Mack is one of the most versatile performers we have; playing straight or comedy, black or white with equal success.

Keller Mack was born in Philadelphia, July 10, 1869.

Richard J. Jose. Never in the annals of minstrelsy has any singer met with more phenomenal success than that achieved by the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Jose came to this country as a boy, and shortly after secured a position as blacksmith in Reno, Nev., where he remained several years. Mr. Jose while at work was always singing, and his phenomenal voice, a pure contra tenor, attracted marked attention.

His first professional appearance was with Charley Reed’s Minstrels in San Francisco, March 2, 1886. He remained with Reed until the season ended, April 10, following. A few weeks later he joined Birch and Cotton’s Minstrels for a brief road trip.

In September, 1886, he joined Lew Dockstader’s permanent minstrel company in New York; here he remained about three years. George Thatcher’s Minstrels and Tuxedo Company had his services for two years.

Mr. Jose next engaged with the “Old Homestead,” and continued for eight years with that time-honored favorite; after which he again returned to his first love and joined Wm. H. West’s Minstrels, with whom he was a feature for three years. His last appearance in minstrelsy was with his own company about 1901 or 1902.

Subsequently he has devoted his talents successfully to vaudeville and dramatic work.

Mr. Jose makes a feature of singing the old minstrel ballads. In December, 1909, he produced a play written around one of these old favorites, entitled “Silver Threads Among the Gold.”

Richard J. Jose was born in Cornwall, England, June 5, 1869.

William H. Thompson began his minstrel career in Chicago with “Kelly and Leon’s” Minstrels in 1889.

The following year he was with Cleveland’s Minstrels, and from 1890 to 1893 he was with Primrose and West’s Minstrels. He then formed an alliance with Fred Oakland, and for four years Oakland and Thompson performed in the principal music halls of London and the provinces, in a great singing act.

Mr. Thompson returned to the United States in 1897, and rejoined Primrose and West’s Minstrels for the season. Practically all of the ensuing time until 1910, when he formed an alliance with Will Oakland, has been with the companies of Primrose and Dockstader, and Lew Dockstader.

Mr. Thompson is concededly one of the foremost baritones in minstrelsy.

W. H. Thompson was born in Liverpool, England, October 28, 1869.

John L. Sullivan, the former champion pugilist, was the principal feature of the Lester and Allen’s Minstrels, season of 1885-86.

Mr. Sullivan appeared in classic statuary poses; also New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

Geo. Beban began—in minstrelsy. He had to begin somewhere. Away back March 19, 1883, in San Francisco at the Standard Theatre, he was with Emerson’s Minstrels.

The closing burlesque was “Pinafore”; and the man who can look and talk like Napoleon—before Waterloo—was one of the “rapturous maidens.” O! George, aren’t you awful.

Ed. Latell, the well-known comedian and banjoist, made his first professional appearance at the Bella-Union Theatre in San Francisco, in 1887. He subsequently was a feature of Cleveland’s, and George Wilson’s Minstrels.

Mr. Latell is no longer a minstrelite, but a vaudevilleite. He was born in Los Angeles, Cal., about 1869.

Billy Gould (Wm. J. Flannery), the brilliant versatile comedian, now once more of the well-known pair, Gould and Surratt, was a Madrigal Boy with “Emerson’s Minstrels” in San Francisco in 1883.

Mr. Gould was married to Nellie Marietta Burt at Hurley, Wis., March 24, 1889; subsequently he became the husband of Valeska Surratt.

Mr. Gould was born in New York City, May 1, more than forty years ago, but not more than forty-five.

George Evans, famous the country over as the “Honey Boy,” so called from the fact that he was the author of the famous song “I’ll Be True to My Honey Boy,” has the distinction of being one of the youngest minstrel comedians heading his own organization.

His first appearance was at Balser’s Music Hall, Canton, Ohio, in 1891, as a member of the Columbia Quartette; subsequently with Edwin Mayo’s “Silver Age” Company he was one-fourth of the Southern Quartette.

Like many other good performers, Mr. Evans had his experience with medicine shows, one of which was the “East India Moon Plant” Company; he left this organization because he felt that the title of the company was not dignified enough, nor in keeping with his manifold talents.

After some scouting he joined “Bamboo, or the King of Trampiana.” Mr. Evans is not a proud man, but he was sure that his ambitions could be better realized with this show; and he felt so for four days, when the “King of Trampiana” tramped—some place or other, Mr. Evans never exactly found where.

This near-tragedy occurred in St. Louis, Mo., and Mr. Evans soon found himself at the Southern Hotel, in the Mound City. Is there any opening here? quoth our hero; there was; one of the bell hops, having acquired a competence after six consecutive weeks of faithful service, had given notice, and George was installed in his place, and remained—until his uniform had been paid for.

Mr. Evans’ first minstrel engagement was at the Casino, with Haverly, in Chicago, 1892; he remained several weeks, and about January 1, 1893, he joined Cleveland’s Minstrels; subsequently he was with Primrose and West’s Minstrels, and in 1894 he returned under the Haverly banner.

Shortly after this he launched forth as a singing comedian in vaudeville, and as such continued for several years.

In musical comedy he starred in “The Runaways,” and “The Good Old Summer Time,” in which he appeared in white-face.

July 27, 1908, at Atlantic City, N. J., he opened with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels at the inaugural performance, heading the company.

About March, 1910, at Newark, N. J., Mr. Evans became sole owner of the organization.

He is the author of several popular songs, notably—“Standing on the Corner, Didn’t Mean No Harm;” “Come Take a Trip in My Airship,” and “Down Where the Watermelon Grows.”

George Evans was born in Pontotlyn, Wales, March 10, 1870.

Billy S. Clifford, whose impersonations of the “chappie” have made him famous the country over, made his first appearance with Hi. Henry’s Minstrels in 1882, as a drummer, and a black one. The next season he was one of the song and dance men with the Barlow, Wilson Company Minstrels; following this came engagements with Robinson’s Circus, and Miles Orton’s Circus, appearing in black-face songs and dances.

In 1888 Mr. Clifford joined George Fuller Golden, and as Golden and Clifford they did a black-face song and dance act for two years, stopping only for meals and sleep.

In 1888 he joined Al. G. Field’s Minstrels as an end man and comedian; it was here that he conceived the idea of the stage dude, which he did in black-face, and which has ever since been part and parcel of his performances.

Mr. Clifford made his first appearance in white-face about twenty years ago, since which time he has starred successfully in “Courted Into Court”; “The Jolly Baron” and many others.

He married Maud Huth, July 28, 1891, at Buffalo, N. Y.

About six years ago he built and has since conducted the Urbana Theatre, in his native town.

This season Mr. Clifford stars in “The Girl, the Man and the Game.”

Billy S. Clifford was born in Urbana, Ohio, January 24, 1869.

The famous Freeze Brothers, Larry and Billy, had the distinction of being the champion tambourine spinners of the world.

They made their first professional appearance at Newton’s Varieties, in Hartford, Conn., in 1879, doing a plantation song and dance; at that time they were the youngest black-face team before the public.

The idea of the double tambourine spinning act originated in the fertile brain of their brother, John Freeze, well known as the manager of the Opera House in the hustling little town of Rockville, Conn.

The brothers put on amateur minstrel shows in their home town, and their specialty was constantly improved upon by Billy Freeze until it attained the state of perfection vaudeville and minstrel lovers know so well.

In 1885 they played their first minstrel engagement with Hi Henry’s Company; the two succeeding seasons they were with Lucier’s Minstrels, while the season of 1888-89 saw them with the Van Derveer’s Minstrels. Then came three consecutive seasons with Vreeland’s Minstrels.

After this, five years of vaudeville, followed by a season with Primrose and West’s Minstrels, commencing in 1897; the next season they were with Wm. H. West’s Minstrels.

BARNEY FAGAN	R. M. (“DICK”) CARROLL
TOMMY HYDE	EDDIE HORAN
JOHNNY DOVE	WILLIS PICKERT
SOME REAL DANCERS.

About 1900 they were engaged with the Barnum and Bailey Circus as a feature of the concerts; they played Russia, Austria, England, France, Holland, Hungary and other European States. In Paris the brothers played eighteen weeks at the Olympia. Their last joint engagement was with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels, 1908-09.

Larry Freeze was a dancer of more than ordinary merit. After his death, his place was taken by his brother Frank, whose funny antics as a clown have won him considerable recognition.

Larry Freeze was born in Rockville, Conn., October 29, 1872; he died April 6, 1909.

Billy Freeze was born in Rockville, Conn., December 25, 1870.

Julius P. Witmark. It will doubtless be news to many of this gentleman’s friends to know that his career began as minstrel singer just twenty-seven years ago, when as the “boy soprano” he made his bow before a New York audience with Billy Birch’s San Francisco Minstrels, August 27, 1883; this was in what was until recently known as the Princess Theatre.

A brief respite after this engagement, and he next appeared as a “Madrigal Boy” in Gus Williams’ “One of the Finest;” he was also a “Madrigal” with Lawrence Barrett’s “Francesca di Rimini” and M. B. Leavitt’s Minstrels.

Going to the Eden Musee in New York City after this, for a series of six children’s concerts, on Saturdays only; his success was so great, that the engagement was extended for eight months.

He joined Thatcher, Primrose and West in the Spring of 1885, and the following season of 1885-86, he was also with this company.

Mr. Witmark then eschewed theatricals for about two years, when his voice, then changed into a baritone, procured him a position with Billy Emerson’s Minstrels in San Francisco, where he remained six months, after which he rejoined Thatcher, Primrose and West early in 1889; this was his last minstrel engagement.

Subsequently he met with much success in such famed organizations as “A Pair of Jacks,” “City Directory” and “A Trip to Chinatown”; he was also very successful in the brief vaudeville engagements he played.

Julius P. Witmark was born in New York City, September 19, 1870.

Montgomery and Stone, who achieved fame as the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” as well as “The Red Mill” respectively, and subsequently “The Old Town,” made their first joint appearance with Haverly’s Minstrels at New Orleans, February 16, 1895. Later they did a great song and dance act for several seasons, appearing in black-face as real gallus coons.

About ten years before they formed a partnership, Mr. Stone played Topsy in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”; he was the best Topsy in the show.

Dave Montgomery was born early in 1870.

Fred. Stone was born later.

Billy B. Van (Wm. Webster Vandegrift), the famous “Patsy” comedian, was a member of the “California Minstrels” (not the originals) during the season of 1882-83.

The man who owned the show also owned a bird and fish store (live birds and fish); well, anyway, the “tour” suddenly closed in Mechanicville, N. Y.; Mr. Van not being a mechanic, could get no work in that prosperous little town, and sadly wended his way to New York, where the “manager” agreed to pay Van on his arrival in the metropolis; he did. Van’s “salary” was two canaries, ditto goldfish and one Belgian Hare.

Mr. Van had plenty of hair at that time, so one more made little difference to him; being Friday, he ate the fish, and presented the canaries to a cat who promised to take good care of them. Mr. Van has used grease paint ever since.

Clarence Marks. Whether Mr. Marks’ name and fame will be handed down to posterity as a vocalist or a comedian, time alone can tell.

His first professional appearance was made with a circus in 1888.

In 1897 he joined the Irene Myers Stock Company, where for about six years he appeared in varied characters, including a “stag” after the show one night in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in September, 1903, Dan Hart presiding.

Mr. Marks’ first appearance in minstrelsy was with the Quinlan and Wall Company in 1904; subsequently with the following well-known organizations—Culhane, Chace and Weston’s; Primrose’s; Dockstader’s; Murphy and Gibson’s; Wm. H. West’s (Ricaby’s); and Dumont’s in Philadelphia.

Season of 1909-10 he was with the George Evans’ Minstrels. One night the “Honey Boy” came back on the stage with tears in his eyes (that being the regulation place to have them); “I’m short an end man,” said the newly-made minstrel magnate, “who will volunteer?” “I will,” said little Clarence; and he did, and for the balance of the season Mr. Marks’ ponderous bass voice told every one of the trials and tribulations of one Casey Jones. And so our story ends. But Mr. Marks is still a “Honey Boy.”

Clarence Marks was born in Philadelphia, December 12, 1871.

Jas. J. Corbett, pugilist, actor and vaudevillian, made his first appearance in black-face as a member of George Evans’ Minstrels at Plainfield, N. J., August 10, 1910. Mr. Corbett as interlocutor, was a splendid success.

He commenced an engagement at the City Theatre, New York, August 13, 1910, and says, “he will come back.” But will he?

Geo. W. Chirgwin, the “White Eyed Kaffir,” is one of the most popular of England’s black-face performers.

His first bid for fame was made about thirty years ago singing the “Blind Boy.”

A few years ago Mr. Chirgwin played an engagement in the United States, where he made many friends.

Bert Swor, of the Swor Bros., made his first appearance with Haverly’s Minstrels in Chicago, doing a song and dance with John King. This was followed by ten years of stock work.

Subsequently he played engagements with Haverly’s (Nankeville) also Wm. H. West’s (Ricaby) Minstrels.

Two seasons in “The Wizard of Oz” and a return to vaudeville in a black-face act, depicting Southern scenes.

Bert Swor was born in Memphis, Tenn., January 9, 1871.