Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to date

by Edw. Le Roy Rice

THE FROHMANS IN MINSTRELSY.

Gus Frohman was manager of Callender’s Colored Minstrels in 1874; early in 1882 he was one of the proprietors. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, about 1855.

Daniel Frohman became advance agent for Callender’s Colored Minstrels in 1874; subsequently he was with Haverly in an executive ability. Mr. Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio, about 1850.

Charles Frohman, one of the world’s foremost theatrical managers, was treasurer for Haverly’s Mastodon Minstrels at their inception in Chicago, October 21, 1878. In 1880 he went to Europe with them, and while there, December 25, 1880, the members of the company, to show the high esteem in which they held their treasurer, presented him with a handsome gold watch, chain and locket suitably engraved.

Mr. Frohman subsequently became manager of the company and continued with Haverly until January, 1882, when he left, and in conjunction with his brother Gus, became proprietor of Callender’s Colored Minstrels a few weeks later, and continued with that company about three years.

Charles Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio, July 20 or 22, 1857.

Foster and Hughes were one of the great black-face acrobatic song and dance teams of the minstrel and variety stage. They formed an alliance about 1876 and continued for several years.

They traveled with their own specialty company in 1886. Subsequent to their separation, Mr. Foster married Fannie Lewis, and did an act with her up to the time of his death.

Mr. Hughes joined John Slavin in a knockabout act after separating from Mr. Foster; he has retired from the stage.

Dave Foster (Patterson) died in New York, December 6, 1898.

Artie Hughes (Quigg) was born in Albany, N. Y., March 28, 1855.

John T. Kelly, the favorite Irish comedian, was an end man with Leavitt’s Minstrels. Ask him when.

Mr. Kelly was born in Boston, Mass., August 26, 1855.

Wm. F. Hoey, better known to later generations of playgoers as “Old Hoss,” was one of the cleverest of black-face musical comedians. His first appearance was in his native city at the Thirty-fourth Street Theatre in 1873.

In 1875 he formed a partnership with John F. Fields, and as Fields and Hoey continued until 1878; during this period they played an engagement with Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels in 1876.

In 1878 they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Hoey subsequently and for several seasons did an excruciatingly funny act with Fred Bryant.

Bryant and Hoey played with Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Minstrels in New York.

In 1882 Mr. Hoey, Bryant, and Charles E. Evans formed the “Meteors,” Hoey appearing in a sketch called the “Book-Agent,” as a tramp; this was the inception of the “Parlor Match,” with which he was identified for several years.

W. S. BUDWORTH	E. M. HALL
LEW. BRIMMER	TOM. WARFIELD
DANA H. CLAUDIUS	HARRY STANWOOD
BRILLIANT BANJOISTS OF MINSTRELSY.

Mr. Hoey was married to Helena French, of the French Twin Sisters, and was a brother of James F. Hoey.

William F. Hoey was born in New York City, January 1, 1855; he died there June 9, 1897.

The Russell Bros., famous for many years in practically every variety and vaudeville theatre in the land for their great act, the “Irish Servant Girls,” began their professional career in January, 1877, doing the old-time specialty of changing from white to black in full view of the audience.

About 1880 they joined Woodson and Allen’s Minstrels, James doing an end, and John singing in the first part.

John Russell was born in New York City August 19, 1854.

James Russell was born in New York City October 26, 1859.

Hyde And Behman, whose theatre in Brooklyn, N. Y., for many years played all the prominent black-face, as well as other luminaries, were the proprietors and managers of a first-class minstrel organization bearing their names in 1885.

Richard Hyde was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 22, 1849.

Louis Behman was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 4, 1855; he died there, February 27, 1902.

Frank C. Geyer, an excellent acrobatic song and dance man, made his first professional appearance at Deagle’s Varieties, St. Louis, Mo.; shortly after this he formed a partnership with George A. Turner and Billy Mendel, being known as the Big 3; Mendel soon dropped out, and the team was known as Geyer and Turner, and as such continued for several years, finally separating. Mr. Geyer then allied himself with James B. Mackie, and as Geyer and Mackie they continued giving black-face specialties; subsequently the team was known as Geyer and Sylvester, and Geyer and Lord.

He managed the opera house at Bellaire, Ohio, several years.

Mr. Geyer’s first wife was Amy Nelson, a prima donna, with whom he was professionally associated a considerable period; subsequently he married Mamie Forrest, of the Forrest Sisters; they played the principal variety houses.

He traveled with O’Brien’s Circus for two years; and was one of the three Geyer Brothers—Frank, Charles and Albert; an odd coincidence concerning the latter was that for a brief period he did a black-face song and dance act with Frank Turner, of the Three Turner Brothers, known as Turner and Geyer; in one case a Turner was associated with one of the Three Geyer Brothers; in the other a Geyer worked with one of the Three Turner Brothers; the two Turners were not related.

Frank C. Geyer was born in Newark, N. J., September 5, 1855; he died at Lexington, Mo., June 4, 1900.

Donald Harold (O’Donnell Harrold) was once the “boy tenor”; you wouldn’t think so to see him now, but bear in mind that was in 1872, on the first day of that year at Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.

Mr. Harold continued with the minstrels until August, same year; his voice changing, he also changed his job, and two years and one month later he identified himself with the famous Holman Opera Troupe, remaining until May 20, 1878.

Since that date Mr. Harold has been associated with many musical and farcical productions—but no minstrels.

Donald Harold was born in Philadelphia, December 5, 1855.

Bobby Beach (Anin W. Gardner) entered the theatrical profession at the age of 15, doing a contortion act; subsequently developing into a good dancer.

He was with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s Minstrels in 1881, and about a year or so later with Otis Bowers formed the Beach and Bowers Minstrels, which were prominent for several seasons.

He was seriously injured while doing a pedestal act.

Bobby Beach was born in Rome, N. Y.; he died in Watertown, Wis., December 1, 1905; age 50 years.

Tommy Harris (McGuigan), one of the very few men left capable of playing the old-time nigger acts, made his first appearance at Fox’s Theatre, Philadelphia, in 1875, with a partner, whose name was Ward; the team name being Ward and Harrison; subsequently they played an engagement in Philadelphia with Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels; late in 1876 they separated. His next partner was Jack McNeil; joining Fattie Stewart’s Company, the team was accidently billed as Harris and McNeil; and Harris it has remained ever since. In 1879 they joined the Three Arnold Bros. Minstrels, and while with this company they dissolved partnership; McNeil died about 1902.

Mr. Harris then played variety engagements with his wife, the team being known as the Harrises, until 1889; he then taking a stock engagement at the Odeon, Baltimore, remaining there 10 years.

A season with his son and daughter, known as the 3 Harrises followed; then he worked with his daughter Laura (now of Cartmell and Harris) for about four years, after which he joined Lew Simmons for a season; then a brief season as one of the 4 Cartmells, after which was Smith and Harris.

Tommy Harris was born in Philadelphia, February 3, 1855.

Harry Kennedy (W. H. Kennedy), the well-known ventriloquist and song writer, played many minstrel engagements, notably with Haverly’s Mastodons.

In the Fall of 1884 he was associated with Billy Birch with the San Francisco Minstrels.

Harry Kennedy was born in Manchester, Eng.; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 3, 1894; age 39 years.

Charley Reed. “Just the Plain Comedian” he was termed, and he was a comedian, as anyone who remembers him will testify.

Charley Reed’s professional career began and ended in white-face, but the major portion of it was given to minstrelsy, where he was always a star.

About 1872 he went to the California Theatre in San Francisco, where he became successively call-boy, prompter and low comedian.

In 1873 he joined Maguire’s Minstrels at the latter’s opera house in the Western metropolis. August 31, 1874, he opened for the season in Philadelphia with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels; the following August he joined Emerson’s Minstrels in Cincinnati. In 1876 he returned to San Francisco, and for the next three years he continued there with the minstrels at Maguire’s Opera House and comedian at the Bella Union Theatre.

July 7, 1879, with a variety company under the management of Martin Simon, he sailed for Australia, remaining away for more than a year. On February 7, 1881, he began an engagement with Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.

A season with “Muldoon’s Picnic,” with Hyde & Behman, and Mr. Reed returned with Emerson’s Minstrels in San Francisco, subsequently becoming a partner of Emerson, and later Charley Reed’s Minstrels held sway at the Standard Theatre until April 10, 1886. August 16, 1886, he opened at the Madison Street Theatre in Chicago, with a minstrel company. He continued here a few weeks, and in the following October he appeared with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels in New York, playing a brief engagement; this was his last appearance in black-face. Later he appeared as Ko-Ko in the “Mikado,” “A Rag Baby,” “City Directory” and other farcical plays.

At the time of his death he was associated in partnership with William Collier in “Hoss and Hoss.”

Charley Reed was born in New York City, May 22, 1855; he died in Boston, Mass., November 21, 1892.

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Nat. C. Goodwin in minstrelsy? Why, yes. He commenced an engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels at Chicago, September 11, 1876, doing a specialty consisting chiefly of imitations.

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Griffin and Rice ranked with the premier black-face song and dance teams of minstrelsy.

They made their first appearance as an act in Pittsburg, Pa., about 1873. September 15, 1875, they opened with Buckley’s Serenaders in Boston; the season closed October 25, 1875.

December 20, same year, they began an engagement with Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and continued throughout the season.

On November 20, 1876, they opened with Sweatnam’s Minstrels, also in the Quaker City, an engagement that terminated December 16. Two days later they returned to Carncross and Dixey, where they remained the major portion of the time until the dissolution of their partnership in 1883.

In June, 1878, they played a limited engagement with Neil Bryant’s Minstrels in New York. August 6, 1880, they were with Sweatnam and Dougherty’s Minstrels, and September 6, 1881, with Murphy and Morton, opened with George Thatcher’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, as Murphy, Morton, Griffin and Rice.

In 1883 Mr. Rice broke away from his black-face affiliations, and with Geo. S. Knight’s “Over the Garden Wall,” played a German comedy role.

About 1885 Mr. Rice formed a partnership with Geo. W. Monroe, and for several years they starred in “My Aunt Bridget.” Subsequently he was identified with May Irwin’s and other high-class farcical productions.

Mr. Rice excels as a neat dancer, and as a light comedian, leaves nothing to be desired.

CHARLES HILLIARD.

Of course, everyone knows that Sallie Cohen, of Rice and Cohen, is none other than Mrs. John C. Rice; as a guess, the author would say the change occurred about 1890.

James Griffin formed a partnership with Ned Ainsley in the late 60’s, doing black-face songs and dances, and as Ainsley and Griffin were together for several years.

In 1872 Mr. Griffin was with Purdy, Scott and Fostelle’s Minstrels.

After separating from Mr. Rice, Griffin played engagements with Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia and Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels, in New York City; in 1893, he made a trip to South Africa with Serrill’s Minstrels.

He also played in various melodramatic productions.

John C. Rice (Hildeberg) was born in Beaver Kills, N. Y.—the reader must guess the rest.

James Griffin (McNally) was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 10, 1852; he died in Philadelphia, May 10, 1904.

Fred Hallen (Smith), prominent for many years as one of the famous farcical duo of Hallen and Hart, was “Master Ad. Weaver” as late as April, 1875, doing black-face parts in acts with that once well-known minstrel, Ad Weaver.

If Mr. Hallen has any regrets, he doesn’t look it.

Harry Le Clair, the famous protean player, had his experience with cork.

About 1876, at the Terrace Garden, Buffalo, N. Y., Manager Dan Shelby suddenly confronted LeClair and asked him if he could play Topsy. Mr. LeClair said he could play pinochle and seven up, but had never heard of Topsy, except in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” That’s the same party, said Shelby. So Mr. LeClair blacked up, and he blacked-down, he blacked in and he blacked out; he blacked his lips and he blacked his teeth; and he probably would still be blacking if the cork had not run out. After the show they had to run him through a washing machine to un-black him.

Smith and Byrne were a well-known black-face musical act thirty years ago. Their first appearance was at Washington Hall in New York, in 1878, on which occasion they introduced the famous “dislocated organ” solos, of which Mr. Byrne claims to be the originator—and to date no one has disputed it.

The team separated in 1884; Mr. Smith later ran for several years Smith’s Opera House in Bridgeport, Conn.

Mr. Byrne became a monologuist, but before that, a pessimist.

He is now a playwright, and is willing to prove it on the slightest provocation.

Ed C. Smith is said to be a resident of Boston or its environs.

John H. W. Byrne was born in Celbridge, Ireland, May 4, 1855.

Harry Lacy, the well-known actor, and star for many years in the “Still Alarm,” was a member of Harry Robinson’s Minstrels as early as March 29, 1873, 8:15 P. M.

He sang a ballad in the first part, and sang it well.

Michael F. Hennessy, one of the Hennessy Bros., was a well-known minstrel performer. He went to Europe with Haverly in 1884; subsequently appearing with other companies. For two seasons he was associated with Hennessy Bros. Minstrels.

His last engagement was with Cushman and Thomas’ Minstrels. He died in Milford, Mass., April 24, 1890; age 35 years.

Percy G. Williams, the prominent vaudeville manager and theatre owner, played many black-face parts while a member of the Park Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., Stock Company, many years ago. To be specific, he enacted the role of Goliah, a colored boy, in the play of “Echoes” week of October 23, 1876. I have the programme.

Dan Mason, the tangled Teutonic talker, was a comedian on the minstrel first part at the old National Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the Spring of 1874.

Dan says that was the beginning of the “end.”

Mr. Mason was born in Syracuse, N. Y., February 9, 1855.

Niles and Evans were an excellent song and dance team; Mr. Evans’ “make-up” as a wench was something remarkable. They made their first joint appearance at Rochester, N. Y., January 1, 1872, appearing in white faces in “Under the Gaslight.”

They subsequently played in black-face, and made their initial appearance in minstrelsy with John Hooley’s Company in Brooklyn, N. Y., in April, 1873; they remained a few weeks and liked it so well that they joined Purdy and White’s Minstrels May 19 following. There is reason to believe that they did not like this so well. In December, 1874, Mr. Evans temporarily retired, and with Burt Wayne, Mr. Niles joined Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels.

Subsequently they again joined hands and continued until March 18, 1882; owing to the illness of Mr. Niles, they made their last appearance as a team in Louisville, Ky., on the above date.

Mr. Evans’ career since then is well known.

On August 18, 1882, he formed an alliance with Bryant and Hoey, and for two years headed a variety company in which the principal act was that of the “Book Agent”; this was the inception of “A Parlor Match,” which was first produced September 5, 1884, and which had a continuous run for ten years, since which time Mr. Evans has been successfully manager, producer, actor and vaudevillian.

P. J. Niles was born in Syracuse, N. Y., February 8, 1851; he died at Lewis Station, N. Y., October 17, 1882.

Charles E. Evans was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 6, 1856.

Delmore and Wilson are recognized as clever performers in white face, but that they were equally clever disguised with cork, not all are aware. They made their first appearance in Hoboken, N. J. (most anyone can tell you where it is), in 1880, doing a neat black-face character change act.

Their first minstrel engagement was with Cal. Wagner in 1884; subsequently they played with the following well-known companies: Duprez and Benedict’s; Barlow Bros. and Frost’s; Hi Henry’s; Beach and Bower’s; two seasons with Carncross’ Minstrels, in Philadelphia; their last appearance in black-face was with Haverly’s Minstrels about fifteen years ago.

Subsequently they played six seasons with “Finnigan’s Ball” and two years with “The Irish Pawnbrokers.” These gentlemen also played several weeks in London and the provinces, and thirteen weeks in South Africa.

Len Delmore was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 23, 1861.

Fred Wilson was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 10, 1856.

Jerry Hart is a black-face comedian whom we should see more of, and I am sure we will.

Mr. Hart was raised in New Orleans, La., which gave him an opportunity of studying the “darky” at close range.

During Mr. Hart’s career he was associated with such companies as Barlow, Wilson and Rankin’s; Haverly’s; Al. G. Fields’, and Schilling’s Minstrels.

In 1897 he starred with Ned Monroe in the “Gay Matinee Girl.”

About ten years ago he went to England, and later to Africa, where Hart and Leo played for eight years.

Jerry Hart was born in Boston, Mass., January 23, 1856.

James M. Tierney made his first professional appearance at the age of 10 years; he was billed as Master Eddy.

About 1872 he joined Tim Cronin, and as Tierney and Cronin they constituted one of the best song and dance teams of their day, during which period they played the principal variety houses, and some of the famous minstrel organizations, notably Kelly and Leon’s; Neil Bryant’s and Hooley’s, in Brooklyn.

Mr. Tierney separated from Cronin about 1881, subsequently engaging with Harrigan and Hart in New York; he left them April 18, 1885, after which he joined the Alice Oates Company, where he remained until his death.

James M. Tierney was born in New York in 1856; he died in St. Louis, Mo., July 28, 1885.

Billie Barlow (Wm. S. Wyatt), a clever female impersonator who was with Hi Henry’s Minstrels in 1888, died in Mobile, Ala., September 2, 1897; age 41 years.

Fred. Dart was considered one of the best and most versatile “wenches” in minstrelsy; he was for many years with Sam Hague’s Minstrels in Liverpool, and when Mr. Hague came to this country in 1881, Mr. Dart was with him, subsequently joining Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia, where he remained until the time of his death.

Fred Dart was born in Liverpool, England; he died in Philadelphia, March 30, 1890; age 34 years.

Billy (Wm. H.) Chace began his professional career in his native city, doing an “essence” in black-face; this was in September, 1870. His first minstrel show was Huntley’s Minstrels; other minstrel engagements were Harry Robinson’s; I. W. Baird’s; Barlow, Wilson’s; Emerson’s; Alex Comstock’s. With Will Culhane and Wm. R. Weston they traveled as Culhane, Chace and Weston’s Minstrels for 8 years.

EDNA MAY SPOONER	SALLIE COHEN	CECIL SPOONER
TRIXIE FRIGANZA	LOTTA	JENNIE YEAMANS
MAUDE RAYMOND	ARTIE HALL	BEVERLY SITGREAVES
THEY ALL BLACKED UP.

He was of the song and dance teams of Chace and Davis, Chace and Yale and Chace and Buckley.

Other engagements were Washburn’s “Last Sensation,” 3 years; at the Theatre Comique, Providence, R. I., 3 years, and Rentz-Santley Company, 3 years; also clown with Howe’s London Circus and other circus engagements; James R. Waites Company, 3 years, and played Joshua Simpkins in the play of that name for one season, also with Rice and Barton’s Company.

Mr. Chace was married to Miss Kitty Elzel, at Worcester, Mass., April 18, 1882; subsequently he became the husband of Henrietta St. Felix, of the 4 St. Felix Sisters, at Bainbridge, Ga., February 1, 1893.

Mr. Chace says that he is of the opinion that Chace and Davis at the Wigwam Theatre, Paterson, N. J., February, 1873, were the first to do a black-face “gagging” turn; I place it up to my readers.

Billy Chace was born May 31, 1856; at Providence, R. I.