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.