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.
Jake Budd (Zebley), the old-time comedian, was with Buckley’s Serenaders in England, about 1855; subsequently with Dan Howard he ran Canterbury Hall in Harrisburg, Pa., for several years; in 1862 he rejoined Buckley’s; he also directed minstrel companies in Baltimore and Washington. In 1872 he was part owner of Brant’s Hall in Harrisburg, Pa.; in 1874 he was stage manager of the Comique in Washington, D. C.; subsequently becoming the manager.