Billy Manning. Minstrels may come and go, but like the brook, the name and fame of this brilliant performer seems destined to live forever; for while more than three decades have passed since Billy Manning passed away, each generation in his native city seems as familiar with his former stage triumphs as those that were contemporaneous with him.
His career started in 1859, on the boat “Dixie”; where Manning, who was very proficient with the “bones,” played an end with a minstrel show.
In the fall of 1862 he was with Campbell’s Minstrels, and on November 23, 1863, he joined Morningstar’s company. The engagement was a brief one, and he next opened with Rumsey’s Minstrels, with whom he closed May 27, 1864; opening with Hooley in Brooklyn, three days later.
That same year he was with Morris and Wilson’s Minstrels, and in 1865 with Dan Shelby’s Company. Engagements with Kunkel’s Nightingales; Haight and Chamber’s Circus and LaRue’s Minstrels followed.
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| LUKE WEST | NED WEST |
| “LOOKING WEST.” | |
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| ARTHUR RIGBY | ARTHUR DEMING |
| A PAIR OF ARTISTIC ARTHURS | |
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| MASTER BARNEY | SAM RICKEY |
| THEY WERE ALWAYS MASTERS. | |
In September, 1867, he joined Newcomb’s Minstrels, continuing with this company until the following Summer, when he left Newcomb, and in association with Billy Emerson and Johnny Allen, formed a minstrel company bearing their names.
May 22, 1869, Mr. Allen dropped out of the organization, which was thereafter known as Emerson and Manning’s. In January, 1870, in Chicago, the partners separated, and Manning continued at the Dearborn Theatre in that city with Manning’s Minstrels, where he remained several months.
Under the financial management of Tom Foley, of Chicago, the company went on tour in the Fall of 1871, giving their first performance at Xenia, Ohio, October 19.
July 6, 1872, Mr. Manning severed his association as head of the company, which subsequently was known as Newcomb’s Minstrels, in Cincinnati. September 2, 1872, in that city, he began a brief engagement with Wm. Henry Rice’s Minstrels, and on October 28 he opened with Frank Moran’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.
At the end of the season Mr. Manning became associated with Moran, and opened in Pittsburg, Pa., April 21, 1873, as Moran and Manning’s Minstrels. Mr. Manning then went to San Francisco, where, June 30, he began an extended engagement with Maguire’s Minstrels, terminating February 21 following. April 6, he made his first appearance with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, where he finished the balance of that season.