Hubert W. Eagan is one of the few old-time black-face performers whose active career began over half a century ago.
Mr. Eagan’s professional life began in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1857; three years later he sat on the end for the first time in Baltimore, Md., at the Melodeon, the present site of the Monumental Theatre.
He played many variety engagements before he went with LaRue’s Minstrels in 1866.
Mr. Eagan joined James Edwards in the middle 60’s, and as Eagan and Edwards were highly popular in the variety houses.
In 1863 he married Miss Jennie Williams, and after playing numerous variety and circus engagements, he retired about 1898.
Hubert W. Eagan was born in Castleragh, Ireland, December 18, 1841.
Lew Brimmer (Leslie Chase Brimmer) was not only a great banjoist, but a clever comedian as well.
In July, 1864, he was with Sanderson’s Minstrels; the same year he joined Hooley in Brooklyn, N. Y.; December 5, 1865, at Binghamton, N. Y., was given the first performance of Brimmer, Whiting, Gaynor and Clark’s Minstrels.
He was with Emerson and Manning’s Minstrels in 1869, and the following year with Emerson’s Minstrels; in the Summer of 1871 he had out Lew Brimmer’s Banjo Minstrels, and in September, 1872, he began an engagement with Moran and Dixey’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.
He was also with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York, and with Wood’s Company in the same city. His last engagement was at Sandy Spencer’s, in New York City.