About forty years ago he became associated with Mme. Rentz’s Female Minstrels; when the fall season opened, September 18, 1871, Mr. Leavitt was treasurer of the company. This organization subsequently developed into the Rentz-Santley Troupe, the burlesque show of many years’ standing. Most of the Leavitt millions were made with this company.
In 1881 Leavitt’s Gigantean Minstrels were organized, and in 1889 Leavitt’s European Minstrels toured.
Mr. Leavitt has broken into the ranks of authors, and an interesting volume from his pen may shortly be expected.
M. B. Leavitt was born in Boston, Mass., June 24, 1843.
Arthur Cook, the well-known minstrel tenor who made popular “Ring the Bells Softly,” “Essie Dear” and other favorite compositions, came to America about 1853, and was prominently identified with such well-known minstrel organizations as Bryant’s, in New York; Carncross’ and Thatcher and Ryman’s in Philadelphia; Hooley’s in Brooklyn; San Franciscos in New York; Primrose and West; also with Edward Harrigan, “The County Fair” and “The Man From Boston.”
Arthur Cook was born in London, England; he died in Boston, Mass., November 1, 1893; age 50 years.
Billy McAllister’s career began at the age of sixteen, singing in concerts.
In 1862 he joined the Fuller New York combination Minstrels as a comedian, and as a comedian no one has ever been able to justly gainsay his right to that term.
In 1864 he organized the Cross, Fay and McAllister’s Minstrels, and until 1870 he was associated with various companies; in the fall of that year he joined Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels; Mr. McAllister demonstrated his versatility with this company by performing at various times the duties of balladist, interlocutor and comedian.
In 1872 he was with Harry Robinson’s Minstrels, and most of the period from then until 1880 was identified with his own companies.