Little Mac (Ebenezer Nicholson) was a dwarf scarcely more than three feet high. He took the name of Little Mac during the Civil War out of compliment to Gen. McClellan, who was very popular at that time. The major portion of his professional career was spent in New York with Bryant’s Minstrels, where he made his first appearance, November 27, 1865.
In the summer of 1869 with Hughey Dougherty, John Wild and Master Barney, he headed a minstrel company bearing their names.
He subsequently returned to Bryant’s, where he remained until late in 1871.
Thereafter his engagements were desultory; his last regular appearance was with Daly Brothers in “Upside Down.” He was a clever comedian, and was prominently identified with his “Essence” and “Big Shoe Dance.”
Little Mac was born in Brockville, Canada, July 11, 1844; he died in New York, April 7, 1890.
Tommy Gettings was a well-known jig dancer, and during his brief career had been with the Bryant’s in New York, and other well-known minstrel companies.
He died in New York, November 25, 1866; age 22 years.
Billy Rice (Wm. H. Pearl). Minstrelsy knew no greater favorite than this once well-known comedian, who made his professional debut in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1865, at Poole and Donnelly’s Theatre, appearing in black-face, and assuming the name by which he was always identified.
He continued in the variety business mostly until 1869, when he joined Newcomb’s Minstrels; the following year he was with Hooley’s, in Brooklyn, and when that company made their first appearance in Chicago, January 2, 1871, Mr. Rice was a member.
Late that year he became identified with Manning’s Minstrels in the same city, continuing there until about February 1, 1872, when he again joined Hooley in Brooklyn. Subsequently he was with Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago, and later opened a variety theatre there.