Hughey Dougherty—if you never heard of him, better get acquainted now.
His real career began Monday evening, January 4, 1858, at the famous 11th Street Opera House, in his native city, with Sanford’s Minstrels; it was Sam Sanford who christened him “Young America,” and the title stuck to him for many years; other performers appropriated it, but it originated with Hughey Dougherty; “stick a pin in dar, Brudder Bones.” He continued with Sanford until 1860, when he went to Frank River’s Melodeon, also in the Quaker City.
Mr. Dougherty’s greatest success was made as a stump-speaker, when the art had its greatest vogue thirty odd years ago; though he occasionally gives a speech, and is apparently as good as ever.
He has been associated with the greatest minstrel companies of the past and present, such as Skiff and Gaylord’s; Simmons and Slocum’s, (Philadelphia); Thatcher, Primrose and West’s; Hooley’s (Brooklyn); Cleveland’s; Morris Brothers (Boston), three years; Carncross’, and Carncross and Dixey’s (Philadelphia); Johnson and Slavin’s; Moore and Burgess’ (London, Eng.); Barlow, Wilson’s; Barlow, Wilson and Rankin’s; Haverly; and Duprez and Benedict. In addition there was Dougherty, Wild (John) Barney (Master) and Mac’s (Little) Minstrels, who gave their first performance July 12, 1869.
About three years later he formed an alliance with Messrs. Harvey, Leslie and Braham; they organized a minstrel show and made an extensive tour of Africa. June 18, 1877, he opened the Alhambra Palace, a variety theatre in Philadelphia. Mr. Dougherty also has a record, unique in minstrelsy—just about one-half of his professional career was spent at the theatre in which he made his debut; and one-half of the total number was with Dumont’s Minstrels.
Hughey Dougherty was born in Philadelphia, July 4, 1844.
Billy Emmett (George Busteed) was known chiefly in his later years as a manager, notably of the Academy of Music in Chicago.
While yet in his teens he became stage struck, and after a few inconspicuous engagements, began playing dates in the variety houses, doing a black-face specialty. In 1864 he went to Carr’s Melodeon, Buffalo, N. Y., and with Nick Norton, did Dutch character sketches. The following year he was with Green’s “Mocking Bird” Minstrels, and in 1866 went to New York, where he played several seasons with the San Francisco Minstrels. He was associated at various times with John L. Sullivan, Callender’s Minstrels and Sam Hague’s Minstrels, the latter in the early 80’s.
Mr. Emmett was noted for his philanthropy; at one time he was reputed to have left word in the Chicago hospitals, that in the event of the death of any improvident variety or minstrel performer, not to give a pauper burial, but to notify him (Emmett) at once.
A few more “Billy Emmett’s” and the Actor’s Fund would not be so heavily burdened.