In December, 1881, he played an engagement with Emerson’s Minstrels in San Francisco, and in the summer of 1886 Allen’s Banjo Minstrels inaugurated a brief season.
R. G. Allen died May 21, 1892; age 47 years.
B. C. Hart, who has so long and ably represented the New York Morning Telegraph, and who is personally known to nearly every vaudevillian in the country, did a black-face act with the late Billy Barry in Memphis, Tenn., in 1868; that was the first. Since then and as late as 1881, Mr. Hart met with flattering success in his portrayal of “Old Black Joe” and in the sketch of the “Old Servant’s Return.”
As a “bingler on the bones,” and “thumber of the tambourine,” Mr. Hart has often responded to “Gentlemen, be seated.” Now for a secret. B. C. Hart was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 10, 1845. Wouldn’t believe it would you?
Sheridan and Mack were a great protean character sketch team. They never had their superiors, and it is doubtful if their equal was known during their partnership, which was formed in the middle 60’s, doing black-face songs and dances. They soon left off burnt cork and were the first recognized black-face team to do so. They played innumerable minstrel engagements, and were always in demand. Mr. Sheridan’s first professional appearance was April 12, 1864. After separating from Mr. Mack he played minstrel engagements, doing a single specialty. Later he went to Australia where he met with phenomenal success playing a female Irish part in “Fun on the Bristol.”
John F. Sheridan was born in Providence, R. I.; he died in Sydney, Australia, December 25, 1908.
James H. Mack (McGrath) was born in Providence, R. I.; he was the husband of Ada Boshell, the well-known actress.
Mr. Mack died in New York, December 24, 1889; age 41 years.
E. M. Hall was one of minstrelsy’s greatest banjoists, and a good comedian. His career began in 1865, doing a song and dance with Sharpley’s Minstrels; subsequently he did banjo duets with Harry Stanwood. Later he was identified with such well-known minstrel organizations as Emerson’s, in San Francisco; Manning’s, in Chicago; Carncross’, in Philadelphia; and Moore and Burgess’, in London, England, in 1880. In the latter city he joined Haverly’s Minstrels, with whom he was a star feature for several seasons. In 1875 he was associated with E. M. Kayne and Ned. Wambold in a minstrel venture bearing their names. December 30, 1903, Mr. Hall purchased a ticket for the matinee performance at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago; that was the date of the fearful holocaust, and he has never been seen since.
E. M. Hall was born in Chelsea, Me., about 1845.