Will G. Mack, once of the team of Mack and O’Day, had been in the profession about twenty-five years, and with Al G. Fields’, Barlow Bros., and other minstrel companies prior to his death, November 12, 1897.
Charles Heywood (Frank Haffner), who has an international reputation in minstrelsy as a female impersonator, possesses a remarkably fine cultivated voice, which long experience has taught him to use to the best advantage.
Mr. Heywood made his debut with an amateur minstrel company in Newark, N. J., in 1867, at the famous old Library Hall.
In January, 1868, he appeared professionally in New York with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels.
Later he was identified with Buckley’s, Duprez and Benedict; Emerson’s; Simmons and Slocum’s; Haverly’s, and several other notable organizations.
In 1881 he was with Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and the following year with Clark and Ryman’s Minstrels he went to Australia—with his pigeons; for Heywood wouldn’t travel without his pigeons, and the pigeons wouldn’t travel without Heywood; so there you are.
After the pigeon engagement, which lasted sixty weeks, Mr. Heywood joined Haverly’s Mastodons in London, in 1884; again using the pigeons, 100 strong, as a feature of his act.
After several notable engagements in the music halls on the Continent, he returned to this country, and subsequently built a theatre in Newark, N. J. As a builder Mr. Heywood admits he wasn’t a success, but as a hustler he is second to none. And then he opened a conservatory, where several who since achieved success in their profession received their tuition. Of late years Mr. Heywood’s talents have been devoted chiefly to concert work.
Charles Heywood was born in New York City, October 24, 1848.
Barry Maxwell (Maxey) has been famous for many years for his delineation of the aged “darky,” of which he is a master.