Some years ago Mr. Arnold married Lida Gardner, daughter of the famous Dan Gardner. Both are actively engaged in their profession.
Billy Arnold was born in Louisville, Ky., July 10, 1850.
Amos D. Arnold began as a black-face performer with his brother Billy, singing “Sally Come Up” at the age of ten; most of his career was in conjunction with his two brothers.
He was born in Louisville, Ky., February 28, 1855; died at San Francisco, Cal., March 16, 1886.
Frank Arnold (Francisco Virello Fortinetti Arnold) could dance from the time he reached his seventh year. His first professional appearance in conjunction with his two brothers was made at Mortimer’s Varieties (the present National Theatre), Philadelphia, in “The Old Man’s Drunk Again,” a well-known vehicle for many prominent black-face performers; this was in 1873, and with his brothers they likewise met with great success. In 1875 the three brothers played an engagement of seven months at 585 Broadway, New York City.
Frank Arnold was born in Louisville, Ky., June 28, 1858; he died at Denver, Colo., January 22, 1892.
Lewis H. Davis made his first appearance about 1867 with the late Richard Golden, doing black-face songs and dances; they were billed as Masters Lew and Dick. Their first engagement was with Wheeler’s International Circus, following this they were with Smith, Davenport and Golden’s Variety Company. Early in 1868 Allie’s Mexican Knife Throwers Company claimed their services, and part of the season of 1869-70 they played an engagement with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels. Later with Golden he joined and did songs and dances with Bob Birdue.
After this and until his untimely death, which occurred in the dressing-room just prior to the performance, he was associated with Billy Chace, and as Chace and Davis they played the principal variety houses of the country, also an engagement with Sweet and Thornton’s Lady Minstrels, in the Spring of 1875.
Lewis H. Davis was born in Bangor, Me.; he died (suicide) at St. Johns, N. B., August 3, 1878.
Billy Barry, one of the funniest Irish comedians our stage has ever known, did black-face business for many years before “McKenna’s Flirtation” with Mary Ellen Ryan.