Archie White (Moak), known to patrons of minstrelsy for over forty years, began his professional career in the late 60’s, and early took as a partner, Frank White, of Auburn, N. Y., with whom he did double songs and dances; later they formed an amateur minstrel show, visiting nearby towns. His first regular engagement was with the Park Theatre Company of Brooklyn, N. Y.; it lasted one consecutive week.
In 1870 he became a member of Blaisdell Brothers and Courtright’s Minstrels, opening at Portage City, Wis.; it was with this company that chance gave him an opportunity to do an “end”; and he did it well; this engagement lasted thirteen months. Next came a series of variety engagements. In 1873 he became a “member” of the famous Peak Family of Bell Ringers, doing a genteel song and dance.
His next prominent engagement was with Harry Robinson’s Minstrels; with this company he formed a partnership with the late Charles T. Ellis, of “Casper, the Yodler” fame. After this Mr. White played variety theatres for two years, then a short trip with one of Haverly’s Minstrel companies.
After Lew Benedict withdrew from the Duprez and Benedict organization, Mr. Duprez, who continued to use the trade-mark, chose Mr. White as his late partner’s successor; he joined the company at Scranton, Pa., September 17, 1877, and remained eight years.
Of late years Mr. White has been successful in rural drama, appearing in the plays “Joshua Simpkins” and “Uncle Josh, in Chinatown.”
At the present time he is actively engaged in vaudeville, giving his old darky delineations, of which he is a master.
In the early minstrel days Mr. White ranked high as a tambourine manipulator.
Archie White was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., January 20, 1850.
Press Eldredge (Preston W. Eldredge), whose sobriquet of “The Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Fun” is known wherever the vaudeville language is spoken, began his stage career at the New Bowery Theatre in 1863, at a benefit for J. W. Lingard; his offering was “Johnny Schmoker,” in Dutch dialect.
His black-face career dates from 1876, at which time he entered the variety business, doing a monologue successfully for two years. In 1878 he made his first minstrel appearance with Harry Bloodgood’s Minstrels, doing an “end,” and as comedian, the tour was a brief one, and returning to New York he resumed his variety engagements until 1880, when he joined Snellbaker and Benton’s Majestic Consolidation, under canvas. In 1881 he opened the American Theatre, New Haven, Conn., as a variety house, remaining until January, 1886, when he went to Koster & Bial’s, 23rd Street Music Hall, New York City, as stage manager and producer. In November, the same year, he made his initial bow at Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia, and continued there until April, 1891, at which time he went to Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels in London, England, and played a year’s engagement. In May, 1892, he joined Haverly’s Home Minstrels in Chicago, and stayed there until the company went on tour in November, 1893.