Mr. Armstrong joined Sweatnam, Rice and Fagan’s Minstrels in 1887 for the season; in 1892 he was again with Haverly at the latter’s permanent home of minstrelsy in Chicago; at this house he did acts with Harry Constantine, the female impersonator.
Harry Armstrong was born at Wilmington, Del., April 3, 1850.
Harry Shirley, a well-known singer, who was with Emerson’s Minstrels in San Francisco in 1881, also other prominent companies, died in Los Angeles, Cal., September 22, 1889.
Otis Bowers, of the old minstrel firm of “Beach and Bowers” Minstrels, when last heard of was a contented resident of Maquoketa, Iowa.
After six months of constant practice, the author is able to spell and pronounce properly the name of the thriving little town in the state that produced Bert Leslie.
Harry Shay (Shea) was a well known and capable black-face comedian and general performer. He had been associated with many of the prominent variety theatres as stock comedian, and was especially a favorite in Paterson, N. J., where he died, November 4, 1886.
Hurley and Marr, famous for many years in their black-face songs and dances, formed a partnership about 1869; they appeared with Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., in December of that year.
Subsequently they played successful engagements with Hooley in Chicago in the Fall of 1872, leaving Hooley to join Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels, in the same city.
They also appeared with Bryant’s in New York, and Simmons and Slocum in Philadelphia.
Mr. Marr later separated from Hurley, and for about ten years worked with his brother John, as the Marr Brothers.