In 1893 with George Thatcher he organized, and conducted, for two years Thatcher and Johnson’s 20th Century Minstrels.
Three years in vaudeville in black and white face was followed by an engagement with the William H. West Company of the Primrose and West’s Minstrels, there being two companies of that name season of 1897-98.
Mr. Johnson joined West’s Minstrels in 1898, and continued until 1900; then three more years of vaudeville, followed by two and a half years with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels.
He was with Dumont’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, season 1909-10. August 3, 1910, he began an engagement with Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels for the season.
Mr. Johnson was married in Boston, Mass., June 15, 1871, and lived happily ever after.
Carroll Johnson was born in Carlingford, Ireland, December 16, 1851.
Tommy Granger, the “Prince Jockey” as he was sometimes called, from the fact that his entrance on the stage was made on a coal black steed arrayed in Tod Sloan habiliments (Granger, not the horse) began “acting up” in 1861, doing a black-face song and dance at an exceedingly tender age, and in black face; this was in Buffalo; “Root Hog or Die” was the song used on this auspicious occasion.
But it was as a dancer that Mr. Granger gained fame; and his “Raffle for an Eight Day Stove,” is recalled by many a theatre goer of 30 years ago. His first minstrel engagement was with W. W. Newcomb in 1865; subsequently he allied himself with such well-known companies as Simmons and Slocum’s in Philadelphia; Thatcher, Primrose and West’s and the “California” Minstrels; his last engagement with a minstrel company was with the Barlow Brothers.
Tom Granger’s Georgia Minstrels in 1878 didn’t conflict with Haverly’s Mastodons of the same year.
Tommy Granger was born in Kingston, Canada, August 9, 1851.