Did it ever occur to you that of the many minstrel companies of the past in which two or more headed the organization, the last named member of the alliance was the first to pass away?
For example, Skiff and Gaylord; Low. Gaylord was the first to die—there are about thirty other such instances.
George H. Primrose (Delaney), in addition to being one of the most graceful dancers in the profession, is concededly one of its best business men; a rare combination in theatrical history.
Mr. Primrose’s career began about 1867 in Detroit, Mich., with McFarland’s Minstrels, at which time he was billed as Master Georgie, the infant clog dancer; subsequently he joined the New Orleans Minstrels.
In the Summer of 1871 he went to Smith’s Opera House, Saginaw, Mich.; here he met and formed a partnership with Bobby McGown, and shortly afterwards they joined O’Brien’s Circus, where they performed a double clog in the concert; at the end of the tent season, Primrose and McGown dissolved partnership, and Mr. Primrose went with Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels; it was here he first met William H. West; late in 1871. A few months later they formed a partnership that continued about thirty years.
About May 1, 1873, Mr. Primrose and his new partner joined O’Brien’s Circus, again playing in the concerts; a little later they played their first joint minstrel engagement with Simmons and Slocum in Philadelphia, closing with them in the Spring of 1874. That same year, November 20, they made their initial appearance with Haverly’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y.; continuing with them until June 14, 1877; two months later Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s Minstrels gave their first performance; this was a grand organization; it continued until the Summer of 1882.
In conjunction with George Thatcher, Mr. Primrose and his partner organized Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Minstrels at Elmira, N. Y., August 3, 1882; this alliance was dissolved at the conclusion of the season of 1888-89. In the Summer of 1889, Primrose and West’s Minstrels made their initial bow and continued as an organization until April 30, 1898, when at Milwaukee, Wis., the long partnership that existed between Primrose and West dissolved.
Season of 1897-98, Mr. Primrose headed one minstrel company, while Mr. West piloted another; both companies being under their joint management.
Beginning in 1898, and continuing until the Spring of 1903, Mr. Primrose and Lew Dockstader joined forces, and Primrose and Dockstader’s company was the premier minstrel organization until the Spring of 1903.