In the fall of 1889 with Ned Thomas he organized the Cushman and Thomas Minstrels.
Mr. Cushman created the black-face part in the production of “Natural Gas”; and in 1898 he was with the last minstrel show Jack Haverly ever put out. He was married to the widow of Billy Welch about 1888, and they lived very happily together.
His last appearance was at Lexington, Ky., a few days before his death.
Frank Cushman was born in Baltimore, Md., March 11, 1853; he died in Louisville, Ky., December 19, 1907.
Edwin French (Adam Kunz) was one of the great banjoists of minstrelsy.
He made his first appearance in St. Louis, Mo., as Master Eddie with Morris and Wilson’s Minstrels.
He next appeared with Green’s “Mocking Bird” Minstrels, and in 1867 was with Sam Sharpley’s Company.
Subsequently he played a long engagement with Birch, Wambold and Backus in New York City.
He was also with Carncross in Philadelphia; Moore and Burgess in London, England, and Dockstader in New York. In 1882 he was with Leavitt’s Giganteans; and likewise played an important engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels.
Edwin French was born in Cleveland, Ohio, January 31, 1853; he died at Saranac Lake, N. Y., September 16, 1903.