They tell this one about the famous Billy Manning—Manning’s Company and that of Dan Bryant met on one occasion on the road; in the course of the conversation it turned out that Bryant’s Company was to follow Manning’s in at a certain town; Dan Bryant requested Manning to “announce” the coming of his (Bryant’s) troupe; which of course, Manning promised to do.
About ten days later the minstrels met again, and Manning informed Bryant that he (Manning), had played the previous evening in the town already referred to.
Did you “announce” me said Dan? I was just going to, said Manning, when the fellow got up and went out.
Billy Bryant (Wm. Thos. Hanson). Who among theatre-goers of twenty years ago who recall Bryant & Richmond in the act “Imprisoned,” cannot see Billy Bryant as he carefully felt the topmost portion of his anatomy, ruefully exclaiming—“O! my coco.” That was comedy.
Bryant’s career began in 1868 with the Walter Bray Company, where he joined hands with Arthur Hegeney, under the team name of Hanson and Hegeney. It was Bray that suggested a change, and forthwith Hanson became Bryant, in honor of Dan Bryant, and Hegeney was thereafter known as Williams, after the famous Barney Williams, whose early days were spent in minstrelsy.
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| LEW DOCKSTADER | P. J. NILES | |
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| CHAS. DOCKSTADER | WILL OAKLAND, The Famous Contra Tenor | CHAS. E. EVANS |
| DOCKSTADER BROS. (1879) | NILES & EVANS (1878) |
Bryant and Williams played the best variety houses in the country until 1876, when he married Lizzie Richmond, and as Bryant & Richmond they gave “Imprisoned” for many years; afterwards they produced “Keep it Dark”; for seven seasons they played it with much success.
Alice Hanson, an unusually clever and vivacious soubrette, is his daughter.