Edw. Sands (Stanstedt) was born in Boston, Mass.; he died there February 12, 1887; age 30 years.
Murphy and Morton were equally as well known in black-face specialties as they were in white. They made their first appearance about 1874 with Tony Pastor in New York. They played the principal variety houses, and were with such well-known minstrel companies as Hooley’s; Thatcher’s, in Philadelphia; Emerson’s, in San Francisco; Hooley’s, in Chicago; Haverly, same city, and Carncross, in Philadelphia. About 1880, they joined forces with Griffin and Rice, and did a “four” act for about two seasons. All told, Mr. Murphy has spent about twenty years at Carncross’, and half that at Dumont’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.
He has been also associated with Alf. Gibson, and produced Murphy and Gibson’s Minstrels in Atlantic City, N. J., for several years past.
John E. Murphy (DeAngelis) was born in Philadelphia, July 26, 1855.
Jos. Morton (McGarvey) was born in Philadelphia; he died there July 17, 1884; age 29 years.
The highest salary ever drawn by any black-face team in the history of theatricals was paid to McIntyre and Heath.
The Three Rankins achieved enviable distinction for their musical act, which was one of the best. Originally there were four brothers, Carl, Will, Rit and Fitch, and they played an engagement with E. M. Hall’s Minstrels, opening in Chicago, June 29, 1878. In the Fall of the same year Fitch Rankin retiring, the Three Rankins joined Wagner and Cotton’s Minstrels for a short season.
The following year with Lew Simmons, they organized Simmons and Rankin’s Minstrels, and after the dissolution they re-organized as Three Rankin’s Minstrels, opening at Columbus, Ohio, November 27, 1879, and closing same date.