Mr. Mason was born in Syracuse, N. Y., February 9, 1855.
Niles and Evans were an excellent song and dance team; Mr. Evans’ “make-up” as a wench was something remarkable. They made their first joint appearance at Rochester, N. Y., January 1, 1872, appearing in white faces in “Under the Gaslight.”
They subsequently played in black-face, and made their initial appearance in minstrelsy with John Hooley’s Company in Brooklyn, N. Y., in April, 1873; they remained a few weeks and liked it so well that they joined Purdy and White’s Minstrels May 19 following. There is reason to believe that they did not like this so well. In December, 1874, Mr. Evans temporarily retired, and with Burt Wayne, Mr. Niles joined Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels.
Subsequently they again joined hands and continued until March 18, 1882; owing to the illness of Mr. Niles, they made their last appearance as a team in Louisville, Ky., on the above date.
Mr. Evans’ career since then is well known.
On August 18, 1882, he formed an alliance with Bryant and Hoey, and for two years headed a variety company in which the principal act was that of the “Book Agent”; this was the inception of “A Parlor Match,” which was first produced September 5, 1884, and which had a continuous run for ten years, since which time Mr. Evans has been successfully manager, producer, actor and vaudevillian.
P. J. Niles was born in Syracuse, N. Y., February 8, 1851; he died at Lewis Station, N. Y., October 17, 1882.
Charles E. Evans was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 6, 1856.
Delmore and Wilson are recognized as clever performers in white face, but that they were equally clever disguised with cork, not all are aware. They made their first appearance in Hoboken, N. J. (most anyone can tell you where it is), in 1880, doing a neat black-face character change act.
Their first minstrel engagement was with Cal. Wagner in 1884; subsequently they played with the following well-known companies: Duprez and Benedict’s; Barlow Bros. and Frost’s; Hi Henry’s; Beach and Bower’s; two seasons with Carncross’ Minstrels, in Philadelphia; their last appearance in black-face was with Haverly’s Minstrels about fifteen years ago.