D. W. McCabe, well known as one of the proprietors of McCabe and Young’s Minstrels, which toured the country for several seasons, died at Moorcroft, Wyo., October 20, 1907; age 47 years.
Billy Payne, the well-known banjoist, made his first professional appearance in his native city in 1875, at the St. Charles Theatre, playing for Lotta to dance in the “Little Marchioness.”
Mr. Payne’s first minstrel engagement came two years later.
Mr. Payne married in 1881, and as Billy and Alice Payne toured the variety houses for several seasons; later he worked alone, and played the vaudeville houses.
He joined Dumont’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, in 1903, for an extended engagement, and likewise did meritorious work in white-face, playing a comedy character part with the “Village Postmaster”; also in black-face was he partly responsible for the “Redemption of David Corson.”
Billy Payne was born in New Orleans, La., July 16, 1860.
Chas. K. French (Krauss) made his first professional appearance in his native city in 1878, with the Sargent-Bailey Stock Company. Subsequently, as Master Vive Williams, he did a black-face song and dance in the variety theatres.
Then came French and Palmer for a season in variety; then French and Perry Ryan, after which French and Alice Clarke played together for five years. Mr. French had by this time attained recognition as a banjoist.
In 1887 he joined (Wm. Henry) Rice, (John) Hart and (Add) Ryman’s Minstrels; the following season he was with Barlow Brothers and Frost’s Minstrels.
Subsequently he created the part of Uncle Ned in “In Old Kentucky,” and continued with the company for six seasons.