James Cook, of the favorite vaudeville duo of Cook and Lorenz, did a black-face act with Mort. Emerson, in Barlow, Wilson and Rankin’s Minstrels, about 1885.
Besides being a good Cook; he can sing and dance and tell comical stories. Fact.
John W. Vogel is the most prominent of non-playing minstrel managers of to-day.
In 1901, after the death of Col. Haverly, Mr. Vogel assumed the title of “Minstrel King,” by which he has subsequently been known. Like so many successful minstrel executives, Mr. Vogel’s earliest training was with the circus; his first experience was with Sells Bros.’ “Millionaire Confederation of Stupendous Shows”; this was in March, 1882. In the Fall of that year he joined Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Minstrels at Cleveland, Ohio, as assistant agent; Mr. Vogel’s executive abilities showed to such advantage that he was subsequently made manager of the organization. Afterwards he piloted successfully such well-known minstrel companies as McNish, Johnson and Slavin’s; McNish, Ramza and Arno’s; Primrose and West’s and McIntyre and Heath’s.
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| ARTHUR MORELAND | FRANK DUMONT |
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| JOS. M. NORCROSS | HARRY M. MORSE |
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| WM. H. HALLETT (Scherer Studio, New York City) | VAUGHN COMFORT |
| “MORE MEN OF THE MIDDLE.” | |
He also owned and managed Vogel’s Afro-American Mastodon Minstrels, and “Darkest America.” The present year of 1910 is the fourteenth season of John W. Vogel’s Big City Minstrels. He likewise managed the Al. G. Fields’ Minstrels for seven years.
Mr. Vogel’s success is attested by his elegant Summer residence at Vogel’s Beach, Buckeye Lake, Ohio, and a Winter home in Columbus, Ohio.
John W. Vogel was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, May 16, 1863.
Geo. W. Lewis is a dancer, is a producer and likewise an innovator; and there you have it all.
Mr. Lewis made his first appearance with the I. W. Baird’s Minstrels, season of 1881-82; he was 25 per cent. of the “Midget 4”; the Whippler Twins and Stone constituting the other three quarters.