“Hap” Ward (John O’Donnell) and Harry Vokes, the famous farceurs who have headed their own organizations for several seasons past, have used burnt cork copiously and freely.
Mr. Ward was a member of the Four Diamonds, a black-face act of about thirty years ago; and Mr. Vokes paraded in many a one night stand while with the Barlow, Wilson Minstrels about the same time. If you don’t believe it, ask Ward and Vokes.
Chas. Horwitz, the well-known vaudeville sketch writer and collaborator with Fred Bowers in the production of many great song successes, did an “end” for one night, July 4, 1893, at Long Branch, N. J., with “Barney Fagan’s Minstrels” without Barney Fagan.
Mr. Horwitz was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and looks it.
Joe. Cawthorne, one of America’s foremost comedians, played many black-face and minstrel engagements in his varied career. For instance, he and his brother Herbert opened at Sam Hague’s Minstrels in Liverpool, England, December 1, 1879. Doesn’t time fly?
Jas. T. Powers (McGovern), the popular light opera comedian, played “Useless Maguff,” a nig in hard luck, in the drama of “Wide Awake” at Aberle’s Theatre, New York City, week of March 22, 1880; and he’s proud of it.
Gus. Pixley. It’s not hard for him to be a happy Hobo—on the stage.
It was just as easy on March 19, 1883, at the Standard Theatre, San Francisco, with Emerson’s Minstrels, to play Lady Angela, in the burlesque on “Pinafore.” Of course, he was a black Lady Angela; for those were dark days.
De Wolf Hopper, the altitudinous comedian, was one of the features of the “Lambs’ Gambol,” in their minstrel first part of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, May 31, 1909. He said, “Gentlemen, be seated,” and they did.
Lucille La Verne, the favorite character actress, played Judith Clancy, the negro “mammy” in “Clarice,” at the Garrick Theatre, New York, October 16, 1906. Sounds more like an Irish “mammy,” don’t you think?