Rees Prosser was born in New Albany, Ind., September 13, 1867.
Waterbury Bros. made their first professional appearance with Vreeland’s Minstrels doing a straight musical act in 1892; the same year they played their first vaudeville engagement at Shea’s Music Hall in Buffalo. In 1894 they were joined by Chas. Kenna, the comedian, the act then was known as Waterbury Bros. and Kenna.
In the Summer of 1895 Ernest Tenney replaced Kenna, and as Waterbury Bros. and Tenney they have since been known.
Geo. N. Waterbury was born in New York City, December 14, 1867.
Edw. M. Waterbury was born in Stamford, Conn., May 27, 1871.
Ernest Tenney, one of the famous Tenney family who gave series of concerts some years ago, began his career as a member of the family August 6, 1882; the company comprising father, mother, sister, and four brothers, in addition to the subject of this sketch; he remained a member of this organization until 1889; engagements followed with an Uncle Tom troupe (no, reader, Mr. Tenney did not play Eva); after Tom came the Daniel Boone Company and a return to the family fold for a brief period; then an engagement with Gray and Stephen’s “Vesper Bells” Company, after which he joined Harry Whiting in a comedy musical act. In August, 1893, he joined the Four Emperors of Music, and in September, 1893, “Emperors” joined Cleveland’s Minstrels for a few months; June 15, 1895, he left Three Emperors and immediately joined the Waterbury Bros.
Waterbury Bros. and Tenney have played the principal vaudeville houses since their alliance in 1893; also engagements with Cleveland’s, Primrose and West’s, Wm. H. West’s and Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels, also two seasons with Harry Williams Company, and a season with Sam Scribner.
Weber And Fields, the famous German comedians, who for many years did all they could to disintegrate the King’s English, did a black-face act at Turn Hall, in New York, about thirty years ago.
They were each born in New York City; Mr. Weber, August 17, 1867; Mr. Fields, December 31, 1867.
Arthur C. Rigby ranks with the best of present day monologists. Mr. Rigby has a unique style of delivery, pleasant address and excellent enunciation, all of which spell success.