Before starting on his minstrel career, he was cornetist with the Elgin, Ill., National Watch Company Military Band, and others. His first professional appearance was of the musical team of Trewetz and Coburn, in 1886. Subsequently in 1890 he joined Louis Baldwin in a comedy act, and continued with the latter until his (Baldwin’s) death.
Mr. Coburn’s first minstrel engagement was with the W. S. Cleveland Company, in 1893.
Five years later he was owner and manager of the original Barlow Bros. Minstrels; subsequently known as the Great Barlow Minstrels.
Mr. Coburn rehearses and directs his own show, and has the distinction of being one of the best known men in the minstrel business.
A fine home at Daytona, Fla., is a tribute that speaks volumes for his twenty-four years in the profession.
J. A. Coburn was born in Boston, Mass., March 12, 1868.
Of Corse Payton blacked up. As a matter of cold fact, his first professional appearance was made at a county fair less than a million miles from Centreville, Iowa; Mr. Payton was the end man in a minstrel show there. Later he was with a repertoire company that acted “Uncle Tom’s Cabin;” and the report is that he played every character in the play including Eva; he only got cold feet when they insisted on his playing the “cake of ice.”
Now to be serious—the king of 10, 20, 30 played Wool, a black-face part in the “Hidden Hand” at Payton’s Lee Avenue Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., commencing November 4, 1901.
Corse Payton was born in Centreville, Iowa, December 18, 1867; and Centreville has never been sorry.
Eddie Horan, the well-known dancer and producer, made his first professional appearance with Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Minstrels in 1885; subsequently appearing with the following prominent minstrel companies—Hi. Henry, three seasons; Al. G. Fields, five seasons, and two years with Wm. H. West’s Company. With the exception of the first mentioned company, he was general producer for the others.