It was while with the latter organization that Mr. Chipman conceived the dark design of becoming a burlesque manager; this was in Nyack, N. Y., December, 1898.
In 1905 he was manager of the Colonial Theatre, Lawrence, Mass.; likewise did he manage for Rice and Barton’s Burlesque Company, two seasons; same period for T. W. Dinkin’s “Innocent Maids” Company; Ginger Girls and other girly girly companies.
Altogether Mr. Chipman was twenty-one years in minstrelsy; nineteen of which he sat in the middle.
E. W. Chipman was born in Lynn, Mass., March 13, 1869.
Fulton Bros., the “Two Dromios of Minstrelsy,” so called because of their similarity in general make up on the stage.
Their careers began in the early 80’s as stars of their own organization, the Fulton Bros. Minstrels, playing in the South, the tour was under the direction of their father.
They subsequently in conjunction with Edwin Warren formed the “Orion Trio” and produced with much success in vaudeville the Fulton Bros. trick-house act called “A Hot Chase.”
The brothers first important minstrel engagement was with Lester and Allen’s Minstrels in 1885; afterwards they were prominently identified with such high-class organizations as Thatcher, Primrose and West’s; Haverly-Cleveland Company and George Wilson’s. With the latter company they worked with Hi Tom Ward; the alliance was known as Fulton Bros, and Hi. Tom Ward.
With George Wilson’s Minstrels they put on the big song and dance numbers.
A few years ago the brothers separated for business reasons, William going into vaudeville, and James, possessing executive abilities equal to his terpsichorean talents, accepted the managerial position with the Golden Crook burlesque company five years ago, and has been with it ever since.