His story is best told in his own language, and here it is—“Trouped with Hypnotists, Magicians and sundry other “one night organizations” including a season in repertoire at 10-20 and 30; the above includes several journeys on foot and on top of box-cars.”
Mr. Beard has an engaging personality which brought him engagements with Ricaby’s “West’s” Minstrels; Nankeville’s “Haverly’s” Minstrels, George Primrose’s Minstrels and Ted Faust’s Minstrels. As a monologist and comedian he ranks with the best performers of his time, which began in 1902; at present he is in vaudeville.
Billy Beard was born in Columbia, S. C., September 1, 1879.
Will Philbrick made his first and only appearance in minstrelsy as a member of Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels at the Victoria Theatre, New York City, in the Spring of 1902; he sat on the end, sang “The Fortune Telling Man”; did “some” dance and made every one clap their hands awfully loud.
But I’m a trifle ahead of my story. His first appearance was selling peanuts in Barnum’s Circus in 1893; he came near being arrested for running a shell game. After that he became a real actor with “A Trip to Chinatown”; in this company he first appeared in black-face, doing a specialty with Eleanor Falk.
Mr. Philbrick played in other Hoyt productions, and “starred” for five years in “The Beauty Doctor.”
Likewise was he prominently identified with “Panhandle Pete”; Grace Cameron Opera Company, and “Foxy Grandpa.”
In vaudeville he was of the team of Philbrick and Cardownie, also with Joe. Hart’s “Bathing Girls.”
Will Philbrick was born in Boston, Mass., October 16, 1879.
Johnny Dove excels as a dancer, but whatever he does he does well; now for the rest.