In 1852 he was with Kunkel’s Nightingales, and subsequently with Rumsey and Newcomb’s Minstrels, with whom he remained until the Spring of 1861. Subsequently he became a member of Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., and in 1864 joined Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels in Philadelphia and remained there for seven seasons.
In 1871-72 he was with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels, also in Philadelphia. In 1872 he re-joined Carncross and Dixey, and continued with them until November, 1875, when he made his final stage appearance.
Mr. Lehr was thoroughly legitimate in each character he portrayed; he was the “darky” in life as well as color.
Harry Lehr was born in Philadelphia, October 7, 1830; he died there September 10, 1881.
Dave Reed. The career of this famous old-timer practically began with minstrelsy itself.
He it was, with Dan Bryant, who did so much to popularize “Shoo Fly” more than forty years ago; and “Sally Come Up” will always be identified with his memory.
But as a bone player, Dave Reed is probably best remembered; his imitations of drums, horses running and the like were wonderful; the art practically died with him. Mr. Reed’s career began about 1844 with a small traveling company. He played in and around New York for several seasons and later went West.
June 18, 1856, Dave Reed’s Minstrels were the feature performance on board the steamer “James Raymond”, plying the Mississippi.
Mr. Reed was with Hooley’s Minstrels in New York in 1861; subsequently with the latter in Brooklyn. He joined Bryant’s Minstrels in New York in 1863; he was there when Dan Bryant died, April 10, 1875. In between, about 1868, he was with Kelly and Leon, also in New York.
About twenty-five years ago Dave Reed, his wife and four clever children made their appearance in vaudeville as the Reed Family; later they were known as the Reed Birds. He retired in 1903.