About 1857 he joined Buckley’s Serenaders, remained with them for a considerable period, and went to England with them in 1860. Mr. McAndrews played sundry engagements until he joined Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels. About 1866, while with that company in Cincinnati, “Pastimes on the Levee” was first put on; it was not until three or four years later that the skit got the title that made it so popular; Dan Bryant did the christening, and McAndrews played three years with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York.
He went to England with Haverly’s Mastodons, and opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, July 31, 1880; subsequently, July 17, 1882, he played at the Pavillion in the English Metropolis, opening with great success.
The succeeding years of his career were spent with the many prominent minstrel and variety organizations, as well as playing innumerable engagements in the variety theatres.
J. W. McAndrews was born in Richmond, Va., November, 1831; he died at Elgin, Ill., December 29, 1899.
James Budworth, in addition to being a great minstrel, was a good actor. His debut was made at the Park Theatre, in New York City, in 1848, as vocalist and mimic.
May 26, 1860, James Budworth, Frank Budworth (his son, who afterwards developed into one of the best Chinese impersonators) and his brother, W. S. Budworth, appeared with Wood’s Minstrels, at the same time.
One year prior to this, he was the principal comedian with George Christy’s Minstrels in New York, Christy had been enjoined from appearing.
In 1862 he was with Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels; September, 1864, found him with Hooley’s, in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Monday, August 27, 1866, with his brother William, he opened the 5th Avenue Theatre (until recently, when it was demolished, known as the Madison Square Theatre), New York City; they remained several months.
Mr. Budworth was with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels in the Summer of 1869, and in September, 1872, he became a member of Frank Moran’s Minstrels in Philadelphia; he was likewise with several of the other prominent companies of his time. He also played the title role in “Pomp” and star roles in other plays.