Mr. Budworth was best known for his imitations of actors, in which he had no peer.
As a banjoist he gained renown, and played with equal proficiency the Japanese and Chinese fiddle.
As a Dutch comedian he was great; his John Schmidt in “The Persecuted Dutchman” at the Park Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1865, received lavish praise from press and public.
James Budworth was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1831; he died in New York City, March 15, 1875.
Dick Berthelon, an old-time black-face performer, appeared mostly in variety houses for many years; he was good in the old-time “nigger” acts, and was proficient as a manipulator of the bones and tambourine.
He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 25, 1891; age 60 years.
Billy Boyd was a capable minstrel performer of the old school; he was with Hunt and Company’s Minstrels in 1855, and was very well-known in Philadelphia, where he was born in 1831; he died in New York, April 21, 1869.
R. M. Carroll, or “Dick” as he is better known, or “Master Marks” as he was originally known to the profession, probably has the greatest number of years of theatrical service of any one in minstrelsy.
Mr. Carroll is best remembered as a dancer, and he was one of the world’s greatest; but in his early career he was a splendid wench performer; he was the third one to do “Lucy Long”; a great feature of old-time minstrelsy.
Mr. Carroll’s first public appearance was at Tinkham Hall on Grand Street, New York City; the occasion was the benefit of an elderly Irish lady, long since departed—this was in 1837. For many years he danced at balls and parties. About 1845 he first appeared professionally at the Bowery Amphitheatre, New York City, in a circus, and shortly after this at the Bowery Theatre he blacked up for the first time with “Daddy” Rice, playing in “Bone Squash.”