Edw. Le Roy Rice

“ The acme of versatility, the personification of grace, the quintessence of greatness, such was Billy Emerson, who was gifted with a voice that an opera singer might have envied, and endowed by Nature with talents that are but seldom given to man. ”

“ At the opening performance we had a song and dance team who, like myself, were just breaking into the business. Their act was not an unqualified success and extra tickets to Morristown were not purchased. Some one asked Bob Slavin what he thought of the act, to which he replied: “As a success, they’re a failure; as a failure, they’re a success.”
The company closed early in November and a couple of weeks before Christmas I consented to wrap parcels at Wanamaker’s store in Philadelphia for a small weekly stipend. It was hard to work for wages after having received a salary. ”

“ The name of Dockstader has been a household word for many years; the fame of Dockstader will live forever.
Mr. Dockstader’s initial appearance dates back to 1873, when, in his native city he was a member of an amateur organization by the very minstrel name of Earl, Emmett and Wild’s Minstrels; with Frank Lawton he did a song and dance act under the team name of Lawton and Clapp. ”

“ Henry Rice does the Prima Donna capitally; he is one of the best grotesque singers we ever saw—Rice is a star of the first magnitude, and can infuse more low comedy into an operatic song than any other artist.”
The Stage (New York) , November 13, 1871, said: “Nillson is capitally burlesqued by W. H. Rice, who never descends to vulgarity, and who displays his peculiar talents to the best possible advantage.” ”

“ Fox and Ward—To Fox and Ward belong the enviable distinction of having existed as partners (perhaps we should say theatrical associates) , for a longer period than that of any other team; active partners is the term meant. Their initial joint appearance was in Cincinnati in 1868.
Early in 1870 they played their first minstrel engagement with Dan Shelby’s Company, and the same year they joined Duprez and Benedict’s Minstrels, and were features of this famous organization until 1879, when they joined Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s Minstrels. ”

“ Some maintain that minstrelsy is here to stay, while others insist there are no more minstrel shows.
But if the question were: Are the minstrels dying out? there could be no divergence of opinion. The passing away in the last decade or so of such luminaries as Neil. Bryant, Billy Rice, Billy West, Billy Emerson, Wm. Henry Rice, Frank Cushman, Ben. Cotton, Johnny Booker, Jack Herman, Andy Leavitt, E. F. Dixey, J. B. Donniker, “Eugene” J. H. Haverly, Sam. Hague, Dave Reed and many others, eliminate the matter of doubt entirely. ”

“ Mr. Thatcher has since been in vaudeville singly, also at various periods with Ed. Marble, Charley Ernest, Banks Winter, Mrs. Zenaide Thatcher and Will Phillips.
Also did he play an engagement with Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels in London, England, about twenty-five years ago; his success there was nothing short of phenomenal.
Mr. Thatcher is a natural wit, always original, and an actor as well as a performer, as evinced by his clever interpretations of black-face characters in “The County Chairman” and “Cameo Kirby.” ”

“ Judson, the proprietor, the doors and windows had been well padded and covered so that no noise within could reach beyond them. The apartment was lighted with wax candles. Those assembled were John McCullough, Harry Montague, J. S. Polk, Charles Gaylor, all of whom had achieved fame upon the stage; Dan Bryant and Nelson Seymour, the most famous negro minstrels of their day; Commodore Dickinson, of the New York Yacht Club; George Brown, of the chop house, which bore [99] his name; a gentleman named Cooper and, of course, Sothern, Lee and myself. ”

“ In 1863 he decided that his own name was good enough, and as such he opened at Hooley’s Minstrels, Brooklyn, N. Y. Other minstrel companies he was identified with were—Cool White’s Broadway Minstrels; Hooley’s, New York City (201 Bowery) ; Cotton and Sharpley’s, New York City; return to Hooley’s, Brooklyn, 1869; Kelly and Leon’s, New York City; Sam Sharpley’s, and Kelly and Leon’s, Chicago.
Mr. Ralph was a popular end man, being equally proficient with the bones or tambourine; but it was as a dancer that he excelled; his “Essence” and “George, the Charmer,” are well remembered by many ”

“ George Kunkel began his career as a black-face performer in 1844. In 1853 he organized a minstrel company that became famous as the Nightingale Serenaders; they traveled until 1855.
In the latter year Mr. Kunkel became manager of a theatre in Baltimore, and continued in such until 1861, when he again reorganized his minstrel company for a tour. In 1866 the company was formed for the third time for a brief engagement, after which Mr. Kunkel played Uncle Tom, and for many years, or until shortly before his death, he appeared in that role, in which he was eminently successful. ”

“ Nearly everyone knows all about Mr. Field’s career from the inception of the Fields’ Minstrels to date; but how many are aware of the famous comedian’s early struggles he went through before he reached the goal of success? It is a pleasure for the author to recount them.
Al. G. Field first appeared professionally at Jeffries Hall, Brownsville, Pa., about 1871; he performed in the old nigger act of “Handy Andy”; he attracted the attention of that famous minstrel Sam Sharpley, and became a member of his company, officially known as Sharpley, Sheridan, Mack and Day’s Minstrels ”

“ John Queen made his first appearance as a clog dancer in Boston with Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge’s Minstrels. While with that company, he, in conjunction with R. M. Carroll, did the first double clog dance ever seen in minstrelsy.
William West began his theatrical career in 1857 as a black-face performer, and until about 1863 played mostly with circuses.
His first minstrel engagement was with Duprez and Green. Subsequently [136] he played with Hooley at the Novelty Theatre in Brooklyn; with the San Franciscos in New York, and with Bryant’s, Wood’s, and Morris Brothers. ”

“ Thatcher’s hopes of being a great song and dance performer received a severe jolt; Billy Emerson was the unconscious cause. Realizing that Emerson excelled him so far; Mr. Thatcher in his next engagement told gags between songs that he sang, and claims that then and there he originated the monologue.
Mr. Thatcher says his first important engagement was at Tony Pastor’s in New York in 1873. On November 10, that year, he made his first appearance with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, continuing with that organization and that of Simmons, Slocum and Sweatnam about four years. ”

“ William J. Carroll, known as a first-class banjoist and negro impersonator, came to this country at a very early age, and began his professional career while yet in his teens; in 1873 he joined William Harris, and as Harris and Carroll remained with him until 1879; they played various variety engagements. December 20, 1880, he joined Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels at the Arch Street Opera House, Philadelphia, doing his specialty, and sitting on the end, opposite George Thatcher; he remained all season. Subsequently he was with Primrose and West, and other organizations. ”

“ Andy McKee was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, May 11, 1844; and is now a citizen of Seattle, Washington.
George Wilson. Few monologue performers have worn so well with the public as George Wilson, whose minstrel career began about forty years ago in San Francisco, as co-proprietor of Courtright (Billy) , Farren (T. S.) and Wilson’s Minstrels; Mr. Wilson was the song and dance performer with this company.
It was not until the fall of 1871 that he decided to adopt minstrelsy as a regular profession, which he did in Chicago. ”

“ Other prominent minstrel engagements were Barlow, Wilson Company, George Wilson’s, Cleveland’s, and his last—Al. G. Field’s.
Mr. Fox composed some of the most popular music in minstrelsy, notably the “Big Sunflower,” immortalized by Billy Emerson; “Kaiser, Don’t You Want to Buy a Dog?” for Gus Williams; “Noreen Moreen,” “Goodbye, Liza Jane,” “Carry the News to Mary” and scores of others.
As a jig and reel player he is without a peer. ”

“ It’s not hard for him to be a happy Hobo—on the stage.
It was just as easy on March 19, 1883, at the Standard Theatre, San Francisco, with Emerson’s Minstrels, to play Lady Angela, in the burlesque on “Pinafore.” Of course, he was a black Lady Angela; for those were dark days.
De Wolf Hopper, the altitudinous comedian, was one of the features of the “Lambs’ Gambol,” in their minstrel first part of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, May 31, 1909. He said, “Gentlemen, be seated,” and they did. ”

“ They arrived in Haverhill, Mass., the same day as the Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Company, and when the latter made their noonday parade, the “American Minstrels” acted as trailers. Strange to relate, the T. P. & W. show did the business on that memorable, never-to-be-forgotten evening.
Will F. Phillips was born in Albany, N. Y., October 31, 1873.
Eddie Mazier is one of the cleverest of the latter-day minstrel comedians; for a performer who can sing and dance equally well, and tell a story in such a way as to bring out its best points, is certainly clever; and such is Eddie Mazier. ”

“ Fields and Hanson joined hands in 1878, playing variety engagements for that season. Seasons of 1879-1880, 1880-81, were spent with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West, followed by seasons with Leavitt’s All Star Specialty Company, and Barry and Fay’s organization. In 1883 they began an engagement with the Howard Athenaeum Company, at the conclusion of which they played a season of sixteen weeks in the larger cities of Europe; returning to the United States, they began their last season as a team, with the Howard Athenaeum Company, at the conclusion of which in 1885, they separated. ”

“ He is a son of George L. Hall, the oldest living minstrel vocalist.
Wm. D. Hall was born in Washington, D. C., December 25, 1867.
Willie Collier (I always call him Willie) , the favorite comedian, is just as funny in black-face as in white; at least he was on the night of October 12, 1896, when as a colored damsel he sang and danced in the performance of “Miss Philadelphia,” at the Park Theatre, Philadelphia.
Mr. Collier was born in New York City, November 12, 1867.
NEIL. O’BRIEN has long ranked with the great comedians that have tended to make minstrelsy famous. ”

“ The following year he was a ballad singer with Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels, and in 1909 he began his second season with that company, playing an end, working in a big song and dance number and in the after-piece.
Mr. Benham is an accomplished dancer and possesses a pleasing tenor voice.
As a composer he has won conspicuous success, some of his best compositions being “I’m Happy When the Band Plays Dixie,” “My Little Rose of Killarney,” “Mandy,” “May Moon” and “I Can’t Think of Anything That’s Half As Sweet as You,” the latter by all odds having one of the sweetest refrains heard in years. ”

“ Fagan has appeared successfully in white-face in such plays as “Paradise Alley,” and his own company, “A High Roller,” the latter in 1890.
Some notable marches were the “West Point Cadets”; the “Phantom Guards” and “The Dance of the Popinjays”; the latter being one of the cleverest conceits ever seen in minstrelsy.
Mr. Fagan was general producer for Corinne for several seasons, also with other notable companies.
As a song writer he is no less prominent; “Everybody Takes Their Hat Off to Me,” and “A High Born Lady,” each enjoyed great popularity. ”

“ Julia Gould was the first woman to achieve prominence in minstrelsy; she was with the famous Buckley Serenaders, and played several engagements with them in the 50’s; she was also with Maguire’s San Francisco Minstrels in San Francisco, July 11, 1864.
She essayed the principal female roles in the great operatic burlesque that made the Buckleys famous; always appearing in black-face.
Miss Gould’s first husband was A. T. Gregory Hall; she subsequently married John H. Collins, a prominent minstrel singer.
She was an actress and singer of rare and versatile talents. ”

“ One of the truly great names in minstrelsy was Ben Cotton—not so great in 1845, when running away from home, yet early in his teens, he joined the Amburgh Circus, as in 1906 he made his final appearance at Tony Pastor’s, New York City, doing, not the aged darky act, by which character he was most familiarly known, but the dandy of the present ”