Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to dateRice, Edw. Le Roy (Edward Le Roy)
History
Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to date
Rice, Edw. Le Roy (Edward Le Roy)
Actors -- United States; Minstrel shows
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.
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.”
The year following he played his initial minstrel engagement with
Charley White’s Company, also in New York; he remained with White
several seasons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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