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
Mr. Wheeler was with Haverly’s Minstrels early in 1877, and in the Fall
of that year returned to Carncross’ Co., and remained there until the
retirement of the latter, January 25, 1896. Mr. Wheeler continued with
Frank Dumont when the latter took the management of the house two days
later, and has since played several engagements there.
While a member of stock in the Maryland Institute in 1869, Mr. Wheeler
was very successful in the portrayal of such black-face character parts
as Wool, in the “Hidden Hand”; Pete, in the “Octoroon,” and “Uncle
Tom’s Cabin.”
Matt. Wheeler was born in St. Gaul, Switzerland, March 4, 1843.
CON. T. MURPHY (John D. Murphy), who was widely known as an actor,
author and song-writer, was also very much of a minstrel, and a good
interlocutor.
He was with Bryant’s Company in New York at the opening of the season,
September 1, 1873, and was identified with several other organizations.
He was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1844; he died at Lake Bluff, Ill.,
July 26, 1907.
LITTLE MAC (Ebenezer Nicholson) was a dwarf scarcely more than three
feet high. He took the name of Little Mac during the Civil War out of
compliment to Gen. McClellan, who was very popular at that time. The
major portion of his professional career was spent in New York with
Bryant’s Minstrels, where he made his first appearance, November 27,
1865.
In the summer of 1869 with Hughey Dougherty, John Wild and Master
Barney, he headed a minstrel company bearing their names.
He subsequently returned to Bryant’s, where he remained until late in
1871.
Thereafter his engagements were desultory; his last regular appearance
was with Daly Brothers in “Upside Down.” He was a clever comedian, and
was prominently identified with his “Essence” and “Big Shoe Dance.”
Little Mac was born in Brockville, Canada, July 11, 1844; he died in
New York, April 7, 1890.
TOMMY GETTINGS was a well-known jig dancer, and during his brief career
had been with the Bryant’s in New York, and other well-known minstrel
companies.
He died in New York, November 25, 1866; age 22 years.
BILLY RICE (Wm. H. Pearl). Minstrelsy knew no greater favorite than
this once well-known comedian, who made his professional debut in
Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1865, at Poole and Donnelly’s Theatre, appearing in
black-face, and assuming the name by which he was always identified.
He continued in the variety business mostly until 1869, when he joined
Newcomb’s Minstrels; the following year he was with Hooley’s, in
Brooklyn, and when that company made their first appearance in Chicago,
January 2, 1871, Mr. Rice was a member.
Late that year he became identified with Manning’s Minstrels in the
same city, continuing there until about February 1, 1872, when he again
joined Hooley in Brooklyn. Subsequently he was with Arlington, Cotton
and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago, and later opened a variety theatre
there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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