November 20, 1865, he joined the famous San Francisco Minstrels of Birch, Bernard, Wambold and Backus, taking and using for the first time his own name. He remained with this company four years, in New York City. On June 14, 1869, he played his first engagement with Haverly’s Minstrels, opening at Baltimore; a few weeks later he was with Sharpley’s Minstrels in Boston. August 23, 1869, he began a season’s engagement with Carncross and Dixey’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and July 2, following, he sailed for Europe, but did not play there. September 2, 1870, he opened with Welch, Hughes and White’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y.; at the initial performance of that organization; he closed there October 8, and two days later began a season’s engagement with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. April 17, 1871, he opened in New York with Newcomb and Arlington’s Minstrels, continuing with them there and on tour several months. The following August he made his first appearance with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York; he remained the season, and in June, 1872, played an engagement in the same city with Sharpley’s Minstrels, after which he went to Cincinnati, and joined Newcomb’s Minstrels. In that city, September 2, 1872, the first performance of Rice’s Minstrels was given at Melodeon Hall; subsequently moving to Thom’s Hall, and later taking the road, where they disbanded about December 1. January 27, 1873, he re-appeared at Bryant’s, and finished the season there. He re-joined Simmons and Slocum in Philadelphia, August 25, 1873, and barring a brief interval, was with them all season. June 13, 1874, he sailed for England, making his first appearance there in Liverpool with Sam Hague’s Minstrels, July 13. August 31, following, he again joined Bryant’s Minstrels in New York, and continued there until the death of Dan Bryant, April 10, 1875; the following month he joined Emerson’s Minstrels in Chicago. August 12, 1876, he again sailed for England where he played a few weeks in the music halls. Returning to America he joined Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels for a tour, commencing November 20, 1876. After this engagement he played the variety houses principally until the Spring of 1878, when he engaged again with Haverly, opening in Chicago, and going to San Francisco; he left Haverly there and opened at the Bella Union, May 13. In the fall of 1878 he was with Neil Bryant’s Minstrels, and the following year with Joseph Norcross’ California Minstrels. [Illustration: QUARTETTE WITH BRYANT’S MINSTRELS, NEW YORK CITY, 1870. Sig. J. Brandisi, Harry Norman, Jas. G. Russell, W. P. Grier.] [Illustration: KELLY AND LEON’S MINSTRELS; NEW ZEALAND, 1878. From left to right--Chas. Kelly, J. H. Surridge, C. Fredericks, Wm. Ball and Billy Courtright. Wm. Blakeney, “Leon,” Edwin Kelly, “Japanese Tommy,” Beaumont Read.]