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
E. M. HALL was one of minstrelsy’s greatest banjoists, and a good
comedian. His career began in 1865, doing a song and dance with
Sharpley’s Minstrels; subsequently he did banjo duets with Harry
Stanwood. Later he was identified with such well-known minstrel
organizations as Emerson’s, in San Francisco; Manning’s, in Chicago;
Carncross’, in Philadelphia; and Moore and Burgess’, in London,
England, in 1880. In the latter city he joined Haverly’s Minstrels,
with whom he was a star feature for several seasons. In 1875 he was
associated with E. M. Kayne and Ned. Wambold in a minstrel venture
bearing their names. December 30, 1903, Mr. Hall purchased a ticket for
the matinee performance at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago; that was
the date of the fearful holocaust, and he has never been seen since.
E. M. Hall was born in Chelsea, Me., about 1845.
JOHN LANG, a well-known and popular tenor vocalist, who was with
Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago, died in that city,
December 5, 1874.
HUGH HAMALL was the fourth son of the late Arthur Hamall, and a singer
of more than ordinary merit. Previous to his death he had been a member
of Hamall’s Serenaders.
Mr. Hamall died in Montreal, Canada, October 10, 1875.
J. C. (“TOOTHLESS”) MURPHY, the old-time comedian and “Excelsior
Bone Player,” was with Harry Robinson’s Minstrels in 1874, and other
prominent organizations subsequently. Mr. Murphy was the husband of
Marie De Von, from whom he separated in Chicago, April 6, 1877. Mr.
Murphy is still active, and a resident of Nashville, Tenn.
DELEHANTY AND HENGLER--These truly wonderful artists were the greatest
in their line that the world ever knew, or ever will know, in all
probability.
William H. Delehanty made his first appearance in his native city at
the old Green Street Theatre, at the age of 14; he did a bone solo, and
incidentally it may be remarked that in their manipulation he ranked
with the best in minstrelsy.
About 1865 he joined Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels, where he did songs
and dances with John H. Ward, under the team name of Delehanty and
Ward; they continued with this company until November 11, 1866, when
Mr. Delehanty severed his business relations with Ward, and just one
week later, joined T. M. Hengler with Dingess and Green’s Minstrels at
Champaign, Ill.; this season closed at Penn Yan, N. Y., January 7, 1867.
Their first New York appearance was with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels,
August 12, 1867.
On September 22, 1869, (Johnny) Allen, Delehanty, Hengler and
Pettengill’s (Charley) Minstrels gave their first performance in
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Previous to this, and for several years subsequent, they had their own
variety companies; in addition to playing the best variety theatres
in the land; likewise were they identified with some of the foremost
minstrel organizations; they also made a trip to Europe, playing
England and Ireland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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