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
In the Summer of 1875, Delehanty and Hengler separated in Pittsburg.
Mr. Delehanty then formed a partnership with James Cummings, and as
Delehanty and Cummings they made their first appearance at the Theatre
Comique, New York, August 23, 1875.
December 4, 1876, Delehanty and Hengler, who were something more than
business associates, again formed a partnership, reappearing at the
Howard Athenaeum in Boston; the alliance was broken by the death of
Delehanty.
William H. Delehanty was more than a good dancer; he was a thorough
musician, and a man of intellect. He composed most of the songs and
dances that the team used, notably “Little Bunch of Roses,” “Apple of
My Eye,” “I Hope I Don’t Intrude,” “Strawberries and Cream” and many
others. Delehanty and Hengler were the original “Happy Hottentots,”
though this act was extensively copied.
T. M. Hengler came to this country at the age of three months, and at
the age of two years his family settled in Albany, N. Y., where ten
years later he made his first public appearance at the Green Street
Theatre; subsequently he was with W. W. Newcomb’s Minstrels for three
seasons; later he was with Sharpley’s Minstrels.
He joined W. H. Delehanty in 1866, and continued as his partner until
1875, after which time he did a single act, and was known as “The Merry
Minstrel.”
In December, 1876, he rejoined Delehanty, and continued with him until
the latter’s death.
When Mr. Delehanty died, Mr. Hengler seemed to lose all ambition
for the stage; he mourned his old friend sincerely, and played
infrequently; in the name only was he the “Merry Minstrel.”
Tom Hengler was likewise the author of several songs, notably “Sweet
Aleen” and “My Pretty Little Kittie,” also the musical sketch “Fun in
the Kitchen.”
Mr. Hengler married Miss May Fanning in 1870; they had two daughters
who have helped to perpetuate their father’s name and fame--Flo and May
Hengler.
[Illustration:
FIRST PERFORMANCE OF “I WISH I WAS IN
DIXIE”
OLD LIVERPOOL, ENG., BILL
TWO RARE PROGRAMMES.]
William H. Delehanty was born in Albany, N. Y., September 25, 1846; he
died in New York City, May 13, 1880.
T. M. Hengler (Slattery) was born in the town of Cashel, Ireland, in
1844; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., August 21, 1888.
BILLY EMERSON (Redmond) was a unique figure in minstrelsy, for he stood
absolutely alone in his chosen profession; never before his advent had
his equal been seen, nor will we ever again.
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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