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
Afterwards he was with Shay’s Quinciplexal Minstrels, and joined Billy
Wild; known as O’Day and Wild, the “Ebony Kings,” the partnership
continued two years. He then played variety engagements, and was three
years at Harry Enoch’s in Philadelphia.
In 1890 O’Day and Jerry Cunningham were partners, and remained so for
one year. Mr. O’Day has since that time played white- and black-face
characters in several prominent dramatic organizations, including
Rufus, in “Held by the Enemy” and Decatur in “Alabama,” not forgetting
Uncle Tom in the latter’s Cabin.
I most forgot to say that about 1873 Mr. O’Day appeared as “Master
Willie” with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York, and sang “There’s
A Letter In The Candle.”
Mr. O’Day was married at Johnstown, Pa., October 13, 1892, to Miss Mary
Eagel, a non-professional.
Billy O’Day was born April 1, 1852, in Brooklyn, N. Y.; that’s no joke.
THE REYNOLDS BROTHERS were a well-known and popular song and dance
team. As early as 1865 as the “Utica Boys” they were with Burgess,
Prendergast, Hughes and Donniker’s Minstrels; the year following with
Burgess and La Rue’s Minstrels.
They joined M. C. Campbell’s company in 1867, and subsequently appeared
with Emerson and Manning’s; Emerson’s, and Arlington, Cotton and
Kemble’s Minstrels; the latter in 1872. After the death of his brother
Charles, George Reynolds appeared for a short time with Charley Cogill
as Cogill and Reynolds.
CHARLES REYNOLDS was born in Utica, N. Y., in 1852; he died in San
Francisco, Cal., January 7, 1878. GEORGE REYNOLDS died in New York
City, March 4, 1895.
TOMMY TURNER (Trainor) was one of the Three Turner Brothers, and well
known as a banjoist.
He was the husband of Lulu Francis, and had been in the profession
about ten years prior to his death, which occurred in Leadville, Colo.,
May 31, 1879, at the age of 25 years. Mr. Turner was born in New York,
September 29, 1854.
FRED WALZ, during his comparatively brief career as a vocalist in
minstrelsy, achieved distinction that has often been denied those of
more mature years.
His first professional engagement was with Newcomb and Arlington’s
Minstrels in 1871. In 1872 he was with Moran and Dixey’s Minstrels in
Philadelphia, and subsequently with Frank Moran’s Minstrels.
In 1873 he joined Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels for the season, also
in the Quaker City. August 31, 1874, he became a member of Bryant’s
Minstrels in New York, and continued with them until the death of Dan
Bryant, April 10, 1875, when he almost immediately joined Emerson’s
California Minstrels in Chicago, and continued with them several weeks.
Subsequently he became a member of Carncross and Dixey’s, and later
Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia, where he remained until his death.
Fred Walz was born in Philadelphia about 1852; he died there September
7, 1884.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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