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
John E. Murphy (DeAngelis) was born in Philadelphia, July 26, 1855.
Jos. Morton (McGarvey) was born in Philadelphia; he died there July 17,
1884; age 29 years.
* * * * *
The highest salary ever drawn by any black-face team in the history of
theatricals was paid to McIntyre and Heath.
* * * * *
THE THREE RANKINS achieved enviable distinction for their musical
act, which was one of the best. Originally there were four brothers,
Carl, Will, Rit and Fitch, and they played an engagement with E. M.
Hall’s Minstrels, opening in Chicago, June 29, 1878. In the Fall of the
same year Fitch Rankin retiring, the Three Rankins joined Wagner and
Cotton’s Minstrels for a short season.
The following year with Lew Simmons, they organized Simmons and
Rankin’s Minstrels, and after the dissolution they re-organized as
Three Rankin’s Minstrels, opening at Columbus, Ohio, November 27, 1879,
and closing same date.
December 20, 1880, they joined Kyle’s “Christy” Minstrels in Boston for
a brief engagement.
After the death of Rit his place was taken by John Mosure, and as the
“Three Rankins” they played with Leavitt’s Giganteans, in 1882. The
death of Will broke up the act, and Carl joined Thatcher, Primrose
and West’s Minstrels July 3, 1885. A few weeks after this he left the
company to become a partner with George Wilson in his company, which
was known as Barlow, Wilson and Rankin’s Minstrels.
Carl Rankin’s last appearance was with Lew Dockstader’s permanent
minstrel company in New York, which he joined in 1887.
Carl Rankin had a superb bass voice, and as a comedian had developed
into one of the best in minstrelsy. His death was a severe blow to the
profession.
Rit Rankin died in Columbus, Ohio, December 11, 1881.
Will Rankin died in Philadelphia, January 31, 1885; age 30 years.
Carl Rankin was born in Columbus, Ohio, October, 1859; he died in
Philadelphia, November 25, 1888.
HARRIGAN and HART formed a partnership in the Spring of 1871. Prior to
this Tony Hart, who was known as Master Anthony Cannon, appeared with
various minstrel companies as a ballad singer.
February 26, 1872, they began an engagement with Arlington, Cotton
and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago. In later years they each played in
black-face on several occasions, notably Mr. Harrigan as “Pete.” Mr.
Hart was probably the best “genteel wench” that ever trod the boards.
Edw. Harrigan was born in New York, October 26, 1845.
Tony Hart (Anthony Cannon) was born in Worcester, Mass., July 25, 1855;
he died there November 4, 1891.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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