In the Summer of 1879 the Big Four Minstrels opened in New York City. Mr. Martin has been associated also with Simmons and Slocum’s; Dockstader’s, Rice and Sheppard’s, Cleveland’s, and Haverly’s Minstrels; the latter in 1898. In his earlier career “Master” Martin was famous for his impersonation of the monkey; and for five years he played Dragonfin in “The Black Crook.” [Illustration: CHAS. AND GUSTAVE FROHMAN AS MINSTREL MAGNATES; 1883.] He also played black-face parts in “Easy Dawson”; “The Ninety and Nine,” and the “Millionaire’s Revenge.” He likewise created the character of Banty Tim, a dumb negro in “Jim Bludso.” Mr. Martin’s playing of this most difficult pantomimic role was most artistic. “Master” Martin was born in New York City, August 27, 1858. JAMES TEN BROOKE (Sheridan), first appeared professionally in 1876; Brooklyn, N. Y., was where it happened. A year or so later he joined Larry Dooley in a “nigger act,” and continued with him until 1881; in 1880 they were with the Big Four Minstrels. Mr. Ten Brooke subsequently played stock engagements for several seasons, and in 1898 rejoined his former partner, and later played an engagement with Primrose and Dockstader’s Minstrels; with this organization Mr. Ten Brooke officiated as interlocutor; and he is one of the best. He next appeared in white-face with the “Volunteer Organist”; after which with his daughter and son-in-law, as Ten Brooke, Lambert and Ten Brooke, he played vaudeville. Subsequently Ten Brooke and Henry formed a partnership, and are now in vaudeville. James Ten Brooke was born in New York, January 23, 1858. JAMES MACK (McAvoy), who attained some prominence with minstrel shows as a female impersonator, died at Elyria, Ohio, November 5, 1890; age 32 years. THE GIRARD BROTHERS ranked with the great black-face song and dance teams of minstrelsy. Their first appearance was made at the Wigwam Theatre, in Paterson, N. J., in 1874. In 1876 they were with Washburn’s Last Sensation, and two years later they played a brief engagement with Ben Cotton and “Happy” Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels. In 1879 they joined Hooley and Emerson’s great Megatherian Minstrels; about 1880 they formed an alliance with Seamon and Somers, and were known as the “Grotesque Four”; and incidentally this was one of the greatest “four” acts ever put together. The quartette opened with Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, December 20, 1880, and remained until the closing of the season. In 1881 the four joined Leavitt’s Giganteans for the season. Early in 1882 the four joined forces with Lester and Allen, and as the “Funny Six” met with considerable success. Subsequently the Girard Brothers separated, and Eddie Girard joined Haverly’s Minstrels, continuing with them for several months; with this company, in conjunction with Callan, Haley and Callan, they produced “Down Where the Cotton Grows.” In 1884 with the same organization, Eddie Girard also worked with the late Charley Seamon.