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
As early as 1838 he appeared at the Walnut Street Theatre in his native
city, singing songs in black-face between the acts. He portrayed the
dandy negro, and as such was very successful.
In 1843 he organized the Virginia Serenaders. Later he organized the
Sable Melodists, and subsequently Sliter’s Empire Minstrels, and was
with them four years. He then appeared as a Shakespearian clown with
Spalding and Rogers Circus, and after engagements with some other
minstrel companies, he joined Sam Sanford’s Minstrels in Philadelphia
about 1855, and continued there about four years.
He then went to New York, and later organized Cool White’s Broadway
Minstrels, and on September 12, 1870, in Brooklyn, N. Y., with Archie
Hughes and Fayette Welch, started a permanent minstrel company in that
city.
In the Fall of 1879 he played Uncle Tom. For several years prior to his
death he had been connected with Hooley’s Theatre in Chicago.
Cool White was born in Philadelphia July 28, 1821; he died in Chicago,
April 23, 1891.
CHARLES T. WHITE was one of the greatest men that minstrelsy produced.
His career began with minstrelsy in 1843, at which time he appeared
with various small companies.
The following year he organized the Kitchen Minstrels, and was with
many companies until November 24, 1846, when he opened the Melodeon at
53 Bowery, New York. He was twice burnt out, but rebuilt each time.
The place finally closed April 22, 1854, and on August 7 following he
opened a place at 49 Bowery; each establishment was run as a minstrel
show; the admission was 6¼ and 12½ cents. Mr. White was again burnt
out, and later opened places at 585 and 598 Broadway. He was with Mrs.
Matt. Peel’s Minstrels about 1861.
He was the author of innumerable minstrel sketches, some of which are
yet in use. For several seasons he had traveled with the “White Slave,”
and at the time of his death was a member of Edward Harrigan’s Company,
playing Mrs. Jackson in “Reilly and the 400,” a black-face part.
Mr. White was twice married.
Charles T. White was born in New York June 4, 1821; he died there
January 4, 1891.
BOB SHEPPARD. This famous old-time performer began his career as a jig
dancer in his native city in 1832; the “theatre” where he made his
debut being no less a place than his father’s slaughter-house: the
admission 6¼ cents, with the privilege of looking at the cattle; the
audience usually had a “bully” time.
In 1856 he opened a concert hall in Philadelphia, where many artists of
prominence in later years made their appearance.
In Bob Sheppard’s day, performers had to be versatile; and as a dancer
and tambourine player, he had no superior in his time; but in the
delineation of Old Bob Ridley, he excelled.
He was with some notable organizations, including Shorey’s Minstrels in
1863.
Bob Sheppard was born in Philadelphia, in 1821; he died there August
15, 1898.
ANDY LEAVITT made his first stage appearance April 8, 1837.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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