The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-04-01
'ROBBY" NEWCOMB.
A Rambling, Yet Entertaining
Talk With a Bright Star Of
American Minstrelsy.
of Olden Times on
the Minstrel Stage-Changes
That Time has Wrought.

! NJ. Dash ha the pleasure of meeting,
last Sunday evening, Bobby" Newcomb,
the stage manager of Leavitt's MINISTRIES,
and together both wended their way 10
hear Rev. Van Wsgner's reply to Robert
| lDgersOlPs late attack on Orthodox Re.
I ligion." Mr.. Newcomb listened with the
| closest attention to the address, and at liz
/ close remarked uDOn il in terms of strong
! commentator. Bobby" Newcomb is \
polite, well read gentleman, whose name
| for the past twenty i've years has been On
! the lips OF minstrel fame. He is a man De
| low the medium height, with we'll knit, ac-
tive body, black hair. remarkably pleasant
| face, lighted up by pair of bright, black
! dancing eves-and has a flow of sprighlly
conversation which never fails TO charm.
Are YOU not the originator of neat sODgs
and dencts i'll this country ?" was asked Of
Bobby"
! Yes, sir; took NY stage name from
! W. w. Newcomb the great end man whom
/ thousands Of the south will still remem-
Der. lie was my adopted father"
! "NOu composed the Big Sun Flower I
/ be. ieve?'
! "Ies. IL happened in this way When
about twenty years OF age / was IN the
same company with the great sarg and
! 1867 Chicago If you remember, j. a great
place for suntlowers Well, got tn. idea
! from looking az them-and blOoms! cut az
an original song writer by composing The
Big sun Flower / gave il 10 Bii'v En-
erson, WAC was the first man that ever sang
and danced it. Ii made a great hit for
both OF us at the same time. Such was the
( immediate popularity of the song that En-
erSon's salary sprang from $50 a week 20
$3.50 week within four weeks
/ from the FIRST night he sang it. A, this
period took the name of "Bob5y" and
became heir TO S50, 900 in Cincinnati, willed
! to Inc by w. W. Newcomb. H lived.
however, long enough TO lose il all in real
estate speculation, and when he died IN
/ New York he lett NE just four CENTS which
vas expressed to NE at 81. Louis. IN an
idle moment ! spent this legacy ior lie
equivalent III postage stamps
You've bsen abroad, Mr.. Newcnmh ,"
"Oh, YES, | trst went abroad at the break
| ing out Of the war with w. W. NexcoInb.
| was thea q singer of sentimental bsllads.
| came back about the time Of Lees sur
render. | went to England again al 1880
and remained until 1882. During that
time | wrote MANY songs, among which
were "Dorkins' Night" and Forget Ne
Not both of which sprung mo geAt
popularily.'
You are a married man.
Yes, ! married in New York in lst-.
/ have three liJiIe daughters, who bave all
played In the south, one IN "fbr White
Slave" and one as Eva 10 incl Toms
Cabin. They are we'll known IN the sIuih,
and all give promise OF becoming fne
actresses"
you had fine time in England ~
"Spend,d While there | was the nom
ored guest of Lord ROssmOre, Lord Head
ley. Earl Oi File, and Lord Manville, who
has since made America his home"
What are yOu doing IN this troupe?'
IL am doing neat songs and dances, and
YOU viii hear me All Woods opera house In
Pretty a Butterfly one of my latest
originals"
Shoe did YOU moi? ,"
al did; and Mr. Banks Winter, who, ey
the way, is one of your talented American
boys, will add it to his repertoire. He will
sing il we'll"
"Tou nave been manager as we'll as au-
thor and a, It's; ~
"Ges, sir Vas the first manager OF the
Windsor theatre, New York in act gave
! IL its name. | have written two dramas
and when abroad correspondent for the
Dramatic News and the New York Clipper.
] have done everything in the minstrel line
from man to manager"
"You remember the old performers ,"
Perfectly we'll There was George
Chrlsty, Mat Peel, Harry Lehr, Murt Sex
tOn-all great favorites at the South before
the war, and who have never been exeelle6
as negro comedians, as thousands In the
southern states will bear me out"
Hasn't minstrelsy changed much since
those days"
"Very much. The first song and dance
/ performed was done IN a patched coat and
ragged pants, ragged cap and old shoes,
which altOg, Their cost about fifty cents. |
now wear white pearl. satin, pearl buttons,
silk stockings, and point lace collsr-the
outfit costing from SIS to $l0C. This
change in costume springs from the fact
that We now ape the progressive negro at
the north. We no longer initiate the old
plantation negro as In the old days. The
princess of Madagascar" which We some
times play, exemplifies this change. The old
negro is forgotten. MiustTelsy is now Opera
Boufe with a black face. The public de-
mand something more refined these days
but still desires 10 see black faces as a
pleasant reminder of the old days A min
Strel show without burnt cork would De
like a doll without paint"
What do you think of genuine negro
MINISTRIES? ?"
They are the only imitatcrs OF what
white MINISTRIES used to be- They stick TO
that time because they can never go beyond
it, They can't jump into bucket of cold
water and remove the stain as We can.
They lack players"
Mr.. Newcomb said in conclusion that he
hated the name Bobby" because it was so
childish. But" said he, ''it is my stage
name name by which | have won my
reputation. 1t is my stock in trade, and /
expect it will grace my tombstone, unless
get restless and jump up and rub it out"