New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
rur CHIEF OF MINSTRELS.
sroRIEs ABOUT BILLY BIRCH
..,,,rs OF THE GOOD DAYS OF BIRCH
v,wpoLp, BERNARD AND BAcXus-No

aid
a,sa few days ago through what his friends
a1e' =. have been piece of characteristic
oe ,.,,v on the mart OF a policeman, who thought
"'f 80 uas drunk because he was helpless and
Ia not talk well. His speech has long been dii',-
an account OF the paralysis OF which ne had
GU mad two strokes and has now had three 1t
NV sudden sickness. too, which mace MIN help
m the street, they say. All those VINO know
say that he never Of incorporate habits
.sd many deciars 'i@' ''''' Wv "'' 'N "
-. ever drunk.
r.wsver this may be, his condition grew worse
,,s arrest and he suffered another paraytic
..ose a week ago. Only few days before TINS
~. a, his old stage associates died In Boston
s.w 81 the negro Ministries of the old days when
-,,s,relsy was at its best are stu living, Out
.nn,v" birch 10 altogether the most noteworthy OF
the genuine o'u-'''"''' Va Wv
are left
~ p,rch Is sixty-seven years old. He began his
-ssr as a negro minstrel when he was about four
team He played in many companies ana IN many
,.ces but tho most important ventures OF MS iile
s.aan when he and Wambold. Bernard and backus
,ormed their famous company in San Francesca
rss, is the company which all who remember the
hst negro minstrelsy that there ever was reier 10
.,u,ys as the one organization that was never
roled II stayed In San Francisco for while
"a ,hsn travelled about In California, meeting win
.sst success Then Birch. Wambold, Bernard ana
Hsckus packed up their bones and their tamoos
"a rame 10 New-York They took the hall al NO.
sw broadway, which had formerly been occupied
;, Ruckiey's Serenaders. 1t was opposite inc
METROPOLITAN Hotel and Nblo's Garden
tIerA the combination was again immensely sue
s.,ul and large stories are told Of the amount OF
money that was made. In those days, as MT birch
said TO the writer the other day, there was mons
., the effort for gorgeous effect in cosumins ana
stage setting that there is among the degenerate
Companies that call themselves negro m.hsTeis
rox The effort was TO represent the plantation
a.-v and Mr. Birch still thinks that he ana MS
.,.oc;ates did It, A meeting of the negroes OF an
evening to amuse themselves and one another with
songs and stories and jokes was the Original Pa''
Of the entertainment. Probably noooay pre.ehuS'
NOT even Mr.. Birch, that real negroes on piah'a-
linn ever sat in half circle and tnre" cohun-
drpr, from the ends to the middle quite as the Old
time uons,rels aid, but there at least some at
,empt 10 act and talk like darkies and TO nave the
.opss OF a character resembling real negro songs.
barnard was a famous middleman and Birch ana
packus were even more famous end men, birch
plaved the bones and Backus the tambouflne.
RIRCHs COMPREHENSIVE GRATITUDE.
In snite OF the attempt at the plantation erect the
Ministries OF those days were not, OF course. ABOVE
initiating and burlcsquing some OF the innings 'has
occurred at the theatres, just as mins're's anu
variety actors do now. At one time IN the cou'Se
Of this period Caroline RichinSs was acthg at
Nibo's Garden. Her steptather had passion Tor
-,a,.,,c sneecbes before the curtain. When there
was apnlause enough to give him an excuse ne
would lead her out before the curtain thaiik
YOU ladies and gentlemen. he wouid say, ioi
YOUR generous approval and applause WISH u
take this opportunity also to thank the ihahasei
~ This theatre for his assistance to us; wish TO
thank the orchestra as we'll. ana so on n"0h was
4, .ha theatre one night and heard this speech.
uhe he
caue 70 the front of the stage and said: Ladies
and gentlemen: thank you on behalf OF MI VAN
bold Mr. Bernard Mr.. Backus and myself LOT
your generous approval and applause. WISH u
take this opportunity also TO thank the managers
for their assistance 10 u.s." Gle and his partners
were themselves the managers OF course) i WISH
% ,har, the orchestra-the orchestra Will be here
hy-and-by l wish to thank the ushers ana the
man who sells the tickets and the doorKeeper.
wish also to thank the Metropolitan Hotel finer
hash never tasted!
Tho great magician Heller also came In for the
attention Of the miDs,rels 1t was announced th@t
IN n certain night BILLY" Birch would expose
Heller When the time came for the unveing Of
the mystery Birch produced pack OF cares ana
threw some Of them, one at time out among the
audience. He asked each one who got cara TO
notice what it was and keep it, Then he asked II
body spoke. Birch picked out man sitting near
the stage, who had card, ard asked MN What II
and not be afraid and at last he timdy responded;
1T Is the ace Of spades"
II am much obliged to you. said Birch; Il am
GLAD TO see that you have such good memory.
And that was as near as Heller came 10 ooihs g"
posed.
THE UNHAPPY MOVE UPTOWN.
The mins,rels stayed at Ne. 5s5 Broadway for a
number of years and prospered and grew rich.
Then they got the impression on their minds that
the city was growing toward tho north and that
the centre of population moving 10 the north
as well. No doubt the impression was correct
but it is that has caused much suffering to
those who nave felt Il too strongly. They decided
10 move and the little theatre In the Gisey Build
ing was built for them 1t is the theatre That has
had many managers ana so many names ana 80
much bad luck ever since Its bad luck began then.
Bernard decided 10 retire from the combination
He did the right time, and .ook win ann more
partners ever did. The others, as Birch, Wambold
and Backus the name by which the combination Is
now best remembered. went on with ;neir work at
the new theatre. Then Wambod's health failed
and he retired. Then Backqs died Birch went OF
late IN wall street He had saved a good deal o.
money enough 10 have kept him in comfort all ms
si Sire IL ne ali ian melted away The minstrel business
was falling. and he gave up tne theatre ohcT men
he has appeared the stage occasionally, Dut nov
with regularity 10 any great extent Soon MS
own health failed. and his wife made a living by
keeping a boarding house.
onc hight, when the dripping clouds hung low n
the SKY and the clouds Of ill-uck hung lower still
twenty persons Even those twenty seemed TO be
depressed by the weather and TO wish that me-
had not come. The Ministries tried 10 give their
usual performance but the audience did not seem
10 care for it at all Birch told one Of his best
stores and nobody smiled. I'm sorry you don't
like that story ladies and gentlemen" he said. 81
told mat in California and they all hollered" AT
the emu OF The snow came a farce called The Rich
and the Poor which had been favorite, even In
those days OF bad lack. But the audience DID NOT
seern TO realize that anything was going on. AZ
last in the middle OF IT, Birch came forward and
said: Ladies and gentlemen. hope were not de-
tanning YOU"
Then the audience saw how silly IL was TO stay
there and not get anything for It's money Inc
twonty people cheered up and what little there was
The mirstrcs were famous for little impromptu
bits like this One night Birch was attempting
Backus broke in and said; Don't pay any atten-
ZION 10 him ladies and gentlemen: ne been drink
Ing and he's trying break up the troupe ave
. Il have not been drinking" Birch retorted: ~
! am drunk II is from inhaling the breath Oh