Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
BILLY VESTS LONG SUCCESS
I. K. Heath Reviews Remarkable Career
Of Melted Minstrel
NAN or ORIsINAl AND BRIGHT IDEAS
Makes over Halt MnIlon Dollars on
MinstreIsy, In which He Never
scores a Failure IN GUAR
ter OF Century.

The news Of the death in Chicago Satur-
day morning Of William II. West, the vet
eran minstrel. doubtless caused more genu-
inc regret on the part OF the theater-going
public and theatrical people In general from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific oceans than that
Of any theatrical parsonage who has passed
away in recent years. While the death OF
Mr.. West was not unexpected among his
friends and admirers who have known for
some time that he was suffering from can
cer-a mslady that was sure to result ia
tally within a very short time-yet the
news comes as a shock to all.
William H. West has been before the pub
lie as an entertainer for more than a quar-
ter Of a century and was one Of the most
prominent opponents Of the art Of min
strelsy this country has ever had. II would
be hard to estimate the number OF people
that he has furnished entertainment for
during his career. but It lie safe to say that
there are few men or women In the coun-
try who have been attendants upon places
Of amusement any time during the last
twenty-five years who have not enjoyed the
Jokes, songs and variety stunts furnished
by Mr.. West and his company. In the world
Of mlnstreisy he was an originator. never
initiating or copying anybody. Not only
were his performances and ideas praise
worthy for their merit as novelties, but for
their artistic worth as well.
DiseOverer Of Ballad Singers.
He was particularly noted for discovering
and bringing out male ballad singers. II
was he who hrst discovered Raymond Moore.
the famous tenor, who was found working
as a clerk In a small eastern town. Later
he found Richard Jose working in a black
smith shop In California, from which he
took him to join his company and to later
develop into one Of the greatest contra
tenors this country has ever known Num-
erous other we'll known vocalists are in
debted to Mr.. West for their prominence in
the theatrical and musical world.
Nr. Vests company played its annual
engagement in this city early in the sea-
son. Mr.. West had been with It, appear
ing regularly at every performance in his
usual capacity Of interlocutor, until Just be-
fore reaching Omaha he was forced through
illness to leave 10, going on to San Fran
cisco. where he underwent an operation. He
recovered suf1ciently q few weeks ago to
go to Chicago.
Mcintyre and Heath, the we'll known min
strels who have been appearing at the
orpheum during the last week, were fol
some years associated in a business as well
as professional way with Mr.. West, AMI
both knew him intimately.
Mr.. Heath's Tribute.
When seen at the theater after the mat.
inee Saturday Mr.. Heath said: IL have
just heard the news Of poor Billy's death
and while l rather expected II, 1t Is q blow
to me. Mr.. Mcintyre and myself formed q
partnership in the amusement business al
about 4ho a., ki-.o nfIt. VIyo.A o,4 &c.,.
Primrose started out together as a song
and dance team. We are all about the
same age. AS 1 remember Vests telling me
he started his career as a clog dancer in a
dime museum back in 1872. l first met him
when he was with Haverly's minstrela
along In 1876. At that time Milf Barlow,
the two Georges-Primrose and Wilson
and Billy West we're the principal comedi-
ans and dancers OF the Haverly aggrega-
tion.
at was during this tour that the most
successful combination OF minstrelsy ever
known was formed by a man named Mann.
He organised q company headed by and
known as the Barlow, Wilson, Primrose
& West Mastodon minstrels and opened an
engagement in Philadelphia with them the
next year. They played one season In thC
southeast and In 1879 went to San Fran
cisco. opening the season there and start
Ing on q tour across the country, receiving
an ovation at every place In which they
appeared and besides packing the dlferen'
theaters to the doors. they actually turneC
people away at every performance. The!
did this remarkable business In every cit!
they visited on this tour with the excep
ton Of Omaha. / remember 1t we'll, for I
was here that Mcintyre and 1 met then
that season.
Circus heats Minstrel show.
I'VE were doing a black face song an,
dance act in the concert OF Anderson's cir
Gus. The West aggregation was billed {
give two performances on this particula
day at the old Academy of Music. while on
show we tented a few squares away. Tn
circus, as 1t always did in those days an
has ever since. drew the people and tn
minstrel show was given to very small au
diences. This combination was, l believe
the greatest minstrel organization ever pu
together in this country and 1t toured sue
cessfully for several seasons. Barlow an
Wilson severed their connection with th
combination along early in the sos an
George Thatcher was taken in. After thl
1t was called Thatcher, Primrose & West
show.
ssIn 1874 West married Fay Temniaton IN