Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-04-10


died-leaving alive but few of the
"blackface comedians" who won fame
In the troupes which toured the coun-
try in the period following the civil
war But more than a score of the
old line Ministries who made names
for themselves before 1860 are still
alive. Dan Emmett, one Of the men
who organized the first minstrel
troupe in America in 1843, and the au-
thor Of Dixie, is still living in Mount
Vernon, Ohio.
Dave" Reed of New York is the
only performer of that time who is
still on the stage. With his family OF
Reed birds" he occasionally appears
IN other cities. Others of that time
still alive are Lew" Benedict OF Ros-
ton, John B. DOuniker of Penn Yam. N
Y. S. s. Sanford, Add Weaver, Tony
Pastor, Frank Kent and A. ]. Talbot
Of New York, Leon, of Kelly and Leon,
Chicago; Sam DeVere and Eugene Of
Ellsworth ana Eugene, Brooklyn,
Charles A. Morris, who, with his
brother, first put on the burnt cork in
1874, of Boston, Tony Moore and John
R Kemble of London, Charles r. Du-
PREF. Of Lowell, Mass, William Porter,
an original Christy minstrel" of
1S46, Of Spring Valley, N. Y, Edw N
Kelly. who has a theater In Australia,
Sam Price of Toms River, N. j., and
J. L. Carncross, the great singer,
whose home is in Philadelphia.
Negro minstrelsy is of American or
igin and had its greatest popularity in
this country, although many cOmpa-
niles made successful trips to England
and Europe. Purely of American
growth In it's first development it
dealt with southern plantation life, de
DiCting in song and story it's scenes
and Incidents. In the early years of
the nineteenth century performers
with blackened faces appeared in the
theaters between the acts of the regu-
lar shows. These men sang negro
songs and told stories in the negro di-
aIect- Perhaps the first record of
such an appearance is a program of
the Federal Street theater, Boston, for
December 30, 1893, on which appears
Song of the Negro Boy Tin character)
Mr.. Grampner. In the circus COmpa-
mics which toured the country the
principal and most popular clowns
we're blackface comedians.
First Troupe Organized.
Not until 1843, however. was a
troupe organized solely TO give a min
5trel show This was the result Of an
accidental meeting in New York of
four minstrel performers, Dan En-
nett. the author of Dixey; Frank
Brewer of Philadelphia; Dick Pelham
and BILLY" WhitlOck This meeting
is best described by Emmett himself
in a letter to Frank DumOnt of Phila-
delphia. dated March 10, 1896. He
writes
In the old times each circus com
pany had one or more performers who
were called Ethiopian Delineators. in
other words singing Of negro songs in
character. In the summer of 1912
located in New York and played the
violin and also the banjo, and thus be
came acquainted with others, who,
ike. myself. performed here and there
throughout the city. In the spring of
lS43 ] was residing at No. 81 Catha-
rino street and one day, while playing
upon my violin. and accompanied by
Billy WhitlOck on the banjo. the door
opened and Frank Brown entered.
For awhile he listened and then Joined
IN with the bones. We were delighted
With the idea and the music and were
again through our performance when
Dick Pelham entered, and with his
tambourine the fourth man joined in
this impromptu rehearsal. Struck by
the idea we four began a series of re-
hearsals which ended in forming a
partnership We performed in sever
al places. but the first appearance in
public was made at the Chatham the
alter. and for the benefit of Dick Pei
ham
We gave concerts in the fremont
Fomple Boston, for six weeks, the
new amusement. 'minStrels, going
ike wildtire at all times. We then
sailed for England. giving concerts in
liverpool, Birmingham and ManCheS-
ter to immense business. We opened
IN the Adelphi theater, London, in
connection with Professor Anderson,
the wizard Then we performed |
throughout the United Kingdom and
dlSbanded in Glasgow. Upon our
hrSt appearance in London, and just
as We came upon the stage, a person |
rose in the audience and shouted to |
Us Go home! go home and pay your |
honest debts. We don't want you
here, let me explain that Pennsyl- |
Eania had repudiated some debt and /
we, as Americans, were being held to
account Tor it. This person was put
out OF the theater and the mipstrels
proceeded"
Scores OF Troupes Organized.
When the four. who called them
selves the Virginia Ministries" rel
turned from England they found scores
OF similar companies touring the coun-
Try. The second company organized
was called the Kentucky minstre1sn
and was composed of T. G. Booth. Har-
~ Aestayer, Frank Lynch. Reorgan-
Izlng they took in Whitlock. Barney
Williams and Charley White. Sue
ceeding troupes were the Ring and
Parker minstrels," the Congo min
strels," afterwards known as Buck
ley's New Orleans serenaders." and F
P. Christy's MINISTRIES, consisting of
e p ChriSty GEORGE n Hbr;e+,- }