The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-09-20
Lew Simmons
Veteran Minstrel,
Killed By Truck
(By Edw. Leroy Rice in the,
~ Clipper

Lew Simmons, one of the oldest and
most prominent black face perform
ers, was accidentally run over and
almost instantly killed by an auto
truck, at Reading, Pa. on Sept. 2,
Mr.. Simmons, who was probably the
oldest active vaudeville performer in
the country, was bop in New Castle,
Pa, Aug. 81, 1888, and had Just pass
eed mis- seventy-third birthday. He
began his stage career i'm Warren, O.,
in 1S49. as an amateur.
His first real professional appear
Detroft.< piaYingssthe banjo; his SAL
airy was 81 per week. This was in
1857. In December, 1859, he played
his first New York engagement at the
famous Me1odeon, 539s Broadway,
where he made hit, and remained
to the American Music Hall. at 444
Broadway, and remained about two
years
In 1851 he joined Hooley & Camp
bells Minstrels. In 1868, with the
late Bob Hart, he organized Hart &
Simmons Minstrels; Col. 7. Allston
Brown was the agent of the show.
The late J.. r. Kemble and Jack"
Surridge made their professional de-
butts with this company, the former
appearing under his own name Of
Taylor and the latter as Serrage. La
ter he, joined the Morris Ministries,
and on Aug. 22. 1864, he made his
first appearance at the famous old
Eleventh Street Opera House in Phil
adelphia, where he became a great
local favorite with the Carncross &
Dixey Co. He remained there five
years.
On Aug. 20, 1870. with the. late
q. N. Slocum, he opened the Arch
Street Opera House (present Troca-
dero), which had been especially built
for them; Willis p. SWeatnam. now
playing the principal comedy role in
Excuse Me-" at the Gaiety Theatre.
New York, was in the company. The
20, 1872, and Immediately rebuilt
Sweatnam's popularity became SO pro-
.nounced that on Sept. s. 1875. he was
taken in as a partner, the firm name
being Simmons. Slocum & Sweatnam's
Minstrels. The alliance terminated
Oct %, 1875, and Simmons, Slocum,
Geo. Thatcher, VIM. Henry Rice,
WEIGH and Rice and few others
went on a road tour, opening Nov.
20, 1875, at Easton, Pa.
In 1873 Mr.. Simmons visited Eng
land and South Africa. In the Fail
of 1879, with the late Carl Rankin
he was one of the organizers of Sim
sequently he toured with several Sim
mons & Slocum's Minstrels, and on
Sept II, 1885, he again opened at
the Arch Street Opera House. Joe
Hart, the well known vaudeville pro-
Queer, and Chauncey Olcott were with
the company.
Mr.. Simmons later became asso-
ciated with the late Billy Sharsig, and
Charley Mason, one of the owners OF
the newly organized Athletic Baseball
Club, of the American Association.
In the Fall of 1889 he engaged in
L. leo hill 6oI-
phia, and after about two years there
opened a saloon in the same city,
where he remained for about eighteen
months.
In 1890 he made his appearance
in the drama, Shiloh" portraying an
aged darkey character He appeared
in this play internationally for few
years Subsequently he did old mig
ger acts with the late Clark Gibbs.
Tommy Harris, Lew Pistol and Frank
H. White. He was with Mr.. White
at the time of the latter's death a
few months ago.
Mr. Simmons also played black face
parts with broadway to Toxic" in
1900, with Otis Harlan; with Joe
OFT. in "a Million Dollars" the same
year and with Marie Dressler in
Miss Print in 1899.
His early manhood was spent in
Warren, O., and Lockport, N. Y. In
the latter place he learned the trade
of cooper.
Lew Simmons married Mary Bla-
Der, Sept. 8, 1868. Mrs. Simmons
died about thirteen years, ago. and
several years later he married again.
His second wife survives him. There
were no children by either marriage,
but an adopted daughter is living in
Philadelphia
Lew Simmons had wide acquain-
lance here especially in Elk circles
he being a charter member of Phila-
delphia lodge. He entertained the To-
cal antlers here about two years ago
with stories and "reminiscences. He
was a warm personal friend of DAN
iel ]. Clifford and P. j. Kelley of
this city, who are associated in bus
ness under the firm name of The
American Specially Co. and yxaz THAR