New Britain herald., 1928-02-16
Benefit Performance


 A benefit performance for the Chi cago Newsboys' Home in which he did a clog dance was Eddie Foy's stepping stone to the professional stage. Once there he continued to entertain American audiences for more than 50 years and thus made a record which few stage folks have ever equaled. He was only 15 when he offered to do his bit for the Chi cago newsboys in 1899, but his num- Der was 50 we'll received that nu- merous offers for professional en- agreements quickly came to him.
 For several years, however, Mir. Foy continued to do his dancing in what might nowadays be termed cabarets. In 1876 he had an en- gagement with Cosmopolitan Vani- ties in Chicago and two years later. paired with partner named Thompson. toured the central west in blackface sketches, songs and acrobatic >dancea After a season with Emerson's minstrels he re- turned to the variety circuit until 1884. having by that time played in nearly every city of importance in the United States.
 30 Years In Comedies
 MT. Toys reputation as versatile performer and comedian led to his engagement for part in the Kelly and Mason company playing "The Tigers" with which he toured the country. For nearly 30 years there- after he was in the casts If some of the most successful comedy produc- tions. in many of which he was billed as the star. Among these were "Jack-in-the- Box; "Over the Garden Walr'; Ali Baba": 'sinbad. the Sailor; Cinderella: Blue beard": ''Off the Earth: Robinson Crusoe"; ''The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown" and "Topsy Turvy." which had run of 150 nights at the Herald Square theater, New York.
 Some of the later success in which Mir. Foy played leading parts were "The Strollers": "Pif, Paff. Pouf"; ''rhe Earl and the Girl": ''The Or chid": up and Down Broadway; "Mr. Hamlet cf Broadway: "Over the River; and "Slumwhere in New York"
 During the latter years of his MT. Foy devoted himself al most exclusively 10 the vaudeville circuits. He appeared for several seasons with his seven children, billed as Eddie Toy and the Little Foys."
 Born in New York
 Eddie Foy. whose real name was Edwin Fitzgerald, was born in New York. March 2. 1854. the son of Richard and Ellen Hennessy Fitz- gerald. He was thrice widower. having married Rose How'and in 1S79; Lola Sefton in 1886. and Madeline Morando in 1895. The first TWO were actresses and the third a far2ous daneeiIse from Ita?y She was the mother of his seven children who had appeared on the stage with hir7.
 Tn Jaruarv. 1928. MT. Foy mar. riod as his fourth wife Mrs. Marie Combs. widow of % whose home was at Sadalia. Mo. She had never appeared on the stage. but after the wedding the coroedian confded 10 friends "Ill fix that"
 Nearly Burned Alive
 Volur teering reason for his mar riage, MT. Foy said: T don't intend to be alone in my old age sec my children growing up and draw ing away from me. love children and I'm going 10 raise another fam fly. I want home with little ones In if, I'll make my friend Dr. Coue proud of me-
 MT. Foy was playing at the Iro- quois thoater, Chicago. when 1t was destroyed by fire Dec. 30 1903. and which resulted in the loss of coz lives. The actor barely succeeded in saving himself from being one of the victims.
 ASSUMES DITIES