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Ramza and Arnos

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Image of a full-length caricature portrait of singer and composer Ted Francis standing next to Irish comedian George B. Leslie in blackface near theater curtains and a potted palm tree; with a vignette of a head-and-shoulders portrait of Leslie at upper right.

Ramza and Arno's was a successful traveling minstrel show active during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Ramza and Arno were considered one of the top stars in the traveling vaudeville acts [1] and were referred to as "comical comedians",[2] "knockabout comedians",[3] acrobats [4] and, "versatile and comic artistes".[5] The duo often traveled with other successful and famous performers of the time. Their acts notably included trapeze stunts, pantomime sketches, as well as various other types of live performance.[6]

Prominent minstrel manager John W. Vogel piloted many successful minstrel companies, including McNish, Ramza, and Arno's Refined Minstrels[7] where Ramza and Arno worked with Frank McNish (Francis Edward McNish).

According to a November 19, 1888 New York Times article, the McNish, Ramza and Arno Minstrels were "having a hard time of it on the road" and it was believed they would soon disband citing Lew Benedict of Duprez & Benedict's Minstrels decision to sever his connection with the act "because he could not collect $400 back salary."[8] Despite issues such as these, the act went on to perform into the 20th century.

References

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  1. ^ SD, Trav (2005). No applause, just throw money, or, The book that made vaudeville famous : a high-class, refined entertainment. New York: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0571211925.
  2. ^ "Kansas City, MO". The Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Proctor's One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street Theatre". The Tammany Times. 7 November 1903.
  4. ^ Variety Publishing Company (June 1914). "Variety". New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  5. ^ "The Greatest Assemblage of Versatile and Comic Artistes ever presented to the Public at one Establishment". London Pavilion. July 1886.
  6. ^ FHD (1 December 1955). "Around the Town". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. ^ Rice, El Roy (1911). Monarchs of minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to date. New York: Kenny Publication Company.
  8. ^ "A minstrel show in trouble". The New York Times. 19 November 1888. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
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