|
Charles H. May
I am attaching
photos of my grandfather Charles H. May, with two of his
bands. I have no information on the bands, whether or not
they are of the DeRue Brothers or Guy Brothers Minstrels, or
different bands entirely. If anyone can recognize anything
from these pictures, it would be most welcome.
Charles H. May
was active in his bands throughout the Atlantic coast, and
made his home in Laconia and later in Concord, NH. He was a
printer by profession, and operated shops in both Laconia
and Concord. He was known in both cities as May The
Printer, and passed away suddenly in 1960 at the age of 67,
in Concord.
 CHARLES
DUBLE writes from Alexandria Va.: "Reading over the minstrel
notes for some time past, I have failed to find the De Rue
Bros.' Ideal Minstrels mentioned. Looking backward 16
years age, season of 1913, will say that I opened the
season with this company at Newark Valley, N. Y., and they
played only the Eastern States. De Rue Bros. put on a
very good performance, which always pleased, and did a good
business.
The largest town
played that season was Burlington, Vt. Some towns we
played were very small, some I have never heard mentioned
since. Bobby De Rue was band leader and cornet soloist,
and a good one. A good 15-piece band was featured.
Some of the other musicians were Charles May, William Jackson,
Harry Chappell, Bert Bruno,
Charles Russell, Will Leaders, William Ringwall, trombone in
hand and bass singer, and myself. trombone, band and
orchestra.
Some of the
principal performers I recall were Fox Brothers, Dick Vonder,
Arthur Ritter (end man). Billy and Bobby De Rue, principal
comedians; Onthank and Blanchette, acrobats, and the
Great Le Barr, contortionist. I have been a trouper for
20 years, with practically all the large circuses. De
Rue Bros. was the only minstrel show I was ever with and I
often wonder what has become of this old troupe, which was
very popualr 16 years back. I left the company early in
September of that year and went to Memphis, Tenn., where I
joined the Barnum & Bailey Circus band."
Billboard
5-25-1929
The article above
is a newspaper piece written by Charles Duble ("Charlie") in
the May 25, 1929 Billboard, where he talks about the DeRue
Brothers Minstrels, of which he was a member along with my
grandfather. It sheds some light on this band, with some
names of musicians in it. He and my grandfather kept in touch
until the late 50's, at which time Charlie Duble was living in
Indiana.
Here are
photos of my grandfather's bands, but cannot verify if they
are of the DeRue
Brothers. If you know of anyone who is knowledgeable of the
DeRue Brothers or other bands operating in New England in
the 'teens or 20's, please let me know. It would be great
to identify them at long last.
Its wishful
thinking that recordings would have been made back then. I
would give anything to hear what they sounded like!
DeRue Brothers
Ideal Minstrels program from 1913 that may be of interest.
My late grandfather was Charles H. May of Concord, NH, a
violinist with the DeRue Brothers.
Playbill for
the DeRue Brothers
Playbill for the
DeRue Brothers
Copy of a contract
he signed with the Guy Brothers Minstrels in 1912
Images courtesy of
David May
Back to
Minstrel Shows
Back to Main
|
