Photograph: Portrait of Fritz Smith, Lewis Leslie, Edwin "Eddie" Fritz Smith, third scene
MSS 027 Box 1 Folder 8 Item 6
circa 1895 (Date manufactured/created)
7 3/8" H
X
5 3/8" W
Cabinet card photograph of Fritz Smith, Lewis Leslie, and Edwin "Eddie" Fritz Smith, undated but probably from the mid-1890s. This is one of three studio photos taken at the same time, depicting the antics of the three, as if in the middle of their Great Pantomine Trick House Act, which was performed in musical halls and theaters. Their act was slapstick entertainment, a genre popular in vaudeville. The three photos are not a numbered series but this one appears to represent the third "scene." Father and son clown performers Fritz and Eddie are depicted with Lewis Leslie. Eddie is on the left wearing a costume made of a large polka dot print. It appears he has "stolen" the policeman's billy club or baton and his dark cap. Fritz has been thrown over Leslie's shoulders to be carried away. His costume is made of a bold, diagonally-striped print, while Leslie wears a dark wool frock coat and dark leggings. The penciled notation across top reads "Fritz Leslie Eddie" but that does not reflect the order in which they are shown in the photo. There are no other notations on the photograph, which was taken in New York City by the studio called Feinberg, at 16 West 14th Street. "Carbonettes" the "latest finish" are noted next to the name. The approximate date of the photograph is based on Eddie's stature, as he was born in 1880 and appears to be in his mid-teens in this image. His father Fritz was short, below the average height of most men.
Eddie performed with his father, who was a professional clown known as "Fritz." Eddie was one of five children in the Smith family but the only one who followed a career in the entertainment business as his parents had. This photo documents his early years as a performer.
Fritz Smith was a circus performer who emigrated to America in the early1870s. He was born in Liverpool, England, the son of a tailor, in 1849, and was apprenticed to a "mountebank" from the age of 8 to 15 to learn tumbling, leaping, and acrobatics. He performed with his master, William Chantrell, and other apprentices as the Chantrell Family. Fritz won a prize, a silver belt in recognition of his talent, when he was about 13 or 14. After completing his apprenticeship he taught his older brothers Sidney and Alfred, and for about five years the three performed throughout Great Britain and in Europe as the Fritz Brothers. After Alfred was killed in an accident on stage, Fritz struck out on his own and partnered with another acrobat about the same age, James Cassim, The two traveled, among other places, to India, possibly because James' father had emigrated from India (his mother was Scottish), and they also performed in Spain and in France. The two of them left England sometime in the first half of 1870 headed to South America with a newly formed circus company, Courtney and Sanford, who promised to pay high salaries. The company opened in Lima, Peru, on June 1, 1870. Ultimately Fritz and his partner Cassim were left stranded, along with other performers, when the company went bankrupt and the owner disappeared. They finally succeeded in returning to the coast and finding a ship to get them to San Francisco where they performed for some time before heading east across the U.S. They worked in San Francisco for a time and then began working their way east. In New England Fritz met Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe and the couple married in August of 1874. She was a sand dancer, also known as a clog dancer or jig dancer, performing on stage in music halls and vaudeville; she also performed comic songs. The couple had five children. They traveled with their eldest child to Australia, where their second child was born. The journey proved to be quite an ordeal, and caused Kitty to refuse to travel overseas again. Fritz's entire career was devoted to performance and he became the head clown for Barnum & Bailey in the late 1880s. Fritz knew James A. Bailey very well, as he worked for Bailey and his partner James Cooper prior to Barnum & Bailey. He was also previously employed by the Adam Forepaugh circus enterprise. Kitty did not want him to travel abroad when Barnum & Bailey decided to go to England in 1889 so Fritz left the circus to work on stage, creating the Great Pantomime Trick House Act with a short succession of partners. He performed with his second son and namesake "Eddie" as clowns, and Eddie later became a partner in the Trick House Act. Fritz was forced to retire from stage after an injury in the Trick House Act, but he continued to be involved in the entertainment world. The Smith family settled in Saratoga Springs, New York, around 1883 when their third child was born, and Kitty and Fritz remained their until they died. Kitty's parents and one of her sisters and her husband also settled in Saratoga Springs, forming an enclave of circus and vaudeville performers.
Eddie performed with his father, who was a professional clown known as "Fritz." Eddie was one of five children in the Smith family but the only one who followed a career in the entertainment business as his parents had. This photo documents his early years as a performer.
Fritz Smith was a circus performer who emigrated to America in the early1870s. He was born in Liverpool, England, the son of a tailor, in 1849, and was apprenticed to a "mountebank" from the age of 8 to 15 to learn tumbling, leaping, and acrobatics. He performed with his master, William Chantrell, and other apprentices as the Chantrell Family. Fritz won a prize, a silver belt in recognition of his talent, when he was about 13 or 14. After completing his apprenticeship he taught his older brothers Sidney and Alfred, and for about five years the three performed throughout Great Britain and in Europe as the Fritz Brothers. After Alfred was killed in an accident on stage, Fritz struck out on his own and partnered with another acrobat about the same age, James Cassim, The two traveled, among other places, to India, possibly because James' father had emigrated from India (his mother was Scottish), and they also performed in Spain and in France. The two of them left England sometime in the first half of 1870 headed to South America with a newly formed circus company, Courtney and Sanford, who promised to pay high salaries. The company opened in Lima, Peru, on June 1, 1870. Ultimately Fritz and his partner Cassim were left stranded, along with other performers, when the company went bankrupt and the owner disappeared. They finally succeeded in returning to the coast and finding a ship to get them to San Francisco where they performed for some time before heading east across the U.S. They worked in San Francisco for a time and then began working their way east. In New England Fritz met Catherine "Kitty" Sharpe and the couple married in August of 1874. She was a sand dancer, also known as a clog dancer or jig dancer, performing on stage in music halls and vaudeville; she also performed comic songs. The couple had five children. They traveled with their eldest child to Australia, where their second child was born. The journey proved to be quite an ordeal, and caused Kitty to refuse to travel overseas again. Fritz's entire career was devoted to performance and he became the head clown for Barnum & Bailey in the late 1880s. Fritz knew James A. Bailey very well, as he worked for Bailey and his partner James Cooper prior to Barnum & Bailey. He was also previously employed by the Adam Forepaugh circus enterprise. Kitty did not want him to travel abroad when Barnum & Bailey decided to go to England in 1889 so Fritz left the circus to work on stage, creating the Great Pantomime Trick House Act with a short succession of partners. He performed with his second son and namesake "Eddie" as clowns, and Eddie later became a partner in the Trick House Act. Fritz was forced to retire from stage after an injury in the Trick House Act, but he continued to be involved in the entertainment world. The Smith family settled in Saratoga Springs, New York, around 1883 when their third child was born, and Kitty and Fritz remained their until they died. Kitty's parents and one of her sisters and her husband also settled in Saratoga Springs, forming an enclave of circus and vaudeville performers.
Gift of Susan Crozier Fairchild
MS-0027-108-006