Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-10-25 | Page 12 | Veteran of Five-a-Day Stage Played Bill with Will Rogers

Minstrel's Life Great While It Lasted r ;r y S- -a : '-v.r I ..u.j.: V . FBOM VAUDEVILLE FOOTLIGHTS TO SHINE STAND FOR HIM Bill Robinson . . this job only temporary, ha believes Veteran of Five-a-Day Stage Played Bill With Will Rogers It's a far cry from vaudeville footlights to shining ihori, but William (Bill) Robinson, who "shines 'cm up" in a cafe at 48 East Second South street, has run that gauntlet. BUI, who Is nearing 60, earns his' livelihood shining shoes. Thirty years ago ha was traveling the minstrel and vaudeville circuits of tha United States. He knew Will Rogers. "But." he said Mnrfflsy, "this la only temporary. Something will turn up." There was a time when BUI did five turns a day. In an act which Included Impersonations, musical tumblers, Swiss bells and aluminum chimes. Instruments of a bygone era. "But," b said, "we don't see minstrels any more; they don't allow al-low medicine shows. He reverted to an old man Impersonation: Imper-sonation: "Shucks, gosh all mighty, It's get-tin' get-tin' ao they don't want an old man around at all any more. Gosh, I went to get a Job as a night watchman watch-man 'tother day and the guy wouldn't have me." Mr. Robinson was born May 2, 1U0, in Stockton-on-Tees, England. Ha eame to Salt Lake City at the ags of la. His first Job was as an elevator boy In the famous old Knutsford hotel. Then he ran away to Join a medicine show. Ha played the piano, the banjo, the mouth organ and Swiss bells. He did Impersonations. He met Will Rogers In the old Novelty theater In Oklahoma City, but, he said, "I never knew him well peraonally." Bill liked the medicine shows beat of all. "We were only paid $10 a week." he said, "but we received traveling and all living eapenaes and that was as good as 350 a week today." "The good old daya have gone forever." he said, "and I went back to elevator operating and now I'm shining shoes. But I sure had a good time."