Harry A. Ellis (Ralph A. Grande), who was one of the singing duo of Ellis and McKenna, also a member of "The Quartette," made his first professional appearance at Rahway, N. J., March 12, 1900, with the Heywood Comedy Company, in the play of "Mamma's Pet." It is the author's impression that Mr. Ellis played the title role. "Mamma's Pet" never had a metropolitan run; in fact, no run at all-but let bygones be bygones.
April 28, same year, he joined Primrose and Dockstader's Minstrels at their inaugural performance under canvas; this was at Newport News, Va., and Mr. Ellis sang "The Blue and the Gray," and what's better sang it so good that he was engaged for the regular season of the company a few months later, being the only vocalist of the "tenters" so honored. The tent season lasted about seven weeks.
He continued with Primrose and Dockstader's until the dissolution of that company in 1903; the same year he became a member of Lew Dockstader's Minstrels, and remained four years. Eight years of minstrelsy in black-face. Mr. Ellis has a robust tenor voice of high quality. He is again with Lew Dockstader's Minstrels, 1910.