Bob Height facts for kids

Bob Height was an American performer in the 1800s. He was known for his amazing talent in minstrel shows. These shows were a popular form of entertainment back then, featuring music, comedy, and dancing.

Bob Height was so good that people often compared him to another famous performer of his time, Bert Williams. Even though he was very talented, Bob Height faced challenges that led him to perform in Europe for many years.

Early Career and Famous Groups

In the late 1860s, Bob Height teamed up with Charles Hicks. Together, they started a group called Hicks and Height's Georgia Minstrels. This group became very popular, especially among African Americans in places like Washington, D.C..

Later, both Bob Height and Charles Hicks joined another well-known group. This group was called Sam Hague's Georgia Minstrels. Bob Height quickly became a star performer in this new troupe. He even traveled with them on a big tour across Europe in the early 1870s.

Success and New Challenges

When the group returned to the United States in 1872, a man named Charles Callender bought it. He changed the name to Callender's Original Georgia Minstrels. Under Callender's leadership, the group became very successful.

Bob Height was one of the top performers in this group. He shared the stage with other big names like Billy Kersands and Pete Devonear.

Moving to Europe

Even with all the success, Bob Height and some other performers decided to leave Callender's group. They had disagreements about their pay and how much they were recognized for their work. They tried to start a new performance group, but it didn't do very well. Most of the other performers soon went back to Callender's troupe.

However, Bob Height chose a different path. He moved to Europe, where he continued to perform for many years. He built a long and successful career there.