Richard's parents were immigrants.... the father born in Germany, and his mother born in Austria. He began writing popular songs for vaudeville and stage presentations in the 1890s and began teaching music before the turn of the century all while living in the Minneapolis area. By 1904, he started working around the local theaters as a stage hand while still writing songs. Over the years, he published through several music publishers around the country. By 1907, he was the stage manager for the Orpheum Theater on 7th street in Minneapolis. He worked for the Orpheum circuit in Minneapolis over 20 years with only brief stints managing or working as a stage hand for the Princess Theater and the Lyceum Theater. When the Orpheum circuit moved its location to the former Hennepin Theater on Hennepin Avenue about 1921, Richard stayed on with the newly-renamed Seventh Street Theater. When the new Orpheum Theater converted to motion pictures in 1927, it was renamed the RKO Orpheum, and Richard worked there as an assistant electrician. Never married, and with no children, he died at the Euclid Hotel where he had roomed for years. Services were performed by the Oakley Funeral Home on June 5th at the Lakewood Chapel.
Richard's parents were immigrants.... the father born in Germany, and his mother born in Austria. He began writing popular songs for vaudeville and stage presentations in the 1890s and began teaching music before the turn of the century all while living in the Minneapolis area. By 1904, he started working around the local theaters as a stage hand while still writing songs. Over the years, he published through several music publishers around the country. By 1907, he was the stage manager for the Orpheum Theater on 7th street in Minneapolis. He worked for the Orpheum circuit in Minneapolis over 20 years with only brief stints managing or working as a stage hand for the Princess Theater and the Lyceum Theater. When the Orpheum circuit moved its location to the former Hennepin Theater on Hennepin Avenue about 1921, Richard stayed on with the newly-renamed Seventh Street Theater. When the new Orpheum Theater converted to motion pictures in 1927, it was renamed the RKO Orpheum, and Richard worked there as an assistant electrician. Never married, and with no children, he died at the Euclid Hotel where he had roomed for years. Services were performed by the Oakley Funeral Home on June 5th at the Lakewood Chapel.
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