Minstrelsy on Record: 1890s to 1920s Tim Brooks Society for American Music Conference March 2011

Some Key Dates 1843: Virginia Minstrels debut in New York City 1843: Virginia Minstrels debut in New York City 1843: E.P. Christy’s Minstrels 1843: E.P. Christy’s Minstrels  Set format  Popularized Stephen Foster songs 1860s-1880s: Heyday 1860s-1880s: Heyday  Huge spectacles  Black troupes  Foreign tours

Len Spencer ( )

Most Members of Imperial Minstrels Were White, but… One member black George W. Johnson ( ) Born a slave Popular early recording artist Provided laughter, and his signature “Laughing Song”

Minstrel Record Content s “Gentlemen, be seated!” “Gentlemen, be seated!” Introductory Overture by orchestra (loud and fast) Introductory Overture by orchestra (loud and fast) Jokes between interlocutor and endman Jokes between interlocutor and endman Laughter and applause Laughter and applause Featured song by tenor or baritone Featured song by tenor or baritone Fast closing chorus, with cheers Fast closing chorus, with cheers

Repertoire s Featured song usually contemporary: mix of current hits and 1870s/80s minstrel “standards” Featured song usually contemporary: mix of current hits and 1870s/80s minstrel “standards”  “Sweet Marie,” “Two Little Girls in Blue”  “Hear Dem Bells,” “A High Old Time”  Rarely pre-Civil War song (e.g Foster)  Most not racially oriented Early banter rough-edged, streetwise Early banter rough-edged, streetwise  Len Spencer-Billy Williams banter  Black dialect

Popularity of Minstrel Records Explodes 1894: New Jersey cylinders 1894: New Jersey cylinders 1896: Columbia Records begins production 1896: Columbia Records begins production 1897: Edison enters field 1897: Edison enters field 1898: Debut on disc records – first Berliner, then Victor 1898: Debut on disc records – first Berliner, then Victor 1900s: All labels jump in, 100s issued 1900s: All labels jump in, 100s issued 1913: High water mark 1913: High water mark  34 listed in Victor catalog alone

Notable Highlights 1903: full 30-minute show on multi-disc set 1903: full 30-minute show on multi-disc set  “An Evening with the Minstrels” on Victor and Columbia  Included olio  Best seller, issued in all formats Many songs about minstrelsy Many songs about minstrelsy

Coney Island, 1907

Minstrel Record Content s Largely contemporary hits Largely contemporary hits  “My Pony Boy,” “Waltz Me Around Again, Willie”  Black references usually in dialogue Dialogue much more mainstream Dialogue much more mainstream  Infrequent use of “N-word”

Later History Minstrel records declined in popularity in 1910s Minstrel records declined in popularity in 1910s Revived in 1920s as nostalgia Revived in 1920s as nostalgia  Much more use of pre-Civil War songs  Generally respectful Later depicted in films, on radio, even TV Later depicted in films, on radio, even TV

How Minstrelsy Was Perceived at Turn of 20 th Century Minstrel records as reflection of: Minstrel records as reflection of: Repertoire used – surprisingly contemporary Repertoire used – surprisingly contemporary Different ways in which jokes and dialogue were delivered Different ways in which jokes and dialogue were delivered Immense popularity of these records, right up until the early 1910s Immense popularity of these records, right up until the early 1910s How the records evolved from contemporary entertainment (1890s) to pure nostalgia (1920s) How the records evolved from contemporary entertainment (1890s) to pure nostalgia (1920s)

Thank You! Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry,