Minstrelsy on Record:1890s to 1920s

Tim BrooksTim Brooks

Society for American Music ConferenceSociety for American Music Conference

March 2011March 2011

Some Key Dates

1843: Virginia Minstrels debut in New York City1843: Virginia Minstrels debut in New York City 1843: E.P. Christy’s Minstrels1843: E.P. Christy’s Minstrels

Set formatSet format Popularized Stephen Foster songsPopularized Stephen Foster songs

1860s-1880s: Heyday1860s-1880s: Heyday Huge spectaclesHuge spectacles Black troupesBlack troupes Foreign toursForeign tours

Len Spencer (1867-1914)

Most Members of Imperial Minstrels Were White, but…

One member blackOne member black George W. Johnson (1844-1914)George W. Johnson (1844-1914) Born a slaveBorn a slave Popular early recording artistPopular early recording artist Provided laughter, and his Provided laughter, and his

signature “Laughing signature “Laughing Song”Song”

Minstrel Record Content - 1890s

““Gentlemen, be seated!”Gentlemen, be seated!” Introductory Overture by Introductory Overture by

orchestra (loud and fast)orchestra (loud and fast) Jokes between interlocutor and Jokes between interlocutor and

endmanendman Laughter and applauseLaughter and applause Featured song by tenor or Featured song by tenor or

baritonebaritone Fast closing chorus, with cheersFast closing chorus, with cheers

Repertoire - 1890s

Featured song usually contemporary: mix of Featured song usually contemporary: mix of current hits and 1870s/80s minstrel “standards”current hits and 1870s/80s minstrel “standards” ““Sweet Marie,” “Two Little Girls in Blue”Sweet Marie,” “Two Little Girls in Blue” ““Hear Dem Bells,” “A High Old Time”Hear Dem Bells,” “A High Old Time” Rarely pre-Civil War song (e.g Foster)Rarely pre-Civil War song (e.g Foster) Most not racially orientedMost not racially oriented

Early banter rough-edged, streetwiseEarly banter rough-edged, streetwise Len Spencer-Billy Williams banterLen Spencer-Billy Williams banter Black dialectBlack dialect

Popularity of Minstrel Records Explodes

1894: New Jersey cylinders1894: New Jersey cylinders 1896: Columbia Records begins production1896: Columbia Records begins production 1897: Edison enters field1897: Edison enters field 1898: Debut on disc records – first Berliner, then 1898: Debut on disc records – first Berliner, then

VictorVictor 1900s: All labels jump in, 100s issued1900s: All labels jump in, 100s issued 1913: High water mark1913: High water mark

34 listed in Victor catalog alone34 listed in Victor catalog alone

Notable Highlights

1903: full 30-minute show on multi-disc set1903: full 30-minute show on multi-disc set ““An Evening with the Minstrels” on An Evening with the Minstrels” on

Victor and ColumbiaVictor and Columbia Included olioIncluded olio Best seller, issued in all formatsBest seller, issued in all formats

Many songs Many songs aboutabout minstrelsy minstrelsy

Coney Island, 1907

Minstrel Record Content - 1900s

Largely contemporary hitsLargely contemporary hits ““My Pony Boy,” “Waltz Me Around My Pony Boy,” “Waltz Me Around

Again, Willie”Again, Willie” Black references usually in dialogueBlack references usually in dialogue

Dialogue much more mainstreamDialogue much more mainstream Infrequent use of “N-word”Infrequent use of “N-word”

Later History

Minstrel records declined in popularity in Minstrel records declined in popularity in 1910s1910s

Revived in 1920s as nostalgiaRevived in 1920s as nostalgia Much more use of pre-Civil War songsMuch more use of pre-Civil War songs Generally respectfulGenerally respectful

Later depicted in films, on radio, even TVLater depicted in films, on radio, even TV

How Minstrelsy Was Perceived at Turn of 20th Century

Minstrel records as reflection of:Minstrel records as reflection of: Repertoire used – surprisingly contemporaryRepertoire used – surprisingly contemporary Different ways in which jokes and dialogue were Different ways in which jokes and dialogue were

delivereddelivered Immense popularity of these records, right up until Immense popularity of these records, right up until

the early 1910sthe early 1910s How the records evolved from contemporary How the records evolved from contemporary

entertainment (1890s) to pure nostalgia (1920s)entertainment (1890s) to pure nostalgia (1920s)

Thank You!

www.timbrooks.net

Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919