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Minstrels

The historic fact that Minstrelsy produced America’s first pop music is undisputed. That its subsequent influence on all American music going forward cannot be argued. That the African-American story cannot be told without understanding both the positive and negative aspects of this uniquely American art form goes almost without saying. With those facts in place, we must also look at how the minstrel show helped perpetuate racial stereotypes. And how the wearing of blackface– by both Caucasian and African-American men and women– left a painful scar on America’s cultural soul. Today the mere mention of black-faced minstrels is enough to cause panic. Without a doubt the best book written on this subject is John Starusbaugh’s “Black Like You.” (https://www.amazon.com/Black-Like-You-Blackface-Whiteface/dp/1585424986) (to be continued)

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Bannerline with Black Band Magic Lantern Slide

Added Jul 20 2025
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Unidentified Snake Girl in Minstrel Show

Added Jan 15 2023
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Black-Face Midget Wildman

Added Aug 13 2022
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Bannerline with Royal Hawaiians

Added Jun 13 2022
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Turtle George (Williams) Songster “O, Take Me Back To Baltimore”

Added Oct 11 2021
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Boston Museum Tradecard with White Elephant and Minstrels

Added May 16 2021
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Elizabeth Nelson & Barry Boys “A Melody of Variety Bits”

Added Jul 26 2020
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Old Plantation Minstrel Showfront with Merey “The Armless Wonder” and Her Father

Added Mar 3 2019
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Clico “The Dancing Bushman” with Minstrel Band on Bally Platform

Added Apr 17 2016
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Clico “The Dancing Bushman” with Minstrel Band on Bally Platform

Added Apr 17 2016
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Teddy Reed’s Variety and Minstrel Show Bally Platform

Added Jan 4 2016
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Smiling Billy Steward’s Alabama Serenaders Business Card/Pass

Added Oct 18 2015
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Clyde Beatty Circus Sideshow

Added Jul 25 2015
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O.S.P. Minstrels

Added Jul 25 2015
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Bannerline Howe’s Great London Show

Added Jul 19 2015
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Flower City Museum, Vaudeville, Minstrels

Added Jul 19 2015
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James H. Whitney & Co. “San Francisco Minstrels”

Added Oct 24 2014
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Great Barlow Minstrels Letterhead

Added Oct 24 2014
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Warfield & Weeks Model Minstrels and Brass Band

Added Oct 23 2014
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Howard & Fields

Added Jul 22 2014
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Champion One Leg Dancer

Added Jun 26 2014

Free Images

Dolly Dutton’s Sheet Music

Added May 31, 2025

Wonderland Circus Sideshow, Coney Island

Added December 31, 2024

1893 Newspaper Advertisement For The Tocci Brothers and Chevalier Cliquot

Added March 30, 2024

1893 Newspaper Advertisement For The Tocci Brothers and Chevalier Cliquot

Added March 30, 2024

HORROR STORIES Pulp Cover Two-Headed Girl (December 1940)

Added January 28, 2024

Baby Irene “Fat Lady” Cashes In On Laughs (1950)

Added December 26, 2023

1937 Philadelphia Store Show Facade

Added July 22, 2023

Mr. & Mrs. Chauncy Morlan at Huber’s 14th Street Museum

Added July 21, 2023

Hulett Pest Control Spokesmen, Dwarfs John and Greg Rice

Added January 31, 2023

Foy Large & Frank Morgner

Added October 24, 2021