On March 9, 1914, a group of men from Lykens and Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, performed a minstrel show at the Lykens Opera House. The group was variously described as a “glee club” and “male choir” but it was clear from the publicity and review of the performance, that this was a minstrel show, complete with white men in black-face.
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From the Lykens Standard, February 6, 1914:
Grand Minstrel
The Lykens–Wiconisco Male Choir will hold another minstrel in the Opera House in the near future, which promises to be fine throughout as come of the characters have been favorably seen and heard by our people a year ago. When the house that greeted the production was crowded to its capacity and all were delighted. Date will be announced later, when more will be given by the Committee.
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From the Lykens Standard, February 13, 1914:
Minstrel Notes
The Lykens and Wiconisco Glee Club which is endeavoring to render a Minstrel show in the Lykens Opera House have their tickets on sale. All who witnessed the last performance are purchasing their tickets for the next treat, which will take place Thursday evening, March 5, 1914.
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However, the show did not take place on that date as noted by the Lykens Standard, March 6, 1914:
Wanted – 50 Young Ladies to make bandages for those who split their sides laughing at the funny end men and after each piece of Lykens and Wiconisco Minstrel Show, which will be held on Monday night, March 9th, 1914. Note change of date.
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A short review of the performance appeared in the Lykens Standard of March 13, 1914 (image at top of post), in which the reviewer referred to the “burned cooked [sic] artists,” a euphemism for black-face. In addition, three of the performers were identified.
The Minstrel show given in the Opera House Monday evening by the Lykens and Wiconisco Glee Club was a great success. The house was crowded to the doors and all present were greatly pleased with the sayings and actions of the local burned cooked [sic] artists. Where all did so remarkably well it would be difficult to specialize, but it has demonstrated this fact, that right in our midst we have Lew Dockstaders, Hughey Dougherty, John L. Carncrosses, and we hope to see them appear soon again.
White men and women, who blackened their faces, and performed emphasizing negative stereotypical behavior that they attributed to African Americans, for the purpose of getting laughs, were often the most prominent people in the community.
The performance of the local group preceded by five days a nationally-known group, the DeRue Brothers Ideal Minstrels who also performed at the Opera House, giving area residents two such shows within a week.
This post is part of a series in which news articles, photographs and other “memorabilia” are presented to show how “black-face” was infused into the culture of the Lykens Valley area. Readers are invited to submit photos and recollections on how long this offensive “entertainment” lasted and what locals thought of it as part of the culture of the area.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.