A black-face minstrel show was presented at the Elizabethville School by the V. F. W Post at Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1957, March 1, 1957, and March 2, 1957. A unique feature of this particular performance was that the February 28 show was presented for children.
News articles appearing in the Elizabetville Echo advertised the event.
From the Elizabethville Echo, February 7, 1957:
PLAN MINSTREL SHOW
The Paul L. Spicher Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elizabethville, will sponsor presentation of a minstrel show February 28, and March 1 and 2, in the school auditorium, Elizabethville.
The show February 28 will be presented for children.
Mr. Richard Grimes is director.
From the Elizabethville Echo, February 21, 1957:
Will Stage Minstrel Show, March 1 and 2
Elizabethville war veterans will stage a minstrel show in the high school auditorium, Elizabethville, Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2 at 8:00 p.m.
The show will be staged with an all male cast, including “Aps” and “Shucks” who have appeared as end men in previous shows.
Admission on March 1 and 2 will be 50 cents for children, and 75 cents for adults. A dress rehearsal will be presented February 28 at reduced admissions.
Mr. Richard Grimm is director of the show.
And, on February 28, 1957, the Elizabethville Echo reported:
Stage Minstrel Show Friday and Saturday
Elizabethville war veterans will present a minstrel show in the high school auditorium, Elizabethville, Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, at 8:00 p.m.
The cast for the 1957 minstrels includes a number of members who have appeared in previous productions.
Admissions for March 1 and 2, will be 75 cents for adults and 50 cents for children. The dress rehearsal will be at reduced rates.
It did not have to be stated in the notices that the “end men” would be appearing in black-face.
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. In the case of this production it was supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Elizabethville and the Board of Education of the Upper Dauphin Schools.
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.