There are numerous studies and photographs of blackface in the American theater, but it is a bit less common to see women…and I guess even more unusual to see young women and children. A series of cabinet card photographs circa 1910 of young vaudeville performers in burnt cork. These were essentially among the first "publicity photographs" and sold at the stage door following performances.
Original cabinet card photographs by Frank Wendt circa 1910 (Wendt was the understudy of Chas Eisenmann, famed circus freak photographer.)
Collection Jim Linderman
Real Black gangsters, I guess.
Criminals from the 1950s, but presumed, I am afraid, guilty until proven otherwise.
Given attitudes, practices and institutional racism when taken, these sharp-dressers might have been just walking to work.
Striking
Photographs, each near 8" x 10" and each handed back and forth from
lawyers, prosecutors, file clerks and now collectors. Another reminder
that the photograph was a tool and a physical object which developed
surface, wear and form as it aged.
Jim Linderman's newest book of photographs is THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL and is available from the publisher DUST TO DIGITAL, AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE AND OTHER FINE RETAIL OUTLETS.
To those who study or simply enjoy old time music, the interplay between minstrel shows, blackface and musicians has been understood a long time. Musicians give up prejudice as soon as someone tunes up. Some recent hyped controversy over fashion models with too much make-up points out again that race and racism is real and for the most part, like always, still manipulated for profit and power. If you think some arbitrary distinction between race matters, or even exists anymore, I suggest a train ride into Manhattan from Queens at 7 am. There IS no white or black. We are all of the human race and at 7 am all equally miserable.Anonymous Snapshot Untitled (Children musicians practice for crappy minstrel show) 1956 Collection Jim Linderman
