African-American performers, producers and writers Salem Tutt Whitney (born Indiana 1869 – Chicago, Feb. 12, 1934) and J. Homer Tutt (born Logansport, Indiana January 31, 1882- Los Angeles, February 10, 1951) billed themselves as brothers although they may have been half-brothers. In the early years of the 20th century they worked together to produce travelling…Continue Reading The Tutt Brothers: Pioneering Black Impressarios by David Soren
Topic: African-American
African-American Vaudeville: Separate and Unequal by Amber Kearns
The Vaudeville genre was particularly popular in the United States and Canada from the late 1900s until its decline in the 1920s. Including musicians, dancers, actors in short scenes, comedians, magicians, animals, and many other acts, these performances were various and unique, often having little relation to one another, yet grouped on one bill. The…Continue Reading African-American Vaudeville: Separate and Unequal by Amber Kearns
Aida Overton Walker: Female African-American Superstar by David Soren
Aida Overton Walker is a name that should be more familiar to vaudeville and theater lovers than it is for she was the foremost African-American star of her generation which comprised the early years of the 20th century. Her national and even international fame was such that she was a living legend of black show…Continue Reading Aida Overton Walker: Female African-American Superstar by David Soren
Bert Williams: Vaudeville’s Biggest Black Superstar by David Soren
Bert Williams (New Providence, Nassau, British West Indies, November 12, 1874 – New York, March 4, 1922) was arguably the most important black star of early vaudeville and was the first to cross the color line and the first to work openly with white performers in a major Broadway venue. He was a Mason and…Continue Reading Bert Williams: Vaudeville’s Biggest Black Superstar by David Soren
Butterbeans and Susie: Racy Comedy Trendsetters by David Soren
One of the most important and yet forgotten acts in vaudeville was the comedy team of Butterbeans and Susie, who were really Jodie Edwards (July 19, 1893 – October 28, 1967) and Susie Edwards (born Susie Hawthorne, December, 1894 – died December 5th, 1963). The couple began with independent careers, he as a singer and…Continue Reading Butterbeans and Susie: Racy Comedy Trendsetters by David Soren