152. Dumont, et al.
Eight Books of Minstrel Gags, Sketches and Jokes

^The second lot in a collection of Minstrel memorabilia collected by a family in Madison, Ohio. These eight small books (seven are 7" x 5;" one is 9" x 6 1/2") contain jokes from the early twentieth-century for use in minstrel shows, vaudeville and plays. There are jokes for "end and middle men;" gags for "ends," "fill-ins" for gags or monologues, poetry and "storiettes." (For example: Middleman- Honesty is the best policy. Endman- Perhaps it is, but I've done pretty well.) Most refer to African-Americans in the vernacular of the day.^ Dumont, Frank. "The Witmark Gag and Joke Book For Professional and Amateur Use." M. Witmark and Sons: 1902. This book has a London copyright. ^ Stratton, Wade. "When Cork is King. New Crossfire Conversations, End Gags and Retorts for Male, Female and Mixed Minstrels; Monologues, Skits and Stump Speeches." T.S. Denison and Company: 1921. " A rich store of bright, snappy material" including important stage "pointers" such as: "Don't cork the hands. Wear white or black gloves instead" and "seven dandy monologues." Advertisements in the back pages provide additional reference materials.^ Dumont, Frank. "Phunny Puns." M. Witmark: 1905.^ "Minstrel Gags and End Men's Jokes." Published by The Arthur Westbrook Company in Cleveland probably in the 'teens. Front cover missing. A compendium of story-jokes with attempts to mimic several immigrant/ethnic dialects such as Irish and "Hebrew."^ T.S. Denison's "A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy: Cross-Fire Conversations, Gags and Retort." Front and back cover missing. ^Dumont, Frank. "Dumont's Minstrel Joke Book: New Gags, Jokes and Conundrums." The Dramatic Publishing Company: 1898. Subtitle reads: A collection of jokes arranged for end-men- both professional and amateur- many never previously published in any form; and certainly never before collected and arranged in such a clear manner, with bright dialogues for end-men and interlocutor. These dialect dialogues and recitations collected, revised and originated by Frank Dumont, manager of Dumont's Minstrels, 11th St. Opera House, Philadelphia, and now presented to the public for the first time, forming a book of the newest, most humorous and quaintest reading matter ever collected in America, and so clearly written that any reader may, with assured success, deliver them to any assemblage before which he may appear.^ Dumont, Frank. "Burnt Cork. Frank Dumont's Latest Joke Book of Minstrel Gags and Stories. Arranged for Interlocutor and End Men. M.Witmark and Sons: 1911.( Middleman: " I saw you had a black eye the other day. Endman: Yes, railroad accident. I kissed the wrong woman in a tunnel.")^ McNally, William. " Mack's Minstrelry: A Choice Collection of Material for the Minstrel Show. " Wm. McNally: 1920. Short sketches featuring women, men as well as "mixed minstrels" (women and men), monologues, recitations, cross-talks plus rehearsal tips, hints on dressing, face make-up, washing up and a diagram for arranging the stage for a minstrel show.

150/300     SOLD: $138.00

Condition: Very Good