153. Dumont, et al.
Two Minstrel Guides and Assorted Minstrel Plays

This lot includes Jeff Branen and Frederick G. Johnson's "How to Stage a Minstrel Show: A Manual for the Amateur Burnt Cork Director" published by T.S.Denison and Company (1921) with illustrations by Harlan Tarbell. The authors were playwrights with titles such as "The Battle of Rollin' Bones," "The Coon at the Door," and "The Dark Street" to their credit.^ Also included is Frank Dumont's "The Witmark Amateur Minstrel Guide and Burnt Cork Encyclopedia: The Only Book of its Kind Ever Published." Softcover book includes advice on stage effects, cake-walks, shadowgraphs, and blacking up. Published by M. Witmark in 1899. Also gives background information on Frank Dumont, Dumont's Minstrels, and his 11th Street Opera House in Philadelphia.^ Twenty-four Minstrel Plays: First Part. The format of the minstrel show consisted of two parts. In the "first part," the performers are arranged in a semicircle, with the interlocutor in the center and the end men (Mr. Tambo, who played the tambourine, and Mr. Bones, who rattled ^bones) at the end. The interlocutor in white face usually wore formal attire. The end men in black face usually wore gaudy swallow-tailed coats and striped trousers. The program opened with a chorus/grand entrance, after which all are seated. A series of jokes between the interlocutor and the end men follows interspersed with ballads, comic songs and instrumental numbers (mainly on the banjo and violin.) The second part of the show or "olio" consists of a series of individual acts based on the talents of the performers. The works in this lot are "first part" only. ^ Gannett, Jeff. "Coon Valley Minstrel First Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S.Denison and Company: 1935. (Two copies.)^ Royce, Bob. "Cotton Town Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1934. (Two copies.)^ Provence, Jean. "Red-Hot Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1941.^ Lawrence, John E. "Swanee Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison: 1925.^ Kerr, Walter F. "Movie Minstrel First-Part: A Novelty Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company:1938.^ Lawrence, John E. "Ladies' Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1929.^Lawrence, John E. "Jubilee Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1923. (Two copies.)^Kerr, Walter F. "Mystery Minstrel First-Part: A Novelty Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1937.^ Lawrence, John E. "Louisiana Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1928.^ Lawrence, John E. "Carolina Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1927.^ Lawrence, John E. "Old Kentucky Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1926.^ Royce, Bob. "Tennessee Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1931. (Two copies.)^ Kerr, Walter F. "Harmony Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1936.^Royce, Bob. "Happy Hollow Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1933. (Two copies.)^ Lawrence, John E. "Old Virginia Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1929.^ Kaiser, Arthur Leroy. "Alabama Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1922.^ Kaser, Arthur Leroy. "The Filming of Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Classical Comicality in One Act." T. S. Denison and Company: 1922.^ Lawrence, John E. " Dixie Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1924.^ Provence, Jean. "Jamboree Minstrel First-Part: A Complete Routine for the Circle." T.S. Denison and Company: 1940.^ Provence, Jean. "Sugar Foot Minstrel First-Part." T.S. Denison and Company: 1939.

150/300     SOLD: $195.50

Condition: Very Good