National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-24
EARLY MINSTRELSY.
The Man Who Has Spent Forty Years With
His Face BlaCkened.
Some "reminiscences Of the Oldest
Living Negro Minstrel
Ancient Burnt Cork Methods, Early Show
Printing, aud Old-rime SALARIES.

George kunkel, who played the part or
Tom, in "Uncle Toms Cabin" in this city
last week, is the oldest living minstrel per-
former. He entered the burnt-cork profess
sion at Philadelphia in 1874, and although 62
years of age he is still on tho boards and Is
as spry as many men half as old as himself.
A reporter of The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
called on the old veteran at the American
house and asked him many questions con-
corning his profession.
I'm the early days Of 40" he said, twas
the purity OF negro minstrolsy. Tho
business then was confined to bands
of singers and instrumental players. Tho
only musical instruments used were banjos,
guitars, bones, accordions, and tambourines.
Sometimes we would play short acts, such as,
oh, Hush; or, the Virginia Cupids.' Some
of those small acts were very clever. Things
have changed nightly since then. The min
strelsy of to-day verges on opera. 1t is not
the pure, unadulterated article of ante-bellum
days.
II am printer by trade" resumed Mr..
Kunkel after lighting his pipe aud taking a
comfortable scat. II was making SIS week
setting type when the Virginia sorenaders
organized The manager offered mo $25
week to sing and play, and l accepted and
left the case. l havo been in the
minstrel business ever since. | have met and
played with all the old players during my
lOIly ythEs OH lub bIdRC AllCT lnb lEElHlb
Serenaders disbanded i organized Kunkers
Nightingale Serenadors. This company was
on the road eleven years, and finally dis
banded in Washington in 1855"
How did negro minstrelsy originator
asked the reporter.
ut originated from two or three circus
performers who got together and played the
banjo, sang, &C., in the ring The Virginia
Serenaders was the first regular company. 1t
was organized by the author of the old south
ern song, Dixie In those days q one-sheet
poster WAS considered advertisement enough
to astonish the world. There was no print
ing press in the United States that could
print two-sheet poster"
When did you first play in Washington?
"ln 1s45, We stopped at an old hotel on tho
corner of Seventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue. Many old citizens will remember the
antique hostolry. 1t was known as tho Steam
boat hotel, and was kept by an old fellow
named West. He was Familiarity called
Daddy West Our first per-
tormance was given in "A
hall over Shillington's bookstore (now Odeon
hall, at the corner of Four-and-a- half street
and Pennsylvania avenue. At that time
there were several fine local minstrel singing
clubs in South and East Washington. One
OF these organizations met at the tavern of
Fred and Bill Williams, on the avenue, just
below the hall. They were of course very
jealous of us and regarded the company as a
'snide' affair. On our opening night the
audience consisted of about twenty people,
not enough to pay hall rent, much less
board and salaries. There was an old
ten plate stove in tho hail. and on
the opening night it burned brightly.
Shortly after the curtain went up
the East Washington club, headed by the
Williams brothers. entered the hall abruptly.
Each man of them had provided himself with
package of red pepper. Their intention
was to throw it into the stove and smoke us
and the audience out. Our players were
somewhat nervous, but they marched boldly
out and opened with the quartette "She
Now Sleeps in the Valley" The rendition
moved to applause. They didn't use the
pepper at all, but just sat through the entire
performance and encored us heartily. After
the show was over they came up
and laid the pepper on the stage with the
remark, Boys, we came here to smoke you
out, but were so agreeably disappointed that
we intend to use our best efforts for your
success here We then amalgamated and
went down to Wiiliams's restaurant, where
we had several smiles before morning. The
result of this episode was that the boys
doomed us, and we played at Shilington's
hall for torty-fve consecutive nights"
How are the salaries of minstrel per.
formers Of to-day, as compared with those OF
old times?" asked the reporter.
There is no comparison" said Mr.. Kunkle.
I'm those days from $40 to SIS per week was
considered princely salary. The salaries Of
to-day range from $25 to $40 per week. The
modern minstrel troupe is Colossal affair."
~ am an old Washington theatrical man.
ager," continued the speaker, MS he rciiled
his pipe. 81 was the original manager of the
Jenny Lind theater, which stood on the site
of the National theater, When that build
ing was destroyed by fire | lost $1,000
After that l took up Uncle Toms
Cabin and have been presenting it evel
since. i am the original Uncle Tom, having
played that part in Charleston, S. c., in 1851
At that tins presented the drama in one
act. On my first appearance in Charleston
the city council held special meeting an6
passed resolution forbidding any Coioret
person from entering the theater under pair
of punishment. was offered So and $40 at the
door by colored men, but refused the offers
Patson Brownlow published an editorial in
his paper, headed TO the Chivalry of Charles
tom in which he told them to drive the
itinerant company of common vagrants'-
meaning our company-'from the city,"
The first professional minstrel company
X. Search VIM Penn Lehr w. Ii. Morgan
and Levi Brown. We were known as 9Th,
Nine" Many old residents of Washington
will remember the names. 81 have lost sew
eral fortunes in the burnt-cork profession, ;
concluded the gray haired veteran, 'and an
now working for salary like an homes
man"
Army nnd Navy News.