The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-04

The Maa who has spent Forty Years with
Alts Face Blackened-so0e "Reminiscences
81 the Oldest Living Negro Miassrsl.

FToW tnS Nuttouut hepuoucuu
George Kunkel, who played the part OF
Ton! in Uncle Toms Cabin"in this city last
Is ths oldest vpg negro %instTs Per-
IS many men half as old as himself.
purify q Tss sSsness
was confined to bands Of singers and instru-
short acts, such ~ Oh. Hush; or. The Virginia
clever. Things have changed nightly since
then. The minstrelsy OF to-day yerges on OPERA
T. II not the pure article of ante
Kun kel after lighting his ripo and taking =
ssnssd hs n manager osrsd me- ssS week
case. have been in the minstrs business over ss
since. have met and played with oil the old
dvvTlnE mS forty year, on the stage
gained Kunkel's Nightingale Serenaders.
This company was on the road eleven years:
How did negro minstrelsy originate 7"
i orisipated from two or three circu. per.
sang. &c, In the ring; The Virgins, serenad-
srs was the h frat reE1ar, 20 i was or
Dixie In those days one sheet poster was
enough to sstonsh the EoEld There was n9
When did you drst play in Washington"
avenue. Many Old citizens will rsmem6er the
antique hostelry. 1t was known as the Steam
"f IL WAS Called an psdd
S West: Our st trsI nsrior%anco was given In a
Hall ossf the 81 ssss
there vsFs ssSsr.i sns local minstrel sinsIns ne
Of these organizations met At the tavern Of
f Fred and ,S BiiI wilIisms on the aysnne. Just
and ihs
.aassc. 90 O. 81. %en Hsn nss The
Board Thers rent wa. .0s an cd
template stove in the hall. and on the opening
up sh & MssSSe ss c ,hs
headed BY the, Williams brothers. entered tho
hall a6ruptly. Each man Of them had proyided
smoke us and the audience out, Our players
Now Sleeps in the Valley Tho rendition was
sp sy #. py y, f.
and slcored US heartily. After the show was
stage with the remark. Boys. we came here to
ESnsa ,hss Intend to use our BEST efforts
- How ara the salaries OF minstrel performers
Of today: as compared with those OF Old :imss''
-. There is no comparison" said Mr.. Kunkel.
In those days from $40 10 SIS per week WAS
foaaa rsnss 4d% I 81 m The w sse
modern minstrel troupe 10 II colossal affair.""
AM an old Washington theatrical man.
aGer." continued ths speaker as no rrililed his
pipe. was the original manager OF the Jen-
ny Lind Theatre. which stood ON the site Of the
National Theatre. When that building was de-
stroyed by fire lost IS. After that I took
M Uncle Toms Cabin and have been
orisnsi Uncle t aS. ' hayinc psy s .h hat
mart in Charleston. 8. G.. In 1851. At
that time / presented the dramn in ono
act. On my first appearance In Charleston
the City Council hold q special meeting and
passed a resolution forbldding any colored per-
son from entering the theatre under pain Of
punishment was offered IS and $40 at the
door by colored men, hut refused the offers.
Parson BrownlOw published AN editorial In his
paper. headed TO the Chivalry OF Chnrleston,'
In which he told them to drive the itinernnt
company OF common Migrants '-meaning our
The first professional minstrel company con.
sisted Of George Kunkel, Harry Lehr. ]. X.
Search. VIM. Penn Lehr W. H. Morgan, NJ W.
White. II; II. Johnson 4. L. Floyd. and Levi
Brown. They wore known IA The Nine" Many
old residents OF Washington will remember the
names. have lost several fortunes In the
burnt:cork profession" concluded the gray
hnired veteran. and am now working for
salary Ike an honest man."