<I>All at Sea / Pullman Porters</I>
date: label: Date
content: 1920s
name: label: Published by
content: Edison Records, American, 1888 - 1929
label: Recorded by
content: Two Dark Knights, American
notes: label: Caption
content: This Edison Phonograph Diamond Disc has recordings of sketches performed by Two Dark Knights, a blackface comedy team. The vocalists, Phil Cook and Victor Fleming, specialized in humorous dialogues and recorded for various labels under different stage names including, Two Wise Owls, Two Licorice Drops, and Big Boy and Shorty.
label: Description
content: An Edison Diamond Disc phonograph record. The disc is comprised of two songs with one on each side of disc. One side has a white circular paper label with black text that reads: [ALL AT SEA / A Darky Sketch / TWO DARK KNIGHTS]. There is also a piece of paper taped with black tape with the handwritten notation: "Black". The other side of the disc has the same white circular label but has a drawing of Thomas Edison visible and black text that reads: [PULLMAN PORTERS / A Darky Sketch / TWO DARK KNIGHTS]. There is a single piece of black tape on the label on this side as well.
label: Description
content: Consists of: Edison Diamond Disc.
label: Description
content: 2011.81.2: Edison diamond disc.
label: Description
content: Side 1: This is a recording of a vaudeville comedy sketch of a conversation on a train between two porters. One is confronting the other after finding him in the observation car not working. They begin comically discussing the various passengers they're serving. The humor of the sketch plays on one of the porter's laziness and igorance.
label: Description
content: Side 2: This is a recording of a vaudeville comedy sketch of two men in a rowboat. The two men have been rowing for many hours, but appear to be going in circles. The humor of the sketch plays on one of the men's ignorance and confusion with language.
label: Statement
content: Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Blackface
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: Minstrel (Music)
label: Topic
content: Popular music
label: Topic
content: Pullman Porters
label: Topic
content: Stereotypes
label: Topic
content: Vaudeville
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Racist and Stereotypical Objects
label: Classification
content: Record Albums
label: Exhibition
content: Musical Crossroads
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Wilbert Davis
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2011.81.2a
objectType: label: Type
content: phonograph records
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Edison Diamond Disc (a): phenolic, ink on paper
label: Dimensions
content: Diameter: 9 3/4 x 1/4 in. (24.8 x 0.6 cm)