Everybody Likes Pitman… and Minstrels

Dec 5

TW/CW: Racially offensive language in the original source text.

Almost 300 recommendations for the town slogan were submitted to Pitman’s Board of Trade Committee, from as far away as Washington, DC. On 29 Mar 1913, it’s reported Mary Dilks submission of “Everybody Likes Pitman” was the winner. (Full disclosure: Mary was the daughter of committee chairman W. Stewart Dilks.)

Aside from the announcement of the town’s new slogan, the article contained Pitman’s society updates. Generally innocuous family engagements, upcoming events, and town gossip were reported.

One stands out.

“The Stag Club minstrels will give their entertainment in the K. G. E. Hall on next Thursday evening, April 3. “Ni..er Night School” with J W Goorlay as the doctor, will be the musing afterpiece.”

img (3).jpg — The Morning Post (formerly Camden Post-Telegram)
Camden, NJ 29 Mar 1913

The Pitman Stag Club, mentioned in a 1930 article celebrating their 25th Anniversary, was a male social group. Over the years they held their own dances, created football and basketball teams, and hosted vaudeville and minstrel shows.

Minstrel shows originated in the early 1800’s. An American art form; performances consisted of dancing, singing, and comedy acts, mostly by white actors in blackface. There were some black actors and all-black minstrel shows, but all depicted African-Americans as “dim-witted, lazy, buffoonish, superstitious, and happy-go-lucky.” Non race related humor generally included aristocratic whites and women’s rights issues. By 1850, minstrelsy became more inclined to depict poor treatment of blacks and romanticize slavery.

All Black troupes were regularly advertised as “slaves attempting to earn their freedom.” Then the Gold Rush brought forth the Chinese immigrant for mockery. Language and pronunciation, the eating of cats and dogs, and hairstyles all proved a popular draw for crowds. Stereotypes generated in those depictions live on today.

During the Civil War, minstrels mocked both sides initially, landing on the side of the Union towards the end. Skits would revolve around ill equipped black soldiers, mourning mothers, and grieving widows.

The Morning Post (formerly the Camden Post-Telegram) 3 Jun 1911

Minstrelsy began to lose audiences to more entertaining circus acts, vaudeville, and variety shows. All women troupes were assembled (one of which abolished blackface) attempting to gain its own foothold with skimpy outfits and tights. That act gave rise to American Burlesque. Attempting to cash in on the female act, drag was incorporated into all-male troupes.

The Morning Post (formerly the Camden Post-Telegram)Camden, NJ 16 July 1931 — The Morning Post (formerly Camden Post-Telegram)
16 July 1921

Minstrels remained popular until the early part of the 1900’s when vaudeville replaced them, and died out by the 1950’s.
Their influence on society remains to this day. They laid the groundwork for all sketch comedy and variety shows including Hee-Haw, The Carol Burnett Show, In Living Color, Saturday Night Live, among others. Many a musical tune imprinted in our minds stem from minstrelsy. Walt Disney based Mickey Mouse off blackface depictions, and adapted the Uncle Remus stories creating the Oscar-winning 1946 film “Song of the South”. Locked away in Disney’s vault, It remains the only film they will no longer release to the public in any capacity.

Minstrels continued to be a source of entertainment in Pitman into the middle of the 20th century. Shows would be held by social clubs, on Fireman’s Day, at Alcyon Lake picnics, and to raise funds for the Pitman M. E. Church.