A poster advertising the DeRue Brothers Ideal Minstrels, who were scheduled to perform at the Lykens Opera House, March 14, 1914.
Minstrel shows were much in demand in the Lykens Valley area. In addition to “local talent” performing in black-face, there were many nationally-known visiting troupes. This one was led by two white men, Billy DeRue and Bobby DeRue whose antics are vividly described in the newspaper announcements and posters advertising their appearance.
Locals who aspired to performing in black-face flocked to these performances to learn new routines, and the general public attended because they could not get enough of this racist “entertainment.”
White men and women, who blackened their faces, and performed emphasizing negative stereotypical behavior that they attributed to African Americans, for the purpose of getting laughs, were often the most prominent people in the community.
From the Lykens Standard, March 13, 1914:
The Peoples Favorites Coming
The DeRue Brothers Ideal Minstrels are to appear at the Lykens Opera House on Saturday, March 14 [1914] shall alert, which fair treatment to the public and truly advertised. This year, performing an entire change of performance with all new vaudeville features. No one stale or worn out act presented and we feel confident that we shall please our friends to such an extent that they will pronounce us the one and only truly advertised Minstrel Company that visits your city this season for we have gathered together the most expensive array of Minstrel talent from American and European agent that was ever engaged under one Minstrel management. Don’t fail to see the street parade and hear the solo band concert on day of show. Prices 25, 35 and 50 cents. Tickets on sale at Uhler’s Drug Store.
From the Lykens Standard, March 13, 1914:
Opera House
Saturday, March 14 [1914]
DeRue Brothers famous Minstrel Company will give one of their unrivaled performances.
This is a show we always attend if able to get there. We love the “burnt cork” profession and are great admires of the particular company – “Bobby” and “Billy” especially. Their music is grand, their vocal artists great and their Ethiopian specialties of wit, dancing and comedy of a High order. There is no occasion to tell the people of Lykens to go and see the DeRue’s for the moment the diagram is ready for the sale of seats a throng of anxious buyers are on hand.
Prices 25, 35 and 50c
The poster below shows the brothers as they were without their “burnt cork” makeup.
The poster also refers to them as “funny comedians,” “graceful dancers,” “bright, bubbling with mirth,” and “nothing but the best.” Their performances also included a “feature parade” as well as a “solo band and orchestra.”
This post is part of a series in which news articles, photographs and other “memorabilia” are presented to show how “black-face” was infused into the culture of the Lykens Valley area. Readers are invited to submit photos and recollections on how long this offensive “entertainment” lasted and what locals thought of it as part of the culture of the area.
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News articles from Newspapers.com. Portions of posters cropped from unlicensed web images.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.