MINSTRELSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.: THE FIRST DECADE

This study is a chronological history of the minstrel shows which came to Washington, D.C. from the first show on 19 October 1843 until 31 December 1853. The author documents minstrel activity using 3,120 issues of the Daily National Intelligencer and other newspapers and sources of the period. Discussed are: which troupes came to Washington, how they were received by the audiences, their performance practice, the theatres used by the troupes, and a discussion of the performers. Included also are facsimiles of advertisements from the Intelligencer. The author concludes that the first decade of minstrelsy in Washington demonstrates minstrelsy's importance as public entertainment and that this type of entertainment had a lasting influence on theatre arts of the future.