Looking back through my collectibles, I discovered an old theatre programme featuring the black and white minstrel show in The Victoria Palace in London. I have faint memories of their earlier years. Television sets were scarce in the Ringsend of the fifties but certain programmes remain in my memory.
On March 20th 1967 the black and white minstrel show at the Victoria Palace reached its 3,000th performance. They would eventually go on to perform 6,477 shows – in doing so becoming the most successful music show in the history of the theatre.
At the same time a second minstrel show was breaking records in the major theatres all over the country and a third version proved the most successful show ever to visit Australia and New Zealand.
It was first presented on television from Earls Court in 1957. Robert Luff was the man who recognised the potential of the show. The show ran on British Television from 1958-1978 and it proved extremely popular, getting record audiences of over 18 million people.
It featured The Male Mitchell Minstrels named after George Mitchell, the musical director as well as the lovely female Television Toppers. The show was produced by George Mitchell and George Inns and was broadcast at peak time on Saturday nights.
Music, dance and song were the heartbeat of the show, performed in black face and with the ladies in beautiful costumes. All gathered on stage exchanging wise cracks and singing. It was first broadcast from The BBC on June 14th 1958. Incidentally the show started broadcasting in genuine black and white and was one of the first shows to go to colour in 1967. Do you remember those first days of back and white TV – the awful reception?
The show won many awards including the Rose of Montreux in 1961 for Best Light Entertainment Programme. Many personalities made guest appearances on the show.
It was sadly ended in 1978 amid some controversy. Unsurprisingly perhaps, some people considered the programmes portrayal of black people as patronising and offensive. Things had moved on a lot since the shows beginnings, and it was perceived as dated by many younger viewers.
The stage show continued however and ran until 1982 at Victoria Palace. It then toured every year in the big cities and seaside resorts until 1987 when it finished with a tour of three Butlins resorts.
The legacy of the minstrel show is its music, many of the tunes became popular folk songs. Next time you hear My Old Kentucky Home, think of the minstrels. I recall the great voices of Tony Mercer, Dai Francis and John Boulter. I remember the minstrel maids playing on my old tape recorder. I can still visualise those television toppers in their magnificent costumes.
George Mitchell died in 2002. But his name and those of George Inns and Robert Luff live on. Along with the many minstrels their contribution to music and entertainment should never be forgotten. They represent all that is good and original in show business.
Let the show begin!