African American entertainers in Australia and New Zealand : a history, 1788-1941 / Bill Egan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Egan, Bill, 1937- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African American entertainers--Australia--Biography.

African American entertainers.

African American entertainers--New Zealand--Biography.

African Americans in the performing arts--Australia--History.

African Americans in the performing arts.

African Americans in the performing arts--New Zealand--History.

African Americans--Australia--History.

African Americans.

African Americans--New Zealand--History.

History.

New Zealand.

Australia.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xi, 270 pages ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2020]

Summary:

"It is often forgotten that 11 African Americans, including a musician, were among the First Fleet of colonial settlers to Australia. In the 150-plus following years, African Americans visiting the region included jubilee singers, minstrels, ragtimers, vaudevillians, jazz musicians, sports stars, dancers, singers and general entertainers, some of whom became long stayers or residents. This book provides the only comprehensive history of more than 350 African American entertainers in Australia and New Zealand between European settlement in Australia in 1788 and the entry of the United States into World War II in 1941. It explains how and why they came, how they were treated and how that changed with the infamous White Australia policy. Famous names include boxer Jack Johnson, film star Nina Mae McKinney, vocalist Ivie Anderson of Duke Ellington's band, swing dancer Frankie Manning and jazz singer Eva Taylor. Beyond the bare performance histories, the book reveals stories of personal experiences and dilemmas: How did Jack Johnson almost marry an Australian? Why did Nina Mae McKinney's show close mysteriously? Which African American entertainer became mayor of a New Zealand town? Did a mystery romance keep Jolly John Larkins in the region for eight years? Such background stories give a multidimensional view of the entertainers' time in a place very far from home"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

2 African American Minstrels Arrive: Dueling Georgians p. 14

3 The Fisk Jubilee Singers p. 29

4 Further Adventures of the Jubilee Singers p. 36

5 Charles B. Hicks Returns p. 49

6 Orpheus McAdoo and the Return of the Fisks p. 57

7 The Tivoli Era Starts p. 65

8 The Return of Orpheus McAdoo and a Rival p. 70

9 McAdoo and Curtis: The Battle Begins p. 81

10 McAdoo Reigns Again p. 86

11 Eva Taylor (Irene Gibbons) and Josephine Gassman p. 94

12 This Sporting Life: Major Taylor p. 102

13 George Sorlie and Cassie Walmer p. 113

14 Big, Bad Jack Johnson p. 120

15 The Lay of the Last Minstrel: Billy Kersands (1912) p. 130

16 Throw the Switch to Vaudeville p. 137

17 The Jazz Age (1923-1925) p. 150

18 The Jazz Age (1926-1927) p. 159

19 Sonny Clay's Colored Idea (White Australia's Darkest Hour) p. 169

20 The Post-Clay Lean Years (1928-1934) p. 177

21 The Norman Thomas Quintette and Ulysses S. Thompson p. 187

22 Nina Mae McKinney p. 194

23 1937: The Harmony Kings and Bob Parrish p. 201

24 1938: Chris Gill, the Edwards Sisters, Chuck Richards and Peg Leg Bates p. 206

25 Frankie Manning and the Lindy Hoppers (1938-1939) p. 210

26 1939: Radcliffe and Rodgers, Ada Brown, the Dancing Chefs, Chuck and Chuckles, the Mills Brothers p. 215

27 Epilogue: 1940-1941 and After p. 224.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781476677958

1476677956

OCLC:

1135100634