A 1906 two-minute wax recording of a minstrel show bit produced for Edison records.

To hear At the Minstrel Show - No. 1   — For help playing these sounds, click here.

In the six following number we have made a departure in presenting six Records that at a glance may seem to be similar in character.   Such is not the case, however, for each Record is complete in itself and fully as attractive played alone as when made one of the series.   The entire six present a most attractive minstrel performance in miniature.   The first Record gives an opening overture; the second introduces one set of end men with jokes and songs; the third introduces another set of end men with other jokes and songs; the fourth is a monologue; the fifth is a dialogue specialty, and the sixth is a sketch quite similar to those with which the average minstrel performance comes to a close.   The individual Records may be referred to as follows:     No. 9275, "At the Minstrel Show, No. I," by the Edison Minstrels, is a grand introductory overture, "Around the World," by the entire ensemble.   There is very little dialogue is this Record and the "trip" is represented almost entirely by appropriate musical numbers.   The orchestra begins with "A Life on the Ocean Wave," England is "visited," and the quartette sings, "Rule Brittania."   Then comes Scotland and the bells and orchestra accompaniment contribute "Blue Bells of Scotland."   The next is "Ireland," greeted by a tenor solo, "The Minstrel Boy."   Germany next, and the basso sings "Die Wacht Am Rhein" in English.   For France the quartette enlivens the occasion with "The Marseillaise," also in English.   The grand old Russian National Hymn, "God Save the Czar," is next heard by the quartette, after which comes "Homeward Bound," with the quartette singing "Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue" and "Oh, it fills our hearts with joy, To see our friends once more." interrupted by "Yankee Doodle" and cheers. .   .   .   . — April 1906 Edison Phonograph Monthly [announcing the May records]

Interested in hearing other wax cylinder minstrel recordings, or learning more about minstrelsy?

Key	Title	Category	Performed by	Circa
11/2005	Alabama Troubadours - Because	Minstrels	Ancient City Quartette, S. H. Dudley, Billy Heins	1898-1899
05/2008	Georgia Minstrels	Minstrels	S. H. Dudley & Len Spencer	1904
11/2000	The Imperial Minstrels - Dese Bones Shall Rise Again	Minstrels	Len Spencer & Steve Porter	1901
12/2013	The Imperial Minstrels - Mamie Reilly	Minstrels	Len Spencer & Steve Porter	1898
03/2012	The Imperial Minstrels - Old Folks at Home	Minstrels	Roger Harding & Steve Porter	1899
02/2016	The Imperial Minstrels - Upon the Golden Shore	Minstrels	Len Spencer, Steve Porter & Dan W. Quinn	1899
01/2015	Jubilee Minstrels	Minstrels	Edison Minstrels	1908
03/2007	Three Minutes With the Minstrels	Minstrels	S. H. Dudley & Arthur Collins	1899