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The Great Johnny J. Jones, an Early “Master Showman”

October 23, 2012 By Editor

Johnny J. Jones An Early … [Read more...]

International Independent Showmens Museum

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5 days ago ·

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International Independent Showmens Museum

Occasionally I get photo's and interesting things from friends I haven't met yet. I got this today and thought I'd share it with the group: Tom S. Brown, Seattle, Washington........Dixie Carnival Co. at Clifton, Arizona’s “First Annual Jubilee and Carnival,” Feb. 3-7, 1904.The proprietors of the Old Plantation tent were Ed “Punk” Boyatt—2nd from front right, and W. G. Wyatt, who is likely holding the hand of Ed’s three-year-old son Paul, billed as the “youngest bass drummer of the world”—2nd from right.Ed and W.G. won the tent in a poker game. Dana Thompson, one of the general managers of Dixie, had lost the bet. Thompson drew crowds by taking a ‘100-foot dive into four feet of water.” Thompson is pictured front and center in his white Stetson. The second general manager of Dixie was Jimmy Simpson—seated at the ballyhoo stand.The African American performers, upper right, were praised for their “old-time plantation melodies and minstrel performances.” The elder likely played the role of “Joe Dokes—the man that made the mule laugh.” Notice the two young men in blackface; since the 1890s African Americans had been making their mark on Jim Crow era entertainment, enduring the denigration while experiencing the relative freedom of the road and acclaim of the stage. I’m indebted to a descendant of Ed Boyatt who shared this picture with me. I descend from one of Dixie’s “fire and flower” dancers: “Little La Belle Pearl” (not pictured) ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago ·

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The Great Johnny J. Jones, an Early “Master Showman”

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