Radio minstrel

Minstrel performers on radio in the US and Australia

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (November 2024)

|

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can. (May 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

Radio minstrels were entertainers whose shows considered of comic skits, variety acts, and music performed by people heard on radio, especially during the pre television years.

## United States

[edit]

### Early development

[edit]

By the 1920s, radio minstrel shows began appearing on the American radio, usually as musical performers who traveled to different cities doing concerts. As radio stations increased their airtime to fill all day, 7 days per week, demand increased for musicians who could entertain the audience. Radio stations used similar performers at other stations throughout the Midwest and into Tennessee. These migrating minstrels were a mainstay of programming for the rural independent broadcaster. Musicians regularly moved between stations in search of greener concert pastures with better booking potential.[1]

### Height

[edit]

The rise of radio minstrel shows occurred on live locally programmed community radio stations. They broadcast content that was popular and relevant to their local/specific audience. During the 1920s and 1930s the majority of stations functioned as independent stations but there was little study on the types of content they aired. It is commonly believed that almost all programming of the era came through the networks with local stations acting as signal repeaters because broadcasts on local stations were produced live and went unrecorded in either sound or paper form.[2] Thus, it can be difficult to obtain information about programming at the local station levels.

### Characters

[edit]

The earliest minstrel performers were locally popular. During the beginning of the 1930s, Gene Autry was an American performer who became fame as 'The Singing Cowboy on the radio . In 1929, Autry signed a recording deal with Columbia Records. For four years, he worked in Chicago, Illinois, on the WLS-AM radio show called National Barn Dance, where he met singer-songwriter Smiley Burnette.

Lester “Smiley” Burnett, for example, began performing and announcing on WDZ. By 1933, he had variety shows, including a broadcasting show for children.[3] Then the creation of other shows became available. His radio performances gained him notice and he went on to work with Gene Autry in radio first, but then later in film where he ended up as a supporting actor in many of Autry's movies.[4]

Other artists like The Kentuckians were not paid for their appearance on radio stations in the early years, WDZ had formed an artists' bureau with booking agents to promote live performances by station talent. These performances were for a fee and provided the groups with income. This attracted musicians to the station who stayed as long as their bookings were good.[5] It is their presence on the radio that increased demand for hearing them in concert.

In their earliest years, stations like WOAW, Omaha, and KVOO, Tulsa, as well as both KMA and KFNF in Shenandoah, Iowa, utilized amateur performers who would perform for free,[6] but this alone would not promote continuity of programming if there were not some benefit to the performers in the long run [1] such as money from concert bookings. One station sought to enhance artist appearances by setting up an agreement with a tent owner to set up and move his tent to various locations where station talent would perform. In exchange, the station provided talent and gave free promotion of where the tent was to be each day. This would have provided the acts with at least a somewhat regular place to appear. However, it didn't draw well so the venture was short lived.[7]

## Australia

[edit]

Further information: 3DB (Melbourne) § The Minstrel Show

From 1932 until the 1960s, Melbourne radio station 3DB broadcast The Minstrel Show every Thursday evening, and it was relayed to Major Broadcasting Network affiliates, as well as some independent Australian stations.[8]

## See also

[edit]

* History of radio

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Perry, Stephen D. (November 2001). "Securing Programming on Live Local Radio: WDZ Reaches Rural Illinois 1929–1939". Journal of Radio & Audio Media. 8 (2): 347–371\. doi:10.1207/s15506843jrs0802_10. ISSN 1095-5046. S2CID 167505946.
2. ^ Doerksen, Clifford J. (February 1999). ""Serving the masses, not the classes": Station WHN, pioneer of commercial broadcasting of the 1920s". Journal of Radio Studies. 6 (1): 81–100\. doi:10.1080/19376529909391710. ISSN 1095-5046.
3. ^ Smith, J.G. (April 8, 1994). "Smiley Burnette: A career appreciation". Movie Collector's World. 444: 132.
4. ^ Link of programming: http://www.myoldradio.com/old-radio-episodes/smiley-burnett-show-behold-the-bridegroom-commeth/1
5. ^ Buchanan, G. (1988, Jan.). Letter to Lynnita Sommer, Correspondence file, WDZ Collection, Douglas County Museum, Tuscola, IL
6. ^ Autry, G., & Herskowitz, M. (1978). Back in the saddle again. Garden City, NY: Doubleday
7. ^ Buchanan, J.G.G. (May–June 1995). "You never forget the smell of canvas". Country Musical Trails Less Traveled. 6 (3): 1, 5.
8. ^ McLaughlin, Bill, From Wireless to Radio - The 3DB Story, 1985, The Dominion Press Melbourne

## External links

[edit]

* Smiley Burnett Show Behold the Bridegroom Commeth