BHS Day 13: George Walker

Hi! For our second Music and Entertainment Spotlight we're kicking things over to the Entertainment half. Confession time: I always struggle with this half of the Spotlight. I've mentioned this before in previous years but I struggle to classify what I find to be 'entertainment' and what I find to be 'art.' Writing, like poetry or stories, to me is firmly in the 'art' category. But what about something like dance? My kneejerk answer is to call it art. Isn't it also entertainment though? Same with playwriting--it's written works, which would make me consider it art, but playwriting is writing for the specific intention to be turned into entertainment, whereas poetry and stories are not, so isn't it entertainment as well? I'll figure it out. lol Anyway, today's entrant was one half of one of the earliest successful Black entertainment partnerships. I wonder what the early days of the Black entertainment scene would have been like if he'd been around longer to take part in it. Let's get into it!

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Name: George Walker, 1872(3)-1911

Profession: Vaudevillian, actor, producer, entrepreneur

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For being an early pioneer of Black entertainment and his determination to create diversity in a majority-White industry

Notables:

--Co-created one of the first Black actor's unions, The Negro's Society

--Was the performing and business partner to Bert Williams, finding their first bit of fame (and one of the lasting bits of their legacy) with the blackface parody "The Two Real Coons"

--Was a lifelong minstrel show performer, from his childhood and eventually becoming a veteran performer on the scene of what would later be called vaudeville

--Created the Williams and Walker Company in order to bring on more African-American talent and begin to carve out a niche in the industry for Black entertainers through bringing them in, creating work and networking with others

--Popularized the cakewalk dance, which became an internationally known dance and ultimately preserved on film by the Library of Congress

--Alongside Bert Williams, opened a flat in New York which served as the headquarters for Black actors and was part of a Black entertainment hub that later became known as "Black Broadway"

--Starred in off-broadway shows before moving on to actual Broadway

--Teamed up with other Blacks in entertainment to create In Dahomey, the first full-length Broadway musical with an all-Black cast and production crew, which was later performed at Buckingham Palace

--Innovated the industry for Black actors and productions, adding African elements to the American movies they made to personalize it for themselves and their audiences

--Were largely thought to be the inspiration behind the structure of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope's comedy duo

--Formed a professional organization for Black stage actors called The Colored Vaudeville Benevolent Association, which ultimately failed due to lack of support and negative reactions from the White theatrical community, who felt threatened by the concept of Black vaudevillians taking an equal stake in the industry

--Later formed The Frogs, another all-Black professional organization, in direct contrast to the segregated mainstream organization American Actors Beneficial Association, but included professional Black men of different industries in an effort to display and improve the perception of Black men of the time

--Was recognized for his work to provide jobs and opportunities for Black performers and theatrical employees, with The New York Age referring to him as 'the commander-in-chief of the colored theatrical forces'

Further reading and resources:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 

Quote of the Day:

"Figuring out how many families that would support. Then look at the multifaceted talent we are employing and encouraging. Now, do you see us in the light of a race institution?”

-George Walker

Today's organization: Common Ground Foundation

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What does this organization provide? Help, support and resources to children who live in low-income areas in Chicago through programs and mentorship opportunities. The organization runs different programs designed to expose youth to the professional world in a way that they can understand, help them learn team building skills and form friendships, transition into college and adulthood, and monthly mentorship meetings

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See you tomorrow!