Torquay’s Other History: the Torquay ‘Negro Minstrels’

By Kevin Dixon, on Monday, August 15, 2011

James Douglas: founder of Torquay’s first Minstrel troupe

For a number of years in the 1880s, Torquay had several troupes of what were advertised as ‘Negro Minstrels’.

Minstrel shows had gained popularity in around 1830 in the United States where blackface minstrel shows translated more formal entertainment such as opera into popular terms for a general audience.

It quickly became popular overseas, particularly in Britain. White blackface performers used burnt cork and later greasepaint or shoe polish to blacken their skin and exaggerate their lips, often wearing woolly wigs, gloves, tailcoats, or ragged clothes.

One reason for the popularity of Minstrel entertainment was that it was respectable. It was accepted by the church and, for an amusement starved public, was often the only alternative to the risqué humour of the Music Halls. It was a form of family entertainment where parents could take their children without fear of being asked embarrassing questions afterwards.

James Douglas was the organiser of Torquay’s first ‘negro minstrels’, sometimes advertised at the time as ‘nigger minstrel troupes’. These were ‘The Torquay Snowdrops’ and ‘The White Swallows’.

This is from James’ memoirs written in 1901:

In addition to Men I introduced about a dozen Boys, also Altos principally from the Church Choirs which rendered the choruses especially effective. We gave Entertainment not only in Torquay, but also in Paignton, Brixham and Chudleigh, sometimes giving the proceeds to one object and sometimes to another.

One night I cleared £14 for the Rowing Club who had their boats damaged in a storm. I gave the proceeds of several to the Hospital. The best we held at the Bath Saloon and at the end of the Concert dancing commenced and lasted until the early hours of the morning, all classes of Society taking part in it, but there was one which I shall never forget.

I arranged it for the benefit of Mrs Lee whose husband, a boatman, was drowned in the Bay. We cleared more than £30 by it. I was centre Man, as usual, and had just sung the song ‘Close the shutters, Willie’s dead’ and was going to respond to the encore when a message came to me that my dear Reg (who was lying ill with typhoid) was dying.

I hurriedly got someone to take my place and rushed home and into the sick room where I found him very ill and delirious but I’m thankful to say he was spared to me… that was a night never to be forgotten. I had no time even to remove the black from my face. I never ventured to that song again.

The song James performed that night was an American Minstrel standard, the topic being the common Victorian theme of a dying child:

Close the shutters, Willie’s dead
Whom we loved so dear
Like a dream his spirit’s fled
From our home, so sad and drear
Where the spring time flowers were blooming
And the happy birds sing sweet
Angels called him to their home
Up in Heaven where we shall meet

Close the shutters, Willie’s dead
Hope with him has fled
From our homes so sad and lone
Close the shutters, Willie’s dead

Close the shutters, Willie’s dead
Gone in childhood’s bloom
Pillowed now his little head
In the cold and silent tomb
O’er his grave the daises blossom
Where his little form was laid
And the murm’ring stream plays
‘Neath the willow’s quiet shade.

The Minstrel tradition lasted longer in Britain than in the US.

Minstrel shows were a regular attraction in Torquay’s theaters for much of the 20th century and the Black and White Minstrel Show featured blackface performers on primetime TV until 1978.