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| − | An African [[Music hall|vaudeville]] group the 1930s, led by [[Griffiths Motsieloa]], whose repertoire consisted of a mixture of jazz, ragtime, comic sketches, jubilee and church (amakwaya) music. Their accompanying band was the [[Merry Blackbirds]], headed by [[Peter Rezant]]. It was active by 1931 and one of many which had developed out of the [[Minstrels|minstrelsy]] tradition of the 1920s. The group itself had evolved out of Motsieloa’s own [[African Darkies]]. It had the patronage of [[Gallophone Records]] and took its shows on the road throughout the Union and beyond to places such as Bechanaland (now Botswana) and Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique. On one occasion at least (May 1936 at the [[BMSC]]) it performed in “An African Entertainment” under the auspices of [[Bertha Slosberg]], who had claimed to have “discovered” them, as well as the (Mthethwa) [[Lucky Stars]], who shared the bill with them on this occasion. [Kruger 29, 33; Ballantine 1993 | + | An African [[Music hall|vaudeville]] group the 1930s, led by [[Griffiths Motsieloa]], whose repertoire consisted of a mixture of jazz, ragtime, comic sketches, jubilee and church (amakwaya) music. Their accompanying band was the [[Merry Blackbirds]], headed by [[Peter Rezant]]. It was active by 1931 and one of many which had developed out of the [[Minstrels|minstrelsy]] tradition of the 1920s. The group itself had evolved out of Motsieloa’s own [[African Darkies]]. It had the patronage of [[Gallophone Records]] and took its shows on the road throughout the Union and beyond to places such as Bechanaland (now Botswana) and Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique. On one occasion at least (May 1936 at the [[BMSC]]) it performed in “An African Entertainment” under the auspices of [[Bertha Slosberg]], who had claimed to have “discovered” them, as well as the (Mthethwa) [[Lucky Stars]], who shared the bill with them on this occasion. |
| + | =The Pitch Black Follies= | ||
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| + | In the 1938 the '''Darktown Strutters''' became the '''[[Pitch Black Follies]]''', again under the leadership of Motsieloa, and undertook more ambitious dramatic work alongside their [[Music hall|variety]] programmes. | ||
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| + | == Sources == | ||
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| + | [[Loren Kruger]], 1999:29, 33; Ballantine 1993 | ||
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| − | + | == For more information == | |
| + | See also [[Pitch Black Follies]] and [[Music hall]] | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]] | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:42, 22 January 2011
Contents
The Darktown Strutters
An African vaudeville group the 1930s, led by Griffiths Motsieloa, whose repertoire consisted of a mixture of jazz, ragtime, comic sketches, jubilee and church (amakwaya) music. Their accompanying band was the Merry Blackbirds, headed by Peter Rezant. It was active by 1931 and one of many which had developed out of the minstrelsy tradition of the 1920s. The group itself had evolved out of Motsieloa’s own African Darkies. It had the patronage of Gallophone Records and took its shows on the road throughout the Union and beyond to places such as Bechanaland (now Botswana) and Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique. On one occasion at least (May 1936 at the BMSC) it performed in “An African Entertainment” under the auspices of Bertha Slosberg, who had claimed to have “discovered” them, as well as the (Mthethwa) Lucky Stars, who shared the bill with them on this occasion.
The Pitch Black Follies
In the 1938 the Darktown Strutters became the Pitch Black Follies, again under the leadership of Motsieloa, and undertook more ambitious dramatic work alongside their variety programmes.
Sources
Loren Kruger, 1999:29, 33; Ballantine 1993
For more information
See also Pitch Black Follies and Music hall
Return to
Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
