All at Sea / Pullman Porters
- On View
- Musical Crossroads Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Musical Crossroads
- Published by
- Edison Records, American, 1888 - 1929
- Recorded by
- Two Dark Knights, American
- Date
- 1920s
- Medium
- Edison Diamond Disc (a): phenolic, ink on paper
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 9 3/4 x 1/4 in. (24.8 x 0.6 cm)
- Caption
- This Edison Phonograph Diamond Disc has recordings of sketches performed by Two Dark Knights, a blackface comedy team. The vocalists, Phil Cook and Victor Fleming, specialized in humorous dialogues and recorded for various labels under different stage names including, Two Wise Owls, Two Licorice Drops, and Big Boy and Shorty.
- Description
- An Edison Diamond Disc phonograph record. The disc is comprised of two songs with one on each side of disc. One side has a white circular paper label with black text that reads: [ALL AT SEA / A Darky Sketch / TWO DARK KNIGHTS]. There is also a piece of paper taped with black tape with the handwritten notation: "Black". The other side of the disc has the same white circular label but has a drawing of Thomas Edison visible and black text that reads: [PULLMAN PORTERS / A Darky Sketch / TWO DARK KNIGHTS]. There is a single piece of black tape on the label on this side as well.
- Consists of: Edison Diamond Disc.
- 2011.81.2: Edison diamond disc.
- Side 1: This is a recording of a vaudeville comedy sketch of a conversation on a train between two porters. One is confronting the other after finding him in the observation car not working. They begin comically discussing the various passengers they're serving. The humor of the sketch plays on one of the porter's laziness and igorance.
- Side 2: This is a recording of a vaudeville comedy sketch of two men in a rowboat. The two men have been rowing for many hours, but appear to be going in circles. The humor of the sketch plays on one of the men's ignorance and confusion with language.
- Statement
- Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
- Classification
- Media Arts-Audio Recordings
- Racist and Stereotypical Objects
- Type
- phonograph records
- Topic
- Blackface
- Labor
- Minstrel (Music)
- Popular music
- Pullman Porters
- Stereotypes
- Vaudeville
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Wilbert Davis
- Object number
- 2011.81.2a
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.