Thanks, Rez. However, I wouldn't make too much of a "class distinction" between those who play and sing and those who juggle, mime, etc. In fact, the medieval minstrels in France were called "jongleurs", and in Spain "juglares"-- like "jugglers" (all from the Latin word "iocare"--to play (like our words "joke" and "jocularity"), because some of them did more than sing, and did what the whole range of buskers might do today--sing, dance, tell jokes, juggle or do sleight of hand. Again, it sounds so much like the vaudeville acts you alluded to. I HAVE read bios of all the people you mention (comedy of the 1st half of the 20th century is one of my interests), and many others as well (W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, the Ritz Brothers, etc.), and agree that most of them were not racists, at least in the definition of their days, and that they certainly used some of the format of the minstrel shows (although when they do "darkie" comedy like in the Marx Bros. "A Day at the Races" it's not so funny anymore--it's kind of a strange juxtaposition, considering Groucho's well-known liberal ideas, including the fact that his first sexual encounter was with a black chambermaid). At any rate, it's nice to be in contact with a knowledgeable and well-spoken individual such as you.
[ April 11, 2005, 10:02: Message edited by: Don Quixote ]
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