J.W. Cooper
J.W. Cooper is the first colored ventriloquist
of record. He employs five dummies
of a poor quality.
Scott and Whaley
Hunter and Chappelle
This “Song and Sidewalk Talk” act was eighteen minutes long.
Two African American men sing and talk. One is the straight man and the other is eccentric. The straight man tries to get the other man’s money to bet at the racetrack. The curtain is then lowered and a “moving film” appears, which shows the two at the track. “They continue the conversation during the picture, keeping accurate time to the gestures.”
Desmond and Bailey
The Majestic Trio
A woman and another man are on the stage while the comedian works.
Fiddler an Shelton
The Kemps
Mr. Kemp does an excellent eccentric dance, and is a real colored comedian and does not try for anything else.