Music and Race

Elmira had a vibrant music scene during the Gilded Age. Musicians and composers, including Charles X. O’Brien and Albert Krug, gained local fame through their popular songs. D.S. Andrus & Co., a music shop and publishing group, sold sheet music and instruments to Elmirans. Sheet music was even included in the Elmira Telegram newspaper.

The Gilded Ideal

Thomas Edison's phonograph was the first machine able to reproduce recorded sounds. This allowed people to have music in their homes without needing to know how to play instruments. Elmirans also had many options to see live music played in the city. The Elmira Opera House hosted many famous acts, which brought new and exciting music from around the world to the city.

The Tarnished Reality

Many popular songs contained complex racial themes. Some lyrics were written in a stereotypical black dialect and used racial slurs, such as “coon” or “possum.” Sheet music was illustrated with cartoons of African Americans with exaggerated features. Minstrel shows and blackface performances were popular forms of live entertainment that played in many local venues, including the Elmira Opera House.

Alone by Albert Krug, 1900 Composer Albert Krug was often featured in the Elmira Telegram and he sold hundreds of pieces through D.S. Andrus & Co. He was also a talented violinist who performed in Elmira and surrounding areas.
Wax cylinders, 1902 Pictured: “My Dusky Rose— Coon Song,” 1902; “Coon Character Sketch Orchestra Accompaniment,” 1902; “Carolina Minstrels No.1,” 1902. Minstrel musicals were often recorded onto wax cylinders and produced by companies such as Columbia Records and Edison Laboratories. Other African-American wax cylinder titles often included “coon” as part of the description.
Ma Little Choc’late Cream, 1900 “Ma Little Choc’late Cream: A Coon Rhapsody" by Miffie T. Rosenburg and Thos. O’ Neill was featured in the Elmira Telegram in 1900 and included stereotypical black dialect lyrics and slurs like “coon.”
“Sam Hague’s Minstrels" Sam Hague’s British Operatic Minstrels hailed from Liverpool, England and came to Elmira in the late 1800s. Minstrel shows were popular in America and overseas.
“Barlow, Wilson Minstrels," 1880 Barlow, Wilson, Primrose, and West dominated the blackface performance scene and made multiple appearances in Elmira throughout the Gilded Age. The four performers took the stage separately and with other minstrel groups as well.
“Blind Tom” April 27th, 1869 Blind Tom was a talented pianist who performed at the Elmira Opera House in 1869, but due to his race he was often degraded, exploited, and was cheated of money.
Halloween party, early 1900s Blackface performance attire and style was part of life outside of musicals as well. This early 1900s photograph depicts a Halloween party with attendees in blackface and stereotypical costumes.

Music and Race

Alone by Albert Krug, 1900

Composer Albert Krug was often featured in the Elmira Telegram and he sold hundreds of pieces through D.S. Andrus & Co. He was also a talented violinist who performed in Elmira and surrounding areas.

Wax cylinders, 1902

Ma Little Choc’late Cream, 1900

“Ma Little Choc’late Cream: A Coon Rhapsody" by Miffie T. Rosenburg and Thos. O’ Neill was featured in the Elmira Telegram in 1900 and included stereotypical black dialect lyrics and slurs like “coon.”

“Sam Hague’s Minstrels"

Sam Hague’s British Operatic Minstrels hailed from Liverpool, England and came to Elmira in the late 1800s. Minstrel shows were popular in America and overseas.

“Barlow, Wilson Minstrels," 1880

Barlow, Wilson, Primrose, and West dominated the blackface performance scene and made multiple appearances in Elmira throughout the Gilded Age. The four performers took the stage separately and with other minstrel groups as well.

“Blind Tom” April 27th, 1869

Blind Tom was a talented pianist who performed at the Elmira Opera House in 1869, but due to his race he was often degraded, exploited, and was cheated of money.

Halloween party, early 1900s

Blackface performance attire and style was part of life outside of musicals as well. This early 1900s photograph depicts a Halloween party with attendees in blackface and stereotypical costumes.