Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$168.00
Starting bid: $1.00
It's with great pleasure we can offer the collecting community a special CGC authenticated handbill in our auction! The reverse of this handbill is hand addressed to the legendary RALPH GLEASON! Gleason was a pioneering rock critic who helped the San Francisco Chronicle transition into the rock era. He was also a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine.
This double-sided handbill is from the very first days of Bill Graham's tenure with the Mime Troupe. These events are from August of 1965 at the Gate Theatre and predate the Mime Troupe I by 3 months. The handbill advertises the return of “That Minstrel Show" Civil Rights in a Cracker Barrel which was the Mime Troupe's first touring show. Several months later in 1966 Graham's name still appeared on some of their advertising but was soon removed as he was involved with his new business at the Fillmore. The Mime Troupe toiled on in pretty much the same fashion as they previously had with their Politically critical-ironic overtones and free performances.
The design on this handbill would NEVER be acceptable for public promotion of any event by today's standards. This Minstrel Show was performed by the Mime Troupe in black face and it offended many - both black and white. Such negative representations of black people left a damaging legacy in popular culture especially in art and entertainment. Minstrel shows during this era were often the only depiction of black life that white audiences saw. These shows desensitized white people to the horrors of slavery. The performances also promoted demeaning stereotypes of black people that helped confirm the white's unethical notion of superiority. Several years later however the SF Mime Troupe changed direction towards more sketch comedy - meets - musical revue-type productions doing away with the older Minstrel Shows of the past.
Handbill – S.F. Mime Troupe in That Minstrel Show
Grade – CGC 6.5
Venue – Gate Theatre
City – Sausalito CA
Date – 8/12-9/12/1965
Dimensions – 8 1/2" x 11"
Printing – OHB-C Original Pre-Concert First Printing Version C
Series/Promoter – Bill Graham
Condition Details – 100% Original with no restoration. View the detailed high res photo of this lot. Click on the thumbnail photo to see an enlarged photo. Click a second time on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the enlarged photo. A super high res image with every millimeter will now be clearly displayed. For a personalized eyewitness examination call 410-464-6180 11:00 am to 6:00pm eastern.
*****This handbill is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****
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