1965 AOR-2.33 SF Mime Troupe Berkeley Handbill 4.5

This double-sided handbill is from the very first days of Bill Graham's tenure with the Mime Troupe. These events are from December of 1965 at the Berkeley Little Theatre. The handbill advertises That Minstrel Show, Civil Rights in a Cracker Barrel, which was the Mime Troupe's first touring show. These performances took place just prior to their New York dates. 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.

--CRITICAL DETAILS--
--TITLE: Aor-2.33
--GRADE: 4.5
--PERFORMERS: Sf Mime Troupe
--VENUE: Berkeley Little Theatre
--CITY: Berkeley
--DATE: 12/03/65
--PRINTING: OHB-E; Handbill
--CGC SERIAL: 2510586025