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The Two Black Crows

Black-face comedy was a standard of vaudeville and early radio. Although their blatant stereotyping would be considered offensive in racially sensitive times, the characters were genuinely funny if taken at face value. The Two Black Crows was one of the better programs from the minstrel tradition, although it never achieved the popularity of Amos 'n' Andy.

Black Crows (Two Black Crows)

14 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 0 hours, 2982 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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1 Audio CDs


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Recordings from early to mid-1930s

Two Black Crows
" I'll meet you down by the pig-pen. You better keep your hat on so I'll know ya! "

black face minstrelsTwo Black CrowsIn the vain of Amos n' Andy, Beulah, Johnson Family, Pick and Pat, Sam n' Henry, the Two Black Crows (Mack and Moran) were a renowned blackface vaudeville act. Originally, "The Two Black Crows" was a novel about two African-American men who fought in WWI.

This old time radio show makes no mention of this previous soldier or war topic and refers specifically to racial stereotypes of the time. Radio shows of this type are particularly fascinating in that the performers could not rely on visually racist mannerisms, costumes, or make-up on which minstrel shows were initially dependant. Like other well-known minstrel acts, the Two Black Crows lived in the rural south and the character roles were preformed with a "black-stage" dialect. The duo frequently appeared with W.C. Fields and the Ziegfield Follies.

This collection is part of the larger Minstrel Show Collection.  

See also: article on the history of Minstrel Shows and Old Time Radio.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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    COMMENTS

    Long before Amos n' Andy, the names of the Two Black Crows, a popular blackface team played in vaudeville, on Broadway, in film shorts, and on radio and phonograph records by George Moran and Charles E. Mack were "Willie" and "Amos," and the name "Amos" is in fact used for Mack's character on "Two Black Crows," No contemporary sources suggest that Correll and Gosden were influenced by this recording in their use of the name "Amos." The "Willie and Amos Crow" characters were subsequently featured in Charles E. Mack's novel Two Black Crows in the A. E. F., New York: Bobbs, Merrill and Co. 1928, and this novel, in turn, formed the basis for Moran and Mack's series of radio appearances on the Columbia Broadcasting System's "Majestic Theatre of the Air," sponsored by Grigsby-Grunow Company during the spring of 1928. The series received poor reviews, and the Crows were dropped from the program before the end of the year. Sadly, none of the radio programs have surfaced as of this year (2009). Their greatest success was on phonograph records. Although their gags were mostly corny (and very often non-racial) and the characters were stereotypical (one practical but naive, the other seemingly slow and lazy yet quick with a quip and a certain skewed logic), the relationship depicted plus their laconic delivery made them one of the most successful of comedy teams.

    Jimmy

    My grandfather inlaw his name was jonh hearne he did black face comedy with the two black crows, luckie strike and jello commercials for jack benny ,and worked on hollywood barn dance. anything you could find would help my grandma is in her 90s and never heard the shows so if you could please help.

    Mark

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 0 hours, 2982 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 0 hours, 2982 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – total playtime 49 minutes
    2. Novelty Two Black Crows Elder Eatmore.mp3
    3. Novelty Two Black Crows Esau Buck.mp3
    4. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 1.mp3
    5. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 2.mp3
    6. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 1.mp3
    7. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 2.mp3
    8. Novelty Two Black Crows Our Child.mp3
    9. Novelty Two Black Crows side 1, side 2.mp3
    10. Novelty Two Black Crows side 3.mp3
    11. Novelty Two Black Crows side 4.mp3
    12. Novelty Two Black Crows side 5.mp3
    13. Novelty Two Black Crows side 6.mp3
    14. Novelty Two Black Crows side 7.mp3
    15. Novelty Two Black Crows side 8.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 0 hours, 2982 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    21 MB – total playtime 49 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – 21 MB – total playtime 49 minutes
    2. Novelty Two Black Crows Elder Eatmore.mp3
    3. Novelty Two Black Crows Esau Buck.mp3
    4. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 1.mp3
    5. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 2.mp3
    6. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 1.mp3
    7. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 2.mp3
    8. Novelty Two Black Crows Our Child.mp3
    9. Novelty Two Black Crows side 1, side 2.mp3
    10. Novelty Two Black Crows side 3.mp3
    11. Novelty Two Black Crows side 4.mp3
    12. Novelty Two Black Crows side 5.mp3
    13. Novelty Two Black Crows side 6.mp3
    14. Novelty Two Black Crows side 7.mp3
    15. Novelty Two Black Crows side 8.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    14 recordings on 1 Audio CD. Total playtime 0 hours, 49 min
    14 recordings on 1 Audio CD
    total playtime 0 hours, 49 min

    Black Crows (Two Black Crows) Disc A001

    1. Novelty Two Black Crows Elder Eatmore
    2. Novelty Two Black Crows Esau Buck
    3. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 1
    4. Novelty Two Black Crows Hades side 2
    5. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 1
    6. Novelty Two Black Crows Jail side 2
    7. Novelty Two Black Crows Our Child
    8. Novelty Two Black Crows side 1, side 2
    9. Novelty Two Black Crows side 3
    10. Novelty Two Black Crows side 4
    11. Novelty Two Black Crows side 5
    12. Novelty Two Black Crows side 6
    13. Novelty Two Black Crows side 7
    14. Novelty Two Black Crows side 8

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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