Topics of plays were often farcical and overdramatic. Norton 2012 preston lauterbachs meticulously researched and present the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll turns a bright light on what might be considered the higgs field of rock and roll, that is the history that gives indigenous american music its mass or weight in this metaphor. The chitlin circuit is the name given to a string of performance venues, mostly throughout the southern us, which was safe and acceptable for africanamerican entertainers to perform in during. The chitlin circuit was more than just music it nurtured comedians and was championed in the plays of august wilson but preston lauterbachs focus is on how the chitlin circuit. Feb 01, 2012 its how blacks first broke into show business. Chitlin circuit definition of chitlin circuit by the. The chitlin circuit, named for the hog intestines eaten by slaves for survival and considered a soulfood staple by some, was the network of mostly southern dance halls, nightclubs and movie theaters that made up a booming entertainment industry for the artists, audiences and promoters who had been shut out of the american mainstream by jim crow segregation. Jan 12, 2018 tyler perry defends his start on the chitlin circuit duration. The chitlin circuit, by preston lauterbach, about prerock. The first history of the network of black juke joints that spa. Home african american history playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi. Johnsons the cost of lovea romantic comedy stageplay, zetta miguel brand, pink city corp.
From the 1930s into the 1950s, new types of music developed along the circuit. Yes, there was a socalled chitlin circuit but urban night spots were not a part of it. Dec 20, 2011 the story of the chitlin circuits great performers before the civil rights movement, segregated american cities helped give birth to the chitlin circuit, a touring revue that provided. Racial attitudes of 1920s give rise to creation of. Chitlin circuit preservation society museum dade city. Nov 30, 1996 the book the circuit, is a really good book about a migrant child who comes to the usa illegally, and is now facing the troubles as an immigrant. Of disputation about the chitlin circuit, a black theatre circuit, and the playwright august wilson. The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll preston lauterbach 368 pages isbn 0393342948 w. The story of the chitlin circuits great performers.
Preston lauterbach focuses his first booklength work on the chitlin circuit. Jan 29, 2012 this circuit derived its name from the soul food item chitterlings stewed pig intestines a delicacy favored by blacks, but looked upon unfavorably by whites. And african american book musicals and revues had been around since the. The chitlin circuits were the black performers booking associations. Chitlin circuit definition is a group of theaters and nightclubs that cater to africanamerican audiences and feature africanamerican entertainers. Back in the september 5th roundup, thomas rosell mentioned the upcoming mississippi valley state university lecture series on the chitlin circuit, the name that emerged for the african american music venues under. The story of the chitlin circuits great performers before the civil rights movement, segregated american cities helped give birth to the chitlin circuit, a touring revue that provided. It provided safe venues and reliable lodging for traveling performers during jim crow discrimination. The chitlin circuit was the collective name given to the string of performance venues throughout the eastern and southern united states that were safe and acceptable for african american musicians, comedians, and other legendary entertainers to perform at during the age of racial segregation in the united states from at least the late. Preston lauterbach is the author of bluff city, beale street dynasty and the chitlin circuit, a wall street journal and boston globe book of the year.
The chitlin circuit a connected string of music venues, diners, juke joints. More than chitlins on the chitlin circuit madamenoire. In addition to the 45 theatres on the toba circuit which was located in the. The association for white performers was titled theater owners booking association toba or tough on black actors 15 toba did not treat white and black performers equally therefore the chitlin circuits were created 6 the booking associations would act as a middle. For close to two years now ive been working on a book for the university of south carolina press. Preston lauterbach the chitlin circuit similar books. A writer is only as good as his material, and now and then something profound falls into his lap. The chitlin circuit, by preston lauterbach, about pre. Tyler perry defends his start on the chitlin circuit duration. The chop suey circuit of chinese nightclubsprimarily. Apr 27, 2020 baltimore is often viewed as the heart of the chitlin circuit, thanks to its rich tradition in the arts. You should not accept anything without clear evidence of it veracity.
The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll by preston. Chitlin circuit preservation society, dade city, florida. Sep 12, 2011 the chitlin circuit, named for the hog intestines eaten by slaves for survival and considered a soulfood staple by some, was the network of mostly southern dance halls, nightclubs and movie theaters that made up a booming entertainment industry for the artists, audiences and promoters who had been shut out of the american mainstream by jim crow segregation. From the 1930s until the 1960s, the chitlin circuit had its heyday. King, bobby blue bland, james brown, and sam cooke all cut their teeth on the chitlin circuit. The chitlin circuit wound upwards into the northeast, with many musicians making stops at places like the cotton club in new york, and then stretched into the midwest, encompassing stops like the fox theater in detroit and the regal theater in chicago. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
When jim crow and segregation were even more prominent in the united states, the negro race, freed through emancipation, did not have equal access to public white only places. Kings reputation eventually propelled him into a better circuit of clubs, including the apollo theater in harlem. Chitlin circuit definition, a group of clubs and theaters featuring black performers and intended to appeal to black people. Tampa bays musical history thrived during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, especially in the central avenue district. And the road to rock n roll kindle edition by lauterbach, preston. Cerys matthews traces the roots of the chitlin circuit, which that provided employment for hundreds of black musicians and performers before the civil rights movement got under way. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the chitlin circuit. The circuit became more formalized in the early 1900s with the development of the theater owners booking agency toba, which booked black entertainers.
Look for more reliable sources if you are going to delve into the past. Look for more reliable sources if you are going to delve into. Saturday 14th 2019 at the crest hollow country club woodbury ny hosted by. According to national public radio, the chitlin circuit was a group of performance venues located mostly in the south that were safe and acceptable places for africanamerican musicians and entertainers to. A bus called big red was purchased and the 1950s were spent on the road playing clubs, roadhouses, and barns on the chitlin circuit. The chitlin circuit was considered to be by, for, and about black people.
Amusing details like this fill the chitlin circuit and the road to rock and roll, music journalist preston lauterbachs first book. I personally think that this book is really sad and the ending om my opinion really strong and powerful. Most of the artists you name s having worked this circuit did not. A definitive account of the birth of rock n roll in black america, this book establishes the chitlin circuit as a major force in american musical history. The chitlin circuit grew out of a time when black people were not allowed to perform at white establishments. Jul 08, 2011 the chitlin circuit was more than just music it nurtured comedians and was championed in the plays of august wilson but preston lauterbachs focus is on how the chitlin circuit. Queens of comedy who went from the chitlin circuit to. And the road to rock n roll from the worlds largest community of readers. A source book on early black musical shows, scarecrow press, second edition. The chitlin circuit npr coverage of the chitlin circuit.
Some say its peak was in the 30s, some say it was after world war ii, and others say it was the time of the blues. The association for white performers was titled theater owners booking association toba or tough on black actors toba did not treat white and black performers equally therefore the chitlin circuits were created the booking associations would act as a middle man between the performers agent and theater owner. The chitlin circuit was a touring route black entertainers used in the early 20th century. There is debate as to when the chitlin circuit peaked. Chitlin circuit news newspapers books scholar jstor may 2008 learn how and when to remove this template message. The chitlin circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern. The best of todays southern blues various artists on allmusic 2001 this is. The small intestines of pigs, especially when cooked and eaten as food. The earliest informal mention that i found of the chitlin circuit referenced the traveling tent shows in the late 19 th century, where black vaudeville acts performed in blackface. Playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi by suzassippi on september, 2017 5. Its a weekend night, and brandi, a honeyskinned, bittybodied woman in snakeskin shorts and gogo bootsjust one step above hoochiemama statusis holding forth on the finer points of manhunting. The book the circuit, is a really good book about a migrant child who comes to the usa illegally, and is now facing the troubles as an immigrant. Chitlin definition of chitlin by the free dictionary. The chitlin circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper midwest areas of the united states that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for africanamerican musicians, comedians, and other entertainers during the era of racial segregation in the united states from at least the early 19th century citation needed through the 1960s.
Chitlins became a traditional winter food of the american deep south. This circuit derived its name from the soul food item chitterlings stewed pig intestines a delicacy favored by blacks, but looked upon unfavorably by whites. And african american book musicals and revues had been around since the turn of the century. The chitlin circuit is the subject of preston lauterbachs new book, the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll, centering on musicians and promoters like bandleader jimmie lunceford. The chitlin circuit, like tin pan alley and motown and other legendary music locations, is both a real and symbolic term for the onandoffagain venuesshoeboxsized bars, clubs, cafes and increasingly in the 21st century, casinos that support traditional rhythm and blues in a tenuous but tenacious thread through americas mostly. This is a really good book on the history of the chitlin circuit, a collection of nightclubs throughout the south eastern and south central united states which featured africanamerican musicians and which, as the title suggests, played a major role in the development of rock n roll. According to national public radio, the chitlin circuit was a group of performance venues located mostly in the south that were safe and acceptable places for africanamerican musicians and. Dont you dare call it the chitlin circuit dallas observer. Lauterbach presents an outrageous cast of rogues and their byzantine operations, contextualized against the social, legal, and political undercurrents contributing to their success. Aug 24, 2011 the chitlin circuit is the subject of preston lauterbachs new book, the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll, centering on musicians and promoters like bandleader jimmie lunceford.
Karyn white and bowlegged lou perfomance by karyan white christopher williams surface. The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll by. The first history of the network of black juke joints that spawned rock n roll through an unholy alliance between vice and entertainment. Vaudeville, chitlin circuit, toba, black urban theatre. Baltimore is often viewed as the heart of the chitlin circuit, thanks to its rich tradition in the arts. A precursor to the creation of the chitlin circuit was the theater owners booking association, or t. Toba nurtured such performers as leonard reed and willie bryant, creators of the shim sham shimmy c. A circuit of nightclubs and theaters that feature africanamerican performers and cater especially to africanamerican audiences. I personally think that this book is really sad and the ending is. All this makes the chitlin circuit and the road to rock and roll crucial to our understanding of late20thcentury pop music and all the more impressive for its exhaustive research. Take the exit to southern and go back north a block or two to find this restaurant tucked under an overpass. During the 1920s and 30s, tampa was a stop on the chitlin circuit. Chitlin circuit definition of chitlin circuit by the free dictionary. Asked to describe the chitlin circuit, barnett gives a threeword summation that.