Glenbuchat Heritage

179 Strathdon Sparklers

Strathdon Sparklers

The above photos show some scenes from shows of the Strathdon Sparklers.

They were a group of Strathdon residents who performed musical and acting events in the 1950’s

The first photo shows the group with blacked up faces in the style of a Black and White minstrel show. There was some debate whether this photo should be shown on the Heritage Web site, as it might cause offence. It was felt however after discussion that the site deals with history, and it is important to document historical events and learn from them and understand them. To select history according to personal views would be a sort of censorship and this would be equally unacceptable.

While in modern times it is acknowledged that ‘blacking up’ is felt to be culturally inacceptable and insensitive, there is a long history of minstrel shows as noted below and BBC TV had a long running Black and White Minstrel Show until 1978.

I think we can accept that the intention of the players was quite innocent. There is no record I am aware of racism in Strathdon and it is to be remembered that for 40 years the local GP, Dr Howie, was an Arab by birth and greatly loved by the community.

If the picture causes and concern please contact me using the email in the introductory page of the web site.

History of Minstrel shows

Minstrel shows had become a long-established feature of British music halls and seaside entertainment since the success of acts such as the Virginia Minstrels in Liverpool in the 1840s and Christy's Minstrels in London in the 1850s.

The Black and White Minstrel Show is a British light entertainment show on BBC prime-time television that ran from 1958 to 1978. The weekly variety show presented traditional American minstrel and country songs, as well as show tunes and music hall numbers, lavishly costumed and often presented with cast members in blackface.

In the 1960s, it was getting audiences of 16 million. Its stage-show spin-offs were breaking box-office records.