Whitman Sisters facts for kids
The Whitman Sisters were four amazing African-American sisters. They became big stars in Black Vaudeville, a popular type of stage show. For over 40 years, from 1900 to 1943, they ran their own traveling performance company. They were the longest-running and best-paid act on the T.O.B.A. circuit, which was a network for Black performers. The sisters were Mabel (May) (born 1880, died 1942), Essie (born 1882, died 1963), Alberta "Bert" (born 1887, died 1964), and Alice (born 1900, died 1968).
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The Sisters' Story
The Whitman Sisters were the daughters of Reverend Albery Allson Whitman and Caddie Whitman. Their family lived in Ohio, Arkansas, and Kansas before settling in Atlanta, Georgia. The sisters also had an older brother named Caswell. Their father, Reverend A. A. Whitman, was known as the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race." He taught his daughters to sing religious songs and dance. They would perform with him on his tours to spread his message.
Starting Their Careers
Around 1899, Mabel and Essie started performing as the Danzette Sisters. They were invited to perform in New York. However, their father wanted them to finish school first. So, the sisters continued performing in the southern United States.
After their father passed away in 1901, Mabel, Essie, and Alberta formed a new group. They called it the Whitman Sisters' Novelty Act Company in Augusta, Georgia. By 1904, they had a larger group called the Whitman Sisters' New Orleans Troubadours. The sisters had light skin. Sometimes, they performed in a style called blackface, which was common at the time. People described them as "bright, pretty girls" with "wonderful voices."
Alberta, known as "Bert," often performed as a male impersonator. This means she dressed and acted like a man on stage. In 1905, the family moved their base to Chicago. The youngest sister, Alice, joined the company around 1910. After their mother died in 1909, Mabel Whitman took over managing the company. In 1910, she created "Mabel Whitman and the Dixie Boys." This group toured all over the US and even in Europe.
Their Success and Influence
A researcher named Nadine George-Graves found that the Whitman Sisters were the highest-paid act in Vaudeville. They claimed to have performed for King George V in England. However, there is no clear proof of this.
Many other famous performers started or improved their careers with the Whitman Sisters' company. People of all backgrounds enjoyed their shows. Even when Vaudeville became less popular, the sisters kept performing. They played in theaters and churches across the country. Audiences of all kinds admired them.
Some famous performers who were part of their company include Leonard Reed, Willie Bryant, Jeni Le Gon, Count Basie, Lonnie Johnson, and Bill Robinson.
Roles in the Company
Each sister had a special role in the company:
- Mabel managed all the show bookings.
- Essie designed and made the costumes.
- Alberta composed music.
- Alice was the star dancer. She had won cakewalk contests since she was a child.
Their shows were fast-paced and exciting. They included songs, dances, and funny comedy skits. They also had a chorus line and a jazz band. Alberta, or "Bert," was a singer and a "flash dancer." She cut her hair short and dressed like a man. She was known for her high-kicking dance moves.
Alice was the main star of the show. She was called the "Queen of Taps." She made popular dances like Ballin' the Jack, Walkin' the Dog, and the Shim-Sham-Shimmy even better with her clear and precise tap dancing. Many people thought she was the best female tap dancer in the 1920s.
Essie stopped performing in 1926. After Mabel passed away in Atlanta in 1942, the company stopped performing.
Their Lasting Impact
Even though they were popular for 40 years, information about the Whitman Sisters almost disappeared. They didn't leave behind any films or sheet music. They also left very few recordings. Essie did make some recordings for Black Swan and Paramount in the early 1920s.
In the 1960s, the surviving sisters were interviewed by Jean and Marshall Stearns. They wrote a chapter about the Whitmans in their book Jazz Dance. Later, a scholar named Nadine George-Graves uncovered their full story. She looked through many old newspapers and magazines. In 2000, she published her findings in a book called The Royalty of Negro Vaudeville: The Whitman Sisters and the Negotiation of Race, Gender and Class in African American Theatre, 1900–1940.
After Essie stopped performing, she became a preacher in Chicago. She was married three times. She died in a house fire in 1963 when she was 80 years old. Alberta died in Atlanta in 1964. Alice died in Chicago in 1968. Alice's son, Albert "Pops" Whitman (1919–1950), also became a famous tap dancer.
