Circa 1863 Advertisement for Martin's Excelsior Variety Troupe - Mentions a Bad Word at The Bottom - Americana

Advertisment sheet for "Black face minstrels". Clipped corner. Note line at bottom of ad - "Ladies, this is no N----- Show". Lyrics from When this Cruel War is Over and other information included.

And sail across the stormy sea

His jacket was a deep sky blue and curly was his hair

His jacket was a deep sky blue, it was, I do declare

For to reive the topsails up against the mast

And to sail across the sea, stormy sea

And sail across the stormy sea

Some day he'll be a captain bold with a brave and a gallant crew

Some day he'll be a captain bold with a sword and spyglass too

And when he has a gallant captain's sword

He'll come home and marry me, marry me

He'll come home and marry me

Martin’s Excelsior Variety Troupe, an American performance group active during the Civil War, operates within the mid-19th century. Primarily sourced from collectible advertisements and playbills of the era, such as one from 1863, their existence is corroborated. During this period, blackface minstrelsy dominated American entertainment, with both traveling professional and local amateur troupes prevalent.

Given the historical context and the troupe’s name, it is highly probable that Martin’s Excelsior Variety Troupe performed minstrel shows. This form of theater employed racist caricatures of African Americans. These all-male troupes showcased a diverse range of acts, including singing, dancing, and comedy skits, typically arranged in a semi-circle on stage. While the exact repertoire and specific members of Martin’s Excelsior Variety Troupe remain undisclosed in available sources, their name and timeframe establish their connection to this widely popular, yet deeply problematic, chapter of American entertainment history.