J. A. Coburn
J. A. Coburn | |
|---|---|
 J. A. Coburn (1890) on a show advertisement poster | |
| Born | John Arthur Coburn 1868 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 5, 1943 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Other names | Cobe Coburn, Joe Coburn, Pop Coburn |
| Occupation(s) | Minstrel troupe manager, musician, theater company owner, bandleader, comedian, businessman |
| Years active | 1886 – c. 1927 |
| Spouse | Nettie Alice Linville (m. 1939–1943; his death) |
John Arthur "Cobe" Coburn (1868 – March 5, 1943),[1][2][3] more commonly known as J.A. Coburn, was an American minstrel troupe manager, theater company owner, musician, and businessman. He was known for his traveling Blackface minstrel shows, and had worked as a professional cornetist, and later as a bandleader.[4] He was associated with the Barlow Bros. Minstrel, and J.A. Coburn's Greater Minstrels. Coburn lived in Daytona, Florida.[4]
Life and career
[edit]John Arthur Coburn was born in 1868, in Boston.[4] During his early life he was as a cornetist for the Elgin National Watch Company's military band.[4]
In 1886, he started his musical theater career in forming Trewetz and Coburn.[4] This was followed by Coburn joining Louis Baldwin in 1890, for a few years of performances until Baldwin's death in 1903.[4][5] His first minstrel show was in 1893, with the W. S. Cleveland and Company,[4] led by William S. Cleveland (1860–1923). By 1898, Coburn had formed and directed his own theater company named the Barlow Bros. Minstrel (later known as the Great Barlow Minstrels).[4][6]
Barlow Bros. Minstrel was re-organized to form J.A. Coburn's Greater Minstrels (later known as J.A. Coburn's Minstrels).[7][8][9][10] Notable performers in the troupe included Singin' Sam, Hank White,[11] Dan Holt,[12] and Charley Gano.[13]
On November 14, 1915, J.A. Coburn's Minstrels paraded in Columbus, Mississippi, which was documented by the Columbus Commercial (1893–1922) newspaper.[14]
Coburn married Nettie Alice Linville in 1939, and together they had one daughter.[2][3] His daughter Leota Estelle Coburn was a musical performer, who went by the stage name Leota Cordati Coburn.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ""Billboard" Pays High Tribute to J.A. Coburn As Great Minstrel Man". Selma Times-Journal. 1927-03-17. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Obituary for John Arthur Coburn". The Boston Globe. March 6, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ a b "John Arthur Coburn, Famous Minstrel Dies". York Daily Record. March 6, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-05-24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rice, Edward Le Roy (1911). Monarchs of Minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to Date. Kenny Publishing Company. p. 331 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Louis Baldwin". Detroit Free Press. January 10, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-05-25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Coburn's Minstrels". Birmingham Post-Herald. March 8, 1908. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Who Are "J.A. Coburn's Greater Minstrels"?". The Daily Hustler. March 21, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "J.A. Coburn's Well Known Minstrels Coming To Daffin". Tallahassee Democrat. 1929-02-28. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "J.A. Coburn's Minstrels Coming!". Greensboro Watchman. 1927-03-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Aydlette, Larry (February 5, 2019). "History: Blackface shows were popular in Palm Beach County from 1920s to 1950s". Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025.
- ^ "The Only All White Tented Minstrel". The West Point News. 1928-11-22. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A Son of the South". The Daily Hustler. 1908-03-21. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Minstrels Will Show Saturday Court Theatre". News-Press. 1917-01-04. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ward, Rufus (2024-03-23). "Ask Rufus: MSU Opera sings the blues". The Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
External links
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