Clifford and Burke
black-faced comedians / 1900s
"Clifford and Burke were a comical singing, talking and dancing black-face act.
Their comedy consisted of funny dance steps, a take-off on the word 'soup,' and
singing 'You Ain't Talkin' To Me.' Apparently they came from Pittsburgh, since
one reviewer wrote, "Clifford and Burke, the black-face comedians in vaudeville,
still have a tender spot for old Pittsburgh. They recall something of the thrill
of boyhood days the stone fights between the Bluff boys and the Hardscrabble legins
in the valley below. Those were the halycon days in Pittsburgh when the young idea
was taught the use of the sling shot rather than how to shoot.
(a clipping from an unidentified newspaper, dated April 3, 1910)
When Clifford and Burke came to the Grand the week of April 11, several large theatre
parties made of their boyhood friends will greet them."
New York Times: June 23, 1907
-Proctor's 125th Street Theatre: "...Clifford and Burke, black-faced comedians"
New York Times: Notes of the Vaudeville Stage; September 1,1907
- opening tomorrow at Keith & Protor's Union Square,
"Clifford and Burke, glib-tongued raconteurs.
Wild West and Vaudeville, April 1904 - September 1908 - Page 252
New York Times: April 4, 1909
- (Keith & Proctor's 5th Avenue Theatre listing only)
New York Times: Notes of the Vaudeville Stage; September 17,1909
-Keith & Protor's 5th Street Theatre: "...Clifford and Burke in a comedy dancing act."
(a clipping from an unidentified newspaper, dated April 3, 1910)
Continuous Vaudeville (2009); by Will M. Cressy
"Clifford & Burke were playing Shea's, Buffalo. There was also a bare-back riding
act on the bill. There is a very old lady who comes around the theater every night
selling laundry bags, money bags and such stuff to the actors. She had seen
Clifford & Burke's act several times and knew that they finished up their
act with a dance.
Friday night she was sitting in our dressing room; Clifford and Burke were on
the stage when she came in but had finished their act and gone to their room,
although the old lady didn't know this. The horse act was on and the old horse
galloping around the stage "clickerty clack; clickerty clack; clickerty clack,"
when suddenly the old lady stops talking, pricks up her ears, listens a minute,
then said, "By garry, thim byes is doin' a long dance this night."
New York Dramatic Mirror 1909
- (listing) Fontaine Ferry Park; Louisville, Ky
Variety 1909
- "Clifford and Burke (New Act) Fifth Ave. Theatre"
Coming Next Week:
1909 B.F. Keith 5th Avenue Theatre Vaudeville-Kinetograph Flier