The Adventures of Amos 'n' Andy: A Social History of an American Phenomenon

by Melvin Patrick Ely

Forty million Americans indulged in a national obsession in 1930: they eagerly tuned in Amos 'n' Andy, the nightly radio comedy in which a pair of white actors portrayed the adventures of two black men making a new life in the big city. Meanwhile, some angry African Americans demanded that Amos 'n' Andy be banned, even as others gathered in the barbershops and radio stores of Harlem to chuckle over the adventures of Amos, Andy, and the Kingfish.

Melvin Patrick Ely unveils a fascinating tale of America's shifting color line, in which two professional directors of blackface minstrel shows manage to produce a series so rich and complex that it wins admirers ranging from ultra-racists to outspoken racial egalitarians. Eventually, the pair stir further controversy when they bring their show to television.

In a preface written especially for this new edition of his acclaimed classic, Ely shows how white and black responses to his Adventures of Amos 'n' Andy since 1991 tell a revealing story of their own about racial hopes and fears at the turn of the twenty-first century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

322 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

Reviews

[randy]

i have listened to the radio show but not seen the tv show and wondered how the black community received it. the book does tell of the various thoughts people had of the radio and tv show.

[Peyton Whirley]

another one for school idk

[Wendy Stanley]

Very detailed account of the radio program and TV show. The author put his heart into this account.

[C Manuel Contente]

It was difficult to rate this book, in all honesty. The beginning sections are not that bad and the history of the minstrel shows is an unfortunate part of American history; though, it's difficult to judge a different century by the standards of today. Regardless, my main issue with this work is that the writing is dry and incredibly drawn out. Many of the chapters seem to go in circles and it is extremely repetitive at times. The main text is only 255 pages, but, as aformentioned, it's very drawn out in my opinion.

Furthermore, in the preface to this edition, Ely seems incredibly bitter and seems upset that there was not much recognition regarding his chapter on women in the "Amos 'n;Andy" show even though it is one of the shortest chapters in the book and, as the author himself points out, women played a minor role in the show and it was not until much later on that they actually had speaking roles anyway. Then again, if it wasn't for that chapter I wouldn't really know that, ha!

Anyway, like my review, don't like it, doesn't matter. That's my opinion, though.

[Bill]

I have to admit, while growing up Amos 'n' Andy were just objects of derision even though I don't know if any of us had actually ever seen or heard the show. This book ended up being incredibly informative and very fascinating. I still haven't heard nor seen the show, but I definitely found the whole A'n'A phenomenon intriguing.

[Richard Tolleson]

An even-handed account of what led to the creation of the venerable series, and why it was one of the most popular franchises on radio and TV--until it wasn't. One commentator said that the TV version wouldn't have been found offense if there had been other shows with all-black casts. But A&A was the only depiction of blacks on TV at the time.
BTW, you can buy the entire series on Amazon.

[Nia Lambert]

Interesting for the first 3 chapters. After that it's circular and boring. Only read it because I was tested over it in class. :(