Tunbridge Civic Club
It was reported in a newspaper article dating back to November 4, 1943, “that Tunbridge held its chicken pie supper followed by the minstrel show at 8:00 PM… We were in the midst of World War II and the audience was surprised by the all-female minstrel show.”
After being suspended for a period of time during World War II, the minstrel show resumed once again in 1952. The proceeds from that show were to benefit the baseball team. It was determined that anyone of high school age could be part of the minstrel show.
Edgar C. Dodge was Interlocutor from 1953 and held that position until 1986 with the exception of 1973 when John Larkin took his place for that one year.
Howard Stockwell designed the sets and acted as stage manager from 1952 until 1990. Sadly, Howard passed away on October 5, 1990.
In 1991, Channa Howe and Thora Stockwell took over the set design and continued to do so until 2002.
It wasn’t until 1953 when the minstrel show cast formed the Tunbridge Civic Club in order to organize future shows and to dispense the proceeds from the ticket sales.
Tunbridge continues to carry on the tradition of the old-time minstrel shows with the exception of blackface. They are no longer referred to as “minstrel shows” but rather the Tunbridge Civic Club Show.
During the early years of the minstrel shows, performances were brought to the Veteran’s Hospital in White River as well as the towns of Chelsea, Pomfret, South Royalton, Strafford, Thetford and, of course, Tunbridge. Presently, the shows are performed each year at the Tunbridge Town Hall only.
The annual shows of today are performed on Friday and Saturday evenings during the latter part of March.
It is imperative to mention that the proceeds from ticket sales (after expenses) are donated to the Tunbridge Community.