St. Rose Minstrel programs and photographs, 1944-1950

Minstrel shows were a form of entertainment in the United States, consisting of comedy skits, music, dancing, and variety acts that were performed by white actors in blackface. Elements of the shows emerged in the 1830s, and minstrel shows attained widespread popularity with the formation of ensemble acts in the 1840s. The ensembles established the features and basic structure of the minstrel show, which consisted of three acts and presented exaggerated stereotypes of black people; performers billed the shows as authentic depictions of African-American songs and dances. By the end of the 19th century, minstrel shows' popularity had waned, and they were surpassed by vaudeville. By approximately 1910, the shows had largely become obsolete as professional entertainment.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church was established in the Rose City Park neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, in 1911. The St. Rose Men's Club formed in 1940 as a social and service group within the church. One of the club's major activities was an annual minstrel show held between 1940 and 1950; most of the performers were members of the St. Rose parish. A staple of the shows was a group of four to eight actors in the roles of "endmen," who performed in blackface. The first show, in 1940, was put on by a small number of men at the parish hall. Later in the 1940s, as the size and popularity of the shows increased, they were held at the Benson and Grant high school auditoriums. By 1950, the cast had grown to about 100, and that year's show was held at Portland's Civic Auditorium (now Keller Auditorium). It is unknown whether the shows continued after 1950.