Johnny Hudgins

Johnny Hudgins (May 5, 1896 – 1990) was a vaudeville performer. He sometimes performed in blackface. Hudgins was nicknamed the Wah-Wah Man (wah-wah) and was known for his mime performances accompanied by accomplished trumpeters. He was friends with fellow vaudevillian Josephine Baker who he performed with in the show Chocolate Dandies.[1] He was also in the show Lucky Sambo.[2] He used burnt cork to blacken his face and performed with exaggerated white lips in many of his performances.[3] His performances drew rave reviews and imitators. Hudgins sought to copyright his performance art.[4]

Hudgins performed with Florence Mills and was accompanied by trumpeters including Doc Cheatham, Johnny Dunn, Joe Smith (trumpeter), Louis Metcalf and Rex Stewart.[1]

Hudgins was born in Baltimore, Maryland.[1]

Career

Hudgins performed in Harlem's clubs, toured America, and toured Europe where he was referred to as a "colored" Charlie Chaplin.[1] He also performed with his wife Mildred Martien and Fredi Washington. Martien was lifelong friends with Josephine Baker.[5]

Hudgins featured in films including a Pathé film of Hudgins performing to "Renoir Charleston" in Jean Renoir's Charleston Parade with Catherine Hessling and in the film A Night in Dixie.

He was photographed by Edward Elcha.[6] Emory University has a collection of his papers.[4]

Filmography
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References
  1. "Johnny 'Wah Wah' Hudgins, a burlesque comedian of renown". Amsterdamnews.com.
  2. "Johnny Hudgins". Playbill.com.
  3. Hinckley, David. "NOT JUST BLACK & WHITE The curious case of vaudeville comic Johnny Hudgins". Nydailynews.com.
  4. Lewis, George; Piekut, Benjamin (February 28, 2016). "The Oxford Handbook of Critical Improvisation Studies". Oxford University Press. p. 350 – via Google Books.
  5. Baker, Jean-Claude; Chase, Chris (30 July 2001). Josephine Baker: The Hungry Heart. Cooper Square Press. p. 53. Retrieved 27 April 2019 – via Internet Archive. mildred martien.
  6. "Johnny Hudgins". International Center of Photography. February 25, 2016.
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